We make many memories with our friends, family, and loved ones. But now, the world is digitized, and people share these memories with others through social media.
But what if you want to share those memories and relive them? Is there any way to do so?
Yes. Instagram has a feature called Memories through which you can see them and we share with others. Keep reading because we’ll share exactly how you can do that.
Table of Contents
What Are Instagram Memories?
Almost every social media platform keeps introducing new features. The purpose is to provide a better user experience. One of these features is “Instagram Memories.” This feature lets you share a story or post you uploaded on the same day, around a year ago or more. It freshens up your old memories. This feature is also known as “On This Day.”
You can add captions and edit these pictures to make them memorable. Most Instagrammers create Memorial Day Instagram posts to celebrate their growth. Even brands use it to showcase how far they have come.
3 Different Ways To View Memories on Instagram
Instagram has three different ways through which you can relive the memories of the past. In this guide, we’ll discuss all three methods so you can enjoy Instagram fully.
How To See Instagram Memories Using Instagram Archive?
If you want to see Instagram memories using the Instagram archive, follow this step-by-step procedure.
Log in to your Instagram account on a mobile device. If you’re already logged in, then skip this step. On the bottom right corner, you’ll see the profile option. Click on it, and you’ll be directed to the profile page. At the top right corner, there is a hamburger icon. Look for three horizontal lines and click on them.
Instagram menu will open and you have to tap on Archive. It’s usually the fourth option on the list. Now, the Archive section will open, and you’ll see three options.
- Story Archive
- Post Archive
- Live Archive
Tap on the story if you want to access archived stories. Here, you’ll see all the stories you’ve posted so far. Instagram automatically archives them. Scroll down until you see Memories.
How Do You Find Instagram On This Day Using Your Story?
If you cannot use the first method, then try this method. Through this, you can easily find Memories. Follow these steps. First, you have to access the stories tab. How can you do that?
Open your Instagram account and swipe right on the Instagram feed. Initially, it’ll open your device camera so you can click a story. Click on Create, which is at the left menu. If you can’t find Create, then click on the Aa button.
You’ll see many filters at the bottom of your screen. Swipe to the right until you see the option “On This Day.” The symbol looks like a clock with a counterclockwise arrow.
You’ll have access to all posts and stories you’ve shared. But what if you want to browse between various memories?
Then, you should click on the dice button. That’s how you can easily use the Memories feature.
How To See Memories on Instagram From Instagram Notification?
There is no strict rule about how you can see Memories using Instagram notifications. Instagram will automatically send you a notification on the day you posted the story. Thus reminding you what memories you made on Instagram on the exact day years ago.
These memories can be stories, posts, activities, etc.
These notifications might be in the form of push notifications on your device. In this way, Instagram reminds you of old memories.
How to Post Memories on Instagram?
Now that you can see Memories on Instagram, let’s dive deeper. You might want to share these memories with your followers.
Is there any way to do it?
Yes. You can post it as a story or through a post. Let’s look at both methods.
Method 1: How to Post Memories on Instagram as a Story?
Open your Instagram and log in to your device. Click on the menu icon at the right corner of your profile page. Click on Archive and choose the Memory you want to share.
After selecting Memory, you will see a Share button. It’s in the form of a paper airplane icon. Click on that, and you will now have the option to customize your story however you want.
- Add captions
- Browse emojis to make Memory interesting
Once you’re happy with the results, you can share the story with your followers.
Method 2: How to Post Memories on Instagram as a Post?
The process for sharing Memory on Instagram as a post is different. Because here, first, you have to save the Story and then post it.
Let’s look at how you can do it.
Access Instagram memory from the Archive Stories tab. After choosing the Memory, click on it and save the video or story you want. By doing this, the Memory will be saved in your gallery.
Now it’s time to post.
Click on the + icon, which is for uploading a new post. You’ll see various photos and images in the gallery. Click on the saved Memory and crop it accordingly.
You can also tag users in the posts. Mentioning them increases the reach of your Instagram Memory posts. Write a caption and add a location if needed.
Now tap on the Share button to upload the post. The post is ready to appear on your followers’ Instagram feed.
How To Turn On The Instagram Memories Feature?
If you’ve followed all the above steps yet you are not seeing the Instagram Memories feature, then there is a high probability you have turned off this feature. But there’s a method through which you can turn on this feature.
Let’s look at the steps you should take for this.
- Go to your Instagram profile and tap on the Menu icon. Click on Settings and Privacy.
- Scroll down until you see the Archiving option.
- Change the options from Save story to Archive option.
If you follow the steps mentioned above, all the Instagram content, i.e., reels, posts, and videos, will be automatically archived and go to the Memories option. This way, you’ll also receive the On This Day Memories notification.
What Can You Do With Instagram Memories?
You can use Instagram Memory in different ways. Suppose you have a Memory of going to LA. You can make a Highlight of these Memories on your profile to show they hold a special place in your heart.
You can share these in stories or upload them as a post. Let your followers engage with these posts through likes, comments, and share features. You can also add music to your posts and stories.
It’s a nostalgic feature that takes you to a memory lane. Reminding you of special memories, achievements, accomplishments, and occasions all saved on Instagram.
Benefits of Instagram Memories
With the Memories feature, you can live in the past. But that’s not the only benefit. There are many benefits of using this feature. Some of them are as below.
- Personal Archives: Instagram Memories are a convenient personal archive of life events. Users can easily access and review their digital history, creating a visual journey timeline.
- Engagement Boost: It often generates increased engagement from followers. Followers enjoy seeing personal and authentic content. Thus leading to higher interaction through likes, comments, and shares.
- Timehop Effect: The “On This Day” feature enhances the Timehop effect, bringing back memories from the same day in previous years. Your followers can see a snapshot of their past posts, fostering a daily connection with their history.
- Creative Expression: The feature encourages creative expression through curated Highlights and story-sharing. You can experiment with visual storytelling, filters, and editing to enhance the artistic presentation of their memories.
Who Can See Your Memories On Instagram?
Memories are just like archived stories; they are only visible to you. However, there’s one exception.
When you click the Share button Instagram makes it visible to your close friends and family. To be more precise, all your followers will be able to see those shared Memories.
Do Instagram Memories Disappear?
Your Instagram memories, either in the form of stories or posts, will not automatically disappear. They will remain in the virtual corner of your Instagram profile unless you delete it. It’ll remain accessible to you, and you can view it anytime.
Does Deleting Instagram Delete Your Archived Posts?
Deleting the Instagram app from your smartphone or device will not impact your account’s archived stories and posts. But if you delete your Instagram account, all the data, such as posts, stories, memories, and archived content, will be automatically deleted.
How Far Back Does Instagram Archive Go?
With the Instagram archive, you can access and review any story or post you share on Instagram. There is no time limit to how old archived posts you can view. So you don’t have to get worried about the expiration date of your Instagram archived post.
Because there’s no expiration date, if you delete an archived post, it’ll no longer be in the Memory. It means that the post is permanently deleted.
How Do You Save Instagram Memories?
Saving Memories is a great way to relive the moments of the past. Here are 2 steps you should follow to save your Instagram Memories:
- Click on Instagram and log in to your account.
- Click on three horizontal lines which will open the menu. Tap Archive and choose Story, Post or Live Archive.
- Now click on the post or story you want to download. You’ll see three dots at the top right corner of the post.
- Click on these dots and then tap Save. That’s how your post is saved in Saved Collections.
- You can access it from your profile and keep revisiting your Instagram Memories.
Can I share Instagram Memories on Facebook?
You might be wondering if cross-platform sharing is easy on Instagram. And if yes, then how can you do it?
The truth is Meta allows sharing Instagram Memories on Facebook. But for that, you have to connect your Instagram profile with Facebook.
But how?
Here’s how you can do it.
- Open your Instagram account and go to your Instagram profile.
- Click on the menu and tap the first option, which is Settings. Within settings, you’ll see the option Account Center.
- Now you’ve to scroll down until you see the option Connected Experiences.
- Click on it and tap on Sharing Across Profiles. You might have to log in to your Facebook account if necessary.
- Complete these steps, return to your Instagram profile, and go to the Memory section. Tap the Memory you want to share.
- You’ll see various platforms to share your Instagram Memory. Choose Facebook and customize the post by adding captions, emojis, locations, or other details.
- Happy with the customization? Now click the Share button, and even your Facebook friends can see your Instagram Memory.
What Caption Should You Write For A Memory Photo?
When adding a caption to your Instagram Memory, try to make it short, sweet, and concise. Here are some more tips to follow.
- Take a moment to understand the emotions and importance of Memory you want to share.
- You should opt for short and emotional captions. They should capture the essence of Memory.
- Select words that make people feel an intense connection with your Memory. Use figurative language and add small intricate details to make memory extra special.
- Include hashtags that align with your Memory or the concept you want to share. Some of the most popular hashtags for Memory are #Throwback, #Memories, or #Flashback.
- Don’t use a robotic tone. Instead, personalize the caption by adding your perspective. Add quotes or personal stories to Memory.
List of the Top Memories Captions for Instagram
Still confused about which caption you should add for your Memory Instagram posts?
Here are some of the best Memories captions to use.
Caption Type | Example Caption |
Begin with a Hook | Starting a journey down memory lane, where each moment is a chapter of our story. |
Set the Tone | Reflecting on the past with gratitude and a heart full of memories. |
Add Personal Touch | This photo captures a moment in time that still makes me smile every time I see it. |
Include Relevant Hashtags | Celebrating #FlashbackFriday with a trip down memory lane. Join me in reliving these unforgettable moments. |
Use Emotive Language | A flood of emotions every time I revisit this memory. |
Mention Milestones or Achievements | Reminiscing about the day we hit a milestone that seemed impossible. Dreams do come true. |
Why Are Instagram Memories Not Working Properly?
If you have followed all the steps we mentioned above yet are not seeing any Memory feature, it can be due to various reasons.
Here are some ways to resolve it.
First, check if your Instagram app is updated properly. Most often, users don’t check app updates. That’s why they don’t get access to the latest features. You should go to the Play Store and update your app. Another way to do so is to clear the cache and data of the Instagram app.
Try deleting and then reinstalling Instagram.
If nothing seems to work, then contact the Instagram support team. They have more information about the feature and can resolve your issue immediately.
Ending Thoughts
In a nutshell, this is how you can see memories on Instagram. These memories are the best way to reflect on how far you’ve come and what you’ve achieved. Ensure you follow all the steps properly to avoid any problems while using this feature.
Professional Instagrammers use this as a snapshot. Incorporate storytelling in this to make your Memory post, reel, or story even more interesting. In this article, we have covered almost everything related to viewing Instagram memories. Now, spice up your memories and share them with your loved ones.