How to Change Instagram Reel Cover After Posting

The moment of panic when you post a Reel and instantly see a blurry, awkward, or just plain wrong cover photo on your grid is all too real. Your carefully curated aesthetic is suddenly disrupted, and you're left scrambling. The good news? You're not stuck with it forever. This guide will walk you through exactly how to change your Instagram Reel cover after you’ve already posted it, explain the important limitations you need to know about, and give you pro tips to get it right every single time moving forward.

Why Your Reel Cover Isn't Just a Thumbnail

Before we get into the "how," let's talk about the "why." Your Reel cover is far more than just a placeholder image. It’s a tiny, powerful billboard for your content, and getting it right can be the difference between a flop and a viral hit. It plays three distinct but equally important roles:

• For Your Profile Grid: This is where first impressions are made. When a new visitor lands on your profile, they see your grid as a complete collage. A clean, branded, and visually appealing set of Reel covers can make your profile look professional and cohesive, encouraging that all-important "Follow." Messy or off-brand covers can make a grid look cluttered and unprofessional.
• For the Reels Tab: On your profile, visitors can tap over to the Reels tab to see a dedicated feed of your short-form videos. This is where the full 9:16 vertical cover is displayed. A compelling cover here has to grab attention and communicate what the Reel is about in a split second, enticing someone to start binge-watching your content.
• For the Explore Page & Feeds: This is where new audiences discover you. Your Reel cover is competing with hundreds of others on the Explore page or in a user's main feed. A bright, clear, and intriguing image - especially one with a text headline that builds curiosity - is your best shot at stopping the scroll and earning a view from someone who has never heard of you.

In short, the cover acts as the book jacket for your video. A great cover promises great content inside, while a bad one gets skipped over, no matter how amazing the Reel itself might be.

The Truth About Changing Your Reel Cover After Posting

Here's the most important thing you need to understand, and it's a point of confusion for many creators: You cannot change the main cover image of a Reel (the one that appears in the Reels tab and Explore feed) after it has been published.

Once you hit that share button, Instagram locks in the cover you selected or the frame that was auto-selected for you. This is the 9:16 vertical image that represents your video everywhere outside of your main profile grid.

However, there's a huge silver lining. Instagram does let you change one very important part of the cover: the grid preview. You have complete control to edit, re-crop, or even replace the 1:1 square version of the cover that appears on your main profile feed. This is incredibly useful for maintaining your grid's aesthetic without having to delete and re-upload the entire Reel.

How to Change the Reel Cover on Your Profile Grid (The Part You Can Control)

Did you post a Reel only to find the grid preview cuts off your face or shows an unflattering frame? Don't worry, fixing this takes less than 60 seconds. This process allows you to either choose a different frame from your video for the grid or, even better, upload an entirely new image from your camera roll.

Follow these simple steps:

1. Go to your Instagram profile.
2. Find the Reel you want to fix on your main profile grid and tap on it to open it.
3. Tap the three dots (...) icon. On an iPhone, this is usually at the bottom-right. On Android, it's often in the top-right corner.
4. From the menu that appears, select "Edit." This will take you to an editing screen where you can change the caption, tag people, add a location, and more.
5. On the video preview, look for the word "Cover" and tap on it. It’s usually superimposed over the top left of the video itself.

You’ll now be on the "Edit cover" screen. Here you have two fantastic options:

Option 1: Pick a New Frame from the Video

At the bottom of the screen, you'll see a filmstrip of your entire Reel. Simply slide your finger along the timeline to scrub through the video. When you find a frame that looks better as a static image, stop there. You can then use your fingers to pinch and reposition the frame within the 1:1 square grid viewer at the top. This is great for a quick fix.

Option 2: Upload a New Custom Image

This is the most powerful option for maintaining a perfectly curated grid. Instead of using a frame from the video, you can upload a completely different image designed specifically for your grid.

• Look for the "Add from camera roll" option at the bottom of the cover editor screen.
• Tap it and select the custom graphic or photo you want to use.
• After selecting your image, you can position and crop it perfectly for the square preview.
• When you are happy with the framing, tap "Done" in the top-right corner, and then tap "Done" again to save all your changes.

Your Reel will now display the brand new cover image on your profile grid, while the engagement (likes, comments, views) you've already received remains completely intact.

The "Nuclear Option": Deleting and Re-Posting

So what do you do if you hate the main 9:16 cover that appears in the Reels tab? As we mentioned, you can't edit it. Your only true option is to delete the Reel and re-post it with the correct cover chosen from the start.

This approach comes with a massive trade-off: you will lose all existing views, likes, comments, shares, and saves.

When is it worth it?

• If you just posted it a few minutes ago: If the Reel has hardly any engagement yet, you have little to lose. Deleting and re-posting immediately is a low-risk move.
• If the cover has a huge typo: If you used a custom cover with a glaring spelling error in the headline, it might be worth re-posting to maintain a professional appearance.
• If the Reel flopped anyway: If the Reel got very few views in the first few hours, some creators believe deleting and re-posting can give it a "second chance" with the algorithm. This is not guaranteed, but if the initial performance was poor, the potential upside of a better cover might outweigh the minimal engagement you would lose.

In most other cases, especially if your Reel is already gaining traction, it's almost never worth sacrificing that momentum just to fix a slightly imperfect cover. Leave it be and focus on making the next one better.

Pro Tips for a Perfect Reel Cover (Before You Post)

The best strategy is prevention. Getting your Reel cover right during the upload process saves you from any post-publication stress. Here are three tips to design a cover that drives views and looks beautiful on your grid every single time.

1. Choose a Dynamic, High-Quality Frame

If you're pulling a still from your video, don't just let Instagram choose for you. Actively scrub through the timeline slider to find a frame that is:

• Clear and in-focus: Avoid blurry, mid-motion shots.
• Bright and well-lit: Dark or shadowy frames are hard to decipher.
• Shows emotion or action: A shot of you laughing, pointing, or having a look of surprise is far more engaging than a neutral expression.

2. Design a Custom Cover Graphic

Elevate your brand by creating custom covers. This is standard practice for top creators and businesses because it works.

• Use a simple design tool: You don't need Photoshop. Apps like Canva offer countless templates specifically for Reel covers (dimensions: 1080px wide by 1920px tall).
• Add a compelling headline: Use big, bold, easy-to-read text that tells people exactly what they'll learn or see. For example, "3 Life-Changing Productivity Hacks" or "You Won’t Believe This Paris Cafe." This provides immediate value and sparks curiosity.
• Stay on-brand: Stick to your brand's fonts and colors to build a cohesive visual identity across your profile. An instantly recognizable style helps you stand out.

3. Always Preview the Profile Grid Crop

This is the most-missed step! During the upload process, after you've selected your 9:16 cover, always tap the "Profile grid" button. This lets you see exactly how the cover will look as a 1:1 square on your feed.

You can drag your full-size cover around to find the best possible crop. Make sure your face or the most important part of the text isn't getting sliced off. A well-framed grid cover is the final touch that ensures your Reel looks great everywhere on your profile.

Final Thoughts

Perfecting your Instagram presence often comes down to mastering the small details. While you can't technically change the main vertical cover of a Reel after posting, you have full control over how it appears on your profile grid, which is often what matters most for a cohesive brand look. For peace of mind, the best approach is always a proactive one - designing and framing your cover perfectly before you ever hit "Share."

We know that planning a beautiful, cohesive grid is about more than just one Reel cover. It involves visualizing your entire content calendar. That's why we built Postbase from the ground up for today's visual, video-first social media. With our visual planner, you can see exactly how your posts, Reels, and videos will look next to each other, so you can schedule everything with confidence. Instead of getting stuck fixing mistakes after the fact, our tools help you get it right from the start, making social media management feel less chaotic and much more intentional.