How to Post Multiple Photos on Instagram: A Simple 2025 Guide

Posting multiple photos on Instagram helps you tell a fuller story. You can share a full event, a step-by-step process, or a set of memories in one clean swipe. Whether you want to add many photos to a post or use multiple pictures in a story, the steps are simple once you know where to tap.

This guide explains how to post multiple photos on Instagram, how to add multiple pictures to stories, and how to create clean layouts using Picsart tools. The words stay simple. The sentences stay short. You get everything you need in one place.

Let’s start with the basics.

Why do people post multiple photos on Instagram

Posting multiple photos is useful because:

You can share a full moment, not just one shot
You can show details, angles, or steps
You can avoid spamming with many single posts
You can tell a story in a clear order
You keep your feed clean and organized

It also helps your content feel more personal and creative. Carousels often get more engagement because people swipe longer. That increases watch time, which helps visibility.

How to post multiple photos on Instagram (step-by-step)

Posting multiple photos to your main Instagram feed is simple. Here is the shortest and clearest way to do it.

Step 1: Tap Create +

Open the Instagram app. Tap the + symbol at the bottom or top of your screen.

Step 2: Tap Post

Choose Post from the menu.

Step 3: Tap Select Multiple

This is the main step. You’ll see a small icon of two stacked squares. Tap it.
Now you can choose up to 10 photos or videos.

Step 4: Choose your photos

Tap the images you want in your carousel. Each photo gets a small number so you know the order.

Step 5: Change the order

If you want to move something:

Hold your finger on a photo
Drag it to a new position

If you want to delete one:

Hold the photo
Drag it to the delete icon

Step 6: Tap Next

This opens the editing screen.

Step 7: Add filters and edits

You can edit each photo one at a time. Or you can tap one filter to apply it to the whole set.

Step 8: Add your caption and location

You can add one caption and one location for the entire post.

Step 9: Tag people in each photo

You can tag different people in each image. Tap Tag People, then swipe to the image where you want to add the tag.

Step 10: Post your carousel

Tap Share. Your multi-photo post goes live.

That’s it. You now have a clean swipe-through carousel.

Extra tips for better multi-photo posts

Here are simple ways to make your multi-photo posts look clean:

Keep colors consistent
Use edits that match
Start with your strongest photo
Tell a clear story
Use short captions
Check your Instagram post sizes (this helps prevent weird cropping)

For more help on sizing, you can check this guide.

How to add multiple photos to an Instagram Story

Stories let you show more personality. You can get creative with layers, layouts, stickers, and text. There are three easy ways to add multiple photos to a story.

Method 1: Use the “Add Multiple” tool

This tool appears when you open the Story screen.

Open your Instagram Story camera
Tap the photo icon
Tap Select Multiple
Choose the pictures you want
They will appear as separate story slides
Add text, stickers, and GIFs
Post to your story

This is the simplest way.

Method 2: Use the layering feature (stickers)

This method adds many photos to one slide.

Open your Story
Pick a background photo
Tap the sticker icon
Choose the photo sticker
Select a second photo
Resize it
Repeat for more images

This lets you build your own “collage-style” story.

Method 3: Use the Layout tool

Instagram has a built-in Layout option.

Open your Story camera
Look for Layout in the left menu
Pick a grid shape
Fill each box with a photo
Reshoot or replace as needed
Add text or drawings

This is helpful if you want a quick collage.

Why add multiple photos to a Story?

Using many photos in a story helps you:

Share your day in order
Add context with detail shots
Make engaging slides
Create a photo dump
Build visual storytelling
Keep people watching longer

Stories with several pictures often get higher taps and replies because viewers stay longer.

How to create cleaner layouts with the Picsart Collage Maker

If you want your multi-image posts or stories to look clean, you can use a collage maker instead of layering inside Instagram. This gives you full control over spacing, color, and style.

Picsart offers an easy Collage Maker tool.

Step 1: Open the Picsart Collage Maker

You’ll see many grid options and layout shapes.

Step 2: Pick a grid style

Choose from:

Classic grids
Modern grids
Creative frames
Freestyle layouts
Simple rows or columns

You can choose a style that fits your Instagram aesthetic.

Step 3: Add your photos

Tap the grid to replace the default pictures. Fill each space with images from your phone.

Step 4: Adjust spacing and shape

You can change:

Borders
Rounded corners
Gaps
Background colors
Layout shapes

This gives you full creative freedom.

Step 5: Export in high quality

Save your collage. Picsart exports clean, sharp images ready for Instagram.

Step 6: Post to Instagram

Open Instagram, tap Create, and post your collage as a story or a feed post.

If you want more collage ideas, this guide on how to create an IG collage helps

How to use Instagram templates for multi-photo posts

Templates help you save time. They also make your feed look clean and consistent. Picsart has many Instagram-ready templates.

These templates help you:

Keep a consistent brand style
Stay on trend
Build clean “magazine-style” layouts
Create story covers
Highlight multiple photos in one design

Here is how to use them.

Step 1: Open the template page

Browse templates for:

Stories
Posts
Reels covers
Carousels
Photo grids
Aesthetic themes

Step 2: Choose a template you like

Pick a style that fits your content. You can always change colors, fonts, and photos later.

Step 3: Customize with Picsart

Replace the sample photos with your own.
Edit colors, fonts, shapes, and effects.

Step 4: Export and upload

Save your final design. Upload to Instagram as a post or story.

Templates help you post faster while staying consistent.

Resize your photos before posting (simple trick for better quality)

Sometimes your photos lose quality because they don’t match Instagram’s preferred size. To fix this, you can use the Picsart Image Resizer. This keeps your photos sharp and avoids black bars or strange cropping.

Why your Instagram may not let you post multiple photos

If you can’t post multiple pictures, here are the most common reasons:

1. Your app needs an update

Older versions may hide the “Select Multiple” button.

2. Your internet is unstable

Slow uploads cause errors.

3. Instagram is having a bug

Sometimes the feature temporarily disappears.

4. You selected mixed file types

Some older devices have trouble mixing photos and videos.

5. Cache issues

Clearing the cache often fixes the problem.

Extra tips for better multi-photo posts

Here are some simple ideas to improve your posts:

Start with your strongest photo
Use a clean visual order
Avoid repeating similar photos
Mix wide shots and close-ups
Use matching color edits
Add a short and clear caption
Keep the story easy to understand

How to keep your Instagram layout clean with Picsart

Picsart makes your editing flow simple. You can:

Build collages
Resize images
Use clean templates
Add text overlays
Retouch photos
Use stickers
Match colors
Export in high quality

These tools help your Instagram feed look polished and consistent.

Conclusion

Now you know how to post multiple photos on Instagram, how to add multiple pictures to your story, and how to create clean layouts with Picsart tools. You also learned how to fix posting issues, how to resize images, and how to design collages that look professional. With the right tools, posting multiple photos becomes quick, clean, and fun.