How Many Photos Can You Post on Instagram? (2025 Update)

The Quick Answer

Instagram allows up to 20 photos or videos in a single carousel post as of August 2024. Previously, the limit was 10 photos per post.

There's no limit on total posts you can have on your account - only how many photos go into one carousel.

Why Some Accounts Still Have a 10-Photo Limit

Not everyone has access to the 20-photo limit yet. Instagram's rollout is still in progress.

If you're stuck at 10 photos:

Update your Instagram app - Most common fix
- iOS: App Store → Instagram → Update
- Android: Play Store → Instagram → Update
Clear cache and reinstall
- iOS: Delete app and reinstall
- Android: Settings → Apps → Instagram → Storage → Clear Cache
Try Instagram web - Some users report the web version has the feature before mobile
Wait for rollout - Instagram is still gradually enabling this for all accounts

Third-party scheduling tools are limited to 10 photos due to Instagram's API restrictions, even if your account supports 20 in the native app.

How to Post Multiple Photos on Instagram

Open Instagram and tap the + icon
Tap "Select Multiple" (stacked images icon)
Choose up to 20 photos/videos from your library
Tap "Next" and rearrange if needed
Add filters, caption, and location
Tap "Share"

You can mix photos and videos in the same carousel.

Should You Actually Use All 20 Photos?

Just because you can doesn't mean you should.

Data shows:

Most users only view the first 3-5 slides
Carousels with 5-10 photos often get better engagement than 20
Longer carousels see drop-off in completion rate

Optimal carousel lengths:

Event highlights: 8-12 photos
Product showcases: 5-10 photos
Tutorials: 10-15 slides
Photo dumps: 12-20 photos

Put your best content first - most people won't swipe all the way through.

Technical Specs

Photo requirements:

Formats: JPG, PNG
Recommended size: 1080 x 1080px (square)
Max file size: 30MB per photo
Aspect ratios: All photos must use the same ratio (square, portrait, or landscape)

Video requirements:

Formats: MP4, MOV
Length: Up to 60 seconds per video
Max file size: 4GB per video

When to Use Carousels vs Single Posts

Use carousels for:

Event recaps
Step-by-step tutorials
Product showcases (multiple angles)
Before/after sequences
Monthly photo dumps

Use single posts for:

Strong standalone images
Quick announcements
Memes or trending content
When one photo says it all

According to our research on Instagram posting frequency, mixing single posts, carousels, and Reels (3-5 total posts per week) works best.

Carousels get 1.4x more reach and 3.1x more engagement than single photos, but only if the content justifies multiple slides. For video content, check out our guide on how to make Instagram Reels to add variety to your posting strategy.

Common Issues

"My photos are getting cropped weird" Instagram forces all photos in a carousel to use the same aspect ratio. Pre-crop your photos to the same dimensions before uploading.

"I can only post 10 photos, not 20" Update your app first. If that doesn't work, the feature hasn't rolled out to your account yet. Try the web version or wait for the update.

"My scheduler only lets me post 10" Instagram's API restricts third-party tools to 10 photos. Post manually in the Instagram app for 20-photo carousels.

"Who can see my carousel posts?" If you're concerned about privacy, your account's visibility settings determine who can see your posts. For information on managing who sees your profile and following list, see our guide on hiding your Instagram following list.

The Bottom Line

Instagram's 20-photo limit gives you more flexibility, but quality beats quantity. Most viewers won't swipe through all 20 slides, so front-load your best content and only use as many photos as needed to tell your story.

For more Instagram content strategies, check out our guide on how to make Instagram Reels to diversify your content mix beyond carousel posts.

Want to maintain consistent Instagram posting? Genviral helps you schedule carousel posts and Reels to keep your account active without the daily grind.