You cannot change the order of posts that are already published on Instagram
Instagram displays your posts in reverse chronological order — newest first — and there is no setting or tool to rearrange them once they are live. The order is fixed by the date and time you posted. If you want a different post to appear at the top of your profile, you have to delete the newer posts above it, which also removes them from your followers' feeds and your own archive.
The only way to change what appears first on your profile is to delete everything posted after the post you want to feature, then repost those deleted items in a different order. This is disruptive and not practical for most people, which is why Instagram users typically work around this limitation using other features instead.
Key Takeaways
- Instagram arranges posts by date posted, newest first, with no option to manually reorder them after publishing.
- Deleting a post removes it from your profile, your followers' feeds, and your archive permanently.
- Pinning a post to the top of your profile keeps it visible without deleting anything else.
- Instagram Stories and Reels follow the same chronological rule and cannot be reordered once posted.
- Planning your posting schedule before you publish is the most practical way to control what appears first on your profile.
Pin a post to keep it at the top of your profile
You can pin up to three posts to the top of your profile grid. Pinned posts stay in place regardless of when you posted them, and they appear above all other posts. This is the closest thing Instagram offers to reordering your feed.
To pin a post, open your profile, tap the three dots on the post you want to pin, and select "Pin to your profile." The post moves to the top left of your grid. You can pin multiple posts, and they will stack in the order you pinned them. Unpinning removes the post from the top but does not delete it.
Pinning is useful if you want to feature a specific image, announcement, or portfolio piece without disrupting the rest of your timeline. Many creators use this to highlight their best work or direct followers to important content.
What happens when you delete and repost
If you delete a post and repost it later, it appears as a new post with the current date and time. All likes, comments, and engagement on the original post are lost permanently. Your followers will see it as a fresh post in their feeds, which can feel like spam if you delete and repost frequently.
Deleted posts cannot be recovered from Instagram itself. If you want to keep a copy, you need to read the image or video before you delete the post. Some third-party apps let you read your own posts, but Instagram does not provide a built-in read feature for your own content.
Reposting old content also resets any momentum it had. A post with 500 likes that you delete and repost starts over at zero engagement, which can hurt your visibility in followers' feeds.
How Instagram's algorithm affects what people see
Even though your posts appear in reverse chronological order on your profile, the order they appear in followers' feeds is different. Instagram's algorithm shows followers the posts it thinks they are most likely to engage with, not necessarily the newest ones. A post you published weeks ago might appear in a follower's feed before a post you published yesterday.
This means the order on your profile does not directly control what your followers see first. However, the order on your profile matters for people visiting your profile directly — they see your pinned posts first, then your chronological feed below.
Stories and Reels follow the same chronological rule
Instagram Stories and Reels also cannot be reordered after posting. Stories appear in the order you posted them and disappear after 24 hours. Reels are arranged by date on your profile, with the newest first, and there is no way to pin or rearrange them.
If you want a specific Reel to be more visible, you can share it to your Stories or use the "Share" button to send it to followers' direct messages. You can also reshare a Reel to your feed as a regular post, which gives it a new timestamp and makes it appear at the top of your profile temporarily.
Planning your posting schedule to control what appears first
The most practical approach is to plan when you post. If you want a specific post to appear at the top of your profile for a period of time, post it last, after all other content you want below it. If you post multiple times a day, the last post of the day will be at the top until you post again.
Scheduling tools like Meta Business Suite, Buffer, or Later let you plan posts in advance and choose the exact time they go live. This gives you control over the order without having to delete anything. You can schedule a post to go live at a specific time, which ensures it appears at the top of your profile when you want it to.
Many creators use this strategy to feature announcements, product launches, or seasonal content at the top of their profile for a set period, then let newer posts naturally push it down as time passes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I rearrange posts on my Instagram profile after I post them?
No. Instagram displays posts in the order you posted them, newest first. You cannot manually rearrange them. Your only options are to pin posts to the top or delete posts you do not want visible, which also removes them from your followers' feeds.
If I delete a post and repost it later, will it get the same likes and comments back?
No. Deleting a post removes all likes, comments, and engagement permanently. When you repost it, it is treated as a brand new post with a new timestamp and zero engagement. You lose all the interaction the original post had.
How many posts can I pin to my profile?
You can pin up to three posts to the top of your profile. Pinned posts stay in place and appear above all other posts, regardless of when you posted them. You can unpin a post at any time without deleting it.
Does the order of posts on my profile affect what my followers see in their feeds?
No. Your followers see posts in their feeds based on Instagram's algorithm, not the order on your profile. However, people who visit your profile directly see your pinned posts first, then your chronological feed below them.
Can I schedule posts to control the order they appear in?
Yes. Scheduling tools like Meta Business Suite or Buffer let you choose the exact time a post goes live. By scheduling posts strategically, you can control which post appears at the top of your profile and for how long.