Instagram allows you to pin up to three posts to the top of your profile grid, ensuring that specific content is the first thing visitors see when they visit your page. This is a simple but powerful tool for making strong first impressions, highlighting important announcements, featuring best-performing content, or showcasing evergreen posts that new visitors should see first.
This guide explains how to pin a post, how to use pinning strategically, and how to unpin posts when your priorities change.
Why It Matters
By default, Instagram displays your posts in reverse chronological order — your most recent post appears first. This means that if you posted something important a month ago, new profile visitors will never see it unless they scroll far down. Pinning puts you back in control of what people see first.
For businesses, this is particularly valuable. A new product launch, a testimonial video, an introductory "about us" post, or a current promotional offer can be pinned to ensure every profile visitor sees it, regardless of when it was originally posted. It effectively turns a selected area of your grid into a featured section.
What You Need Before You Start
You need an Instagram account — Business, Creator, or personal. Pinning is available to all account types. You can pin a maximum of three posts at a time. Pinned posts appear in your grid in the order they were pinned (most recently pinned appears first in the pinned section). Only the account owner can pin or unpin posts on their profile.
Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1: Go to Your Instagram Profile
Open the Instagram app and tap your profile photo or the profile icon at the bottom right of the screen to navigate to your profile.
Step 2: Find the Post You Want to Pin
Scroll through your grid to find the post you want to pin. Tap the post to open it in full view.
Step 3: Tap the Three-Dot Menu
In the top right corner of the post (when viewed in full), tap the three horizontal dots (the more options icon).
Step 4: Select "Pin to Your Profile"
A menu will appear with several options. Tap Pin to your profile. The post will be pinned immediately. You will see a small pin icon appear in the top-left corner of the post thumbnail in your profile grid, indicating it is pinned.
Step 5: Verify the Pinned Position
Return to your profile by tapping the back arrow or your profile icon. The pinned post should now appear in the upper-left area of your grid (or in one of the first three positions, alongside other pinned posts). Pinned posts are displayed together at the top of the grid before your chronological posts.
Step 6: Pin Additional Posts (Up to Three Total)
You can pin up to three posts at the same time. Repeat the process for up to two more posts. The order they appear in the pinned section reflects the order they were pinned — the most recently pinned post appears first among the pinned posts.
Step 7: Unpin a Post When Needed
To unpin a post, go to the post in your grid or profile, tap the three-dot menu, and select Unpin from your profile. The post will return to its original chronological position in your grid.
Common Issues and How to Fix Them
I do not see the "Pin to your profile" option. This feature requires an up-to-date version of the Instagram app. Update your app from the App Store or Google Play and try again. If the option is still missing, it may not yet be available in your region — Meta rolled this feature out gradually.
I pinned three posts but want to pin a fourth. You must unpin one of the existing three before you can pin a new one. There is currently a maximum of three pinned posts at any time.
My pinned post is not appearing at the top of my grid. On older versions of the app, pinned posts may not display prominently for viewers using those versions. Pinning works reliably in the current app version. Also check that your pin was saved successfully by looking for the pin icon on the post thumbnail.
Can I pin a Reel or a Story? You can pin Reels to your profile grid in the same way as regular posts. Stories cannot be pinned directly, but you can add them to Instagram Highlights, which appear prominently below your bio as a permanent feature.
Tips to Get the Most Out of Pinning
Pin content that speaks to new visitors. Think about what a first-time profile visitor should know about you or your business. An introduction video, a best-seller showcase, or your top testimonial is far more valuable to a new visitor than your most recent post (which may be about a specific event or promotion they have no context for).
Update your pinned posts regularly. Review what you have pinned every month or quarter. Pinned content that references an expired offer, a past event, or outdated pricing can make your profile look stale. Keep your pinned posts fresh and relevant.
Use pinned posts to support active campaigns. When you launch a new product, service, or promotion, pin a post about it. This ensures every profile visitor who lands on your page during the campaign period sees it prominently — even people who find your account through older content or search.
Pin your highest-engagement post to leverage social proof. A post with thousands of likes and hundreds of comments is powerful social proof for new visitors. Pinning it means that impressive engagement number is the first thing people see, which builds credibility for your account.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my followers be notified when I pin a post?
No. Pinning a post does not send any notification to your followers. It only changes where the post appears on your profile grid. The post does not re-enter followers' feeds as if it were a new post.
Does pinning a post change its performance in the algorithm?
Pinning does not directly affect how Instagram's algorithm distributes a post in the explore feed or in your followers' home feeds. It only affects positioning on your own profile. However, if pinning leads to more profile visitors engaging with the post (because it is more visible), that increased engagement can indirectly signal quality to the algorithm.
Can I pin someone else's post to my profile?
No. You can only pin your own posts to your profile. You cannot pin posts from other accounts. However, if you create a Collab Post with another account, it counts as your post and can be pinned.
Is there a way to reorder pinned posts?
Instagram does not currently offer a direct drag-and-drop reorder for pinned posts. The order is determined by when they were pinned. To change the order, you would need to unpin all of them and re-pin them in the desired order (the last one you pin will appear first).