How to Unpin a Post on Instagram

Refreshing your Instagram profile often starts with what’s at the very top: your pinned posts. Whether a promotion has ended or your strategy has shifted, knowing how to unpin a post on Instagram is a simple technical skill with a lot of strategic importance. This guide will walk you through the simple steps to unpin your content and, more importantly, discuss the strategy behind why and when you should be curating that valuable top-of-profile real estate.

What Exactly is a Pinned Post on Instagram?

Pinning a post on Instagram allows you to select up to three existing posts (images, videos, or Reels) and anchor them to the top of your profile grid. These posts will remain at the top, regardless of when they were originally published, making them the first content visitors see when they land on your profile. Think of it as a featured section for your digital presence.

This feature is incredibly powerful for establishing a first impression. Social media managers and brands use pinned posts to:

• Introduce themselves: Pin a post that clearly explains who you are or what your brand does.
• Highlight top-performing content: Showcase a Reel that went viral or a post with exceptional engagement to show off your best work.
• Promote current offers: Keep a current sale, new product, or special event front and center.
• Share important announcements: Pin information about shipping updates, new hours, or other essential news.
• Display social proof: Feature a post with raving customer testimonials or user-generated content (UGC).

Since this space is so prominent, keeping it updated is just as important as choosing the right posts to pin in the first place. That’s where unpinning comes in.

How to Unpin a Post on Instagram: A Step-by-Step Guide

The good news is that unpinning a post is just as straightforward as pinning one. The process takes less than 30 seconds. Here’s exactly how to do it.

1. Navigate to Your Instagram Profile: Open the Instagram app and tap on your profile picture in the bottom-right corner to go to your profile grid.
2. Select the Pinned Post: Find the post you wish to unpin. It will be one of the first one, two, or three posts at the top of your grid and will have a small white pin icon in its top-right corner. Tap on it to open the post in full view.
3. Open the Post Options Menu: Tap the three dots (…) in the top-right corner of the post. This will open up a pop-up menu with several options.
4. Tap ‘Unpin from Profile’: From the menu, select the option that says "Unpin from profile."

That's it! The post will instantly disappear from the top of your grid and return to its original chronological position. No one will be notified, and all of its existing likes, comments, and saves will remain intact. The post is simply moved, not altered or deleted.

Why Would You Unpin a Post? The Core Strategy

While the "how" is simple, the "why" is where smart social media strategy comes into play. Unpinning a post isn't just a housekeeping task, it’s an active choice to refresh your profile's narrative. Here are the most common and compelling reasons to unpin a post.

1. To Reflect New Campaigns or Launches

Perhaps the most frequent reason to Marie Kondo your pinned posts is to align your profile with your current marketing priorities. If you pinned a post about last month’s product launch, it's time to unpin it and make way for this month’s campaign reveal. Your pinned posts should act as a billboard for what's most important right now. Letting old promotions linger at the top can confuse profile visitors and make your brand seem out of date.

2. To Keep Your Grid Feeling Fresh

Even if a pinned post is evergreen, letting it sit at the top for too long can make your profile feel static. High-value followers who visit your profile regularly will appreciate seeing new content featured. Regularly rotating your pinned posts shows that you are actively managing your page and continuously creating valuable content worth featuring.

3. The Original Pinned Post is Outdated

This is a simple one. If you pinned an announcement for an event that has passed, a giveaway that has ended, or a seasonal offer that has expired, it’s essential to unpin it immediately. Leaving expired information at the top of your profile is unprofessional and signals to potential customers that you aren’t paying attention to detail.

4. A Newer Post is Performing Better

Sometimes, you publish a new Reel or photo that takes off unexpectedly. Maybe it's getting amazing engagement, driving tons of conversation in the comments, or explaining your brand's mission perfectly. In this case, it makes strategic sense to unpin an older, less impactful post to give this new star performer the spotlight it deserves. Use your pinned slots to showcase content that truly resonates with your audience.

Mastering Your Profile: A Deeper Look at Pinning and Unpinning

Thinking like a top-tier social media manager means seeing your profile's top row as a dynamic, strategic asset. It's not just a place to hold old posts, it's your digital storefront's window display.

Curate Your Digital "Front Door"

Imagine your Instagram grid is your brand's physical storefront or office lobby. Your three pinned posts are what a visitor sees the moment they walk in the door. What do you want them to know immediately? Unpinning content is the equivalent of changing out that storefront display to match the season, a new product line, or a company milestone.

A good rule of thumb is to use your three slots strategically. A common framework is:

• Pin 1: About Us. A post that introduces you, your mission, or your values.
• Pin 2: What We Offer. A post highlighting your main product, service, or a value proposition.
• Pin 3: Social Proof. A post featuring a customer testimonial, UGC, or a big win.

When you have a new glowing testimonial, you can unpin the old one and slot the new one in. Launched a new flagship service? Time to unpin the post about your old offer and feature the new one.

Implement a Pinned Post Rotation Schedule

Don't fall into the "set it and forget it" trap. Actively review your pinned posts on a recurring basis. For many brands, a monthly or quarterly check-in is sufficient. Add a reminder to your calendar: "Review Instagram Pinned Posts."

During this review, ask yourself:

• Are these three posts still the best representation of our brand today?
• Do they align with our business goals for this quarter?
• Is there any newer, better-performing content that a first-time visitor should see instead?

This proactive approach ensures your profile always feels current and strategically aligned, turning the simple act of unpinning into a powerful branding tool.

Frequently Asked Questions About Unpinning on Instagram

Does unpinning a post delete it from my profile?

Absolutely not. Unpinning a post does not delete it. It simply removes the post from the pinned section at the top of your profile and places it back in its original position in your timeline, based on the date it was first published.

Will people be notified when I unpin a post?

No. Instagram does not send any notifications to your followers or the people who engaged with the post when you pin or unpin content. It's a silent change on your profile.

What happens to the insights for a post I unpin?

Nothing changes. All the data associated with the post, including likes, comments, shares, saves, and reach, remains attached to it. The post's performance is unaffected by being pinned or unpinned.

Can I re-pin a post right after unpinning it?

Yes. If you unpin a post by mistake or change your mind, you can immediately go through the process of pinning it again. There is no waiting period or limit on how many times a post can be pinned or unpinned.

Is there a limit to how many posts I can pin?

Yes, you can pin a maximum of three posts at one time. If you already have three posts pinned and want to pin a new one, you will need to unpin one of the existing posts first.

Final Thoughts

Unpinning a post on Instagram is a quick and simple action that has a significant impact on your profile's first impression. By keeping the top of your grid fresh, relevant, and aligned with your current goals, you ensure that anyone who discovers your page sees the most powerful snapshot of your brand.

Managing which posts stay pinned and which get swapped out is much easier when you can visualize your feed and overall content strategy. We know that juggling what to post and what to feature can get overwhelming, which is why when we designed the visual calendar in Postbase, we focused on making it beautiful and intuitive. Seeing weeks of your scheduled content laid out helps you plan campaigns with clarity, making strategic decisions - like which Reel to pin next month - feel simple and organized instead of chaotic.