How to Change the Cover of an Instagram Post

Ever hit ‘share’ on a new Instagram post only to realize the cover image ruins your perfectly curated profile grid? It’s a frustrating moment that happens to everyone. Fortunately, for some post types, it’s an easy fix, while for others, you need a different strategy. This article will guide you through exactly how to change the cover of an Instagram post, both before you publish and - in some cases - after it’s already live.

What Is an Instagram Post Cover and Why Does It Matter?

An Instagram post cover is the thumbnail image that people see on your profile grid. For a single image post, the cover is just the image itself. For a video, Reel, or multi-image carousel, it’s the specific frame or photo chosen to represent the entire post on your main feed.

Why should you care? Because your profile grid is your brand's digital storefront. It's often the first impression a potential follower gets of your account. A cohesive, visually appealing grid tells people what you're about and encourages them to stay. Getting your covers right is essential for:

• Brand Consistency: Using similar colors, filters, or text styles on your covers creates a recognizable and professional brand look.
• First Impressions: A messy, disjointed grid can feel unprofessional, while a well-planned one looks polished and intentional.
• Content Navigation: For educational or thematic accounts, well-designed covers with text overlays can act as signposts, helping people quickly find the content they’re interested in.
• Storytelling: You can use your grid to create larger "puzzle" images or tell a story through a sequence of posts, both of which rely on having full control over your cover images.

In short, the cover image turns a single post into a strategic piece of your overall profile identity.

How to Change the Cover Before Publishing a New Post

Getting the cover right from the start is always the best plan. Instagram gives you different options depending on whether you’re posting a video or a carousel. Let's break it down.

For a Video or Reel

Videos and Reels give you the most flexibility for choosing a cover. You can either select a frame from the video itself or upload a fully custom image from your phone’s camera roll. A custom image is nearly always the better choice, as it allows for branded text, graphics, and a cleaner aesthetic.

Here’s the step-by-step process:

1. Create your Reel or video post as you normally would.
2. Proceed to the final screen before you publish (where you write your caption and tag people).
3. On this screen, you’ll see a preview of your post. Tap on the image itself, or look for an "Edit Cover" button right below the caption field. This will take you to the cover selection screen.
4. You’ll now have two options at the bottom of the screen:
   • Select a Frame: The default option is a slider at the bottom that lets you scrub through every frame of your video. Drag your finger along the slider until you find a frame you like. Look for one that's clear, well-lit, and not blurry with motion.
   • Add from Camera Roll: This is the most powerful option. To the right of the video slider, you'll see a button that says "Add from Camera Roll." Tap it to open your photo library and select a pre-made image you've created. This is perfect for covers with titles, brand logos, or a consistent design.
5. Once you've chosen your cover, you'll see a preview of how it will appear on your profile grid (a square crop). You can adjust the vertical positioning of this crop with your finger to frame it perfectly.
6. Tap "Done" in the top right corner. You'll be taken back to the sharing screen, and now your new cover will be set.

For a Carousel Post (Multiple Photos/Videos)

Carousel posts are less flexible than videos. You cannot upload a separate, custom cover image for a carousel. The cover will always be the very first image or video in the sequence you select.

Changing the cover, therefore, is simply a matter of reordering your slides. Here’s how:

1. While creating your post, select all the images and videos you want to include.
2. Proceed to the editing screen where you can add filters.
3. On this screen, you can press and hold on any of the media thumbnails and drag it to a different position.
4. To change the cover, simply drag your desired cover image to the first position in the carousel.
5. Hit next, write your caption, and share. The first image you placed will now be the cover thumbnail on your profile grid.

Make sure you do this before publishing. Unlike with videos and Reels, you cannot change the order of a carousel - or its cover - once it has been posted.

Can You Change the Cover of a Post That’s Already Published?

This is the question that haunts every social media manager. You've published a post, and only then do you spot the cover mistake. So, what’s the verdict? The answer is: it depends on the post type.

The Good News: You Can Edit Existing Reel and Video Covers

Yes, you can absolutely change the cover of a video or Reel after it has been published. This is a lifesaver for fixing mistakes or updating your grid's aesthetic over time. Here’s how to do it:

1. Go to your Instagram profile.
2. Tap on the video or Reel whose cover you want to change to open it.
3. Tap the three dots (...) in the top-right corner of the screen (for a Reel) or bottom-right (for an in-feed video).
4. From the menu that appears, select "Edit."
5. On the editing screen (where you can edit your caption and tags), tap on the preview image itself, or look for the word "Cover" on the image.
6. This opens the exact same cover editor you used when you first created the post. You can scrub through the video timeline to find a new frame or, better yet, select "Add from Camera Roll" to upload a designed-for-purpose cover graphic.
7. Frame the shot in the "Profile Grid" preview, tap "Done," then tap "Done" again to save all your edits.

Your post will now appear on your grid with the new, updated cover. No loss of likes, comments, or engagement!

The Bad News: You Cannot Edit Image or Carousel Covers

Unfortunately, Instagram does not allow you to change the cover photo for a single-image or carousel post once it has been published. The cover is tied directly to the media itself. Since you can't reorder a carousel's slides after posting or swap out a single photo, the cover is locked in for good.

If you've made a mistake with a carousel or single-image post, you only have one option: the delete and repost strategy.

What to Do When You Can’t Change a Cover: The Delete & Repost Strategy

If a flawed cover on a photo or carousel is driving you nuts, your only solution is to delete the post and upload it again correctly. This is a drastic step, as it means you will lose all of the likes, comments, shares, and saves associated with that post.

When is it worth it?

• If the post is very new and hasn't received much engagement yet.
• If the cover contains a typo or major branding error that harms your credibility.
• If the mistake genuinely ruins the carefully planned aesthetic of your visual grid and it's a "pillar" piece of content designed to be on your profile for the long term.

If you decide to go this route, follow these steps to minimize the disruption:

1. Save your assets: Open the original post. Copy the entire caption and all your hashtags and paste them into a notes app. Save the original photos or videos back to your phone if you don't already have them.
2. Note your engagement: Take a screenshot of the likes and comments. While you can't get them back, it's good for your own records, especially if it was a well-performing post.
3. Delete the post: Tap the three dots on the post and select "Delete."
4. Repost correctly: Immediately create a new post using the saved media and caption. This time, double-check that you’ve selected the right cover a few times before hitting "Share."

Best Practices for Stand-Out Instagram Covers

To avoid needing to fix your covers later, it’s best to create great ones from the start. Here are a few tips:

• Use Brand Templates: Use a tool like Canva to create a few cover templates with your brand fonts and colors. This makes creating consistent, professional-looking covers incredibly fast.
• Add Text Thumbnails: For educational content (e.g., "5 Tips For..."), adding a clear title to your cover image makes your profile grid easily scannable and turns it into a valuable resource library.
• Think About the Square Crop: Your video and cover might be 9:16 (vertical), but it will be cropped to an 1:1 square on your profile feed. Always use the "Profile Grid" preview to make sure your key text or visual elements aren't cut off.
• Stay Consistent: Decide on an aesthetic and stick with it. Whether it's a checkerboard pattern, a single color theme, or a line down the middle, consistency is what gives your grid a polished, attractive feel.

Final Thoughts

Mastering your Instagram post covers is a small detail that makes a huge difference in the professionalism and appeal of your profile. Remember that you can always edit the covers for videos and Reels after posting, but for photos and carousels, you have to get it right the first time to avoid having to delete your post.

To prevent these kinds of mistakes, building your content calendar out in advance is a game-changer. That's why we created our visual calendar in Postbase. It allows you to plan your content and see exactly how your grid will look before anything goes live, so you can spot mismatched covers or aesthetic issues ahead of time and keep everything looking polished without the last-minute stress.