Glossary
What is an Instagram pinned comment?
A pinned comment is a comment fixed to the top of the comments under a post, so it is the first thing people read. Instagram introduced it as a way to set the tone and highlight positive interactions. Here is what that gives you, and how to use it well.
Updated 6 October 2026
A comment fixed at the top of a post’s comment thread so it is seen first. Instagram describes it as a way to set the tone for your account and highlight good comments.
Why Instagram added it
Instagram announced pinned comments in a post about fighting online bullying. It said the feature gives people a way to “set the tone” for their account and engage with their community by pinning a select number of comments to the top of the comments thread, and that it wanted an easy way to amplify and encourage positive interactions alongside removing negative ones.
That post is an announcement of a test, not a manual. It does not give the exact number of comments you can pin, who can pin on which posts, or the menu steps, and Instagram’s controls change. Check your own app by pressing and holding a comment on one of your posts and seeing what options appear.
How people use a pinned comment
- Pin a warm customer comment so the first impression of the thread is positive.
- Pin an answer to the question everyone asks, such as the price or the date, so you do not repeat it fifty times.
- Pin the instructions for a giveaway or a lead magnet: the word to comment, the deadline and any rules.
- Pin a correction if the caption had a mistake.
If your post asks people to comment a keyword to receive a link by DM, a pinned comment repeating the keyword helps people who skip the caption. Automatic replies under each comment do not replace it. They answer one person at a time, while a pinned comment is read by everyone who opens the thread.
What it is not
Pinning does not remove other comments, and it does not stop people replying to it. For unwanted comments, Instagram’s other tools, such as restricting someone or filtering words with Hidden Words, are the ones to use. A pin only changes the order people read in.
Tip: Review the pin every few days. A pinned giveaway deadline that has passed is worse than no pin.
An example
A shop owner posts a new-colour reveal. She pins a comment reading “Sizes 6 to 14 in stock. Comment SIZE and we’ll DM you the guide”, and the thread stays tidy.
Questions people ask
How many comments can I pin on Instagram?
Instagram’s announcement says “a select number”, without giving a figure. The number may have changed since, so check your own app.
Can I pin someone else’s comment?
The announcement describes pinning comments to the top of your comments thread to highlight positive interactions. Whether a pin is limited to certain comments is not spelled out there, so try it in your own app.
Will a pinned comment get me more reach?
There is no official statement that it does. It changes what people see first in the thread, which can lift replies to your call to action, but treat any reach claim as unproven.
Does a pinned comment work for Reels too?
Instagram’s announcement talks about comment threads generally and does not list formats. Press and hold a comment on a Reel to see whether pinning is offered in your app.
Sources
Related terms
- Hidden WordsAn Instagram setting that filters DM requests and comments containing offensive or unwanted words, phrases or emojis, using Instagram’s list, your own list, or both.
- RestrictRestrict quietly limits one Instagram account: their comments on your posts are hidden from others, and they can’t see when you’re online or have read their DMs.
- Engagement baitA post that pushes people to like, comment, share or tag mainly to inflate its numbers and reach. Facebook says it demotes posts that do this.
- Call to action (CTA)A prompt that tells your audience the next step, such as Sign up, Book now or Comment GUIDE. It can be a button in an ad or words in a post or video.
- DM keywordA DM keyword is a word or phrase, such as PRICE or MENU, that sets off an automatic reply when someone sends it to your account in a direct message.
- Lead magnetA lead magnet is a free resource, such as a checklist, template or short lesson, offered in exchange for contact details like an email address.
More terms
Turn Instagram comments into conversations
When someone comments a word like GUIDE, DMFast replies under the comment and sends them a DM. For Instagram professional accounts. Free plan, no card.
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