If you have ever wanted to look back at your favorite Instagram moments, only to find out that they disappear after 24 hours, there’s no need to worry. Instagram actually has a hidden location where all your stories and posts are saved. Instead of deleting those valuable memories, you have the option to keep them in your archive. Now, you might be wondering where exactly these archived stories and posts are stored.
In this blog post, we will help you uncover the mystery and guide you through the steps of finding archived Instagram posts and stories on your iPhone.
Table of Contents
What is Archive on Instagram, and how does it work?
The Archive feature on Instagram serves as a way to store and hide posts and stories without deleting them permanently. It allows users to maintain their content privately or in an organized manner while retaining the ability to revisit or restore it whenever needed.
When you choose to archive a post or story, it is removed from your public profile and becomes invisible to your followers and other Instagram users. Nevertheless, the content remains intact and is stored in a designated section specifically dedicated to archived items.
How to see archived Instagram posts and stories on iPhone
- To begin, open the Instagram app on your mobile device. Once launched, locate and tap on your profile picture. You can find it in the bottom right corner of the screen.
- Next, you need to locate the hamburger icon, which consists of three horizontal lines. It is typically located in the top right corner of the screen. Tap on the hamburger icon, and a menu will appear. From the menu options, select “Archive.”
- Once you are in the Archive section, you will notice a calendar icon. Tap on this calendar icon to access the archived Stories on Instagram. The calendar will display a chronological view, starting from the month you joined Instagram. By selecting a specific date from the calendar, you can view the Stories that were uploaded on that particular day. This allows you to conveniently browse and revisit your past Stories based on the desired date.
- If you have added location stickers to your Stories, those locations will be saved on a map. To access this feature, you can tap on the map icon located under the Stories archive. By doing so, you will be able to view the locations associated with your archived Stories. This provides a convenient way to explore your past Stories based on their specific geographical locations.
Now, let’s discuss how to retrieve your archived posts. To access your hidden posts, please follow the steps below:
- Tap the down arrow next to the Stories archive.
- Select Posts archive.
Gone are the days when you had to delete an Instagram feed post simply because it featured your ex or you no longer wanted it to be visible on your profile.
How to archive Instagram posts on iPhone
- To proceed, open the Instagram app and tap on your profile, which can be found by selecting your profile picture in the bottom right corner of the screen.
- Once you are on your Instagram profile, locate the post that you want to hide. Tap and hold on that specific post.
- After tapping and holding the post you wish to hide, a menu of options will appear. From the menu, select the “Archive” option.
Furthermore, if you want to hide multiple posts at once, you can save time and effort by following these steps:
- To begin, navigate to your Instagram profile by tapping on your profile picture. Once you’re on your profile, locate and tap on the hamburger icon. It is typically situated in the top right corner of the screen and consists of three horizontal lines.
- After tapping the hamburger icon, a menu will appear. From the menu options, select “Your activity.” Then, within the “Your activity” section, choose “Posts” to proceed.
- Long press and select posts.
- Within the “Posts” section, you will find the option to “Archive.” Tap on this option to proceed with archiving your posts. Once you’ve tapped on “Archive,” you may be prompted to confirm your choice. Confirm your decision to proceed with archiving the selected posts.
When it comes to Stories, there isn’t a manual option to hide a story. Stories automatically get added to the archives after they expire, which is typically after 24 hours. However, if you delete a story before it expires, it won’t be saved in the archives.
If you want to hide a story and keep it for later use, you can download the image or video from the story and then delete the story. By doing so, you will have a copy of the content that you can re-upload at a later time if desired.
How to unarchive Instagram posts on iPhone
One of the notable advantages of the Archive feature is the ability to restore hidden posts back to your profile. When you unarchive Instagram posts, they will reappear in the same position on your feed, along with all the likes and comments they had before. This means that you won’t lose any of the engagement, such as likes and comments, associated with the post when you choose to archive it.
- Go to your profile → the hamburger menu → Archive.
- Under Posts archive, tap and hold the post.
- Select Show on profile.
It’s important to note that certain modifications may occur to your stories when they are saved in your archive in order to save storage space. For instance, I have observed that archived stories with music stickers may be muted, and video stories can be frozen after 60 days from the original posting date. However, if you choose to reshare these stories from your archive, the removed parts, such as muted music or frozen frames, will not be present in the reshared version.
How to share a story from your archive on Instagram
In addition to posts, you also have the option to share your archived stories again on Instagram. However, when you share an archived story, it will be published as a “Memory” with the original upload date. This allows you to reshare and revisit your past stories while preserving the context of when they were originally shared.
- Go to your profile → the hamburger menu → Archive.
- Under the Stories archive, select a story.
- Tap Share.
- Add text, music, or stickers, and tap Send icon.
- Tap Share.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can others see my archived posts and stories?
No, your archived posts and stories are private and can only be viewed by you. They are hidden from your profile and inaccessible to other users.
Can I unarchive multiple posts at once?
Yes, you can unarchive multiple posts simultaneously. Simply follow the steps outlined in the article to access your archived posts, select the posts you want to unarchive, and tap “Show on Profile.”
How long are posts and stories stored in the archive?
Your posts and stories will remain in the archive until you choose to unarchive or delete them. There is no time limit for how long content can stay in the archive.
What happens if I delete a post or story from the archive?
Deleting a post or story from the archive will permanently remove it from your account. It cannot be recovered, so be cautious when deleting content from the archive.
Can I archive someone else’s posts or stories?
No, the archive feature only allows you to manage and access your own posts and stories. You cannot archive or view someone else’s content through your account.
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