With over one billion monthly active users, Instagram is the most popular social media platform. If you have been on this platform for quite some time, you may think you know everything about this video and photo-sharing application. However, there are hidden features that even the most veteran Instagram user is unaware of. Keep reading to learn these advanced tricks.
Stop Seeing Stories/Posts from Accounts you Follow but don’t Like
Following an account doesn’t mean you must stay stuck watching content you don’t enjoy. It’s alright if you don’t want to see any more of your friend’s makeup tutorials or cat videos. However, you don’t want to hurt their feelings. So, mute those accounts.
Go to the account you wish to mute > tap on the Following button > click Mute. Select whether you want to mute Stories, posts, Notes, or all.
If you want to mute Stories, you can do so by clicking the three dots on the right-hand corner of the screen and clicking Mute. You can also directly mute a post in your feed by clicking the three dots and selecting Hide. Then, select Mute.
Download Instagram Videos
Maybe you like someone’s Story or Reel and wish to download the video. Of course, it is easier to download through your phone if it is your own. But most people ask can I download Instagram videos if it isn’t mine? You can download videos using the app, but you cannot download videos using Instagram on your desktop.
For instance, using a Mac, you can save Instagram videos using the Pulltube application.
Rearrange the Filters
Don’t like Hefe? You can get Hefe out of sight and keep your favorite filters at your fingertips. A hidden Instagram feature allows users to customize the filter options menu.
When posting a video or photo, head to Filter > press and hold the filter you wish to move and move it up or down the list. You can also move the filters you don’t regularly use to the end of the list, so they’re out of sight.
Clear the Search History
So, you don’t want your friends or anyone to find out what you have been hunting for on Instagram? Whether stalking your ex-friend or seeking pictures of cute ferrets, you can wipe the search history squeaky clean.
Go to your profile and open the hamburger menu in the top right corner of the screen. Next, tap your Activity and select Recent Searches. Then, click Clear all and confirm your choice.
Don’t Delete but Archive Old Posts
Want old posts out of your sight? You don’t need to delete them forever, so they’re removed from your profile. Instead, you can Archive your old posts. Click the three dots at the top of the post you wish to remove > choose Archive.
To review all your archived posts, go to your profile and tap the hamburger icon. Then, click Archive. You can view all your archived Stories and Posts.
You can restore your archived content by tapping Show on Profile.
Bookmark the Posts you Like
There’s a feature called Collections on Instagram, and here, you can save your favorite posts for later. Go to a post you would like to save > click the bookmark icon to save. The post will be automatically saved to a generic collection. You can also save it to an existing collection or create a new one.
You can see your saved collections and posts by visiting your profile and tapping the hamburger menu. Then, click Saved.
Create Line Breaks in Captions
Creating line breaks is one of the most favorite Instagram caption tricks. It allows users to take control over the pacing of their captions. You can edit your photo > proceeding to the caption screen > writing the caption > entering 123 on your device’s keyboard > and using Return to add breaks to the caption.
Limit the Screen Time
Of course, you can scroll down forever. There’s always new content on Instagram to keep you entertained. But it would be best if you did not allow yourself to go on scrolling down as that will hamper your work productivity and keep you from completing your daily chores.
You can save yourself from getting addicted to Instagram using the platform’s built-in daily timer.
You can do this by going to your profile > clicking the hamburger menu, and clicking Time Spent. You can click Set daily reminders to take breaks or Set daily time limits. Select an amount of time and click Turn On.
Hide Comments
Social media can be cruel; if you don’t want to ruin your day by reading snarky comments, you can turn them off. This way, you can post pictures or posts, but your followers aren’t allowed to comment on them.
To do this, choose the hamburger menu from your profile and click Settings > click Privacy > click Comments > click Allow or Block comments from specific profiles or all profiles.
The Bottom Line
Use these advanced Instagram hacks to become a pro while posting from your business or personal account.