Instagram Archive: How to Use It Correctly?

Instagram Archive

Have you missed out on everything about the Instagram Archive since its inception? The feature never got any attention, and to an extent, it is still unnoticed among many users, but it can do wonders for you!

Most Instagram users share their photos on the platform and, later in the future, changes their mind about the public post. While Instagram allows you to delete the post as an option, there are still other reliable methods that are less radical.

Instagram comes with a new feature, and with archive, you can hide or temporarily remove your public photo. With this option, you can still get back the picture when you change your mind. This is the best option preferred by most photographers over deleting.

The Instagram archive is a vital feature not only for indecisive people but also perfect when you ever think of sharing your memories, improving engagement, or even highlighting stories. You can use this feature to your advantage.

In summary, the feature was rolled out in 2017 to help users remove their photos as well as videos from the public on a particular profile without losing them for future purposes. Hiding the images does not limit your access; you can still see the archived files anytime. However, your audience would not be able to find the photos or video.

And in our article today, we will cover everything you need to know about the Instagram archive. Let us get started with how to archive posts on Instagram.


How to Archive Post on Instagram?

While you can archive Instagram posts, it is also possible to archive multiple Instagram posts. Still, you can automatically set the Instagram stories and post to archive after 24 hours. But in this section, we will cover how to archive a single Instagram post and multiple posts at once. Let us get started.


Archive a Post

It is possible to archive a single post that you accidentally shared due to a change of mind. This way, your followers will not be able to see the post. You also have to understand that archived Instagram post keeps the likes, comments, and all sorts of engagement. So, if you want to archive a single post, here is the procedure:-

Step 1: Launch the Instagram application on your phone or if you are using a desktop, visit the Instagram website and log in with your relevant details. Then navigate to the Instagram profile by clicking on your profile pic found at the bottom right of the profile.

Step 2: Scroll through your timeline, locate the post you want to archive, and click on it.

Scroll through your timeline

Step 3: Then click on the 3 dots, which are vertical on Android but horizontal on iPhone. These dots are found at the top right corner of your screen.

Step 4: Then select Archive from the menu.

Step 5: Then the post will disappear from your Instagram profile unless you decide to return it to the public.


Archive Multiple Posts at Once

Archive Multiple Posts at Once

So, if you want to archive multiple Instagram posts at once, it is also simple as long as you follow the below procedure:

Step 1: Launch your Instagram application and make sure you are logged in to your account.

Step 2: Then click on the profile photo found at the bottom of the Instagram profile

Step 3: Then click on the 3 horizontal lines located at the top right-hand side of your screen and hit your activity.

Step 4: Click on the photos and videos from the popup menu and select posts from the resulting menu.

Step 5: Click choose an option located at the top right-hand side and tap on the circular box to make sure that you mark all the posts you wish to archive once. You can also filter the posts at this point by clicking the sort and filter option from the top right and choosing sorting preferences. You can even use the date range; when you are done, click apply.

Step 6: Once selected the posts, hit the archive icon found at the bottom of your screen and confirm by clicking archive again.

Step 7: So you can turn off sorting after that. Click sort and filter, then hit reset and finish by tapping apply.

Step 8: This option to archive multiple Instagram posts at once is only applicable when using iPhone or Android devices.


How to Archive Instagram Stories Automatically?

Done through your Instagram settings

As an Instagram user and a pro, there is the possibility that you know about this feature. It is possible to archive your Instagram stories automatically. All this is done through your Instagram Settings. and if you don't know, then here is how to work around it:

Step 1: Launch the Instagram application and make sure you are logged in to the relevant account. Open the Instagram menu found on the Instagram profile

Step 2: Click Settings, select Privacy and choose a story from the popup menu.

Step 3: Then scroll down to the bottom, locate the save icon, and toggle to the save archive icon. All the Instagram stories will be archived automatically once the time expires.


How to Undo Archive on Instagram

After archiving your Instagram post and later in the future changing your mind to make it public, you can still undo the archive. if you are curious, here is how to go about it:

Step 1: Launch the Instagram application and locate the profile and click on it

Launch the Instagram application

Step 2: Then head to the menu section found in the upper right corner of your screen

Then head to the menu section found in the upper right corner

Step 3: From the menu, click Aarchive

click on post archive

Step 4: You will access the archived Instagram posts. Navigate through and select the one you wish to get back to the profile

Step 5: Click on 3 dots located at the corner of each post you want to unarchive

Click on 3 dots located at the corner

Step 6: From the menu, click show on the profile. your post will be available in the original place, and any of your followers can access them.


How do I Find My Archives on Instagram?

If you want to access the archived Instagram posts anytime, the process is simple, but when you are using android or iPhone. follow the below procedure:

Step 1: After launching the Instagram application, click on the profile photo found on the bottom-hand side of the profile.

Step 2: After that, click on the 3 horizontal lines found at the top right, and from the menu, select your activity.

Step 3: Then click on the archive.

Step 4: And at the top of your screen, click on the post/stories archive icon. then you can select the post, stories, or even live archive based on what you want to access.


Benefits of Using Instagram Archive Feature

this far, you have all the basics on Instagram archives. In this section, we will then be dealing with some of the benefits of the Instagram archive feature. without wasting time, let us go into it directly:-


1. Highlighting the Best Stories

Highlighting best stories

First, you must understand that you can archive all Instagram stories. It is thus effortless to come up with one and then adjust the Instagram story highlights with only minimal clicks. This is one way of identifying the best Instagram stories for the audience. So, if you want to add archived stories to the highlight.

Here is how to do it:

Step 1: Launch the Instagram application, navigate the menu section on the profile

Step 2: From the menu, select Archive, and then proceed by again selecting stories on the drop-down menu found at the top of your screen.

Step 3: Navigate through the archived stories and locate the one you wish to add to the highlight

Step 4: Click on the story and select highlight

Step 5: Then finish by selecting the highlight you wish to add. Equally, you can click on + and create your custom or new highlight.


2. Reusing Photos without Appearing Repetitive

The lifespan of an Instagram post is short, just like other social media platforms. You might see the engagement metrics increase like views, comments, and likes, but they will all tank after a while, forcing you to curate a new Instagram post again to keep the audience engaged and entertained.

And when you realize that you are out of the high-quality photos to share, you can reuse the old ones after archiving. You only have to unarchive them to become public. This way, you have free time and breathe new life into your Instagram posts.


3. Hide Post Ahead of Important Announcement

If you have an important upcoming announcement to make, you have to hide the posts from which you will draw attention from the feed. This creates a kind of misery and hype about the next move among the followers. Many influencers are using such features, and these include Chipotle. So, it is one way of promoting your new products when your audience is eager for the big announcement.


4. Removing Expired Contents

There are many reasons why you might wish to archive Instagram posts. And one of them is removing the expired and non-evergreen posts from the feed. When your Instagram posts expire, they become irrelevant to the audience. and olf posts can be promoting brands you do offer. You can archive the posts and remove them from the public.


5. General Cleanup on Feeds

If you want to do the Instagram audit, the archive makes everything very simple. Try to archive different Instagram posts and evaluate which one makes your account look authentic. That is trying to carry our general cleaning. When you archive a post, it is not available to your followers.

When you change the theme of your Instagram or decide to rebrand, it is recommended to do some account cleanup by archiving the posts that do not rhyme with the current brands. It is also one way of testing Instagram themes on the account.


6. Reposting Photos with Low Engagement

Reposting photos with low engagement

You can increase Instagram engagement through the archive feature. Use the account analytics of your archived posts, then repost and confirm the current engagement. Thus utilize the insight and identify the post that provides high engagement.

Sometimes, you might have posted them at the wrong time; reposting again at a different time might guarantee high engagement when your audience is online. Archive the post and test the theory, and include the relevant hashtags when reposting the Instagram photo but with a different technique.


7. Posting Memories to Stories

Posting memories to stories

Instagram is a unique social media platform. It tends to keep all the post-dates, and all the memories are in the archive found under the stories. And so, based on how often you post, you can access the memories on your feeds, and close to your recent posts, you will notice something such as, ‘ on this day and then below it, you will see a share icon. You only need to click on share and post the memories to the stories.


Conclusion

The Instagram archive is a significant feature on Instagram. It serves many purposes other than its flexibility in the marketing strategy. While you can archive Instagram posts, it is also possible to repost Instagram photos without them looking repetitive. Thus, in the article, we have covered the procedure to archive single and multiple Instagram posts and unarchiving and accessing archived posts on the Instagram application.

Never why try out new approaches. Instead, learn how to utilize the feature and take your Instagram game to a higher level. in the Instagram archive, you can improve Instagram engagement and get new followers.