To pin a post on Instagram, open your profile, tap one of your posts, tap Options in the top right, then tap Pin to main grid. You can pin up to three posts you've shared, and you can unpin any of them whenever you like.
Pinning is how you choose what people see first when they land on your profile, instead of leaving it to whatever you posted most recently. It's a small setting that does a lot of quiet work, and it takes about three taps.
| Quick question | Quick answer |
|---|---|
| How many posts can I pin? | Up to three at a time. |
| Where's the option? | Under Options, in the top right once you've opened one of your posts. |
| What's the button called? | Pin to main grid. |
| Can I undo it? | Yes, at any time, with Unpin from main grid. |
| Where does an unpinned post go? | Back to its original spot in your profile grid. |
| iPhone or Android? | The steps are the same on both. |
Pinning a post, tap by tap
- Tap Profile or your profile picture in the bottom right to go to your profile.
- Tap one of your posts, then tap Options in the top right.
- Tap Pin to main grid.
That's it. The post moves to the top of your profile grid and stays there until you take it down. Instagram's help centre gives the same three steps for iPhone and Android, so you won't need to hunt for a different menu depending on your phone.
Taking a pin down or swapping one out
Pins aren't permanent. Open the pinned post from your profile, tap Options in the top right, then tap Unpin from main grid. The post drops back to the spot it had before, in its original place in the grid, so nothing gets lost or reshuffled.
Because you can only have three pinned at once, swapping is the normal routine: unpin the one that's done its job, then pin the new one. If a post has stopped being useful altogether, it may be better to tidy it away, and there's a walkthrough on deleting or archiving an Instagram post if you'd rather hide it than just unpin it.
Limits that catch people out
- Three is the ceiling. You can't pin a fourth until you unpin one.
- The help article covers posts you've shared yourself, so think of pinning as a tool for your own content.
- Unpinning doesn't delete anything. It only returns the post to where it sat before.
- Threads has its own pin setting with its own rules, so don't expect the Instagram limits to carry across.
Choosing which three earn the top row
The top of your grid is the first thing a new visitor reads, so treat those three spots like a shop window. A good mix is one post that introduces you and what you do, one that shows your best work, and one that's current, such as a launch, an event or a post that's getting lots of comments.
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If you're also thinking about when new posts go out, the guide to timing your Instagram posts pairs nicely with this. Pinned posts handle the first impression; timing helps the new ones get seen. And if a pinned image looks cropped or awkward on your grid, check the right image sizes for Instagram posts before you pin it.
My advice on pinning
Pin with a purpose and review it every so often. Three slots is a tight limit, so each one should be doing a job: introducing you, proving what you can do, or pointing people at what's happening now. When a pin goes stale, unpin it. It won't vanish, it just goes back to its usual spot, so there's no risk in changing your mind.
Frequently asked questions
How do I unpin a post on Instagram?
Go to your profile, tap the pinned post, tap Options in the top right, then tap Unpin from main grid. The post returns to its original spot in your grid.
