Alex Ruben
How To Build a List of Best Friends on Instagram: A Complete Guide
Making a Best Friends list on Instagram is kind of a sneaky way to keep certain people’s updates more front and center. Usually, it’s useful if you don’t wanna see everything from everyone, but still wanna keep some folks a bit closer—it’s like a VIP club for your followers. Doing it right can save you from getting bombarded with posts from people you barely care about. Plus, it’s pretty straightforward once you get the hang of it—though, of course, Instagram tends to hide these options in weird spots, so don’t be surprised if it takes some hunting.
By setting up and managing your Best Friends list, you get more control over who sees your stories and how you interact. Expect to spend just a few minutes, and then you’ll have a perfect little corner for your close friends—without the noise of the larger feed. Just remember, these lists are private, so no fears about anyone snooping into your curated crew. It’s kinda satisfying when it works, and, yeah, sometimes it’s a pain to find the setting, but once you do, you’re good for good. Here’s how you get it done, no nonsense.
How to Fix or Create the Best Friends List on Instagram
Accessing the Settings and Finding the Best Friends Section
First off, open the Instagram app. It’s one of those apps where you think, “Maybe I know my way around,” but finding the specific options is a little hidden. Log in if you haven’t already, then head straight to your profile by tapping your profile picture at the bottom right (Profile tab). From there, you’ll see the three horizontal lines (sometimes called hamburger menu) at the top right—tap that to open the menu. Now, look for Settings. In most recent versions, the Activity section isn’t the way to go anymore; instead, it’s better to look for Privacy and then find Story. That’s where Instagram moved the Best Friends options. On some setups, it’s under Story settings, and you’ll see Close Friends.
Note: If you don’t see “Best Friends” or “Close Friends,” it might be because you’re on a very old app version. Update it from the App Store or Google Play Store. Because of course, Instagram has to make it harder than necessary sometimes.
Creating and Managing Your Close Friends List
Once inside the Close Friends menu—yes, that’s what they renamed it now—the real fun begins. You’ll see a list of your followers and friends. Here’s where you pick who gets to be on your VIP list. Tap the Add button next to their name to add them. There’s usually a search bar that helps you quickly find friends if your list is getting big—definitely helpful if you’ve got hundreds of followers and don’t want to scroll forever.
Adding people here doesn’t send any notifications—they’re blissfully unaware unless they look at your story settings. Once you’ve selected your close friends, tap Done or Save at the top right (depends on the app version). Your list is now ready, and stories you share as “Close Friends” will only be visible to that select group. Easy, right? Well, unless Instagram decided to hide this again in the update, then you’ll have to peek around.
Updating Your List Later—Because Things Change
If the squad changes or some people get bumped, just go back into the Close Friends menu. You can remove people by unchecking them or add new ones the same way. The process is basically the same as before—no biggie. It’s kind of weird because you don’t get notifications when you’re removed, and that’s good or bad depending on your vibe. On some apps, it takes a reopening or a restart to see the latest updates, but overall, it’s quite flexible.
Troubleshooting and Handy Tips
If the setting doesn’t show up at all or keeps crashing, try clearing the app cache or reinstalling it. Sometimes, a simple restart of your device helps too. Also, check that your app is fully updated; older versions tend to hide features or behave strangely. If updates don’t fix it, then unfortunately, waiting for a bug patch from Instagram might be the only option. This feature often gets moved around with every app update, so don’t get discouraged if it’s elusive.
Another ghost in the machine – if you’re trying this on a desktop or web version, forget it: Best Friends and story controls are strictly mobile. Instagram’s desktop interface is pretty limited, so don’t waste time hoping you’ll find it there. The whole purpose is supposed to be mobile-friendly, after all.
Summary
- Find the Close Friends or Best Friends section in Story settings.
- Add or remove friends from the list as needed.
- Stories shared with “Close Friends” only go to that list.
- Keep the app updated; that’s usually the best way to avoid surprises.
Wrap-up
Honestly, setting up a Best Friends or Close Friends list isn’t rocket science, but Instagram just loves hiding it in obscure menus. Once you’ve done it a couple of times, it’s second nature—until the next update turns everything upside down. Still, it’s worth the effort to keep your close circle just that: close. Fingers crossed this helps someone save a bit of trouble—because what’s better than controlling your content a little more?