How to Change the Instagram Explore Page Algorithm

Ever opened the Instagram Explore page and wondered, why am I seeing this? We've all been there - a feed filled with content that feels completely random or hopelessly out of date. The truth is, that page is one of the most powerful tools for organic growth, but only if you understand how to influence it. This guide will show you exactly how the Explore page algorithm works and give you actionable steps to both clean up your own feed and, more importantly, land your content in front of thousands of new followers.

So, What Exactly Is the Instagram Explore Page Algorithm?

Before you can change it, you have to understand what it is. The Explore page isn't just one single algorithm, it's a sophisticated recommendation system designed to show you content from accounts you don't already follow, based on what it thinks you'll like. Its goal is to keep you on the app longer by introducing you to a nonstop stream of interesting posts, Reels, and creators.

Think of it like a personal content shopper. It watches everything you do on the app and uses that data to predict what you'll want to see next. The primary signals it looks at are:

• Posts you like, comment on, save, and share: These are the strongest signals. Saving a post, in particular, tells the algorithm you found it highly valuable.
• Accounts you follow and interact with: It looks at the topics these accounts post about to find similar content for you.
• The content formats you prefer: If you watch a lot of Reels, your Explore page will be heavy on Reels. If you mostly interact with photo carousels, you'll see more of those.
• Your search history: The profiles, hashtags, and places you search for all feed information into the system.

In essence, every action you take is a vote that helps shape your personalized Explore feed. Now, let's talk about how to make those votes count.

Step 1: Training Your Own Explore Page (How to Control What You See)

You can't effectively land on other people's Explore pages if you don't grasp the mechanics of controlling your own. Fine-tuning your feed is the perfect training ground. If your page is filled with content you don't care about, here's how to perform a quick reset.

Tell Instagram What You Don't Like

The most direct way to teach the algorithm is to give it negative feedback. When you see a post you don't like on your Explore page:

1. Tap the post to open it.
2. Tap the three dots (...) in the top right corner.
3. Select "Not Interested."

This single action tells Instagram, "Show me less of this." The algorithm will immediately try to learn from that feedback. You can even choose to mute specific words or phrases if you want to get more granular.

Audit Your Follows and "Favorites"

The accounts you follow are a huge signal. If you followed a bunch of meme accounts three years ago but now want to see content about personal finance, the algorithm might be getting mixed signals. Take 15 minutes to scroll through your "following" list and remove any accounts that no longer align with your current interests. Your Explore page will thank you for it.

Be Intentional With Your Engagement

Since every like, comment, save, and share is a vote, start voting with purpose. Instead of mindlessly scrolling and double-tapping, only engage with content you genuinely want to see more of. Remember these ranks of engagement strength:

• Saves &, Shares: Extremely strong positive signals. This tells the algorithm the content was so good you wanted to keep it for later or show it to someone else.
• Comments: A strong signal. You took the time to write something.
• Likes: The weakest signal, but still a signal. It's a low-effort acknowledgment.

Give more love to the content you want to see, and your Explore page will quickly adapt.

Step 2: The Real Goal - Getting Your Content Onto the Explore Page

Now for the fun part. Landing on the Explore page is a game-changer for creators, brands, and marketers. It exposes your content to a massive, highly-targeted audience of people who don't follow you yet but have already shown interest in your niche. It's the ultimate pathway to rapid organic growth. Getting there isn't about luck, it's about strategy. Here are the steps to make it happen.

1. Get Absolutely Specific with Your Niche

The algorithm needs to understand exactly what your account is about so it knows who to recommend your content to. If your profile is a mix of travel photos, dog pictures, recipes, and work advice, the algorithm gets confused. It gives up trying to categorize you, and your content goes nowhere.

Being a "lifestyle account" is too broad. But an account dedicated to "budget-friendly travel for remote workers" is perfectly niched.

A specific niche makes you predictable in the best way possible. Instagram sees a user save one of your posts about budget travel, and it knows it can confidently show them your other budget travel Reels and carousels. Nail your niche first, and everything else gets easier.

2. Create Content Built for Saves and Shares

Likes feel good, but saves and shares are what get you on the Explore page. Instead of just posting something pretty, think about what would make someone smash that little bookmark icon. People save content that is:

• Educational: How-to guides, tutorials, tips, and step-by-step instructions. (e.g., "3 Poses to Improve Your Portraits")
• Inspirational: Quotes, a stunning view, or a success story. (e.g., A before-and-after of a room makeover)
• Useful: Checklists, templates, a list of resources, or healthy recipes. (e.g., "My Weekly Grocery List for Gluten-Free Meals")

In your captions and on-screen text, don't be afraid to explicitly ask for the save. A simple "Save this post for later!" works wonders.

3. Use Hashtags as Data Points

Hashtags aren't just for discoverability in search, they're signposts that help Instagram categorize your content. When your post appears on the Explore page, it will often say "Recommended based on posts with the hashtag..." directly underneath it. That's your sign.

Your strategy should be a mix of broad and niche hashtags. A good blend looks something like this:

• 3-5 Broad Hashtags: High-traffic tags related to your industry (e.g., #socialmediamarketing, #contentcreator).
• 5-10 Niche Hashtags: Much more specific tags that describe exactly what's in the post (e.g., #instagramreeltips, #brandstrategyguide).
• 1-2 Branded Hashtags: Unique to your business or community (e.g., #CreatorCollectiveTips).

This combination gives the algorithm context clues to figure out what your content is about and a ready-made audience to test it on.

4. Post When Your Audience Is Paying Attention

The first few hours after a post goes live are critical. If it gets a quick burst of engagement, Instagram's algorithm sees that as a green light to push it out more widely, starting with the Explore page. If you post when your audience is asleep or at work, crickets - and the algorithm assumes your content isn't very good.

How do you find your peak times? It's right in your analytics:

1. Go to your profile and tap "Professional Dashboard."
2. Tap "Account Insights."
3. Go to "Total Followers" and scroll down to the "Most Active Times" section.

This chart shows you exactly when your followers are most active, broken down by hour and day. Schedule your content to go live right at the start of those peak hours for the best initial traction.

5. Make Reels Your Fast-Track Ticket

There's no way around it: Instagram is prioritizing Reels. Short-form video is dominating social media, and Instagram is pushing its own format hard to compete. Reels occupy more real estate on the Explore page and tend to get shown more algorithmically than any other content type.

To make Reels that work:

• Hook viewers in the first 3 seconds. Open with a bold statement, a question, or captivating movement.
• Provide value or entertainment quickly. People have short attention spans. Get to the point.
• Use trending audio judiciously. It can help with discoverability, but only if the trend makes sense for your brand and your message.
• Add on-screen text. Many people watch videos without sound, so text captions make your content accessible to everyone.

6. Become an Active Member of Your Community

Believe it or not, what you do off your own profile matters. Actively engaging with other accounts in your niche sends signals to Instagram that you're a relevant and authoritative voice in that space.

Spend 15 minutes each day leaving thoughtful comments on posts from other creators in your niche. Don't just say, "Nice post!" Add to the conversation. This does two things: it makes their audience aware of you, and it tells the algorithm that your account is topically related to theirs, making it more likely your content will be recommended to their followers.

Final Thoughts

Influencing the Instagram Explore page algorithm isn't about finding a secret hack. It's about consistently providing clear signals of what your brand is about through specific, high-value content. When you engage with purpose, nail down your niche, and create content that your ideal audience actively wants to save and share, the algorithm will reward you with unparalleled organic reach.

Staying consistent with the quality content needed to achieve this can be a challenge. We built Postbase to simplify exactly that process. With our visual calendar, you can plan your entire content strategy in one place, schedule posts across all your platforms at once, and access clear analytics to see what's actually moving the needle. It eliminates the friction so you can get back to what you do best: creating great content that connects.