Remember that hilarious video from a night out? A cute pet moment you posted on your Instagram story? Wouldn’t it be nice to see it again? It would. Luckily, it’s pretty easy to see your old stories on Instagram. 

Hold on. Don’t stories vanish after 24 hours? Yes, but that doesn’t mean they’re gone forever. 

Instagram has a handy feature that lets you revisit your past stories. In this guide, we’ll show you exactly how to access them and relive those memories.

Why It Pays to Know How to See Old Stories You Posted on Instagram

Knowing how to see your old stories on Instagram isn’t just about reliving fun memories (though that’s definitely a perk). It can actually be incredibly useful for a number of reasons:

• Revisit Inspiration: Remember that amazing recipe you saw on a friend’s story months ago? Being able to access old stories means you can easily find that inspiration again when you need it.
• Track Your Progress: Maybe you’re documenting a fitness journey, a home renovation, or a personal project. Looking back at your old stories lets you see how far you’ve come and celebrate your achievements.
• Remember Important Information: Did someone share an event announcement or an important piece of information in their story? You can go back and find it instead of scrambling through messages or hoping they remember.
• Business Advantages: For businesses and creators, old stories can be a goldmine. You can analyze what resonated with your audience, repurpose popular content, or gather inspiration for new posts.

How to See Old Stories on Instagram

Here are some simple ways to view old Instagram stories:

Method 1: The Archive Feature

Instagram automatically saves your stories to your Archive after they disappear from your profile. This is a fantastic way to access all your past stories without any extra effort. Here’s how to view them:

1. Open the Instagram app and go to your profile page.
2. Select ” View Archive.”
3. Scroll through your old stories and tap on anyone to view it.

Method 2: The Highlights Feature

If you want to keep your best stories on display for more than a day, highlights can help you do just that. Think of them as mini-exhibits on your profile, where you can handpick stories and keep them around long after they’ve disappeared from your main feed.

They are perfect for sharing announcements, creating a portfolio of your work, or just keeping those memorable moments front and center. Here’s how to set them up:

1. Head to your profile: Open up your Instagram app and tap on the profile icon in the bottom right corner.
2. Start a new Highlight: Just below your bio, you’ll spot a “+” button. Tap it. 
3. Name your collection: A box pops up, prompting you to name your new highlight.  
4. Pick your stories: Choose the stories you want to feature in this highlight. You can select from any of your archived stories.
5. Add a cover, and you’re done. Choose a cover image to give your highlight a polished look. Once you’re happy with it, tap “Add,” and you’re all set.

Now, your selected stories will be grouped together in a highlight on your profile. Anyone visiting your profile can tap on the highlight to view the stories within it.

Important Note: Instagram will save only stories posted after you enable the Archive feature. If you’re not sure whether it’s turned on, head to your profile, tap the three lines, go to “Settings and Privacy,” and then go to “Archiving and Downloading.” Make sure that “Save story to archive” is enabled.

How to See Someone’s Old Stories on Instagram

To see someone else’s old stories, check if they’ve added them to their Highlights:​

1. Visit Their Profile: Navigate to the user’s profile.​
2. Look for Highlights: Highlights appear as circles below their bio.​
3. View the Highlight: Tap on a Highlight to view the saved stories.​

If the user hasn’t saved stories as Highlights, there’s no official way to view their expired stories.

Wrapping Up

Instagram Stories may disappear after 24 hours, but that doesn’t mean they’re gone forever. If you want to see your or even your friends’ old stories on Instagram, features like Archive and Highlights make it easy to look back at past moments, track progress, or repurpose content.

If growing your Instagram presence is a priority, Bulkoid can help you reach a wider audience. Get more engagement with real Instagram followers, likes, comments, and video views to make your content stand out. 

FAQ: How to See Old Stories on Instagram

Can I see my old Instagram Stories?

Yes. Instagram automatically saves your stories to the Archive if the feature is enabled. You can find them by going to your profile, tapping the three-line menu, selecting “Settings and Privacy,” and then going to “Archiving and Downloading.”

How can I see someone’s Instagram Stories after 24 hours?

The only way to view someone’s old stories is if they’ve saved them as Highlights on their profile. If the story wasn’t added to a Highlight, there’s no way to access it once it expires.

Can I recover a story I forgot to save?

If your Archive was turned on, your story is automatically saved. However, if the feature wasn’t enabled, the story is now gone for good, and there’s no way to recover it.

How long do stories stay in the Archive?

Instagram keeps all archived stories indefinitely unless you manually delete them. You can revisit them anytime and even turn them into Highlights.