Published by the Zolyp team ·
How do you archive a post?
Archiving hides a post from your profile so your followers and everyone else can't see it, without deleting it. The post keeps all its likes and comments.
- Tap Profile or your profile picture in the bottom right.
- Tap the post you want to archive.
- Tap Options in the top right.
- Select Archive.
Source: Instagram Help Centre: Archive a post you've shared on Instagram, checked 15 October 2026
How do you archive several posts at once?
Useful for a rebrand or a seasonal clear-out:
- Go to your profile and tap Menu in the top right.
- Below How you use Instagram, tap Your activity.
- Below Content you shared, tap Posts.
- Tap Select in the top right, then select the posts to archive. Sort with Newest to oldest, or filter with All dates.
- Tap Archive at the bottom, then Archive again to confirm.
Source: Instagram Help Centre: Archive multiple posts at once that you've shared on Instagram, checked 15 October 2026
How do you unarchive a post?
The post goes back to its original place in your profile grid, not to the top:
- Go to your profile and tap Menu in the top right.
- Below How you use Instagram, tap Archive.
- Tap Stories archive at the top, then tap Posts archive.
- Tap the post you want to show again.
- Tap Options in the top right, then select Show on profile.
- Instagram's help centre also lists another route to the archive: Menu, then Your activity, then Archived below Removed and archived content. From there you can switch between Stories archive, Posts archive and Live archive
Sources: Instagram Help Centre: Show an archived post again in your Instagram profile, checked 15 October 2026; Instagram Help Centre: Where to see content you've archived on Instagram, checked 15 October 2026
What's the difference between archiving and deleting?
Archive when you might want a post back. Delete when you don't, but know you have a short window to change your mind.
- To restore a deleted post: go to your profile, tap Menu, then Your activity.
- Below Removed and archived content, tap Recently deleted.
- Choose Posts, Reels and videos, or Stories at the top, and tap the item.
- Tap Options, then tap Restore and Restore again.
| Archive | Delete | |
|---|---|---|
| Who can see it | Only you | No one; it moves to Recently deleted |
| How long you have | No time limit given | 30 days, then it's deleted automatically |
| How to undo it | Show on profile | Restore from Recently deleted |
Sources: Instagram Help Centre: Archive a post you've shared on Instagram, checked 15 October 2026; Instagram Help Centre: What happens to content you delete on Instagram, checked 15 October 2026; Instagram Help Centre: How to recover deleted Instagram photos, videos, reels, and stories, checked 15 October 2026
Why can't you find a post or the archive?
- Instagram notes that Stories Archive and Highlights aren't available for all accounts
- Recently deleted only appears if you've deleted something recently, and it needs the latest version of the app
- Deleted posts are kept for 30 days. Stories that weren't in your stories archive are kept for up to 24 hours
- Deleted messages can't be restored
- Instagram documents Recently deleted in the Android and iPhone apps, so look for it there
Sources: Instagram Help Centre: Archive a post you've shared on Instagram, checked 15 October 2026; Instagram Help Centre: How to recover deleted Instagram photos, videos, reels, and stories, checked 15 October 2026; Instagram Help Centre: What happens to content you delete on Instagram, checked 15 October 2026
Refreshing your grid
Disclosure: this is our product. If you're archiving old posts to make room for a new look, Zolyp can fill the gap: it plans, writes and designs on-brand Instagram posts and publishes them once you approve. There's a 3-day free trial, no card required.
Common questions
Do archived Instagram posts keep their likes and comments?
Yes. Instagram says an archived post keeps all its likes and comments, and they're there when you show it on your profile again.
Can my followers see archived posts?
No. Archiving hides the post from your profile so your followers and other people on Instagram can't see it.
Where do unarchived posts go?
Back to their original spot in your profile grid, not to the top.
How long can I recover a deleted Instagram post?
30 days. Deleted posts sit in Recently deleted, where you can restore them or delete them permanently.
Can I archive several Instagram posts at once?
Yes. Go to Menu, Your activity, then Posts below Content you shared, tap Select, choose the posts and tap Archive.