The basic steps to post a photo or video on Instagram
To create a post on Instagram, open the app and tap the plus icon (+) at the bottom of your screen. Select whether you want to upload a photo from your phone's camera roll or take a new photo or video with your camera. Choose the image or video you want to share, then tap Next. You can add filters, adjust brightness and contrast, or crop the image before posting. After editing, tap Next again, add a caption and hashtags if you want, choose who can see the post, and tap Share.
The entire process takes about two to three minutes if you already have a photo ready. If you are taking a new photo, the time depends on how many shots you want to try. Instagram saves your draft automatically if you close the app before finishing, so you can come back to it later.
Key Takeaways
- Open Instagram, tap the plus icon, and select a photo or video from your phone or take a new one with your camera.
- You can edit your image with filters, brightness adjustments, and cropping before you post it.
- Add a caption, hashtags, and location tags to help people find and understand your post.
- Choose your audience before sharing — you can post to all followers, close friends only, or specific people.
- Instagram stores your draft if you exit before posting, so you can finish it whenever you are ready.
Editing your photo or video before posting
After you select your image, Instagram opens an editing screen with several tools. You can explore filters (preset color and tone adjustments), adjust brightness, contrast, saturation, and warmth, or straighten and crop the image. Swipe left and right through the filter options to see how each one looks on your photo. If you do not like any of the filters, you can skip them entirely — many people post without filters.
For videos, you can trim the length, choose a thumbnail image, and add text or stickers before posting. The editing tools work the same way as they do for photos. You can undo any change by tapping the back arrow, and you can always edit the post again after it is live on your profile.
Writing captions and using hashtags
After editing, tap Next and you will see a text box for your caption. This is where you write the words that appear with your post. You can write anything — a description of the photo, a thought, a joke, or nothing at all. Captions can be as short as one word or several paragraphs long. Instagram does not limit caption length, though very long captions may be collapsed behind a "more" button that readers have to tap to see the full text.
Hashtags are words or phrases preceded by a # symbol, like #photography or #morningcoffee. They help people find your post when they search for that topic. You can add hashtags in your caption or in the first comment after posting. Instagram allows up to 30 hashtags per post, but most people use between 5 and 15. Using too many hashtags can look like spam, so choose ones that actually describe your post.
Choosing who sees your post
Before you tap Share, you can control who sees your post. By default, posts go to all your followers and anyone who searches for you. If your account is private, only your approved followers can see it. You can also post to your Close Friends list — a smaller group you create yourself — by tapping the audience selector and choosing Close Friends instead of Everyone.
Stories and Reels have different privacy options than regular posts. Stories disappear after 24 hours and can be set to visible to all followers, close friends only, or specific people. Reels are short videos that can reach people beyond your followers if Instagram's algorithm decides to promote them. You set the audience for Reels the same way you do for regular posts.
Adding location tags and mentions
On the caption screen, you can tap Location to tag where your photo was taken. Instagram will suggest nearby places based on your phone's location, or you can search for a specific place. Location tags help people discover your post and let your followers know where you were. You can also mention other Instagram accounts by typing @ followed by their username in your caption or comments. The person you mention will be notified.
Tagging people and places is optional — you can post without either one. However, location tags and mentions make your post more discoverable and can help you connect with other people who were at the same place or who are interested in the same topics.
Understanding what happens to your post after you share it
Once you tap Share, your post appears on your profile and in the feeds of people who follow you. Instagram's algorithm decides whether to show your post to people who do not follow you based on factors like how many likes and comments it gets, how long people look at it, and whether they have engaged with your posts before. Your post stays on your profile until you delete it, even if it stops getting new likes or comments.
The information in your post — the photo, caption, hashtags, location, and any accounts you mention — is stored on Instagram's servers. People can screenshot your post, share it to other platforms, or save it to their own collections. If your account is public, anyone can see your post without following you. If your account is private, only approved followers can see it.
Editing or deleting a post after it is live
You can edit a post after you have shared it by tapping the three dots in the top right corner of the post and selecting Edit. You can change the caption, add or remove hashtags, or update the location tag. You cannot change the photo or video itself — if you want a different image, you have to delete the post and create a new one. Edits appear when ready, and Instagram does not notify followers that you have made changes.
To delete a post, tap the three dots and select Delete. The post disappears from your profile and your followers' feeds, but Instagram may keep a copy in its servers for a period of time. Deleted posts cannot be recovered, so make sure you want to remove it before confirming.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I schedule a post to go live at a specific time?
Yes, but only if you have a business or creator account. On the caption screen, tap Advanced Settings and toggle on Schedule. Choose the date and time you want the post to appear, and Instagram will publish it automatically. Personal accounts cannot schedule posts — you have to share them when ready or save them as drafts.
What happens if I post something I regret?
You can delete the post at any time by tapping the three dots and selecting Delete. The post disappears from your profile and your followers' feeds. However, people may have already seen it, taken screenshots, or shared it elsewhere. Once something is on the internet, you cannot may provide it will not be seen again.
Do I have to use hashtags to post on Instagram?
No, hashtags are optional. You can post without any hashtags and the post will still appear on your profile and in your followers' feeds. Hashtags mainly help people who do not follow you discover your post when they search for that topic. If you do not care about reaching new people, you do not need to use them.
Can other people see my drafts?
No, drafts are private and only you can see them. They appear in a Drafts folder in the create menu. You can work on a draft for as long as you want before posting it, and no one else can access it unless you share your phone or account password with them.
What is the difference between a post, a story, and a reel?
A post is a photo or video that stays on your profile permanently. A story is a photo or video that disappears after 24 hours and appears at the top of followers' feeds. A reel is a short video (up to 90 seconds) that can reach people beyond your followers and appears in the Explore section. Each one has different creation and sharing options.