How to pin a post on Instagram

You can pin an Instagram post by opening your own post in the mobile app, tapping the three dots in the upper right, and choosing Pin to your profile. The post then stays at the top of your profile grid, even when you add new photos, carousels or Reels. You can pin up to three of your own posts at the same time.

Instagram sometimes also calls this pinning to your profile. The feature is designed for regular feed posts and Reels. Pinning a chat message, conversation or comment works differently. Below, you’ll learn exactly where to find the right button, what visitors see and what you can do if the option is missing.

What does pinning a post on Instagram mean?

A pinned post gets a fixed position at the top of your profile. Normally, Instagram places your newest post in the upper left corner. Older posts move further down over time. By pinning a post, you move a chosen post to the start of your grid without reposting it.

Meta introduced this feature for feed posts and Reels. You can pin up to three posts at the top of your profile at the same time. For example, that could be two photos and one Reel. Each pinned post displays a small pin icon.

The original post itself does not change. The publication date stays the same. Existing likes and comments remain in place. The original caption, tags and insights also remain. This means you are not making a copy or publishing anything again.

Pinning is particularly useful for content that new visitors should see straight away. Consider:

• a clear introduction to you or your business;
• a popular Reel that shows what you create;
• an important announcement;
• an explanation of what you offer;
• an answer to a frequently asked question;
• a campaign that deserves extra attention for a limited time.

Do not automatically choose the post with the most likes. A pinned post should primarily help visitors understand your profile quickly. A clear explanation of your offer can be more valuable than a funny Reel with broad reach.

How do you pin a post on Instagram one step at a time?

Follow these steps on an iPhone or Android phone:

1. Open the Instagram app and log in to the correct account.
2. Tap your profile photo in the lower right.
3. Find the photo, carousel or Reel that should move to the top of your grid.
4. Open the full post.
5. Tap the three dots in the upper right.
6. Choose Pin to your profile.
7. Return to your profile and check the first row.

The post is now at the front of your profile grid. The pin icon shows that you deliberately chose this position. If you have not pinned any other posts yet, this one appears in the upper left corner.

Want to add a second or third post? Repeat the same steps. Pay attention to the order as well. The post you pin last may appear first. If you want a very specific order, you may need to unpin the posts and pin them again in the reverse of your preferred order. Always check the result on your profile.

You can open a Reel in the same way. Find the Reel in your profile grid or in the Reels tab. Open the Reel, tap the three dots and choose the option to pin it to your profile. The Reel will remain visible in the Reels tab.

How do you unpin a pinned post?

Pinning is not permanent. You can reverse your choice at any time:

1. Open your profile in the Instagram app.
2. Tap the pinned post.
3. Tap the three dots in the upper right.
4. Choose Unpin from profile or No longer pin to profile.
5. Go back and check your profile grid.

The post does not disappear. It returns to its normal position based on the original publication date. Likes, comments, captions and insights remain intact.

That makes the feature ideal for temporary campaigns. For example, you can keep a promotion at the top for a week and then unpin it without losing anything. The post stays on your profile unless you delete or archive it.

Does pinning work the same on iPhone, Android and desktop?

The process is almost the same on iPhone and Android. Small differences are usually in the wording of the menu option and the position of certain icons. On a computer, you can view your profile and posts, but the official Help Centre says the pinning feature is not available there.

If you are unsure, use the latest version of the mobile app. Fully close Instagram and reopen it after installing an update. Also check that you are logged in to the account where the post was published.

Why can’t you see the option to pin a post?

There is usually a simple explanation if the button is missing. Work through the points below carefully.

You are not viewing your own post

You cannot pin someone else’s post to your profile. You may be able to save, share or repost it, but those are different features. Go to your own profile and open content published by your account.

You are using Instagram on a computer

The official help page only lists the mobile apps as supported for this feature. Open the Instagram app on a phone or tablet instead. On a computer, you can still check whether a previously pinned post appears at the top.

Your app is not up to date

Open the App Store or Google Play Store and check whether an update is available. Then restart the app. Logging out and back in may also help. Only do this if you know your password and recovery details.

You have already pinned three posts

Instagram supports up to three pinned feed posts or Reels. If you have reached that limit, unpin one post first. You can then pin a different one.

The post has not been fully published

A draft cannot be pinned. A post that is still processing, or one that did not go live correctly because of an error, can also cause problems. Check whether other people can open the post. If you have a publishing issue, also read why Instagram won’t let me post.

Instagram is experiencing a temporary outage

When several buttons are missing or not responding, there may be a temporary outage. Try another network, restart your device and wait a little. Do not delete the post just to fix this issue. You could lose comments and the original post.

The option text has changed

Instagram changes menus regularly. This means the button may have a slightly different name from the one you expect. Look for words such as pin, pin to profile or profile. Also make sure you opened the menu for the full post.

What changes after you pin a post?

The main change is its position on your profile. Visitors see the pinned post before your regular grid. The post is not automatically shown again in your followers’ feeds. Pinning is therefore not a new publication and does not create a second notification by itself.

Visibility still depends on your account settings. On a public account, anyone who visits your profile can see your public posts. On a private account, only approved followers can see your photos and videos. Pinning does not make private content public.

The content itself also stays the same. These parts remain unchanged:

• the original publication date;
• the number of likes and comments;
• the caption and hashtags;
• mentioned accounts and locations;
• insights for business and creator accounts;
• the original format and media files.

Your followers are not removed or added when you pin a post. If you want to clean up your audience, that is a separate topic. Our guide to deleting Instagram followers explains what changes in that situation.

Which three posts are best to pin to the top?

Think of the first row of your profile as a small home page. A new visitor should understand within seconds who you are, what you share and why your account matters.

A simple combination is:

1. Who are you? Use a post that clearly introduces you, your brand or your topic.
2. What do you offer? Choose a practical explanation, a strong result or a clear example.
3. What should someone do now? Show a current campaign, an important Reel or an answer to a common question.

For a personal account, this choice can be more flexible. For example, pin your favourite photo, your best travel story and your most entertaining Reel. For a business, clarity is often more important than simply having a beautiful grid.

Look at the cover images as well. Three busy images with lots of small text are hard to scan. Make sure each post is recognisable even without a long explanation. Use clear visuals and let the three posts tell one logical story together.

Check the first row regularly. An old Christmas promotion or expired discount code at the top can be confusing. Unpin that content once the information is no longer correct.

If you want to support a strong post, you can also work on suitable social proof. Depending on your goal, you might buy Instagram followers to make your account look more visible. For an important post, you can also buy Instagram likes. Always choose content that genuinely suits your profile and audience.

If you mainly pinned a Reel, views are often more relevant than likes alone. In that case, you can buy Instagram views. Pinning and extra views serve different purposes. Pinning determines the position on your profile, while views show how often a video has been watched.

What is the difference between pinning a post, a comment and a chat?

Instagram uses the word pin in several places. Because of this, people sometimes choose the wrong instructions or look in the wrong menu.

Pinning a profile post moves your own photo, carousel or Reel to the top of your profile grid. That is the subject of this guide.

Pinning a comment places a chosen comment at the top beneath your post. The steps are different and begin on the comments screen. For this, read the guide to pinning a comment on Instagram.

Pinning a chat message marks a specific message within a conversation. Instagram has a separate feature for this. The official Help Centre says this is not available on a computer.

Pinning a chat places an entire conversation at the top of your inbox. This does not affect your public profile or the order of your feed posts.

First, ask yourself what should move to the top: a profile post, a comment, one message in a conversation or the whole conversation. You will then find the right button more quickly.

Does pinning affect reach or the algorithm?

Instagram does not promise that pinning will automatically create extra reach. A pinned post does not appear again in the feed as a new post. The main benefit is on your profile, because visitors see the chosen content sooner.

That can still be useful indirectly. A clear first row helps people decide more quickly whether they want to keep looking or follow your account. However, pinning itself does not guarantee more views, likes or followers.

Choose a post based on its content and purpose. If you have a professional account, check your insights. Look at reach, interactions and profile activity, but also check whether the information is still current. A slightly less popular post can be much more useful to new visitors than your post with the most likes.

Replace pinned posts when your goals change. During a launch, an offer may be the most important thing. Afterwards, an explanation, customer result or introductory post may be a better fit again.

Frequently asked questions about pinning an Instagram post

How many posts can you pin on Instagram?

You can pin up to three feed posts or Reels at the same time at the top of your profile. If you want to add a fourth, first unpin one of the three pinned posts.

Can someone see that a post is pinned?

Yes. A small pin icon appears on the thumbnail. This shows visitors that the post was intentionally placed at the top of your profile.

Do followers get a notification when you pin a post?

Pinning does not publish the post again. It mainly changes the position on your profile. Instagram does not describe a separate notification to all your followers for this action.

Can you pin someone else’s post?

Not on your own profile. You can only pin your own feed posts and Reels to your profile. Saving, sharing and reposting are different features.

Do likes disappear when you unpin a post?

No. Unpinning does not remove the post. The post returns to its normal position and keeps its existing likes, comments, caption and statistics.

Can you pin a Story to your profile grid?

Not with this feature. You can save a Story as a Highlight beneath your bio. A Highlight and a pinned feed post are different parts of your profile.

Can you pin a carousel?

Yes. A carousel counts as one feed post and can be pinned to the top of your profile just like a regular photo. All photos and videos in the carousel remain available.

Can you change the order of pinned posts?

Instagram does not always provide a separate button that lets you drag the three posts into any order you want. If you want a specific order, unpin the posts and pin them again. If necessary, do this in reverse order and then check your profile.

Which post should you pin first now?

Open your profile and view it as if you were visiting for the first time. Choose the post that most quickly explains who you are, what you make or what visitors can find from you. Open that post in the mobile app, tap the three dots and pin it.

After that, only add a second and third post if each one has its own purpose. This keeps your profile uncluttered and clear. After every change, check the order, the cover images and whether the information is still current. Unpin expired promotions promptly and replace them with content that better suits your current goal.