Technology

How to change the order of photos in an album on Instagram

Drawn Instagram icon.

Sick of the way your Instagram feed looks? You can change the order of photos in a photo dump to create an entirely new look.

Instagram unveiled the option to edit a carousel of multiple images back in November 2021. Not only can you delete photos from a photo dump, but you can also rearrange your photo album by deleting and re-adding images to it. So, if you want to keep all your photos in a carousel, but want a different order you can make that happen. This hack only works for photo dumps that have more than two photos because in order for it to work you need to keep two photos in the album at all times.

This is a workaround, so it’s a little imperfect and you’ll have to plan ahead. You need to remove the photos from your dump in a strategic way so that the photos left are the ones you want to be the first and second photo, then you’ll add the photos you removed back in the order that you want them to follow those first two images.

We will walk you through how this Instagram hack works.


How to change the order of photos in a carousel on Instagram:

1. Open Instagram

2. Navigate to the post you want to reorder

3. Tap the three dots in the upper right hand corner

Screenshot of an Instagram post with a red arrow pointing to the three dots in the upper right hand corner.
Tap the three dots. Credit: Screenshot: Instagram

4. Select ”Edit”

Screenshot of Instagram with red arrow pointing to "Edit."
Select “Edit.” Credit: Screenshot: Instagram

5. Swipe to the photo you want to change the order of

6. Tap the trash can icon in the upper right hand corner

Screenshot of an Instagram post with a red arrow pointing to the trash can icon in the upper right hand corner.
Tap the trash can icon. Credit: Screenshot: Instagram

7. Tap “Delete”

Screenshot of Instagram with a red arrow pointing to "Delete"
Select “Delete.” Credit: Screenshot: Instagram

8. Repeat for all the photos you want to reorder.

9. Tap “Done”

Screenshot of an Instagram post with a red arrow pointing to "Done" in the upper right hand corner.
Tap “Done.” Credit: Screenshot: Instagram

Now you have to add the photos in the order you want them to be in the carousel.

1. Navigate to your profile

2. Tap the three lines in the upper right hand corner

Screenshot of Instagram profile with a red arrow pointing to the three lines in the upper right hand corner.
Tap the three lines. Credit: Screenshot: Instagram

3. Tap “Settings”

Screenshot of Instagram with a red arrow pointing to "Settings."
Tap “Settings.” Credit: Screenshot: Instagram

4. Search “Manage Recently Deleted” and select it

5. Select the first photo you want to add back to the carousel

Screenshot of "Recently Deleted" on Instagram with a red arrow pointing to the first image there.
Select the photo you want to restore. Credit: Screenshot: Instagram

6. Tap the three dots in the upper right hand corner

Screenshot of a recently deleted Instagram post with a red arrow pointing to the three dots in the upper right hand corner.
Tap the three dots. Credit: Screenshot: Instagram

7. Tap “Restore”

Screenshot of Instagram with a red arrow pointing to "Restore."
Tap “Restore.” Credit: Screenshot: Instagram

8. Tap “Restore”

Screenshot of Instagram restore photo page with a red arrow pointing to "Restore."
Tap “Restore.” Credit: Screenshot: Instagram

9. Repeat for all the photos you want to add back to the carousel.

More Instagram tutorials:

Mashable