How To Change Cover Photo On Instagram Reel After Posting
If you want to change the cover photo of an Instagram reel without posting a new one or even after it has already been posted, Instagram now offers flexible tools to update your reel's thumbnail. This is especially useful if you're aiming for a more professional feed layout or want to replace an auto-selected preview that doesn’t reflect your content well.
After posting a reel, go to your profile and tap on the Reels tab. Select the reel you want to update. Tap the three-dot menu (•••) on the bottom right of the reel, then choose "Manage." From here, there are two options depending on what you want to change:
1. **Adjust Preview**: This lets you crop the currently selected cover image. You can zoom in or reposition it within the frame to better fit your desired look. This is useful if you want to tweak the existing thumbnail without replacing it entirely.
2. **Edit and Change Cover**: For full customization, tap "Edit" under the "Manage" options. You'll see a thumbnail preview next to your current reel cover. Tap the pencil (edit) icon next to it to change the cover. Instagram will load the reel so you can scroll through it and pick any frame from within the video as your new cover photo. Alternatively, tap "Add from camera roll" to upload a custom image for your cover. Once you've selected or uploaded your new thumbnail, tap "Done" and save the changes.
This entire process happens without needing to delete or repost the reel. Your views, likes, and comments remain intact, making it an ideal way to polish your profile presentation without losing engagement.
Timestamps:
0:00 Introduction
0:18 Accessing reels and current cover
0:39 Cropping or adjusting preview
1:01 Editing the reel to change cover photo
1:26 Uploading custom cover image
1:30 Conclusion
Hashtags:
#InstagramReels #ReelsCover #ChangeThumbnail #InstagramTips #SocialMediaGuide #ReelsUpdate #ContentCreationTips