How to Edit Instagram Posts: Tips and Common Mistakes

Let's be honest—we've all been there. You upload that perfect Instagram photo, write a killer caption, hit publish, and then spot a glaring typo or realize you tagged Marc, your old landlord, instead of your best friend, Marc.

The good news? Instagram allows for edits after posting, though there are some limitations to what you can change. In this guide, we'll walk through everything you need to know about editing Instagram posts, from simple caption fixes to managing multi-photo carousels.

How to edit an Instagram post

Instagram allows users to change their posts after publishing, but you must understand what you can and can't edit before you start.

What you can edit:

✔️ Captions

✔️ AI label

✔️ Location tags

✔️ People tags

✔️ Alt text

✔️ Collaborators

What you can't edit:

❌ The actual photos or videos once posted (you can't swap a picture or apply new filters)

❌ You also can’t rearrange the photos or videos

❌ The post type (you can't turn a single image into a carousel)

❌ Add music to an existing post

❌ Change the aspect ratio or crop

🛎️ This is also a good time to mention that linking Instagram to Facebook streamlines the posting process, so you don't have to do it twice. However, it doesn't help with editing. Any changes you make on Instagram won’t reflect on Facebook—you'll need to edit directly if necessary.

Now, let’s look deeper into the editing options available to Instagram users.

Editing captions

After posting, you can edit your caption if you spot a typo or want to tweak your wording and hashtags. The process is the same as editing images and videos:

1. Tap the three dots (⋯) on your post.
2. Select ‘Edit’ from the menu.
3. Update your caption as needed.

4. Tap ‘Done’ to save.

Instagram doesn’t notify your followers of the change (unlike Facebook), so feel free to fix that typo before anyone screenshots it 😉

Tagging and location edits

Need to fix a misplaced tag or add a location for better discoverability? No problem—this follows the same quick-edit process:

To edit tags: 

Tap the three dots in the top right of your post. Select ‘Edit’ from the menu, then tap the ‘Tag people’ icon to add or remove tagged people and invite collaborators. Click on ‘Done’ afterward.

To edit location: 

Tap the current location in the ‘Add Location’ area to change or remove it. If no location is set (like in my case), tap ‘Add Location’ to add one. Tap ‘Done’ to save your changes.

🛍️ Location tags can help your content reach local audiences, making them particularly valuable for businesses looking to attract nearby customers. Learn more about using Instagram for business and how to set up an Instagram Shop in our extensive guides.

Best practices for editing Instagram posts

To maintain a professional Instagram presence and avoid the need for editing and deleting posts, follow these best practices:

#1 Proofread before posting 

Take an extra minute to check your caption, tags, and location for errors before hitting the share button. A quick proofread can prevent unnecessary edits and potential embarrassment later on.

#2 Edit sooner than later

If you need to make changes, do it soon after posting—ideally when engagement is still low. Waiting too long increases the risk of losing valuable social proof if you need to delete and repost. 

#3 Use draft mode 

If you're unsure about a post, save it as a draft to review later with fresh eyes. This extra step can help you catch mistakes or make improvements that would otherwise go unnoticed on the first try.

#4 Plan your content in advance  

One of the best ways to avoid the need for post-publishing edits is by planning your Instagram content ahead of time. When you have a monthly content plan that visualizes how each post will align with the others, you can spot any potential issues before hitting ‘publish.’ That includes final captions, hashtags, music, location tags, alt text, people tags, and collaborators. 

Tools like Madgicx's AI Ad Generator can also enhance your planning process. Using AI to generate stunning Instagram ad creatives in batches lets you plan all your content well in advance and eliminates the risk of deleting and reposting later.

To generate your creatives, simply upload any product image or an existing high-performing ad or browse through tons of real ad examples in Madgicx’s Ad Library. The AI Ad Generator instantly creates multiple high-quality ads suited to your brand. Plus, you can tweak your creatives in the same dashboard with the AI Editor, which lets you customize elements, remove what you don’t need, and add your desired text.

And the cherry on top? 🍒 You can test drive the Ad Library and AI Ad Generator with our 7-day FREE TRIAL today!

Common mistakes to avoid

Even Instagram pros make mistakes. Here are some common editing pitfalls to avoid:

1. Completely changing the meaning: While fixing typos is fine, drastically altering your caption after receiving engagement can confuse followers and seem disingenuous.
2. Over-editing: Constantly editing posts can make your profile seem disorganized or unprofessional.
3. Forgetting to check all elements: Remember to review your caption, tags, location, and alt text.
4. Deleting and reposting too often: This practice can annoy followers and hurt your engagement metrics.
5. Neglecting alt text: This often forgotten accessibility feature helps visually impaired users and can boost your SEO.
6. Hashtag overload after the fact: Adding 30 hashtags in an edit can look spammy and desperate for attention.

FAQ - editing Instagram posts

Let’s quickly cover some frequently asked questions before wrapping up.

Can you edit an Instagram post after posting?

Yes, but with limitations. You can edit the caption, tagged people, collaborators, location, alt text, and enable the AI label. However, you cannot edit the actual images or videos, add music, or change the post type (e.g., turning a single image into a carousel).

Why can't I edit my Instagram post?

Instagram isn’t a photo editing tool—it’s a social platform. While you can apply filters before posting, you can’t swap or alter an image after it’s live. To change a photo, you’ll need to delete the post and start fresh.

However, if you’re trying to edit the caption, tagged people, collaborators, location, alt text, or enable the AI label but can’t, possible reasons include:

• The Instagram app needs an update
• A temporary glitch (try closing and reopening the app)
• An unstable internet connection

How do I rearrange photos I already posted on Instagram?

Unfortunately, Instagram doesn't allow you to rearrange photos in a carousel post after publication. You can only rearrange them during the creation process before posting:

1. When creating a new carousel post, select all your photos
2. Look at the preview thumbnails at the bottom of your screen
3. Long-press on any image to activate the drag-and-drop function
4. Move the photo to your desired position
5. Release to place it in the new order

If your post is published and you need to change the order, you must delete it and create a new one with the correct arrangement.

Can I delete one picture from multiple on Instagram?

Yes, Instagram now allows you to delete individual photos from a carousel post:

1. Go to the carousel post on your profile
2. Tap the three dots (⋯) in the top-right corner
3. Select ‘Edit’ from the menu
4. Swipe to the photo you want to remove
5. Tap the trash icon on the bottom left corner
6. Confirm deletion when prompted
7. Tap ‘Done’ to save changes

Note that a carousel post must contain at least two photos. If you want to remove all but one, delete the entire post and create a new single-image post instead.

Conclusion

Instagram might not let you swap photos after posting, but that doesn’t mean you’re stuck with every little mistake. Knowing your editing options, whether fixing a caption, updating tags, or tweaking alt text, can help refine your content without sacrificing engagement.

That said, the best way to avoid the stress? Proofread, plan, and use drafts to get it right the first time. But hey, if you mess up, just edit quickly and keep it moving. Your followers are here for your content, not your typos 😉