How to delete a draft on Instagram?

How to delete a draft on Instagram

Instagram has a cool feature that lets you save your posts and stories as drafts to be published at a later date.

But sometimes, you might want to permanently delete an Instagram draft post if you no longer want to publish that post.

In this blog post, we’ll see how you can delete a draft on Instagram. As a bonus, we’ll also see how you save a post as a draft and access these drafts whenever you want.

You don’t need separate software or applications to do so. All of this can be easily done in the native Instagram app.

So, let’s begin!

instagram post

The key advantage is that it does not require another program to schedule or save posts.

You can simply use Instagram’s native app to upload and edit your photographs, and then post them when you’re finished. On Instagram, creating, locating, and deleting a draft is simple because it uses the same procedures as publishing a post.

Advantages of Instagram drafts

Before its debut in 2016, drafts were one of Instagram’s most requested features. Everyone wished they could write pieces ahead of time and publish them whenever they pleased.

Instagram drafts offer several advantages for users:

1. Content Planning: Drafts allow users to plan their content ahead of time. Users can create and refine posts, captions, and hashtags at their convenience without feeling pressured to publish immediately.

2. Consistency: Drafts enable users to maintain a consistent posting schedule by preparing multiple posts in advance. This helps keep the audience engaged without having to create content on the spot every time.

3. Saving Ideas: Users can save post ideas and inspirations for future posts by creating drafts. This helps preserve creative concepts and prevents them from being forgotten.

4. Editing Flexibility: Drafts allow users to edit and refine their content over time. Users can revisit drafts to make changes, add updates, or adjust captions before finally publishing.

5. Improved Creativity: Drafts let you try out several innovative concepts without feeling obligated to post them right away. You have time to edit your postings to the best of your ability before distributing them to your followers.

6. Test Content Formats and Styles: You can examine and compare several drafts of a post before choosing one to publish. This simplifies the selection of the most interesting and successful material.

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How to delete a draft on Instagram?

Follow the below-mentioned steps to delete your previously saved draft posts:

1. Press the Plus (+) button at the bottom of the page on your home screen.

Plus button on Instagram home screen

2. Click on Drafts to access all your draft posts.

Selecting Instagram drafts

3. Click on Manage.

'Manage Drafts' on Instagram

4. Click on the small pencil icon in the top right corner and choose the posts you want to discard. Then, click on the tick mark.

Discarding a draft on Instagram

5. Click on Discard to confirm.

Discard draft confirmation on Instagram

How to create a draft post on Instagram?

When using this draft feature, one thing you should always keep in mind is that the post you save as a draft will always be saved to your device only. Even if you sign into your account, you won’t be able to access a stored draft from another device. Your drafts will be lost if you uninstall the app. You can share a post that has been saved as a draft in the same manner that you would a brand-new post. Posts that you don’t want to share can also be deleted.

For instructions on how to save a post as a draft, see below:-

1. To shoot or upload a photo or video, tap the + (plus) icon.

2. Add a caption, effects, filters, or your location.

3. Tap the back arrow in the top left to return to the filtering and editing phase.

4. Tap the back arrow again, and a popup will appear, asking you to save your draft. Click on Save Draft.

Saving a draft on Instagram

Note: You cannot save a post as a draft if you don’t add a caption or a location to it before going back.

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How to access a draft post on Instagram?

Here’s how you can access your saved drafts on Instagram:

1. Press the + button at the bottom of your home screen.

2. Select Drafts.

3. Then, click “Manage” to access all your drafts.

4. Select the one you want to work on, add location and captions on the next page, and click Share to post your draft.

Sharing a post on Instagram

Things you need to know about Instagram draft

Introduced to Instagram in late 2016, this function allows users to save edited photos mid-post using the Instagram draft feature, which is user-friendly and practical.

In essence, Instagram drafts enable users to save incomplete posts for later completion and sharing or to store finished posts for future publishing.

Utilizing Instagram drafts can be particularly beneficial for small businesses, facilitating brand promotion or operational tasks. Within a short period, numerous posts can be prepared in advance, stored as drafts, and published when convenient.

This functionality is invaluable for special events, product launches, or other promotional activities when immediate action isn’t feasible.

Tips for Easily Managing Instagram Drafts

Follow the tips mentioned below to seamlessly manage your Instagram drafts:

1.  Check Your Saved Drafts Often

Check your saved drafts often to make sure your content is current and relevant. You can update or delete drafts that are misaligned with your present plan.

2.  Use Drafts for Seasonal Content

You can create drafts to prepare content for seasonal events well in advance. Create drafts for holidays, special celebrations, or events, and save them as drafts to be published when the time is right.

3.  Collaborate Effectively

Drafts can be a helpful, collaborative tool if you manage an Instagram account with others. Team members, saved, can write drafts, which are then examined and approved by other people before posting.

4.  Backup Important Drafts

It’s a good idea to back up important drafts and posts separately, even though drafts are kept on your device. If your app is uninstalled or you swap devices, this will ensure that no data is lost.

5.  Organize with Labels or Categories

Use labels or categories within your drafts to organize them by theme, campaign, or content type. This makes it easier to find and manage drafts efficiently, especially when you have a large number saved.

6.  Use Drafts for Experimentation

Experiment with different content ideas or styles by saving variations as drafts. This allows you to compare and refine ideas before deciding on the final version to publish.

7.  Draft Versioning

Keep multiple versions of drafts by saving iterations with slight variations. This allows you to compare different approaches and choose the most effective content before finalizing.

8.  Draft Expiry

Be mindful of the shelf life of your drafts. Update or delete drafts that may become outdated or irrelevant over time to keep your content repository fresh and relevant.

Common Issues with Instagram Drafts

There are some issues you might encounter when dealing with the Instagram drafts management system.

Let’s take a look at some common problems that might occur and how you can deal with them:

  1. Drafts Not Saving: When saving drafts, make sure your internet connection is steady. Drafts can sometimes be improperly saved due to a bad connection.
  2. Disappearing Drafts: Drafts are device-specific, so your drafts will disappear if you remove the app or switch devices. 
  3. Editing Drafts: If you have problems editing a draft, check if the app is up-to-date. Older Instagram versions can cause issues with the draft-saving feature.
  4. Syncing Delays: Changes made to drafts may not sync immediately across devices. Give it some time, or manually refresh your drafts list by closing and reopening the app.
  5. Limited Draft Capacity: Instagram has a limit on the number of drafts you can save at once. If you reach this limit, you won’t be able to save new drafts until you delete some old ones. Regularly review and delete drafts; you no longer need to free up space.
  6. Privacy Settings: Occasionally, drafts may not save due to privacy settings on your account. Make sure your account settings allow for draft saving and editing. Adjust these settings in the Instagram app under Account > Privacy > Posts.

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Wrapping It Up

For those who are too busy to share posts immediately, this feature comes in handy. It’s especially beneficial on eventful days because it allows you to choose which image to post later.

We all know that bombarding Instagram with 20 photos all at once is considered impolite.

Instead, this feature empowers you to exercise discretion and select the most suitable posts for your feed.

Drafts serve as a simple tool within the app that not only promotes consistency but also streamlines the process.

Use Predis.ai Instagram Post Generator to improve your social media engagement and performance, automate image and caption generation with the help of AI.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How long does an Instagram draft post exist?

There is no time limit on how long a post can stay in your Instagram drafts because Instagram won’t delete any of your drafts from your device. It will remain on your device indefinitely unless you choose to delete it.

2. Can you lose saved posts that you have in drafts?

Not entirely, but you can. All your saved posts in drafts will be lost if you remove the Instagram app or log out because it’s your device that saves all your drafts from your Instagram profile.

3. Why does my draft post disappear automatically?

Unfortunately, if you do certain things, your Instagram drafts won’t always be there. For instance, your drafts will be deleted if you log out of the Instagram app. In addition, they will vanish if you uninstall the app. Be prepared to lose your drafts before making any adjustments to the Instagram app.

4. Can someone else see my saved drafts on Instagram?

Nobody will ever be able to see your drafts. Your drafts are kept private and only accessible to you until they are published.

5. Can you save a story as an Instagram draft?

Simply tap “Save draft” to save a draft of an unpublished story and upload it at a later time. Keep in mind that after seven days, Instagram story drafts are permanently erased. The app also displays how many days it will be before you can view your saved drafts again.

Explore Predis.ai to create publish-ready social media posts with the help of AI. Create custom creatives, captions, and hashtags with AI suggestions.

Written By

Tanmay Ratnaparkhe

Tanmay, Co-founder of Predis.ai, is a seasoned entrepreneur with a proven track record, having successfully built two companies from the ground up. A tech enthusiast at heart, a recognized SaaS expert, and years of hands-on experience in leveraging technology to fuel marketing success, Tanmay offers invaluable insights on how brands can boost their digital presence, improve productivity, and maximize ROI. Why trust us? Predis.ai is trusted by over a million users and business owners worldwide, including industry leaders who rely on our AI’s output and creativity. Our platform is highly rated across review sites and app stores, a testament to the real world value it delivers. We consistently update our technology and content to ensure you receive the most accurate, up to date, and reliable guidance on leveraging social media for your business.


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