Edit Cover for Instagram Highlights: 3 Mins to Stand Your Cover out

Ever caught yourself admiring those perfectly curated Instagram profiles with their stunning Highlight covers? You know the ones—where even the tiny circles beneath the bio look like they belong in an art gallery. Editing cover for Instagram Highlights might seem like a minor detail, but it's these little touches that transform an ordinary profile into one that stops thumbs from scrolling. Ready to give your Instagram profile that professional edge? Let's dive in!

How to change Highlight covers on Instagram (Edit inside Instagram)

Before diving into advanced design tools, let's master Instagram's built-in features for editing Highlight covers. These native tools are perfect for quick updates or when you want to use existing Stories as covers. While they might not offer fancy design options, they're instantly accessible and get the job done for basic changes. Let's explore how to edit your covers on both mobile and desktop.



Method 1: Steps to edit Highlight covers on Instagram (Mobile)

Step
1. Access your Highlights
2. Open Instagram and click on your profile icon in the bottom right corner to access your profile. Find the Highlight you want to edit, and press and hold it until a menu appears. Tap "Edit Highlight" to begin making changes to your cover.
Step
3. Edit cover image
4. Tap "Edit Cover" at the top of your screen to view your current cover image in its circular preview format. From here, you have two options: browse through your existing Highlight photos, or tap the Stories button on the right to select a cover from your Instagram stories archive.
Step
5. Adjust the cover
6. Once you've selected your image, use your fingers to zoom and position it within the circle. Make sure the main subject is centered since Instagram Highlights appear as circular icons on your profile.
Step
7. Save your changes
8. Tap "Done" in the top right corner once you're happy with your cover's position. Then tap "Done" again to save all your changes and return to your profile.
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Method 2: Steps to edit cover for Instagram (Desktop)

Step
1. Navigate to your profile
2. Log into Instagram.com and click your profile icon in the bottom left corner. Once on your profile page, you'll see your Highlights section just below your profile picture.
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Step
4. Access Highlight settings
5. Click on the Highlight you want to edit.
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7. When the Highlight opens, click the three dots (...) in the top right corner and select "Edit" from the dropdown menu.
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Step
9. Change the cover
10. In the edit window, you can edit the Highlight title, or click "Next" below to skip this part. On the next screen, you'll see your previously selected images in the Highlight. If your preferred cover photo is already there, click "Next" to continue. If not, click "Stories" on the right to select an image from your Instagram Stories archive. Once done, click "Next" to proceed to the cover section.
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12. At the "Select cover" section, scroll through your selected images to choose your new cover photo. Once you've picked your preferred image, use your mouse to position it perfectly within the circular frame. This ensures your cover looks exactly how you want it when displayed on your profile.
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Step
14. Confirm your changes
15. Click "Done" to save your cover selection, then click "Done" again to save all changes to your Highlight. Your new cover will appear immediately on your profile.
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How to edit & change IG Highlight cover (with a third-party AI tool)

Meet your new secret weapon for stunning Highlight covers—Dreamina. This AI-powered image editor takes cover design to a whole new level. Unlike basic editors, Dreamina's intelligent AI can transform simple ideas into eye-catching designs or enhance existing photos into professional-looking covers. Perfect for brands showcasing products, creators highlighting content categories, or anyone wanting their profile to stand out.



Method 1: How to edit IG Highlight cover with Dreamina

Dreamina makes creating a standout Instagram Highlight cover quick and easy. Ready to give your profile a professional edge? Follow these simple steps and watch your highlight cover transform in minutes:

Step
1. Import your image on canvas
2. After logging in, click "Create on canvas" at the top of your screen to enter Dreamina's powerful editor. Look for the "Upload Image" button on the left sidebar, then select the photo you want to transform. Once your image appears on the canvas, tap the "Fit to content" button to ensure your image fills the entire canvas perfectly. For Instagram-ready Highlight covers, click the dimension icon and select 1:1 ratio.
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Step
4. Edit IG Highlight cover
5. Now for the fun part! Click "Retouch" to instantly enhance your image's quality. Dreamina's AI will analyze your photo and fine-tune every detail, including facial features, to ensure your image looks stunning and professional.
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7. For creators looking to add new elements to their images, Dreamina's Inpaint tool opens up endless possibilities. Just click "Inpaint" on the toolbar, highlight the area where you want to add something new, and then type your idea in the prompt box below the image. Then hit "Inpaint" again, and watch as Dreamina brings your idea to life. Click Done to save the changes.
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9. If you're working with product or brand images, Dreamina's Add Text tool serves as your all-in-one solution for perfect personalization. Simply click the Add Text tool, choose your preferred style and font, describe your creative vision, and enter your text.
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Step
11. Download your picture
12. Once you're happy with your design, click "Export" in the top right corner. Choose PNG for the best quality, select your preferred size and export option, then click "Download." Your professional highlight cover will be downloaded to your device, ready to upload to Instagram.
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Method 2: How to change IG Highlight cover with Dreamina

Want to create completely custom covers from scratch? Let's make magic happen! Click below to start designing:

Step
1. Write your prompt
2. After logging in, click the Generate button on Dreamina's homepage to access the IG image generator. Here you can create your Instagram highlight cover from scratch by just describing your idea. Type your idea into the text box on the top left corner. Give as much detail as possible to help the AI recreate your idea accurately.
3. A good prompt would be: "Create a vibrant neon aesthetic cover with a gaming controller icon in the center, surrounded by dynamic purple and blue light trails. Add small floating gaming symbols and pixel art elements around the edges for a modern gaming vibe."
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5. PS: If you prefer to transform an existing photo into your gallery, just click the "Reference" under the prompt box, and select the image from your computer, choose the thing you want Dreamina to reference and then, describe the changes you want to see in the prompt box, like we suggested before.
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Step
7. Generate your Highlight
8. With your prompt ready, it's time to generate your design. Choose a model, then set the quality slider to 10 for crisp, clear details on your cover. For the perfect Instagram Highlight size, select 1:1 aspect ratio from the dropdown menu. Once all settings are adjusted, hit Generate and watch as Dreamina creates four unique variations of your idea.
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Step
10. Download
11. Once the generation is complete, click on your preferred design to preview it. Satisfied with the design? Click the Export icon in the top right corner to save the image to your device. Your custom Instagram Highlight cover is now ready to upload!
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Find more AI features:

• Magic eraser
• One click to remove unwanted elements from your covers. Paint over distracting backgrounds, old text, or any elements that don't fit your vision, and watch them disappear instantly. Perfect for cleaning up product shots or simplifying designs for cleaner Highlight covers.
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• HD upscaling
• Transform low-quality images into crystal-clear Highlight covers with Dreamina's HD upscale tool. This tool automatically enhances resolution and sharpens details, ensuring your covers look professional even when scaled down to Instagram's circular format.
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• Creative expander
• Take your designs beyond basic boundaries. Just click Expand, set your preferred dimensions, and Dreamina's AI will intelligently extend your image while keeping every detail perfectly balanced. Perfect for adapting designs to various social media formats or creating more spacious compositions for your photo.
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• AI blender
• Mix two visuals into one cohesive design. Simply upload your base image, choose a background or style reference, and let Dreamina's AI blend them together naturally. From merging product photos with branded backgrounds to creating unique posters or making album covers, this tool ensures professional results every time.
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Best practices for editing Instagram Highlight covers

1. Keep it consistent
2. Your Highlight covers are part of your visual brand. Use the same color palette across all covers to create a cohesive look. For example, a fashion brand might stick to black and white covers with minimal icons, while a travel blogger could use vibrant colors with centered location symbols.
3. Simplicity is key
4. Less truly means more when it comes to Highlight covers. Small circles don't leave room for complex designs, so stick to clear, bold elements that remain recognizable even at a tiny size. A simple camera icon works better than a detailed photography scene.
5. Stick to easy-to-recognize icons
6. Your covers need to communicate instantly. Use universal symbols that tell viewers what to expect - a fork and knife for food posts, a plane for travel content, or a shopping bag for product collections. These quick visual cues help followers navigate your content effortlessly.
7. Center your subject
8. Instagram crops Highlight covers into perfect circles. Place your main design element in the dead center to ensure nothing important gets cut off. Leave enough breathing room around the edges so your design stays intact in the circular format.
9. Check readability
10. Text on Highlight covers needs extra attention. If you're adding words, keep them short and centered. Test how your design looks at the actual Highlight size - if you can't read it on your phone screen, simplify it further.

Conclusion

Editing cover for Instagram Highlights doesn't need to be complicated. While Instagram's built-in tools offer basic options, Dreamina's AI-powered features take your covers from simple to stunning in minutes. From generating custom designs to transforming existing photos, you now have all the tools needed to create eye-catching Highlight covers that elevate your entire profile. Ready to make your Instagram profile stand out? Try Dreamina's free tools today and start creating covers that capture attention!

FAQs

1. Can you change the Instagram Highlight cover without posting?
2. Yes! You can change your Highlight cover without adding new content to your Stories. When editing a Highlight, simply choose "Edit Cover" and select from your highlights and stories archives. For next-level covers without posting, try Dreamina's AI generator to create custom designs from scratch. Start creating unique covers with Dreamina's free tools today!
3. What size should I edit my Highlight cover into?
4. Instagram Highlight covers display as 1080 x 1080 pixel circles on your profile. For the best quality, create your covers in a 1:1 square ratio, placing important elements in the center where they'll remain visible after the circular crop. Dreamina automatically optimizes your designs for Instagram's format— just select 1:1 ratio and click "Fit to canvas" after a generation or during editing covers. Ready for perfectly sized covers? Head to Dreamina now and create your Insta designs for free!
5. How to edit my IG Highlight cover to match the feed theme?
6. Creating themed Highlight covers starts with identifying your feed's key colors and style elements. Use these as a foundation for your cover designs to maintain visual harmony. Dreamina makes this process simple—upload a photo from your feed as a reference image, then use the Blend or Text-to-Image tool to create matching covers. The AI will analyze your style and generate perfectly coordinated designs in seconds. Start crafting cohesive covers with Dreamina today!