Instagram guides and how-tos
408 step-by-step Instagram how-tos. Filter by what you want to work on next.
Content StrategyCan I Schedule a Post on Instagram?
Yes — feed posts and Reels can be scheduled natively up to 75 days ahead through Meta Business Suite or Creator Studio, though Stories still have limited native scheduling support, which is why many creators use third-party tools like Later, Buffer, or Hootsuite.
GrowthCan You Buy Instagram Followers? What Really Happens
Yes, you can buy Instagram followers, but most are bots that tank engagement and risk account penalties. Here's what actually happens.
Content StrategyCan You Schedule Instagram Stories in Advance?
Yes, Instagram lets you schedule Stories ahead of time through Meta Business Suite or a third-party tool — here's how it works and its limits.
ExplainersCan You See Who Views Your Instagram Story?
Yes — Stories are the one part of Instagram that does show you exactly who watched, via a swipe-up viewer list, for as long as the Story is active (24 hours) and afterward through your Archive, though the list ordering follows Instagram's own ranking logic rather than a strict timestamp.
ReelsDid Nicki Minaj Delete Her Instagram?
Nicki Minaj has publicly deactivated or stepped away from her Instagram more than once over the years, often around album drama or online feuds, though these moves have generally been temporary rather than a permanent deletion.
ExplainersDo People Get Notified When You Screenshot on Instagram Story?
No — as of 2026, taking a screenshot of someone's regular Instagram Story does not send them any notification. Instagram tested a Story screenshot alert around 2018, but it was never made a permanent part of the app.
Tools & PrivacyDoes Instagram Alert Screenshots?
Mostly no. Instagram does not alert anyone to screenshots of the feed, Reels, profiles, or regular Stories. The one real exception is disappearing photos and videos sent in direct messages, which do trigger a screenshot alert to the sender.
Profile & BioDoes Instagram Pay You?
Yes, but only through specific programs — Subscriptions, Live Badges, occasional Reels bonuses, and ads-on-Reels revenue sharing where available — not through a single blanket payout for using the app. Most creators still earn the bulk of their income from brand deals, which come from advertisers, not Instagram itself.
MonetizationDoes Instagram Show Screenshots?
It depends on where the screenshot happens: Instagram never notifies anyone for screenshots of the feed, posts, Reels, or profiles, and currently does not notify for regular Story screenshots either. The one exception is disappearing view-once photos and videos in DMs, where the sender is alerted.
ExplainersDoes Instagram Show When You Screenshot?
It depends entirely on what you're screenshotting: feed posts, Reels, and profiles never trigger a notification; regular Stories don't either; but disappearing view-once photos and videos in DMs do notify the sender.
How-ToHow Can I Get Blue Tick on Instagram?
There are two separate paths to a blue tick: free notability-based verification for genuinely public figures via Account Center, or the paid Meta Verified subscription in supported countries — and the two badges are not equivalent, since Meta Verified is a subscription perk, not a mark of fame, and can be lost if you stop paying or fail ID checks.
GrowthHow Can I Post a Gif on Instagram?
Instagram feed posts don't accept native animated GIF uploads — pick a static frame or convert the clip to an MP4/Boomerang to post it in the grid, or use a GIF sticker instead in Stories.
MonetizationHow Can I Recover Deleted Messages in Instagram?
There's no native way to undo a deleted Instagram DM once it's gone from a chat — Instagram doesn't offer message recovery, and even the Download Your Information tool won't restore deleted messages into the live conversation.
ExplainersHow Can I See Who Shared My Post on Instagram?
Instagram doesn't give you a full list of names for everyone who shared your post to their Story or sent it in a DM. You'll only find out about shares that tag or mention you (like a Story repost with the share sticker), plus an aggregate, name-free "Shares" count in Reels Insights for professional accounts.
Tools & PrivacyWhat to Know Before You Delete Your Instagram Account
Deleting Instagram is a one-way process handled through Account Center that erases your profile, posts, and comments after a roughly 30-day grace period — so before you start it's worth understanding what's recoverable, what isn't, and whether deactivating is what you actually want.
GrowthHow to Delete Comments on Instagram
Swipe left on your own comment (iOS) or long-press and tap the trash icon (Android) to delete it, and if it's on your own post you can also bulk-delete other people's comments through the "..." Manage comments menu.
ExplainersHow Can You Hide Who You Follow on Instagram?
If your account is public, anyone can see your Following list — Instagram has no toggle to hide just that list. The only real option is switching to a Private account, which restricts your following/followers lists to approved followers only.
MonetizationHow Can You Hide Your Likes on Instagram?
Yes — go to Settings and privacy > Posts (or the ••• menu on any post) and toggle "Hide like and view counts," which hides the public number from other viewers while you can still see it yourself.
MonetizationHow Do I Close My Instagram Account?
You can close an Instagram account two ways: temporarily deactivate it (only possible through a mobile or desktop browser, not the app) to hide everything until you log back in, or permanently delete it in-app, which gives you a 30-day window to change your mind before it's gone for good.
ReelsHow Do I Contact Instagram?
Instagram has no public phone number or direct support email — the real contact channels are the in-app "Report a Problem" tool, the Help Center's topic-specific forms, and the Meta Business Help Center for advertisers and verified/business accounts.
MonetizationHow Do I Make a New Instagram?
You can create a brand-new Instagram account either from scratch (a different email or phone number, no link to your existing profile) or as an added account under your current login — tap your profile icon, open the account switcher, and choose Add account to do it without logging out first.
GrowthHow Do I Share a Facebook Post to Instagram?
There's no one-tap "share to Instagram" button on a Facebook post, since Meta's built-in cross-posting toggle only works the other direction (Instagram to Facebook) — to get Facebook content onto Instagram, you download the photo or video from Facebook and upload it manually, or recreate it as a new Instagram post or Story.
ReelsHow Do I Upload Pictures on Instagram?
You can now upload pictures directly from a desktop browser at instagram.com, not just the mobile app — click the create (+) icon in the top navigation bar, select your photo file, edit and caption it the same way you would on mobile, and share.
ReelsHow Do You Add Videos to Instagram?
Instagram gives you three distinct places to add a video — feed post, Reel, or Story — each with different length limits and algorithm treatment, so choosing the right one for your specific clip matters more than the upload steps themselves, which are nearly identical across all three.