Videos, GIFs, and dynamic images have certainly made a mark in the social media world. But despite their rising popularity, there is a silent hero that often goes unnoticed: the Instagram carousel.
Instagram carousels get the highest average engagement rate, slightly above images and videos. It allows you to add up to 10 photos or videos in a single post, making it the ideal option to share multiple images or videos about a particular topic. People can like, comment, and share your carousel, allowing you to tell a more comprehensive story.
However, what if you realize you want to add a photo to a carousel after it is published? Is it even possible?
In this guide, we’ll explore the answer to this question, providing you with step-by-step instructions, alternative workarounds, and valuable tips to make your Instagram carousels stand out.
Is It Possible to Add Photos to a Carousel After Publishing?
Let’s start by answering the elephant in the room. Can we add a photo to a carousel after it is published?
The answer, unfortunately, is no. Although Instagram is testing new features to add images to a carousel post, there is no option to do so currently.
Given the current limitations of the platform, you cannot add images or replace existing images once you have hit the upload button. So, if you are creating a carousel post, be very careful about the content and the images before you upload it on the platform. Once a carousel is published, the die is cast, and the option to add or remove individual photos from the sequence is not available.
So, what is the workaround? Unfortunately, there is none. You will have to hit the delete button and republish the post after carefully looking at each image or video in your swipeable album.
How to Edit an Instagram Carousel After Posting?
So, is there any way to edit or change the order of the images in your carousel post once you have uploaded them? The answer is yes!
To change the order of your photos in a carousel, follow the steps below:
- Go to the carousel on your profile that you want to reorder.
- Tap on the three dots in the upper-right corner of the post. Once you do this, you will see the options below:
- Here, head to the option that says “Edit.” You can now make changes to the caption, location, or tags associated with your carousel. This provides an opportunity to add context, correct any errors, or update information without altering the visuals. You can even delete the images you do not want in the carousel.
- But if you want to reorder images, head to the image you want to reorder, click the bin icon in the upper left-hand corner of the screen and delete the picture.
- Click on Done once you have deleted the photos you want to reorder. Note: You can only delete up to 8 pictures to reorder, as you need at least 2 images or videos in the carousel at all times.
- Instagram will not let you restore the picture within 30 days after you have hit delete. So tap the three lines in the top right-hand corner of your Instagram profile and head to “Your Activity.”
After this, click on the “Recently deleted” option.
You will see the posts that you have deleted here. You can go to the photos you want to reorder and click on “Restore.” Now, you can restore the images in the order you want them to appear in the carousel.
Tips to Create Instagram Carousels
As you can see, Instagram carousels are a dynamic medium for storytelling. With 2 billion active users worldwide, Instagram carousels can help you reach a sizeable audience.
But they come at a price. You must carefully evaluate each picture and video, the sequences, the editing, the cropping, and other areas before publishing. A good way to ensure that your posts do not need post-publishing adjustments is by following a few industry best practices, such as:
1. Add an Attractive Cover Image:
Choose an attention-grabbing cover for your carousel. The first image is often what users see, so make it visually appealing and representative of the overall content to entice them to swipe through.
2. Craft compelling captions for each slide in your carousel:
Captions provide context, offering an opportunity to convey additional information, insights, or even a call to action (CTA).
3. Plan the Sequence:
Before hitting the publish button, meticulously plan the sequence of your carousel. Ensure it follows a logical sequence, tells a compelling story, or aligns with your overall messaging.
4. Add Numbers on Each Slide:
Think of adding numbers to each image in the footer. This is a good practice as the user knows which image they are on, while you can be sure that your carousel follows the sequence you want. If a picture is missing, it will be easier to find out this way.
5. Combine Images and Videos:
Introduce variety by combining images and videos within your carousel. This dynamic approach keeps your audience engaged and adds an interactive element to your storytelling.
6. Add Relevant Hashtags:
Include relevant hashtags in your caption to increase the discoverability of your carousel. Strategic hashtag usage can expand your reach, connecting your content with a broader audience.
7. Time Your Carousel Posts:
Understand when your audience is most active and likely to engage with your content to maximize reach and impact.
The Final Word
It is always a good practice to carefully evaluate all areas of your post before you hit publish. Although there are ways to edit content, reorder the images, or remove the irrelevant ones, it can leave a bad impression on your audience if they notice these errors. While we may get the option to add photos or videos to published carousels in the future, we encourage users to still review their content before hitting publish.
The ideal way to do this is by visually understanding how your carousel posts will look before you start uploading them on Instagram. You can count on Predis.ai to simplify your content creation process on Instagram.
If your Instagram is integrated with the platform, you can schedule posts or hit send right away, helping you elevate your content creation and publishing process.
