What’s New on Instagram in 2022: New Features and Updates

What’s New on Instagram in 2022: New Features and Updates

In 2022, Instagram is still one of the most prominent players on the social media landscape, and for a good reason. As of December 2021, Instagram has reached 2 billion active users worldwide. Instagram never stops growing and developing which means it also regularly introduces new functionalities. 

This article covers the most recent Instagram features and updates for 2022 and also those from 2021 that you might have missed.

If you’re a social media marketer, keeping track of social media platforms updates is a must. We’ve created this handy blog post so you can have the information about all the essential Instagram changes in one place and use them to your advantage.

We’ll cover the new Instagram updates first and then recap the older but still significant ones. So, without further due, let’s look at all the nifty features that Instagram has rolled out recently. 

Instagram marketing made easier

Instagram marketing made easier

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Instagram Grid Pinning

The most recent Instagram update allows you to pin your posts to the top of your IG grid.

In other words, your older content can still shine 😉 This feature is nothing new on platforms like Twitter or TikTok, but we definitely needed it for Instagram.

60-second Instagram Stories (without any cuts)

Instagram is gradually implementing another handy feature. It allows users to upload Instagram Stories for up to 60 seconds long, without the ever-frustrating cuts after every 15 seconds.

It’s definitely a very useful feature; the playback of your Story clip will be smoother, and you can include all the user mentions, tags, locations, links, etc. in one longer Story – no need to repeat the process after every 15 seconds, yay!

2022 Instagram algorithm explained

The Instagram algorithm operation principle has been a total mystery for a long time, and trying to get on top of it was mostly based on guessing and a trial & fail process. Although this has changed after Instagram’s CEO, Adam Mosseri explained it in a video posted on his Twitter account. 


It seems that currently, the most important factors that affect what users see in their IG feeds are: 

  • Post’s popularity indicators – how many people clicked like, where it was located, what its duration was (if it was a video) 
  • How frequently the user interacted with the account in the past
  • How many posts the user has liked
  • User’s engagement with the accounts’ other content

We strongly suggest watching the whole video, it might really help you understand the social platform better and have your communication start yielding better results!

2022 Instagram Reels updates

Reels have been rapidly gaining popularity ever since Instagram introduced them in 2020. Instagram is really investing in this new format and is constantly looking to upgrade it, as we could see in July 2021, when the platform decided to double up the Reels’ maximum duration. The new Instagram feature is being regularly updated with even more editing options like the most recent additions: double exposure feature or timer.

Instagram new features and updates - ig reel hulk
Instagram reel with added music

Let’s have a deeper look into what you can do with Reels. Basically, Reels are full-screen vertical posts that can last from 15 seconds up to 1 minute. This function also allows you to combine multiple short videos into one. What’s more, Reels can be equipped with a variety of extras to make the content even more engaging:

  • Music – you can add a song of your choice and adjust music vs. video’s original sound ratio
  • Voiceover – you can record your own commentary
  • Text
  • Doodles – you can draw over your video
  • Stickers – after you’ve filmed a new Reel, you can add a sticker to it
  • Effects – used the same as in Stories
  • Timer – so you don’t need to hold your phone while recording a video

Instagram is testing even more new features for Reels:

  • Video Layout allows users to capture multiple videos in separate windows one after another and then play them combined.
  • Double exposure feature that allows users to capture a photo and then record a video on top of it.

Instagram Posts Collabs

Another useful feature is that you can now create joint posts. The post will appear both on your feed and on your collaborator’s profile.

To create a joint post, you need to create your regular post (Reels also work), then click on Tag people, and then on Invite collaborator.

Instagram new features and updates - ig post collab
An example of a joint post on Instagram

Reels Visual Replies

By the end of 2021 Instagram introduced yet another Reel update, called ‘Reels Visual Replies’. This feature allows you to reply to comments (given by every follower who comments on your Reels) posts using videos. 

This feature is yet another great way for creators to engage with their followers by creating content inspired by their activity in the comments section. 

Where to find Instagram Reels

To access the Reels creation area you need to tap the ‘+’ icon in the top right corner of the screen and choose ‘Reels’. Some of the Reels’ features can be used while recording, while others only when the recording is done. Give it a go and create your own, engaging content! 

There is one more thing – you can come back to any of your Reels anytime and remix it, which results in virtually unlimited ability to play with your content. 

If you click the ‘play’ icon in the bottom center of your screen, you can quickly browse Reels.

You can now also search for other Reels that use the same music by clicking the audio icon inside a given Reel.

Manage all comments and messages from one view

Manage all comments and messages from one view

Use NapoleonCat to manage all of your comments, messages, reviews, etc. – all from one simple dashboard. FB and IG ad comments included. Try it for free:

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Profile Embed

Embedding Instagram photos or videos on a website isn’t a novelty but up until recently, it was not possible to embed a whole profile in a native-looking way. Well, it is possible now! 

This update made it easier to showcase Creator’s profiles in different parts of the Internet. 

Instagram Playback 

In 2021 Instagram announced the ‘Playback feature’ that allows users to re-share their best Stories on the occasion of New Year’s Eve. It proved to be a great way for the users to celebrate their favorite moments of the past year. 

Instagram Map Search

Another one of Instagram’s new updates is the Map Search. This feature is very similar to Google maps and allows users to find the location of different businesses within the Instagram app. 

Map search is located inside Instagram’s regular browser that you use to search for other users, hashtags, etc.

Instagram new features and updates - ig map search
Instagram map search

It’s quickly becoming one of the best tools to explore new gems if you’re in a previously unknown area. What’s more, users can easily see more information like location, price of products and services, and public posts marked with the business’ location by clicking on a concrete location icon on the map. 

Instagram Creator Mode

Instagram has introduced Creator mode for accounts with over 10 000 followers some time ago, and it continues to develop this part of the app to help influencers make the most of their experience with it. From enabling creators to see more of their accounts’ statistics to simplifying messaging for them, the Creator mode really made a difference. 

The Creator mode keeps evolving and gaining new features such as a whole new section of Instagram marketing tips that creators can use to their advantage while designing new content. Another move towards a better creator experience was the introduction of the Professional Dashboard.

Instagram new features and updates - ig creator mode
Instagram marketing tips for creators

Instagram Professional Dashboard

Instagram has made another step toward better analytics in 2021 by introducing the Professional Dashboard. This feature is available for all creator and business accounts and can serve as a main in-app dashboard to analyze your account’s performance. Here’s the list of its main tools and resources:

  • Overall account performance
  • Instagram Insights
  • Promotions
  • Branded Content Approvals
  • Instagram Shopping
  • Saved Replies
Instagram new features and updates - professional dashboard
Instagram Professional Dashboard

The Professional Dashboard is a great tool to have a quick overview of your statistics but if you want to dive a little deeper, you still need to go to Instagram Insights for that.

Updated Instagram Insights

Instagram has once again updated its analytics tool to give creators and businesses better insight into their accounts’ performance. The first major change is that you can now see data from up to 90 days instead of 30 or 60. It is also possible to measure your live video performance.

Insights currently give you visibility of statistics for your: 

  • Accounts reached – overview of your profile’s reach metrics divided by geography, gender, age, followers vs. non-followers, content types reach, ads, and more
  • Accounts engaged – This section lets you measure your accounts engagement split between different content types in more detail.
  • Total followers – This part lets you measure your followers’ base dynamics with an insight into their demographics. 
  • Content you shared – More data about your content & user interactions divided by content and interaction type (even interactions like Business Address Taps or Email Button Taps)

This is for sure an upgrade compared to the previous version. Although, if you manage multiple social media profiles, you might want to step your game up with NapoleonCat and its Analytics feature, where you can have a bird’s-eye view over all of your accounts regardless of the social platform and generate Instagram reports within seconds.

Hiding Instagram likes has been made optional

Instagram has been moving towards hiding the number of likes under posts since 2019. Currently, you can choose whether you’d like to hide this information from your posts or not.

To do that, you need to go to one of your posts, click the three dots in the top right corner and choose ‘Hide like count’. 

Even though many users are starting to use it, you can still peep someone’s like count in NapoleonCat – regardless of whether a user chooses to hide them or not.

Checking Instagram like count in NapoleonCat
View Your Instagram Likes in 2022

View Your Instagram Likes in 2022

Can’t see likes on Instagram? Use NapoleonCat and check the number of likes under your posts and competitors’ accounts as well. Try it for free:

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New Instagram Story Interactive Stickers

Most Instagram users are already used to seeing new stickers in their Stories editing panel from time to time. The most current set of stickers available to each user might differ based on their account type. 

Having said that, let’s take a look at some of the newest & most popular ones.

Instagram new features and updates - ig story interactive stickers
Stickers available for Instagram Stories

Shopping sticker

This sticker’s name says it all. Adding it to your story will enable your followers to make the purchase directly from Instagram Stories. Keep in mind that you need to have the Shopping feature already set up to use this sticker. If you want your partners to be able to add this sticker and redirect to your products, you also need to enable this option in the Shopping Partners section of your account settings. 

Music sticker

This one has been long-awaited by users in many countries, and now the Music sticker is getting widely accessible. Use it to enrich your story with your favorite song!

Location Sticker

The location sticker allows you to share your current location if you want to share a particularly cool place with your followers.

Mention sticker

Mention another user or business in your Story. This will also enable them to reshare the Story on their profile to increase their reach.

Questions sticker

Add a Questions sticker to encourage your followers to share feedback on your chosen topic. You can also use it to enable users to ask you some questions which you can later answer on separate Stories to propel even more interaction with your audience.

Quiz sticker

A great use for this sticker is to ask questions related to your profile’s area of interest and see how well your followers perform & strengthen your brand recognition.

Poll sticker

Similarly to the Quiz sticker, this is a great sticker to discover your followers’ opinions. Especially useful for supporting decision-making for future content ideas by involving your followers’ voice in the creation process.

Donation sticker

This sticker allows you to select a nonprofit organization and enables your followers to donate. All nonprofits will receive 100% of the money you raise. 

Countdown sticker

If you have an important event coming soon, there’s no better way to remind your followers about it than by using the Countdown sticker.

Add Yours sticker

The ‘Add yours’ is a bit similar to the discontinued Challenge sticker. All you need to do is to invite others to share their own Stories about any topic you want or tap at the bottom to have one chosen for you and tap ‘Done’. In order to see Stories from other people who have added your prompt, tap the sticker on your own Story. 

Also, you can use the three dots icon at the top to see additional options for managing your stickers such as turning off notifications or hiding your username. 

The Link sticker is no longer reserved for bigger Instagram accounts with over 10k followers. It’s now available for all of us, yay!

In order to use it, you need to enter the URL of the website that you want the sticker to link to. Tap ‘See preview’ below the link to check what the link will look like when someone opens it. Anyone who can see your Story can tap the sticker and visit the linked site. 

But there’s more! Now you can customize the appearance of the sticker and turn it into a clickable call-to-action which gives a great number of new options for Instagram marketing.

Food Orders sticker

Adding a Food Orders sticker to your Instagram Story enables other users to order your business’s food from your partner’s website. 

This sticker is especially useful for smaller restaurants that don’t have a lot of recognition but also an invaluable tool if you choose to cooperate with an influencer who could add this sticker onto their Stories to drive traffic to your business.

Support small business sticker

This sticker has been making the name for itself throughout the pandemic and for a good reason. Covid-19 and other restrictions have had a big negative impact on businesses, especially smaller ones. Instagram decided to enable users to support their favorite small businesses with a dedicated sticker to help them grow their reach and recognition. 

This means that by using the sticker, you can tag any business with an Instagram profile to help them get to a bigger audience. For example, if you work for a small food chain or a similar type of business and have multiple profiles created for different locations, you could use the sticker to cross-promote them. 

Instagram Shops & In-shop Ads

Facebook (or now: Meta) has been strongly investing in developing its eCommerce side by introducing Facebook and Instagram Shops that are accessible directly in the apps. Thanks to this, businesses can create customizable catalogs of their products that users can browse, save, share, and purchase from.

This needs to be first set up, but once you do, you can showcase your products using many different options, like adding a cover image or picking a color theme to add a unique look and feel to your online store.

Users can access Facebook Shops through Facebook Pages, Instagram accounts, or even through Stories and ads. It’s now possible to purchase a product without leaving the app if the business has enabled checkout in the US.

What’s new is that Instagram is testing displaying ads inside the Shopping area which can turn into another strong marketing tool in any business’s arsenal.

How to see Instagram DMs on a PC – Messenger API

It is now possible to see your Instagram DMs on a PC. This is thanks to Messenger opening its API for Instagram messaging. You can also manage your Instagram DMs (even from multiple accounts) in NapoleonCat’s Inbox

Using the Social Inbox makes managing all your Instagram DMs (and comments) across multiple Instagram profiles much easier by having them all in one customizable view. 

You can start our free 2-week trial and test it out, no credit card required 🙂

How to check DMs on Instagram on a computer with NapoleonCat

Wondering how to see Instagram DMs on a PC?

Wondering how to see Instagram DMs on a PC?

Manage all social media conversations, including Instagram DMs, using a single Inbox in NapoleonCat. Try it for free:

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Wrap up

Instagram is evolving fast and improving its user experience each day. From minor updates like moving some of the buttons around to bigger ones like adding entirely new features  – you can never be bored with this social media giant. 

We hope that this article helped you to catch up with some of the newest Instagram updates 😉

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