April 15, 2026
Instagram has been busy lately with their updates so far in 2026. And not just a little busy the kind where you step away to make a cup of tea and come back to find everything’s shifted slightly. New features, tweaks, tests… it’s a lot to keep up with. Some of these updates are genuinely useful. Others feel a bit experimental. Either way, here’s a clear, no-nonsense rundown of what’s changed and what actually matters.
You Can Finally Reorder Your Carousels
This one has been a long time coming. Instagram now lets you reorder images in a carousel after you’ve published it. That means no more deleting and reposting because the images are in the wrong order. No more realising too late that your “after” shot came before the “before.” It might sound like a small update, but in reality, it’s a big quality-of-life improvement especially for anyone who cares about how their content flows.
Scheduling Reels Won’t Hurt Your Reach
There’s been a persistent myth that scheduling Reels reduces reach. Instagram boss Adam Mosseri has now confirmed that isn’t true and it never was. In fact, scheduling can actually help. If you’re adding translations to your Reels, scheduling gives Instagram more time to process them before the post goes live. That’s particularly useful if you’re targeting audiences in different regions.
So yes, you can plan your content in advance without worrying about being penalised. A collective sigh of relief all round.
Tap to Pause Is Here
A small but very welcome change: you can now pause a Reel with a single tap. Previously, you had to press and hold the screen, which wasn’t exactly user-friendly. Now, reviewing content, catching fast-moving text, or just pausing at the right moment is much easier. It’s a minor tweak, but one that improves the everyday experience.
Your Instagram Profile Might Rank Higher on Google
This one is still being tested, but it’s worth paying attention to. Google is experimenting with a redesigned search panel that could push Instagram profiles higher in results.
In simple terms, if someone searches your name or business, your Instagram profile might be one of the first things they see. That makes it even more important to keep your profile polished, consistent, and aligned with your brand. It’s essentially free visibility if you’re ready for it.
Clickable Links in Captions (Sort Of)
Instagram is testing clickable links in captions, but there’s a catch. At the moment, it’s only available to Meta Verified users, not businesses more broadly.
There’s also a limit just 10 links per month and they’re only clickable on mobile. With Meta Verified starting at a monthly fee, this isn’t exactly a free feature either. For now, your “link in bio” isn’t going anywhere. But it does give a glimpse of where Instagram might be heading in the future.
The Edits App Is Improving
Meta’s video editing app is getting regular updates, including new effects, a more visual ideas tab, and the ability to highlight specific words in captions during playback. What’s interesting here is how quickly it’s evolving. The team is actively listening to creators and responding to feedback, which means improvements are coming thick and fast. If video content feels like a challenge, it’s worth knowing that the tools are getting easier to use. You don’t need to be an expert to create something effective.
Creator Tools Are Now Available to More Accounts
Instagram has opened up several creator tools including scheduling, insights, and access to trending audio to all public accounts. Previously, these features were mostly limited to professional profiles. Now, smaller or newer accounts can benefit too. Some advanced features are still locked behind certain thresholds, but making the basics widely available is a positive move.
More Control Over Your Profile Grid
You can now edit post thumbnails directly within your profile grid. Combined with Instagram’s shift towards larger thumbnails, this gives you more control over how your page looks. For brands, this is important. Your grid often acts as a first impression. A clean, well-structured layout can make the difference between someone following or scrolling past.
Reels Could Become the Main Event
Instagram is testing a design that opens straight into Reels, alongside a customisable feed hub where users can switch between different content types. Considering users already spend a significant amount of time watching Reels, this feels like a natural progression rather than a surprise. Short-form video is clearly the priority. Everything else is becoming secondary.
Instagram on TV
Instagram has also started expanding onto TV platforms, including Amazon Fire TV and Google TV (currently in the US). This allows users to watch Reels on a larger screen, organised into topic-based channels. It’s early days, but it’s an interesting direction and one to keep an eye on.
What Actually Matters for Your Business?
With so many updates, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. But not everything requires action. The carousel reorder feature will save you time straight away. The confirmation around scheduling means you can plan content properly without second-guessing yourself. And the potential Google visibility boost is a simple opportunity as long as your profile is in good shape. Beyond that, the bigger picture is clear: video, consistency, and presentation matter more than ever.
Keeping up with every change can feel like a full-time job. Fortunately, that’s exactly what we do. And more importantly, we focus on what actually makes a difference not just what’s new. Give our team a shout if you’re looking to upgrade your Instagram.