How to Manage Instagram Story Highlights from Desktop

Stories disappear after 24 hours, but Highlights keep your best content visible on your profile indefinitely. They appear as circular icons below your bio and above your post grid - perfect for showcasing product categories, FAQs, testimonials, portfolio pieces, or any content you want visitors to see first.

Important: Only expired (archived) stories can be added to highlights. Stories that are still active (within the 24-hour window) are not available for highlights yet.

1. Go to Instagram.com and navigate to your profile
2. Click the [+] New button in the highlights row (the circle with a plus icon)
3. Enter a name for your highlight
4. Click Next
5. Select stories from your archive to include
6. Click Done to save

1. Go to your profile and open the highlight you want to edit
2. Click the three dots button [...] in the top right corner of the highlight viewer
3. Select Edit
4. Click Next to see your story archive
5. Select additional stories to add (or deselect stories to remove)
6. Click Done to save changes

1. Open the highlight you want to remove
2. Click the three dots button [...] in the top right corner
3. Select Delete
4. Confirm the deletion

Deleting a highlight does not delete the original stories from your archive.

• Keep names short - highlight names are truncated on profile, so use 1-2 words
• Use custom covers - create branded cover images for a cohesive profile look
• Order matters - the most recently edited highlight appears first on your profile
• Combine with INSSIST - use INSSIST to publish stories from desktop, then add them to highlights right from the same browser

INSSIST and Instagram's native highlight management work seamlessly together. A typical desktop workflow looks like this:

1. Create and publish stories using INSSIST's story publisher (with music, mentions, links, and stickers)
2. Add published stories to highlights using Instagram's built-in highlight editor on your profile
3. Manage your content calendar by scheduling future stories in INSSIST

This gives you a complete desktop-only workflow for Instagram content management - no phone needed.

Can I add a currently active story to a highlight?
No. Only expired (archived) stories can be added to highlights. Once your story disappears after 24 hours, it moves to your archive and becomes available for highlights.

Can I create highlights from stories older than 24 hours?
Yes. Instagram keeps all your stories in your archive by default. You can add any archived story to a highlight, regardless of when it was posted.

Do I need INSSIST to manage highlights?
No. Highlight management is a native Instagram Web feature. INSSIST enhances your workflow by letting you publish stories, schedule content, and add music and stickers from desktop - but the highlights themselves are managed through Instagram's interface.

Why don't I see the [+] New button on my profile?
Make sure you're viewing your own profile (not someone else's). The highlight creation button only appears on your own profile page. Also ensure your story archive is enabled in Instagram settings.