Share an Instagram Story with Close Friends

Before you begin

Close Friends separates a Story for a selected group from a post intended for all followers. Review the list before composing your Story so you do not have to guess who will receive it when you are ready to share.

Follow these steps

Check that the active Instagram profile is the account you intend to use. If you manage several accounts, inspect the name and profile picture first. Menus may differ by app version, language and personal or professional account type.

1. Open your Instagram profile menu and find Close Friends. Review the existing list before adding new people or relying on its previous membership.
2. Select the people who should receive this Story. Open profiles when names are similar or you are unsure which account belongs to a friend.
3. Create a Story using the intended photo or video. Review text, stickers and the background for details you would prefer to keep private.
4. On the sharing screen, select Close Friends rather than your general Story audience. Review the posted result and repeat the audience check next time.

Check the result

One list may not suit every situation. Revisit its members after account changes or changes in who you want to include. If you selected the wrong audience, remove the mistaken post before sharing a corrected version.

Audience restrictions help control access on Instagram but cannot prevent recipients from saving or resharing information. Before uploading, check for other people's faces, addresses and personal details that may appear in the image.