How to save, find, delete, manage Instagram Drafts?
Written by: Hrishikesh Pardeshi, Founder at Flexiple, buildd & Remote Tools.
Last updated: Sep 03, 2024
Instagram drafts allow users to save posts that they have been working on. It is an easy and simple feature and is very useful for those that actively edit Instagram photos and need to save their edits so they can share them later.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- What can users do with Instagram drafts?
- Benefits of Using Instagram Drafts
- Let us try a test run: Here is how to save Instagram drafts for Posts
- Now let us try Instagram Stories: How to save Instagram drafts for Stories
- How to Publish Instagram Drafts as Posts and Stories?
What can users do with Instagram drafts?
With Instagram drafts, users can save photos, videos, reels, and even captions on the photos and videos.
The best part?
Users don’t need to download another application to schedule, edit, or save their content.
With the Instagram app itself, you can easily upload and edit your pictures and then save them as drafts to publish later. It is super easy to create, locate and delete a draft on Instagram.
Benefits of Using Instagram Drafts
- Schedule content to be uploaded anytime, anywhere.
- Control posts and tinker with them until you are satisfied.
- Save captions easily.
Let us try a test run: Here is how to save Instagram drafts for Posts.
Here is a look at saving photos and video posts on Instagram as drafts. Once you create your Instagram post, here is how you can save it to share later:
- Open the Instagram app.
- Tap the ‘+’ icon on the top right of your screen.
- Upload a photo or video from your camera reel, or take a photo or a video from the Instagram app.
- Click the ‘next’ button on the top right once your photo or video is ready.
- Add filters, effects, tag people, location details, and a caption with hashtags - as you may want to.
- Once the post is ready, go back to the step where you added filters and adjusted the light.
- Click the arrow on the top left once again.
- It will open up a prompt that says - “Discard Media?” Here you have two options - discard or save the draft.
- Click save draft.
Now let us try Instagram Stories: How to save Instagram drafts for Stories.
The easiest way to understand how to navigate Instagram drafts for stories is to use the app. Let us try it together:
- From your iOS or Android phone, download Instagram, and log in to your account.
- Swipe the screen on the left or click on the ‘story’ icon on top to open the camera. Take a picture.
- Edit the picture using filters and adjustments, as you want.
- Once done, click the arrow icon on the top left corner of the screen.
- It will open up a prompt that says - “Discard Media?” Here you have two options - discard or save the draft.
- Click save draft.
How to Publish Instagram Drafts as Posts and Stories?
- Posts
- Open the Instagram app and tap the ‘+’ icon on the top right of your screen.
- All your saved drafts will appear. Click the draft you want to publish.
- Edit the draft again if you want - edit the filters, effects, tag people, location details or edit the caption.
- Once the post is ready, click the ‘Share’ option.
- Stories
Here is something worth noting - Instagram story drafts expire after 7 days automatically. So make sure you post your story within 7 days from the time you saved them.
- In the top right corner, select the "+" symbol. It will take you to the ‘Add Story’ screen.
- Here, you will see all your saved drafts.
- Click on your draft of choice.
- Edit the draft as you like.
- Click share once your Instagram story draft is ready.
How to Delete Instagram Drafts?
While Instagram allows you to save your posts and stories, you may want to keep a tab on them and delete them if you don’t require them. It will help you save space as the app will take up less memory in your phone.
Deleting drafts has another benefit. By deleting content you don’t need, you won’t need to scroll through drafts to endlessly find the one you want. Let us understand how to discard or delete drafts from Instagram without further ado.
- Posts
- Click the ‘+’ icon on the top right.
- Click ‘Manage’ on the right of the Drafts section.
- Click on the Edit/ pencil icon on the top right.
- Click on the drafts you want to discard.
- Click ‘Discard post’ to confirm.
- Stories
- Click the ‘Home’ tab on your Instagram app.
- Click the ‘+’ icon on the top right or the ‘Your Story’ icon on the top left.
- You will be able to see a folder called ‘Drafts’.
- Click the story you want to delete.
- Tap on the arrow icon on the top left. It will open up a prompt that says ‘keep draft’ or ‘delete draft’.
- Click delete draft.
Creating & Managing Instagram Drafts on a Desktop
Instagram content can be scheduled and posted from a desktop computer as well. If you don’t have access to the application on a smartphone, you can log into your account on a desktop and publish saved drafts.
However, remember, you cannot draft posts directly from the Instagram application for desktops. You can, however, use other applications to draft stories and posts on Instagram like AiGrow. This application allows users to manage their Instagram by creating drafts and scheduling them to post later.
Conclusion
Instagram drafts are very useful, especially for creators who need to schedule their posts. Instagram drafts allow users more flexibility and control over what they share. Try Instagram drafts for yourself to see how easy it is to use!
FAQs
1. Where are my Instagram drafts?
To access your Instagram drafts, click the ‘+’ icon on the top of your screen. It will take you to a page where you can review your Instagram drafts.
2. Can anyone see my Instagram drafts?
No, others can’t see your Instagram drafts until you publish or share them. Saved drafts appear in the ‘Drafts’ section for you to edit.
3. How long are Reel drafts saved on Instagram?
Reel drafts are saved for 24 hours on Instagram. If you don’t access them, Instagram deletes them.