Instagram lets you share up to 10 photos or videos in a single post using the carousel feature

When you open Instagram to create a new post, you can choose to upload multiple images at once instead of posting them one by one. Instagram calls this a carousel post. You select the photos or videos you want, arrange them in the order you prefer, and your followers swipe through them as a single post rather than seeing separate posts in their feed.

This feature works on both the Instagram app for phones and the web version on a computer. The process is slightly different depending on which device you use, but the end result is the same — one post that contains up to 10 images or videos.

Key Takeaways

  • You can add between 2 and 10 photos or videos to a single carousel post on Instagram.
  • On your phone, tap the multiple-images icon when creating a post to select more than one file at once.
  • You can rearrange the order of your images before posting by dragging them into a new sequence.
  • Each image in a carousel post can have its own caption or filter applied before you share.
  • Carousel posts often get more engagement than single-image posts because followers spend more time viewing them.

How to create a carousel post on your phone

Open the Instagram app and tap the plus icon at the bottom of the screen to start a new post. On the next screen, you will see options for what type of post to create. Look for an icon that shows multiple overlapping squares or images — this is the carousel option. Tap it.

Once you select carousel mode, Instagram will open your phone's photo library. You can now tap on multiple photos or videos to select them. Each time you tap an image, a checkmark appears on it. You can select between 2 and 10 items. After you have chosen all the images you want, tap the blue "Next" button or similar confirmation button at the bottom of the screen.

On the next screen, you will see all your selected images in a row at the bottom. You can tap and drag each image to rearrange the order they will appear in your post. If you want to remove one, swipe left on it or look for a delete or remove option. You can also tap each individual image to add filters, adjust brightness, or crop it before posting.

How to create a carousel post on a computer

Go to Instagram.com and log into your account. Click the plus icon or "Create" button, usually located at the top of the page. Select the option to create a post. Instagram will ask you to choose files from your computer.

Click on the first image you want to upload. Then hold down the Ctrl key (or Cmd key on Mac) and click on each additional image you want to add. This lets you select multiple files at once. Once you have selected all the images you want — up to 10 — click the "Open" or "Upload" button to add them to your post.

After the images upload, you will see them arranged in a row. Click and drag each image to change the order if needed. You can click on each image individually to add filters or make edits before you post. When everything looks right, click "Next" or "Share" to publish your carousel post.

Arranging and editing images in your carousel

The order of your images matters because it is the first thing your followers see. Many people put their best or most eye-catching image first to encourage people to swipe through the rest. You can change the order at any time before you post by dragging images to new positions.

Each image in your carousel can have different filters or edits applied to it. If you want one photo to be brighter and another to have a warm tone, you can do that. Just tap or click on each image individually and make the changes you want. This is useful if your photos were taken in different lighting or if you want each one to have its own look.

Adding captions and hashtags to carousel posts

You can write a single caption that applies to the entire carousel post, or you can add text to individual images before posting. If you add text directly to an image using Instagram's text tool, that text will appear on that specific image when people view it. A caption you write in the main caption box will appear below the entire post.

Hashtags work the same way in carousel posts as they do in single-image posts. You can add them to your main caption, and they will help people find your post through search. Some people put hashtags in the first comment instead of the caption to keep the caption cleaner — this works just as well.

Why carousel posts perform differently than single images

Instagram's algorithm tends to show carousel posts to more people because they keep followers on the app longer. When someone has to swipe through multiple images, they spend more time viewing that post, and Instagram interprets that as engagement. This can mean your carousel post reaches a wider audience than a single image would.

Carousel posts also tend to get more comments and saves because people often want to discuss or bookmark multiple images at once. If you are sharing a before-and-after, a step-by-step process, or a collection of related photos, a carousel post is usually more effective than posting them separately.

Common issues when creating carousel posts

If Instagram will not let you select more than one image, make sure you are in carousel mode before you start selecting files. On your phone, confirm that you tapped the multiple-images icon. On a computer, confirm that you are holding Ctrl or Cmd while clicking multiple files.

If your images are not uploading, check that they are in a format Instagram accepts — JPG, PNG, GIF, and MP4 are all fine. If the file size is very large, try compressing it before uploading. If you are on a slow internet connection, the upload may take longer than usual.

If you want to change the order of images after you have already posted, you cannot edit the carousel itself. You would need to delete the post and create a new one with the images in the order you prefer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I mix photos and videos in the same carousel post?

Yes. You can include up to 10 items total, and they can be any combination of photos and videos. A video can be up to 60 seconds long in a carousel post. Each video will play when someone swipes to it.

What happens if I delete one image from a carousel after posting?

You cannot delete individual images from a carousel post after it goes live. If you need to remove one, you have to delete the entire post and create a new carousel without that image.

Do carousel posts take longer to upload than single images?

Yes, slightly. The more images you include, the longer the upload will take. A 10-image carousel may take a minute or two longer than a single photo, depending on your internet speed and file sizes.

Can people share individual images from my carousel, or do they have to share the whole post?

People can only share the entire carousel post, not individual images from it. If someone wants to share just one image, they would need to screenshot it or ask you to post that image separately.

Does Instagram notify me how many people viewed each image in my carousel?

No. Instagram shows you total views and engagement for the entire carousel post, but not a breakdown by individual image. You can see which images got the most saves or shares by looking at comments, but the app does not provide per-image analytics.