What are Instagram Close Friends and How to Set it Up?

Have you ever wanted to share a story or post on Instagram — but only with a trusted few, instead of all your followers or the public? That’s exactly what the Instagram Close Friends feature is for. In simple terms: Close Friends lets you build a private “inner circle,” a curated list of people who get to see content that you don’t want to share with everyone else.

Originally, when Close Friends launched, it was limited to Stories only. The idea was that when you share something more personal, you can avoid the awkwardness or anxiety about a wide — possibly casual — audience. Additionally, keeping your account private adds another layer of control, helping you prevent anonymous viewers from accessing your Close Friends stories or trying to take screenshots.

But over time, the feature has grown. Now you aren’t limited to stories: you can share feed posts, Reels, and other content exclusively to your Close Friends.

So yes — it is a built-in feature of Instagram, not something you need a separate app for (though sometimes people do treat it as a kind of “private account within account”). It was first launched around late 2018.

In short: Close Friends = your own private VIP list of followers. The content you share with them remains visible only to those you choose.

Why Use Close Friends?

Privacy with flexibility: Sometimes you want to share moments with close friends or family — maybe travel photos, personal updates, funny behind-the-scenes, or thoughts — without sharing with acquaintances or the world. Close Friends gives you that control.

More honest, authentic sharing: Because you’re sharing with a smaller, trusted set, you may feel more comfortable posting authentic, less “curated” content.

Easy and discrete: The people you add to or remove from your Close Friends list are not notified. So you can manage your list privately as you wish.

More content control: With the recent expansion, even feed posts or Reels can be limited to only your Close Friends. So you don’t need a separate “private account” — you just choose your audience per post.

How to Set Up & Use Close Friends on Instagram (Mobile & Desktop)

On Mobile (iOS / Android)

1. Open the Instagram app and go to your profile.
2. Tap the three horizontal lines (menu icon) in the top-right corner.
3. From the menu, select “Close Friends”.
4. When you open it the first time, your list will be empty — tap “Get Started” (or simply start selecting people).
5. Use the search bar or scroll through your followers/friends and tap Add / the circle/plus next to each account you want to include.
6. Once done, tap Done/Create List. Your Close Friends list is now ready.

To share content with your Close Friends only

• For a Story: Create a story as usual, then tap “Close Friends” (instead of “Your Story”) before posting. The story will be visible only to people on your list.
• For a Post / Reel / Feed content: Before publishing, tap the “Audience” option, then choose Close Friends. This ensures only your Close Friends will see that post.
• If you go live and want only Close Friends to watch — this is now possible. As of 2024, Instagram introduced the ability to do livestreams exclusively for Close Friends.

You can edit your Close Friends list any time — add or remove people — and no one is notified of these changes.

On Desktop / Web Browser

Here’s the catch: the full Close Friends management (like creating or editing your list) is primarily designed for the mobile app. Many users report that when they log in via desktop or a web browser, they don’t see the “Close Friends” option available.

In other words: Instagram expects you to use mobile for Close Friends. So if you want to add, remove, or manage your Close Friends list — or share a story/post exclusively with Close Friends — it’s best to open the Instagram app on your phone.

Things to Know (Tips & Common Questions)

• People on your Close Friends list are not notified when you add or remove them.
• A green circle or star typically indicates that a story or post is shared with Close Friends only.
• Even though content is “private,” anyone on the list can screenshot or save it. So privacy is limited — you trust that your Close Friends respect your boundaries.

A Few Extra Instagram-Tips (for Users Who Want More)

If you’re already using Close Friends, there are some related ways to shape your Instagram experience better. For instance:

• If your app feels sluggish, you might want to clear the cache (on iPhone or Android) — this can help with performance. (See this guide: how to clear Instagram cache on iPhone.)
• If you want to grow your follower count, there are strategies out there — but remember these are separate from your Close Friends list.
• If you’re curious about whether people can see who visits your profile or if someone screenshots your story, Instagram doesn’t currently provide users with that level of visibility. Profile visits remain anonymous, and while Instagram alerts creators when someone screenshots disappearing photos in DMs, it does not notify anyone when a story or regular post is screenshotted.