Is your Instagram carousel not quite giving the vibe you envisioned? Don’t worry, you’re not stuck with the initial photo order. Instagram provides a way to reorganize your photo dumps, allowing you to curate a fresh and visually appealing sequence. Originally introduced in November 2021, the edit carousel feature lets you not only remove images but also strategically rearrange them. This guide will walk you through a simple workaround to change the order of photos in your Instagram carousels, ensuring your feed always looks its best. This technique is specifically for carousels with more than two photos, as you need to maintain at least two images in the album throughout the process.
This method requires a bit of planning, but it’s effective. You’ll essentially be removing photos in a specific order, keeping the desired first and second images in place. Then, you’ll restore the deleted photos, adding them back in the sequence you prefer. Let’s dive into the steps to reorder your Instagram photo carousel and give your feed the perfect flow.
Steps to Change the Order of Photos in an Instagram Carousel:
1. Launch Instagram
First things first, open the Instagram app on your mobile device and navigate to your main feed.
2. Find the Post You Want to Reorder
Scroll through your profile to locate the carousel post that you wish to rearrange.
3. Access the Edit Options
Tap the three dots located in the top right corner of the post you want to edit. This will open a menu with various options.
By tapping the three dots, you open up the post’s settings.
4. Select “Edit”
From the dropdown menu, choose the “Edit” option. This will allow you to make changes to your carousel post.
Choosing “Edit” prepares your carousel for modification.
5. Swipe to the Photo You Intend to Move
Swipe left across the carousel to find the specific photo you want to reposition within the sequence.
6. Delete the Photo
Once you’ve swiped to the photo, tap the trash can icon in the upper right corner of the image. This will prompt you to delete the selected photo.
The trash can icon allows you to remove a photo from the carousel.
7. Confirm Deletion
Tap “Delete” to confirm the removal of the photo from your carousel. Remember, the photo isn’t permanently deleted yet; it’s moved to the “Recently Deleted” section.
Confirming delete moves the photo to the recently deleted folder.
8. Repeat for All Photos to be Rearranged
Repeat steps 5-7 for each photo you want to reposition in your carousel. Be strategic about the order in which you delete them, ensuring you keep at least two photos remaining that you want to be at the beginning of your rearranged carousel.
9. Finalize Edits
After deleting all the photos you wish to rearrange, tap “Done” in the top right corner to save these changes to your post. At this stage, your carousel will temporarily have fewer images and be in a partial state of reorder.
Tapping “Done” saves your deletions and prepares for photo restoration.
Restoring and Reordering Your Photos
Now that you’ve strategically removed the photos, it’s time to restore them in your desired order. Follow these steps to rebuild your carousel with the new photo sequence.
1. Go to Your Profile Settings
Navigate back to your Instagram profile. Tap on your profile picture in the bottom right corner to get there.
2. Open the Settings Menu
Tap the three horizontal lines in the upper right corner of your profile page. This will open the options menu.
Accessing settings from your profile menu.
3. Enter “Settings”
From the menu, select “Settings”. This will take you to Instagram’s main settings panel.
Navigating to the settings section of Instagram.
4. Find “Recently Deleted”
In the settings menu, use the search bar at the top and type “Manage Recently Deleted”. Select the “Recently Deleted” option when it appears. This section contains photos and stories you’ve deleted within the last 30 days (for posts and reels) or 24 hours (for stories).
5. Choose a Photo to Restore
In the “Recently Deleted” folder, select the first photo you want to reappear in your carousel in the new order.
Selecting a photo from the recently deleted to restore.
6. Access Photo Options in “Recently Deleted”
Tap the three dots located in the lower right corner of the selected photo. This will bring up options for managing the deleted photo.
Opening options for a photo within the recently deleted section.
7. Select “Restore”
From the options, tap “Restore”. This will restore the photo back to your Instagram library and, importantly, add it back to your carousel post in the order you restore them.
Choosing “Restore” to bring the photo back to your post.
8. Confirm Restore
You’ll be asked to confirm your action. Tap “Restore” again to finalize the process and bring the photo back to your carousel.
Confirming the photo restoration action.
9. Repeat to Complete Rearrangement
Repeat steps 5-8 for all the photos you deleted, restoring them one by one in the exact order you want them to appear in your carousel. The order in which you restore the photos is crucial as Instagram adds them back sequentially.
By following these steps, you can effectively rearrange the photos in your Instagram carousel, giving you greater control over your feed’s presentation and ensuring your visual stories are told just the way you want them. Start experimenting with reordering your carousels today to achieve the perfect aesthetic for your Instagram profile!
