The Instagram app regularly adds new symbols and icons. At times, it can be difficult to know what each icon means, especially if you are new to Instagram. Here, I have compiled a list of Instagram symbols along with their meaning.
Note: The actual position of Instagram icons and symbols may vary on your phone. Instagram keeps changing the position of icons, but the meaning remains the same.
Table of Contents
1. Instagram Home Screen Symbols Meaning
Icons at the top of the app
Arrow icon: Switch between the two feed formats: Following and Favorites. The latter shows the posts only from the selected people.
Heart with red dot icon: Shows your Instagram notifications. The red dot means that you have an unread notification.
Inbox (Zap inside Chat bubble) Icon: Takes you to your Instagram inbox, where you can see your messages. The Number in the Red circle shows how many unread messages you have.
Icons at the bottom of the app
Home Icon: Takes you to your Instagram feed if you are on some other screen. Also, tapping on it will take you to the top of the Instagram feed if you are on the feed page itself.
Magnifying glass icon: Takes you to the Explore and Search feed where Instagram shows videos and photos based on your interests. Tap on the search bar at the top to search for reels, posts, profiles, etc., on Instagram.
+ Icon: Create a new post, story, live, or Reels video.
Reel Video Icon: Takes you to the Reels feed. Swipe up to view new Reels.
Profile Picture: Takes you to your profile. Alternatively, if you are using multiple Instagram accounts, long touch this icon to view and switch between accounts. The red dot with it means that you have some notification or have to update something.
2. Meaning of Symbols on an Instagram Post
Checkmark Icon: Means that the profile is verified.
Three-Dot: Shows a menu offering various options like Remix, QR code, Unfollow, Hide, etc.
Person Icon: Means you are tagged in the post.
Loudspeaker Icon: Shows whether the post is muted or not. If you see a bar on the Loudspeaker, it means that you will not hear the sound of the video.
Chat bubble: Tap on it to view the comments under a post or to post a new comment. Check out how to see all the comments you have made on Instagram.
Paper Plane Icon: Share or download the post. You can even add it to your Instagram story.
Bookmark: This icon lets you save the post to your collections.
3. Instagram Message Icons Meaning
Icons on Instagram Chat List Screen
Red Dot: You have unread messages in your other accounts.
Meta AI (Gradient Circle) Icon: Opens the Meta AI chat. Use it to interact with Meta’s AI assistant directly within Instagram.
Chat with AIs (Smiley Inside a Star) Icon: Chat with different AIs created by people on Instagram. You can also create your own AI.
Pencil Icon: Start a new personal or group chat.
Mute (Bell with a Slash) Icon: Notification off for Messages.
Pin Icon: Means the chat is pinned to the top of the list.
Mute (Bell With a Slash) Icon: This chat is muted.
Unread Message (Blue Dot) Icon: This message has not been opened.
Camera Icon next to message thread: Send a regular or vanishing photo to the user directly from the chat list.
Icons Inside an Instagram Chat
Phone Icon: This icon will start an audio call with the person.
Video Camera Icon: Use this to start a video call.
Paper Plane Icon: Use this icon to forward the image or video to another Instagram user.
Bookmark Icon: Tap this icon to save the photo or video to a collection, which is a folder for saving posts or reels that you like separately in each chat.
Camera Icon: Use this icon to send a picture or video to the user.
React (Emoji with a Plus) Icon: React with an emoji.
Microphone Icon: Tap the icon to start a voice note.
Gallery Icon: Tap this icon to send a picture from the phone’s gallery.
Sticker Icon: Use this to send an avatar, sticker, or GIF in a chat.
Add (Plus in a Circle) Icon: Add Location, Imagine (Generate Image Using AI), Meta AI.
4. Instagram Profile Page Icons Meaning
Icons on Your Own Profile Page
Add Story (Plus in Blue Circle) Icon: Add a story to your account
Arrow Icon Next to the Username: Switch between multiple accounts, if any. If you see a red dot, it means one of the other accounts has unread notifications.
@ Icon: This icon represents Threads, an app from Meta, and takes you there or asks you to install it.
+ in a box: Create a Reel, Post, Story, Highlight, or Live.
Three-bar Icon: Open Instagram Settings.
Person with + Icon: Discover new people to follow. You might see this icon in recommended stories of people you don’t follow, which you can follow by tapping.
Icons below the Edit Profile Button:
9-grid icon: Shows all your Instagram posts.
Reel icon: Shows all of your published Reels.
Person Icon: Shows your tagged posts. Tap on an icon to switch to it.
Icons on the Posts Section
White Multiple Squares Icon: That post contains multiple pictures or videos.
Reel Icon: Shows that this is a reel.
Icons on Someone Else’s Profile
Bell Icon: Tap on it to receive notifications from the person when they post a story, Reel, IGTV video, etc. The bell icon will show a checkmark when any notification type is enabled.
Three-dot icon: Displays various options for the profile like Block, Restrict, Hide Story, copy URL, etc.
Show Suggestions (Person with a Plus) Icon: Shows other accounts recommended by Instagram.
Broadcast Channel (Two Chat Stacked Bubble) Icon: Takes you to the page’s broadcast channel.
Arrow Icon next to the Following Button: The small arrow next to the Following button lets you mute, restrict, unfollow, or add the person to the Close Friends list.
5. Instagram Story Symbols Meaning
Icons That Show Up While Viewing Stories
More Audio Info (Right Arrow) Icon: Opens the music info and other related options.
More Story Options (Three Dots) Icon: Opens more story-related options like report, mute, etc.
Close (Cross) Icon: Close the story.
Comment (Chat Bubbble) Icon: Comment on the story. Visible if turned on by the account holder.
Heart Icon: Tap the icon to like the story. The like will not be sent in the DM.
Paper Plane: This icon lets you send or share the story with others via the Instagram app or outside of it.
Icons That Show Up While Creating Stories
Move (Two Arrow) Icon: Move the story tools to the right or left side of the screen.
Flash (Lightning) Icon: Turn on flashlight. Tap to switch between On, Auto, and Off modes.
Settings (Gear) Icon: Customize camera settings for story, reels, or live.
Add Media (Square Photo) Icon: Add media from your gallery or recents.
Flip Camera (Two Curved Arrows in a Circle) Icon: Switch between the front and back cameras.
Icons That Show Up While Editing Stories
Cancel Editing (Cross) Icon: Cancel the edit.
Aa Icon: Add Text
Smiley Icon: Add Stickers
Music: Add Music
Three Stars: Add Effects
Three-dot: Open menu
Arrow Icon (At the bottom): Tap this to publish the story, add it to close friends list, or send a message.
Icons That Appear In the Text Tool
Text Size (Gray Slider with White Dot) Icon: Increases or decreases text size by sliding the dot.
Text Font (“Aa”) Icon: Change text styles.
Color Palette Icon: Select a color for the text.
Animation Text Styles (two slash with A) Icon: Add animations to text.
Text Effects (Dots around “A”) Icon: Different text effects.
Align Text (Three Lines) Icon: Align the text right, left, or center.
Add Background (“A” Inside Square Box) Icon: Add background color to the text.
Icons That Appear In the Color Palette
Eyedropper tool (Dropper Inside White Circle) Icon: Pick a color from your image.
Color Options Icons: Select from different colors for your text.
6. Instagram Reels Symbols Meaning
On Instagram Reels, you will find similar icons with the same meaning as those present in a post.
Camera Icon: Use it to create your own Reel.
Profiles with pink Heart Icon: Icon of friends’ profiles who liked the same reel.
White Heart Icon: It is used to like the Reel. Turns red after liking.
Chat Bubble: Comment on the Reel.
Paper Plane icon: Share the Reel.
Three-Dot Icon: Open the Menu to share the reel, manage content preferences, remix, etc.
Mehvish Mushtaq is a tech lover from Kashmir. With a degree in computer engineering, she's always been happy to help anyone who finds technology challenging. She's been writing about technology for over six years, and her favorite topics include how-to guides, explainers, tips and tricks for Android, iOS/iPadOS, Windows, social media, and web apps. You can also find her work on Make Tech Easier, Guiding Tech, and Nerds Chalk
