To use highlight covers on Instagram, you can select one from the stories you've added to a Highlight, choose one when creating a new Highlight, or upload a custom image.
Highlight covers are the thumbnail images displayed on your Instagram profile that visually represent the content within each of your Instagram Highlights. They help organize your saved stories and enhance the aesthetic appeal of your profile.
Here's how you can use or set your highlight covers:
You have several ways to determine what image appears as the cover for your Highlights. These methods apply whether you are creating a new Highlight or editing an existing one.
1. Select from Your Story
When you create a new Highlight by selecting stories from your archive, you can choose one of those stories' frames as the cover.
- Pull them from your story. When you add a story to a Highlight, you can later edit the Highlight and choose a frame from any of the stories contained within that Highlight to serve as the cover image. Go to the specific Highlight, tap "More" (usually three dots), select "Edit Highlight," and then tap "Edit Cover" to browse frames from your added stories.
2. Create Directly on Your Profile
You can initiate the creation of a new Highlight directly from your profile, which also involves selecting a cover.
- Create them through your profile. On your profile, you can tap the +New button located to the left of your existing Highlights. This process allows you to select archived stories to add. As part of setting up this new Highlight, you will be prompted to choose a cover image. You can select a frame from the stories you've added or tap the photo icon to upload an image from your camera roll.
3. Design a Custom Cover
For a unique look, you can create a cover image specifically for your Highlight.
- Design a custom Instagram Highlight cover. Instead of using a frame from a story, you can design an image (like a graphic or icon) outside of Instagram and upload it as the cover. To do this, when editing or creating a Highlight and you get to the "Edit Cover" option, tap the image icon to upload a picture from your phone's gallery. This image does not need to have been a part of your stories.
By utilizing these methods, you can effectively use highlight covers to brand your profile and make your saved stories visually appealing and easy to navigate.
