What is an archived Instagram post?

When you archive a post on Instagram, you remove it from your Instagram profile without deleting it. It makes your post private. Therefore, you can still view your archived posts; however, your friends and followers won't be able to see them.

The Archive doesn't delete your post, but instead moves it off your Instagram feed and into a private folder that only you can access. Not only can you archive a post, but you can also archive your Stories.

Your archived posts and stories are saved in your archive folder chronologically. Lastly, you can unarchive them and post them so the public can see them again.

What can you do with the Instagram Archive feature?

The primary function of the Instagram archive is to store unwanted photos, videos, and reels without deleting them. But aside from that, there are different things you can do with the Archive feature.

Moving your posts to the Archive allows you to post them back on your feed when you change your mind. You may also move it from the Archive back to its original place on your Instagram profile.

Many users use the Instagram archive to organize their feeds to keep their aesthetics. Also, they can edit the post's caption, location, and tagged person while in the Archive.

Some businesses and organizations use the Archive to get rid of any content that is not evergreen, such as giveaways or contests. Some celebrities, influencers, and companies also move photos to the Archive ahead of a big announcement to make some buzz.

How To Archive an Instagram post

Moving your post to the Archive is very easy. Knowing how to move your post to the Archive allows you to use this feature whenever needed. You can hide a shared post from your profile, and your followers and friends won't be able to see it.

Here are some easy steps to archive an Instagram post:

• Go to your profile and find the post you want to archive.
• Tap the "..." menu that can be seen in the upper right-hand corner of the post.
• Then select Archive.

After these steps, your post will move into your archive folder.

How To View Archived Posts on Instagram in 5 Easy Steps

Once you move your post to your archive folder, the public won't be able to see that post again. However, you can still see them in your archive folder.

You have to use the Instagram app on your mobile phone to see your archived posts, as this feature isn't available on the computer version of Instagram.

Whether you are using an android phone or an iPhone, it is easy to view your archived posts on Instagram.

Follow these five easy steps to see your archived posts.

1. Go to your profile

Open your Instagram app on your phone. Then, tap your profile picture on the bottom right screen.

2. Press the three horizontal lines icon

You can see the three horizontal lines icon in the upper right corner. Press the icon, and a drop-down menu will show up.

3. Tap the Archived button

You can see the Archived button with a clock icon on the drop-down menu. Tap this button to go to your archived folder.

4. Press the Stories Archive at the top

At the top of your screen, you can find the Stories Archive. Press that button to go to your archived post.

5. Choose Post Archive

After pressing the Stories Archive, you'll see three options: Stories Archive, Post Archive, and Live Archive. Choose the Post Archive to view your archived Instagram posts.

By following these steps, you can view all your archived posts on Instagram.

Did You Know? In 2012, Facebook bought Instagram for $1 billion. There were 30 million users on the social media platform during that time.

What happens when you unarchive archived posts on Instagram?

With the Archive feature on Instagram, you are allowed to remove posts on your Instagram without actually deleting them. Another function of this feature is that you can unarchive a post without getting some unwanted attention.

Nobody is notified when you archive or unarchive a post. Therefore, you can move your post as often as you want.

Furthermore, all the comments and likes on an archived post remain. The likes and comments can still be seen when you unarchive the post.

Moreover, your unarchived post will be back in your feed on the date it was posted before, and your friends and followers can comment and like it.

How To Unarchive Instagram Posts

Like how you archive an Instagram post, it is easy to unarchive it from your private archive gallery. Follow these easy steps to unarchive a post:

• Go to your profile.
• Press the three lines appearing in the upper right corner.
• Then, tap Archive.
• After that, select the Posts Archive at the top.
• Next, look for the post you want to unarchive and press the three dots in the upper right-hand corner.
• Select "show on profile."

After doing all these steps, your post will be visible on your Instagram profile again.

Also, you can delete an archived post instead of making it public again. Simply press Delete rather than Show on Profile to delete an archived post. Then, your post will be permanently deleted.

How To Share an Archived Story on Instagram

Instagram stories disappear after 24 hours. However, you can still view them in your archive folder.

Instagram stories are routinely saved in the archived folder. So you don't have to set or move them to your archived gallery.

Moreover, if you have Instagram stories that you love, there are some ways you can share them again in public. You can repost them as a post or a highlight.

As a post

Your friends can only see your Instagram post within 24 hours. After that time frame, it will disappear from your Story.

But if you have an Instagram story that you would like to share again with your friends and followers, you may post your Story.

Follow these steps on how to share an archived story as a post on Instagram:

• Go to your Instagram profile by tapping your profile picture at the bottom right corner.
• Then, press the three horizontal lines on the upper right hand.
• Go to your Archive and look for the Story you would like to share.
• Tap the More button.
• Choose "Share as Post."

After these steps, you can proceed to post your Story as a post. You can add a location, hashtag, and caption. You can also tag your friends in your post.

As a highlight

While your Instagram story disappears after 24 hours, there is another way to keep it on your profile. Story Highlights are a group of Instagram stories you can organize into folders that you can see on your profile.

You can add your favorite stories to a Highlight so your friends and followers can see them.

To add an archived story to a Highlight, follow these steps:

• Go to your profile.
• Press the three lines appearing in the top right corner of your screen.
• Tap Archive.
• Tap Archive at the top center of the page.
• Choose Stories.
• Look for the Story you would like to share.
• Tap Share.
• Select Highlight.

Then you will see a highlight on your Instagram profile. Also, you don't have to add every archived Story to your Highlight.

How To Archive Reels on Instagram

Aside from photos and videos, you can also share reels on Instagram. Due to the popularity of TikTok, Instagram released a feature called Instagram Reels.

Instagram Reels enables users to watch and create interesting short videos. If you have some posted reels you want to hide, you can move them to your archive folder.

To archive an Instagram reel, follow these steps:

• Go to your profile.
• Press the Reels tab.
• Look for the reel you want to archive.
• Tap the three dots or Ellipsis at the bottom right of the reel.
• Go to Manage and press the Archive option.
• Tap the Archive to move the reel to the archive folder.

After these steps, you can find your archived reels in your archive gallery. However, once you archive a reel, all the remixes of the reel will be deleted. Plus, the audio will be muted. But the changes will be restored if you unarchive the reel.

How To View Archived Reels on Instagram

To find your archived reels on Instagram, follow the steps below:

• Go to your profile.
• Tap the three horizontal lines you can find at the top right and choose Archive.
• Press the Stories Archive menu at the top and choose Posts Archive.
• Find the reel and open it to view it.

Your archived reels won't be seen by your friends and followers, just like your archived posts.

How To Unarchive Instagram Reels

In case you change your mind and want to share your Instagram reels again, you can unarchive them. By unarchiving your archived reels, your followers and friends can view them again. They can also comment, like, and share the reels.

To unarchive Instagram reels, follow these steps:

• Go to your Archive folder.
• Choose Posts archive from the top.
• Then, look for the reel you want to unarchive and open it.
• Tap the three dots or Ellipse at the top right corner.
• Select the Show on Profile option.
• Confirm it to unarchive the reel.

After that, the archived reel will reappear on your profile, and your friends will be able to see it again.

How To Find Archived Instagram Live Videos

Instagram has another fantastic feature, Live Video. This feature allows users to connect with followers and friends at the moment. However, your live Story disappears after you end the live video.

If you have noticed in your archived folder, there are three options; Posts, Stories, and Live. Once your Instagram Live ends, your followers won't be able to see the video. However, you can still view your previous live videos in your archived folder for 30 days.

To find your archived live videos on Instagram, follow these steps:

• Go to your Instagram profile page.
• Press the three horizontal lines that appear in the top right corner.
• Press the Archive menu item
• At the top of your screen, press Stories Archive. Then, the Live Archive option will show on the drop-down menu.
• Choose the Live Archive, and all your previous Live videos will appear.

But you have to ensure that the Save Live to Archive option is enabled to save your live videos in your Archive folder.

To ensure your Save Live to Archive is enabled, follow these steps:

• In the top right corner, press the three dots icon of your Live Archive folder.
• Choose Settings.
• Ensure the switch next to Save Live to Archive is blue.

Once the Save Live to Archive is enabled, your live footage will be automatically saved in your archive folder. Your live videos are only kept in your archive folders for 30 days. After 30 days, they will disappear.

How To Share Archived Instagram Live as a Post

You can share your live broadcast from your archive folder on your feed. To do this, follow these steps:

• Go to your profile.
• Press the three lines appearing in the upper right corner.
• Press Archive.
• Select Posts/Stories/Live at the top of the screen. Then, choose Live Archive.
• Find the live broadcast you want to share and tap it.
• Click the Share button at the bottom of your screen. Then, follow the directions.

After following these steps, your followers can view your live broadcast on your feed. However, any comments and likes from your original video won't be included when you share a live video.

Leverage the Instagram Archive Feature Today

Instagram is a flexible platform where people can use its numerous features while keeping a seamless experience.

Since Instagram released its new Archive feature, users have been using this to remove unwanted posts on their feeds and store them privately. They can also unarchive their archived posts and share them in public again.

Additionally, Instagram stories and lives are automatically saved in the archive folder. So users can share them on their feeds and allow their followers and friends to view them again.

Archive is one of the features that many users like to use on Instagram because it is handy when keeping your profile aesthetic. Using this feature, you can save photos and videos you want to keep privately on your Instagram account.

If you wish to learn more about Instagram’s Archive feature or get an app that can help you manage your Instagram account, visit Archive.com today and check out our Archive app. You will never worry about managing your social media accounts again.

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FAQs On How To See Archived Posts on Instagram

How long do posts stay archived on Instagram?

Archived Instagram posts stay in your archive folder until you delete them. They don't expire.

Does archiving posts affect engagement?

Archiving your posts keeps the comments and engagements. And when you unarchive them, any likes and comments stay and can be seen by the public.

Do unarchived posts show up on the feed?

When you unarchive a post, it will not show on other people's feeds like a new one as, technically, it is not posted again. However, your followers and friends can go back to the date you made the post and still be able to engage with it.