How to Manage Your Drafts on Instagram?

Drafts are saved versions of your unfinished posts, stories, or reels. You can return later to finish editing or post when you are ready!

They can be a great help for social media managers, influencers, and anyone whose job mainly requires using Instagram.

By the end of this blog you will learn:

• How to save a draft on Instagram
• How to Delete Drafts on Instagram
• How to Check IG Drafts
• How Long Do Instagram Drafts Last

… and much more!

Read the rest of our blog to learn more about drafts on Instagram and how to use them much more efficiently!

What are Drafts on Instagram?

Instagram drafts are unfinished posts. They can be photos, stories, or reels. You can edit them. Add texts, music, or emojis. And save to post later. 

Here are a few facts you may not know about drafts on Instagram:

• You can save a draft if you are not ready to publish.

• Drafts let you edit and finalize your content at a later time.

• You can have multiple drafts for posts, stories, and reels.

• Story drafts expire after seven days.

• Post and reel drafts stay until you delete them or remove the app.

Drafts are a great way to stay organized and create an Instagram posting schedule.

Why Instagram Drafts Are Important

Drafts save time. You can prepare posts in advance. Then you can edit them when you have more time or better ideas. This prevents rushed captions or sloppy images.

Drafts on Instagram are important for the following reasons:

• You can prepare your posts in advance and create an Instagram content strategy.

• You can edit your posts later, when you have better ideas.

• You can do A/B tests or compare your posts with competitors content.

• You can keep everything in one place.

An Alternative to Instagram Drafts:

Instagram drafts are great. But they have a few disadvantages. Like story drafts. They disappear after 7 days.

Story Downloader offers a great alternative to it.

It lets you download your stories so you can keep them saved on your device forever. This way, you can easily view your Instagram stories even offline. Run A/B tests and improve your stories by getting inspired by different content.

Where to Find Instagram Drafts

Many users expect a big Drafts button on Instagram. But Instagram hides drafts behind the new post screen. Understanding exactly where they are can save you a lot of confusion.

Where are your Post Drafts and Reel Drafts

• Open your Instagram app.

• Tap the plus (“+”) sign, as though you are about to create a new post or reel.

• On the next screen, look for a section labeled Drafts.

• Tap that section. Then pick the draft you want to open.

These steps work for both posts and reels. The screen might look a bit different if you choose to create a reel, but the principle is the same. Once you tap the plus sign, Instagram often shows you recent photos or videos you can post. Above or below those thumbnails, you will see the Drafts section.

Where are your Story Drafts

Story drafts work differently. You do not find them in the same place as post drafts. Here is how to see your saved story drafts:

• Open Instagram.

1. 1. Tap Your Story at the top-left corner of your home screen.
   2. At the bottom-left, you will see a small square icon that usually shows your camera roll or recent pictures. Tap that.

• If you have any story drafts saved, they should appear there.

Story drafts only last seven days. If you saved a Story draft and it’s day eight, it is probably gone. Keep that in mind so you do not lose important content!

How to Save Drafts for Posts, Stories, and Reels

Saving a draft is simple. It only takes a few taps. Still, each content type has its own process. Here is a quick breakdown.

Saving an Instagram Post as a Draft

• Begin creating a new post. This means picking a photo or video from your gallery.

• Edit the image. You might add a filter, adjust brightness, or write a caption.

• Before you tap Share, look at the top-left corner for a back arrow. Tap that arrow once.

• Instagram should ask if you want to discard or save the draft. Choose Save Draft.

Your post is now saved as a draft. You can come back later to finish editing. You can also change the caption before you post.

Saving an Instagram Story as a Draft

• Start creating a story. This might be a photo or video you take with your phone.

• Add any stickers, text, or effects you want.

• Tap the back arrow on the top-left corner.

• When prompted, choose Save Draft instead of discarding.

You can return to your story draft anytime in the next seven days. After that, Instagram deletes it automatically. So, if you plan to hold onto it longer, consider saving it to your camera roll.

Remember: Instagram Downloader lets you download any Instagram video you want instantly and free. So you can get rid of the seven-day limitation!

Saving a Reel as a Draft

• Record or upload a video to the reels editor.

• Add music, text overlays, or visual effects.

• Look for Save Draft instead of posting. Tap that option.

• To find it later, go to your profile and open the Reels tab. There should be a special Drafts folder.

Reels drafts do not vanish unless you remove them or reinstall the app.

However, sometimes app updates can cause random issues.

So be cautious and keep your important reels backed up if you need them for a later date. For backing up you can always use our Instagram Reels Downloader.

How Long Drafts Last

Instagram post and reel drafts last as long as you keep them, unless you delete them manually or remove the app. Instagram story drafts are different. They are deleted after 7 days. 

Common Reasons Drafts Disappear

You can panic when your drafts deleted…

Let’s look at a few common reasons and how to avoid them:

• Story drafts are automatically deleted after seven days.

• When you delete Instagram, your drafts can disappear.

• When you switch your phone, your files may not be transferred.

• Sometimes bug can cause issues and delete your Insta drafts.

To protect your work, you can save your important drafts to your camera roll. You can also write captions in a separate notes app. So even if something goes wrong, you still have your text and media files safe.

Deleting Unwanted Drafts

Deleting drafts is simple once you know where to look. By deleting your drafts on Instagram, you can free up space, especially if you have limited storage on your phone. It also prevents confusion, as you will not mix up old drafts with new ones.

Deleting Post Drafts

• Tap the plus icon to create a new post.

• Look for the Drafts section.

• Tap Manage or Edit.

• Select the drafts you no longer need.

• Tap Delete or confirm to remove them.

Once deleted, your post drafts are gone. Make sure you are certain before you confirm. There is no undo button.

Deleting Story Drafts

• Open your Story drafts by tapping Your Story and then the bottom-left camera roll icon.

• Tap the X or any delete option near the draft you want to remove.

• Confirm Delete Draft to finalize.

Remember that if you do nothing, Instagram will delete story drafts after a week. But if you want them gone sooner, this is the way to do it.

Deleting Reel Drafts

• Go to your profile.

• Tap the Reels icon.

• Open the Drafts folder.

• Choose the reel or reels you want to remove.

• Tap Delete, then confirm your choice.

Story Draft Best Practices

Stories disappear after 24 hours. They also have the shortest draft lifespan, which is seven days. To make the most of your story drafts, follow these draft best practices:

1. Plan Limited-Time Deals: If you promote something special in your story, save the draft until the day you need it. Then post it for the most impact.
2. Use Stickers Wisely: Stickers like polls, questions, and countdowns keep your audience engaged. Save a draft if you need extra time to craft the perfect question or prompt.
3. Check the Timer: Keep an eye on how many days are left before the seven-day deadline. If your draft is about to expire, post it or save it to your phone.

Reel Draft Best Practices

Reels are short videos on Instagram. A reel draft helps you experiment with timing, music, or text overlays. Here’s how to use reel drafts effectively:

1. Check Audio Sync: If your reel depends on matching the beat of a song, do a quick test. Adjust the timing in the draft.
2. Experiment with Effects: Reels offer many creative tools. Make a few versions in your drafts to see which effect looks best. Then delete the extras.
3. Plan for Series: Some creators produce a series of reels on a theme. You can save multiple reels in your draft folder, then release them in a sequence.

If you store many reels in your drafts, label them clearly. You do not want to mix up your funny reel with a business tutorial.

Using Drafts for Collaboration

If you work on a team, consider using drafts to collaborate on final content. One person can handle the photo or video editing. Another person can add the caption or final touch. You can pass the phone around or log in on a shared device if your workflow allows.

Be careful with password sharing. If multiple people have access to one account, be sure to coordinate who posts and when. Otherwise, your draft might get posted at the wrong time or accidentally deleted.

Frequently Asked Questions