What does the “Archive” feature do?

Instagram's Archive feature allows users to hide specific posts from their feeds without deleting them. Aside from photo posts and slide shows, users can also archive Instagram stories and reels.

When you archive an Instagram post, it disappears from your feed. This feature is helpful for individuals or businesses who want to hide specific posts for whatever reason they may have. It gives users more freedom to curate the posts they want to show without the fear of losing them forever.

Users can also delete Instagram posts if they want, but once a post is deleted, they can no longer retrieve it.

The archive option allows for more leeway, as users can unarchive posts anytime they want without affecting dates, likes, or comments. It can also be fun to look at old memories, even if you don't want them to show up on your profile anymore.

How To Archive All Instagram Posts

Mass archiving multiple or all Instagram posts is a simple process. You first need to install the Android or iOS mobile app on your device through Google Play and the App Store, respectively.

After logging into your Instagram account, follow the steps below.

1. Go to your Instagram profile. You can retrieve it by clicking the rightmost icon at the bottom of your screen.
2. Tap the three lines at the screen's top right corner. This step will pull up a menu.
3. Tap on "Your activity," then on "Photos and videos." This option will allow you to view, delete, or archive previously shared photos and videos.
4. Tap "Posts" beside the grid icon. This option will pull up all Instagram posts currently shown on your profile. If you want to archive a reel, video, or highlight, you can also select one of those options.
5. In the top right corner of your screen, tap "Select." Checkboxes will appear on each post.
6. Tap on each post you want to archive. A blue check mark will appear on each post as you select them.
7. Once you have selected all your desired posts, tap the "Archive" button on the lower left part of the screen. You can also choose to delete the selected posts.

Archiving Individual Instagram Posts

The process is just as simple If you're not into bulk archiving and want to archive just one single post. Begin by opening up your Instagram app and logging into your account.

Follow the steps below to archive individual posts.

1. Go to your Instagram profile, which you can usually access by tapping the rightmost icon on the lower part of your screen.
2. Scroll through your feed until you find the Instagram post you want to archive. Tap on it.
3. Tap the three dots located on the top right of the post beside your username to pull out a menu.
4. Tap on "Archive." This will remove the post from your profile feed.
5. You can repeat the previous steps as often as you like. You can also follow the steps in the previous section to archive multiple posts at once.

Unarchiving Instagram Posts

A significant advantage of archiving posts instead of deleting them is that you can access or bring them back anytime. If you want to view or bring back an archived post to your profile feed, you can unarchive them.

To unarchive Instagram posts, follow the steps below.

1. Go to your Instagram profile by tapping the profile icon in the bottom right corner of your screen.
2. Tap the three-line icon on the screen’s top right to open the menu.
3. Tap "Archive" on the menu that pops up. This step will show you your stories, posts, or live archives.
4. If you don't automatically see your archived posts, tap "Stories archive" or "Live archive" at the center top of your screen. A drop-down menu will appear.
5. Select "Posts archive" to access your archived posts.
6. Scroll through the archive and select the post you want to unarchive by tapping on it.
7. Tap the three dots located on the top right of the post beside your Instagram username. Doing this will pull up another menu.
8. After selecting "Show on profile," your archived post will then resurface in your profile feed.
9. Repeat this process if you want to unarchive multiple posts. As of the latest update, there is no current way to unarchive multiple posts simultaneously.

Reasons for Archiving Posts

There are several reasons people or organizations would want to archive their posts. The process is flexible and easily reversible, making it appealing to users.

Here are four of the most common reasons for archiving posts, whether you're running a personal or professional Instagram account.

Protect your identity

Many people use social media, Instagram in particular, to show their lives and even share some personal information. However, not everyone uses Instagram this way.

Many people are becoming more concerned about maintaining their privacy on social media. A Go Verizon survey found that 69 percent of respondents have deleted or considered deleting their social media accounts. Their main reason was hearing news about data breaches in social media companies.

Archiving posts allows people to control the images and information they share on Instagram. Users may archive specific posts that reveal sensitive information, such as their schools, workplaces, addresses, and other personal information.

Some people may want to hide their identities or those of their loved ones. Instagram's archive feature helps people manage their privacy on the platform.

Hide irrelevant posts

People's posting habits change, especially when you've spent a long time on a platform like Instagram. Archiving is an excellent way to clean up one's feed and remove posts that may not be relevant anymore.

For example, a business account may run contests from time to time. Their social media manager may find it wise to archive posts of previous contests or giveaways.

Once the contest is over, the information may no longer be relevant. Keeping previous contest-related posts may also confuse new audiences. Archiving irrelevant posts is safer to avoid confusion and maintain a cleaner feed.

Appear more professional

Many people handle social media as an online diary. Although there is nothing inherently wrong with this practice, it can sometimes harm one's professional prospects.

Some companies may scour a potential hire's online presence during a background check. If you don't clean up your online presence beforehand, they may find some less-than-flattering things about you.

Archiving some of your older posts can help create a more professional Instagram profile. It can take some time, especially if you've been on the platform for a long time. However, doing a bit of cleanup can help you rest easier, especially during a job hunt.

Avoid difficult memories

Instagram is a place where people share photos and videos of moments and events in their lives. However, when something unexpected happens, or a loss occurs, some of these moments can be painful to revisit.

You may scroll through your feed and find Instagram photos and videos of a loved one you lost. Some older posts may remind you of darker times in your life.

Archiving these posts can help you avoid specific mental health triggers and aid in your healing. It helps users move on from particular experiences and allows them to revisit these memories when they are ready.

Pro Tip: It is not yet possible to archive posts on the Instagram desktop website. However, you can use an Android emulator like Bluestacks to access the Instagram app on your laptop or desktop.

Make the Most Out of Your Instagram Business Account With Archive

Instagram's archive feature is handy for both personal and business accounts. It is a simple and excellent way to manage one's presence on the platform. Companies can benefit from the feature to aid their branding and marketing efforts.

To better manage your business's online presence, you can use Archive—a tool with the same name but slightly different capabilities.

Our app helps you detect posts from influencers and communities on Instagram and TikTok. It allows businesses like yours to manage Instagram posts and those from your online community. You can detect this user-generated content and use them to improve your marketing campaigns.

Maximize your Instagram presence and utilize user-generated content from your community with Archive. Book a demo with us today.

FAQs on How To Archive All Instagram Posts

Can other people see my archived posts?

No. Only you can see your archived content unless another person gains access to your Instagram account.

Do archived Instagram posts expire?

No, archived Instagram posts do not expire. You can keep them indefinitely and repost them on your feed whenever necessary.

Is there a numerical limit to the posts you can archive on Instagram?

No. You can archive as many of your previous posts as you desire. Some people even archive all of their old posts, leaving their profile pages empty.