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Instagram Reorder Grid Feature (2026): How It Works and What Changed Since 2025

 

Last updated: October 1, 2026

 

If you searched for the Instagram reorder grid feature in 2025, you probably found conflicting answers. Some articles said it was live, some said it had been removed, and many people simply never saw the option.

The short answer: yes, you can now reorder your Instagram grid. Meta announced the official rollout on June 8, 2026 (ABC News). The feature was announced and tested in 2025, but the global launch came a year later.

This guide explains the timeline, how to use Reorder grid step by step, what “remove from main grid” means, and how reordering differs from editing, archiving and rearranging Highlights.

Can you still reorder your grid on Instagram?

Yes. Before June 2026, grid posts appeared in chronological order. With Reorder grid, you can drag a post into a new position without deleting and reposting it. Launch coverage from ABC News describes the feature as giving users more creative control over how their profile appears.

What happened to the 2025 reorder grid feature?

The confusion comes from the feature’s long development history:

  • 2022: An app researcher spotted a hidden “Edit Grid” feature in Instagram’s code, but references to it were later removed (ETV Bharat). This is likely where “removed” searches come from.

     

  • January 2025: Instagram head Adam Mosseri said the company was building a tool to let people re-order their entire grid (Social Media Today).

     

  • June 2025: Instagram announced it would let users rearrange their grid (TechCrunch). Some outlets reported that a rollout was imminent (Cosmo.ph), but a global launch was not announced until a year later.

     

  • June 8, 2026: Meta announced that users can rearrange posts on their profile grid (ABC News).

 

So if you searched for “Instagram reorder grid feature removed 2025” and couldn’t find it, you weren’t imagining things. The feature had been announced and tested, but it hadn’t reached everyone.

 

The grid itself changed too

If you were looking for the “new Instagram grid 2025,” that may refer to a separate change. In early 2025 Instagram moved grid thumbnails from squares to taller rectangles. Reorder grid gives creators more control over layouts that were disrupted by that change.

 

How to reorder your Instagram grid, step by step

 

  1. Update the Instagram app to the latest version.
  2. Open your profile and go to your grid.
  3. Press and hold any post or Reel.
  4. Tap Reorder grid in the menu that appears.
  5. Drag posts into the order you want.
  6. Tap the back arrow in the top-left corner to apply your changes.

 

These steps follow Instagram’s launch instructions as reported by 9to5Mac. Instagram says changes are saved immediately and are visible to everyone who visits your profile. Menu wording can differ slightly between app versions, so if your screen looks different, check Instagram’s Help Center.

 

What stays fixed

Meta said pinned posts and Reels stay fixed at the top of the grid. Plan your reorder around your pins rather than expecting to move them.

 

Why you may not see the option

  • You’re on desktop. Launch coverage reports that Reorder grid works only in the mobile app.

     

  • Your app is out of date. Update it from the App Store or Google Play.

     

  • The rollout hasn’t reached your account yet. Instagram described the feature as available “starting this week” at launch, so access was staged.

 

Does reordering affect likes, reach or reposting?

Reordering changes where a post sits on your profile. It doesn’t create a new post. Launch coverage says posts keep their original date, likes and comments. As one social media newsletter put it, reorder doesn’t change what gets distributed; it changes what a visitor sees when they arrive.

In practice, treat reordering as a presentation tool, not a reach tool. For more on how Instagram decides what people see, read our post on Instagram’s “Your Algorithm” dashboard.

 

If I edit a post on Instagram, will it repost?

No. Editing a post, such as changing its caption, updates the existing post. It doesn’t publish a new one or move it to the top of your grid. If you want an older post to appear higher on your profile, Reorder grid is the supported way to do it. Because Instagram changes its menus often, Instagram’s Help Centre is the best place to confirm the current edit options.

 

What does “remove from main grid” mean?

“Remove from main grid” (also worded “remove from profile grid”) is a separate option that mainly applies to Reels. It hides a Reel from your main profile grid without deleting it. Guides describe the Reel as staying live and findable through the Reels tab, hashtags and Explore. It just no longer sits in your main grid layout.

This is not the same as reordering. Reordering moves a post within your grid. Removing from the grid takes a Reel out of it.

 

Does removing a Reel from the grid affect views?

Instagram has not, to our knowledge, published figures on this. Available guidance suggests a removed Reel keeps its existing performance and stays live, so the main change is that people browsing your profile grid won’t see it there.

If a Reel matters to your results, test the option on one Reel first and compare your Insights before changing a whole account. Also note that reports conflict on whether a removed Reel can be added back to the grid. Until you’ve confirmed how it works in your own app, treat removal as potentially permanent.

 

Remove vs. archive vs. delete

  • Remove from grid: the Reel stays live but is hidden from the main grid.
  • Archive: the post is hidden from your profile and saved privately. Archiving isn’t deleting.
  • Delete: the post is removed entirely.

 

If you’re unsure, archive first. You can decide later.

 

How to rearrange photos elsewhere on Instagram?

 

“Rearrange photos on Instagram” can mean three different things:

  • Your profile grid: use Reorder grid, as described above.
  • Photos inside a carousel: Instagram added the ability to reorder images and videos in a carousel after publishing earlier this year. This is separate from grid reordering.
  • Highlights: Instagram has not offered drag-to-reorder for Highlights. The common workaround is to add a story to the Highlight you want first, since recently updated Highlights tend to move to the front. Behavior can vary, so try it on one Highlight first.

 

Before and after: how to plan a grid reorder?

 Reordering works best when you’ve decided what a first-time visitor should see. A simple process:

  1. Before: take a screenshot of your grid. Look at the first few rows and ask what they tell a stranger about your business.
  2. Decide: choose the posts that best show what you offer, who it’s for and what you want to focus on now.
  3. Reorder: move those posts into the most visible positions, working around any pinned posts.
  4. After: view your profile as a visitor would. Is it clear within a few seconds what you do?
  5. Leave it alone: avoid reordering constantly. Use it for seasonal refreshes, launches and profile audits.

 

For businesses in Dubai, seasonal moments such as Ramadan, Eid, Dubai Shopping Festival and summer promotions are natural times to bring relevant older posts forward. For a deeper look at layout strategy, see our guide to planning your Instagram grid.

And if your grid needs fresher visuals, here’s a look behind the scenes of an Instagram content shoot in Dubai.

Frequently Asked Questions

 
Can you still reorder the grid on Instagram?

Yes. Instagram’s official rollout was announced on June 8, 2026. Press and hold a post on your profile, tap Reorder grid, then drag posts into position.

Was the Instagram reorder grid feature removed in 2025?

Not exactly. It was announced and tested in 2025, and earlier signs of it appeared in 2022, but the official rollout came on June 8, 2026.

Does reordering the grid affect likes and comments?

Launch coverage says posts keep their original date, likes and comments. Reordering changes only where a post sits on your profile.

Can I reorder my Instagram grid on desktop?

Reports say Reorder grid is mobile-only, available in the Instagram app on iOS and Android.

What does “remove from main grid” mean on Instagram?

It hides a Reel from your main profile grid without deleting it. The Reel generally stays live and can still be found in the Reels tab.

Does removing a Reel from the profile grid affect views?

Available guidance says the Reel’s existing performance is not reset and the Reel stays live, but we have not found official figures from Instagram. Test it on one Reel and watch your Insights before applying it widely.

How do I reorder Highlights on Instagram?

Instagram does not offer drag-and-drop for Highlights. A common workaround is to add a story to the Highlight you want to appear first, because recently updated Highlights tend to move to the front.

Conclusion

The Instagram reorder grid feature is real and available now, but it arrived in June 2026, not 2025. Use it to put your strongest, most relevant content first, and treat “remove from main grid” as a separate tool that you should test before relying on.

If you’d like help planning your Instagram profile and content, get in touch with Social Trends ME or explore our Instagram marketing services in Dubai.