HEARD: Instagram Now Lets You Rearrange Your Grid
The feature creators used to want, released at a time when most don’t need it!
Instagram quietly rolled out a feature that lets users rearrange the order of posts on their profile grid, regardless of when they were posted. Here's what we know:
Feature Name: So far, we have no official title, but it’s now available via the three-dot menu on your own posts
How It Works: If you long-press any individual post, you can find the “Edit Grid” mode where you can move any post anywhere on your profile without needing to delete or reupload
Who Has Access: It’s currently in a test phase, with some creators reporting access as of this week, likely part of a wider rollout
What Instagram Said: They’re calling it one of their most requested features by users; part of their “Anyway” campaign to reduce posting pressure and empower creative expression (umm hmm, ok)
Why It Matters (visually): You can now curate your grid to reflect a specific vibe, brand, or storyline, even retroactively
If this sounds like something we would’ve liiiiivvved for back in 2018, you’re not wrong.
My Offline Take
It’s interesting that Instagram is just now rolling this out, because for most creators today, the focus has shifted. We’ve moved beyond curating perfect feeds and are now investing energy into learning the algorithm, prioritizing Reels, and figuring out how to build an audience that actually converts into engagement, opportunity, and most importantly, coins.
The idea of rearranging your grid would have made a huge difference back in the day when a clean, cohesive feed felt like it could also serve as your portfolio (and no shade to those who still use it in this way). Back then, your profile was the first thing people judged and a well-designed grid was considered part of your brand.
Today, most creators no longer see their grid as the primary driver of visibility or growth and it’s because we’ve been directed elsewhere. We all know the algorithm of today does not prioritize aesthetics. It prioritizes content performance. Short-form video, watch time, shares, and saves are the signals that determine whether your content moves. A polished profile does not guarantee exposure and hasn’t for a while now.
Instagram also has not made it clear how, or if, this update will help with reach or engagement and without that clarity, many creators are likely going to see this as a nice-to-have rather than a tool that actually supports their goals.
What This Could Actually Mean
1. The grid is being prepped to function like a storefront
Instagram may be moving toward more profile-based monetization. Think: portfolio layouts, shopping rows, or “creator hubs” that prioritize what people see first when they land on your page. If that happens, layout control matters again (and Shopify, well..).
2. They want to bring back intentional storytelling
This might be a subtle push to shift creators from chasing trends to prioritizing visual narrative. Rearranging your grid will become a tool to reframe how your content is perceived in sequence, which seems more identity curation than content strategy.
3. It’s a setup for a bigger redesign
Sometimes the smallest features signal the largest shifts. This could be Instagram slowly laying the groundwork for a larger move: customizable profiles, Reels and carousel prioritization, or a new homepage layout entirely.
What Do You Think?
Drop a comment and tell me which number you agree with (1, 2, or 3)… and why.
Or, if you’re sensing something different altogether, add your own theory. I want to know how you’re reading this move.