How to Use Drafts on Instagram

Is there a post you aren’t quite ready to publish on Instagram and want to return to it later? Then, you can save it as a draft and come back when you have time to add more filters and write the caption. Fortunately, utilizing this function isn’t difficult once you know the steps involved.

If you’ve wondered how to use drafts on Instagram, you’ve come to the right place. As a bonus, learn how long drafts last and how to delete them. Plus, find out where to find saved Reels.

How to Create and Save Instagram Drafts on an iPhone

If you use an iPhone and want to learn how to save drafts on Instagram, this is what you need to do:

1. Launch Instagram on your phone.
   
2. Tap on the + icon on the lower part of the screen.
   
3. Take a new photo or upload an existing one using your Library.
   
4. Click on Next.
   
5. Choose filters such as brightness, contrast, etc.
   
6. Tap on Next.
   
7. Click on the < back arrowhead on the top left corner of the screen to return to filters.
   
8. Click on the < back arrowhead once again. You’ll get a message asking if you want to save the draft. Tap on Save Draft.
   

Note: Bear in mind that it’s only possible to save the draft if you add Instagram filters to the post, edit it, tag friends, or write a caption. If you only upload the post without all this and go back, Instagram won’t ask you to save the draft.

How to Create and Save Instagram Drafts on an Android Phone

If you have an Android phone and want to save drafts on Instagram, this is what you do:

1. On your Android smartphone, open Instagram.
   
2. Click on the + plus icon towards the top right section of the screen.
   
3. Add a photo from your library, choose multiple images, or take a camera photo. The “Preview” window is at the top, and the gray image is the currently selected file. Tap the blue right arrow when done.
   
4. Choose a Filter in the new editing window or leave it as normal. To save a draft, you must have some sort of edit on the post from this step or the next. Click the blue right arrow(Next) once you have made your selection.
   
5. Make some adjustments in the post-editing screen, then click the blue right arrow(next icon) to continue. An edit of some sort is needed to obtain the Draft option (either Step 5 or 4).
   
6. On the Save as Draft? popup, choose Save Draft.
   
7. Now, you’ll see the Drafts option in the “New post” screen, which is now saved. You can tap to continue editing whenever you’re ready. Once complete, tap the blue right arrow(next arrow) to save the post and publish it.
   

How to Access Your Drafts on Instagram on iPhone/Android

Accessing drafts on Instagram isn’t that difficult. The steps are the same whether you use an iPhone or an Android.

1. Open Instagram on your phone.
   
2. Click on the + plus icon at the bottom on iPhone or the top on Android.
   
3. In your Library, you’ll see “Recents,” which are photos and videos from your mobile phone. You’ll also see Drafts. Here you can find the saved photo. Tap on the item from “Drafts” to open it.
   

How to Edit Your Drafts on Instagram

It’s possible to edit drafts on Instagram once you load the photo. To edit them, you’ll follow the same steps as if you were uploading something for the first time. Here is what you need to do:

1. Once you open the photo from Drafts, tap on Next.
   
2. Tap on Edit, which is below the image and is now colored blue.
   
3. The Filter page returns.
   

How to Delete Drafts on Instagram

There may be times when you don’t need a draft anymore or want to start over on a post. If you need to delete drafts from Instagram, this is what to do:

1. Open Instagram.
   
2. Touch the + plus icon.
   
3. On the right side of Drafts, tap on Manage.
   
4. Select Edit.
   
5. Finally, tap Discard and confirm that you want to delete the draft.
   

As you see, managing drafts on Instagram is relatively simple. You can save as many as you want and edit them when you need to publish them. Once you finish the editing process, delete the draft to reduce clutter in the “Drafts” space.

Additional Instagram Draft FAQs

Drafts are still a newer feature on Instagram. If you want to learn more, keep reading.

How long do Instagram drafts last?

In reality, Instagram drafts don’t have a lifespan. However, some users have complained of their drafts suddenly disappearing. If this happens to you, it’s most likely a glitch in Instagram. You can reach out to their support and see if they can help you fix the issue.

Where are my Reels drafts on Instagram?

If you’ve saved a reel on Instagram, how do you access it? Is there a particular location for Instagram Reels, or are these types of drafts in the same place as regular ones? Instagram ensures that all drafts, no matter what type, are user-friendly. Therefore, the saved Reels are stored in the Drafts section.

How do I recover my drafts?

Unlike posts, which are stored on your Instagram account, drafts are not. If you delete the app from your phone and reinstall it, your drafts will disappear. Unfortunately, when they’re gone, they are gone forever. If you still have the images saved to your phone’s gallery, you can create a new post or draft.

Can I save drafts on my computer?

Now that you know how to save drafts on a mobile phone, you’re probably wondering if the same is possible when you use a computer. For the time being, you can’t save drafts if you use Instagram on your computer. That said, if you need to keep a post, you should do so on your smartphone instead.