How to Unpin a Comment on Instagram

Ready to switch up the top comment on your Instagram post? You've come to the right place. Pinned comments are a fantastic way to highlight positive feedback or answer common questions, but knowing how to unpin a comment is just as important for keeping your content fresh and relevant. This guide will walk you through the simple steps to unpin a comment, explain what happens afterward, and cover the strategic reasons for managing your pinned comments like a pro.

What’s the Point of Pinning Comments, Anyway?

Before we get into the "unpinning," let's briefly touch on why this feature is so powerful for creators and brands. When you publish a post, the comments section can quickly become a busy place. Pinning allows you to take control of the conversation by keeping up to three specific comments right at the top, no matter how many new comments roll in. People pin comments to:

• Showcase Great Feedback: A glowing review or testimonial pinned to the top of a product post acts as instant social proof for anyone who sees it. It’s an organic and authentic way to let happy customers do the selling for you.
• Answer Frequent Questions: Does everyone ask where your outfit is from or what camera you used? Pin a comment with the answer right at the top. This saves you from repeating yourself and provides immediate value to your audience.
• Set the Vibe: You can steer the conversation by pinning a comment that reflects the tone you want. Pinning a thoughtful, positive, or laugh-out-loud funny comment encourages others to engage in a similar way.
• Highlight a Call-to-Action (CTA): While you can't pin your own first comment immediately, you can pin a follower's comment that reinforces your CTA or ask a question in a later comment and pin that to spur more interaction.

Pinning is a strategic tool, but like any strategy, it requires ongoing management. What was relevant yesterday might not be today, which is exactly why unpinning is a key skill to have.

Your Step-by-Step Guide to Unpinning an Instagram Comment

The process of unpinning a comment is refreshingly simple and works almost identically whether you’re using an iPhone or an Android device. Simply find the post with the comment you want to manage and follow these steps.

Unpinning a Comment on iOS (iPhone)

If you're using an iPhone, the process relies on a simple swipe gesture.

1. Navigate to Your Post: Open the Instagram app and go to the post that has the comment you want to unpin.
2. Find the Pinned Comment: Pinned comments are always located at the very top of the comments section, marked with a small thumbtack icon and the word "Pinned."
3. Swipe Left on the Comment: Gently swipe your finger from right to left across the pinned comment. This will reveal a set of options next to it.
4. Tap the Unpin Icon: You'll see several icons appear. Look for the thumbtack symbol with a diagonal line through it. Tap this icon.
5. Confirm Your Choice: A confirmation pop-up will appear that says, "Unpin comment? This comment will no longer appear at the top of your post." Simply tap "Unpin" to confirm.

That's it! The comment is now unpinned and will return to its original chronological position in the feed.

Unpinning a Comment on Android

For Android users, the motion is slightly different - it involves a long-press instead of a swipe.

1. Go to Your Post: Open your Instagram app and find the specific post containing the pinned comment.
2. Locate the Pinned Comment: Just like on iOS, it will be at the very top of the comments list.
3. Press and Hold the Comment: Tap on the comment you want to unpin and hold your finger down on it for a second or two.
4. Select the Unpin Icon: Holding the comment will bring up an action bar at the top of your screen. You will see several icons, including one that looks like a thumbtack with a line through it. Tap that icon.
5. Confirm the Action: A pop-up menu will ask you to confirm your decision. Tap "Unpin," and the comment will be successfully unpinned.

You’ve now freed up a pin slot and returned that comment to its original place in the conversation.

What Happens After You Unpin a Comment?

Unpinning a comment doesn't cause any drama. It’s a low-key action with a few key outcomes that are good to know:

• The Comment Isn't Deleted: This is the most important thing to remember. Unpinning simply removes the comment from its VIP spot at the top. The comment itself remains on your post, reverting to its original position based on when it was posted.
• The User Is NOT Notified: The person who wrote the comment will not receive any notification that their comment has been unpinned. It's a silent action on your part, so you don't have to worry about anyone feeling slighted.
• The Pinned Slot Becomes Available: Instagram allows you to pin up to three comments. Once you unpin one, that slot opens up. You can now pin a newer, more relevant comment in its place if you wish.
• Likes and Replies Are Unaffected: Any likes or replies that the comment had while it was pinned will remain untouched. Nothing about the comment is changed except for its position.

Strategic Reasons to Unpin an Instagram Comment

Now that you know how to do it, let’s talk about why you would. Managing your pinned comments is a small but impactful part of building a strong brand presence. Here are a few common scenarios where unpinning makes perfect sense.

1. The Information Is Outdated

This is the most common reason. Maybe you pinned a comment answering a question about a limited-time sale, an upcoming event, or a product that’s now sold out. Once that information is no longer relevant, it's best to unpin it to avoid confusing your audience. Keeping your pinned comments current shows that you're actively managing your account.

Example: A boutique pinned a comment saying, "Our spring collection drops this Friday!" By next week, that message is old news. Unpinning it makes way for a comment about the new arrivals.

2. You Got a Better Comment

You might have pinned a nice bit of praise, but then someone leaves an even more amazing, detailed testimonial. Don't be afraid to swap it out! Cycling in the absolute best comments and reviews ensures that new visitors see your strongest social proof first. Think of your pinned comment section as your post's greatest hits - you want to keep it fresh with your latest chart-toppers.

Example: A fitness coach pinned a comment that said, "Great workout!" But a few days later, a client comments, "This is the third workout I've done from your page, and I'm already feeling stronger and more motivated than ever. Thank you for making fitness so accessible!" The second one is much more powerful and deserves the top spot.

3. Your Strategic Focus Has Shifted

Sometimes the overall goal of a post evolves. A post might start as a simple announcement but later turn into a hub for community Q&As. In that case, you might want to unpin a general compliment and pin a really insightful question (along with your answer) to better serve the needs of your audience as the conversation develops.

Example: An artist posts a new painting. Initially, she pins a comment that praises the color palette. As more people ask about her technique in the comments below, she decides to unpin the first comment and instead pin one that asks, "What kind of brushes did you use for the textured background?" so she can share that information widely.

4. It Was an Accident

Hey, it happens to the best of us. Maybe you were trying to reply to or delete a comment, and your thumb slipped, accidentally pinning it instead. Knowing how to quickly unpin it lets you correct the mistake in seconds.

Final Thoughts

Managing your pinned comments on Instagram is a simple yet effective way to control your brand's narrative, provide value, and foster a positive community on your posts. Learning how to unpin comments gives you the flexibility to keep your content relevant, swap in better user feedback, and adapt your strategy as the conversation evolves.

Keeping an eye on all these interactions to find the perfect comment to pin can feel like a lot, especially when you're managing multiple social accounts. At Postbase, we built our tool to solve this exact problem. Our unified engagement inbox brings all your comments and DMs from every platform into one clean, manageable view. This way, you never miss that golden testimonial or that all-important customer question, which helps you decide what's worth pinning without getting lost in the chaos. With Postbase, you can spend less time switching between apps and more time building your community.