Grace Sullivan
An Instagram slideshow can mean two different things: a carousel post that people swipe through, or a reel that plays your photos with music. This guide explains both, with the current steps and limits from Instagram’s own Help Center, read on 21 October 2026.
Instagram does not have a separate feature called “slideshow”. It is a name people use for a multi-photo carousel in the feed, or for a photo-based reel, and the right choice depends on whether you want people to swipe or watch.
Quick answer: for a swipeable slideshow, create a post and select multiple photos or videos. Instagram says you can include up to 20 in one carousel. For a slideshow that plays by itself with music, make a reel from photos, for example with a template, which Instagram says needs music and at least 3 clips.
Status: steps checked on 21 October 2026. Cost: free. Note: menus vary by app version and country.
Carousel or reel?
| Carousel post | Slideshow reel | |
|---|---|---|
| How people view it | Swipe through at their own pace | Plays automatically, usually with music |
| Content | Photos and videos | Photos and video clips |
| Limit stated by Instagram | Up to 20 photos and videos | Templates need music and at least 3 clips |
| Where it appears | Feed and profile grid | Reels |
Source: Instagram Help Center, read on 21 October 2026.
One detail from Instagram’s carousel page: videos inside a carousel are not considered reels, so they will not show up in the Reels tab or have reels features. If you want help laying out slides first, see our guide to template tools.
How to make a carousel
Instagram’s page on sharing a post with multiple photos or videos says you can share up to 20 photos and videos as a single post, also known as a carousel. The steps in the Instagram app:
- Tap Create at the top, or swipe right anywhere in Feed.
- Tap Post, then tap Select multiple.
- Select up to 20 photos and videos from your phone’s library. To adjust how each one is cropped, tap it and touch the screen to move it within the frame.
- Tap Next in the top right.
- Tap a filter at the bottom to apply it to everything, or tap a single photo or video to edit it and add filters individually.
- To change the order, tap and hold one item and drag it to another spot. To remove one, tap and hold it and drag it to the bin icon. Tap Next when done.
- Add a caption and location, then tap Share.
Instagram’s computer steps are similar: click Create, choose Select from computer, select up to 20 files, then continue to editing and share. If you plan posts from a computer, see how to schedule Instagram posts.
Things Instagram states about carousels
- The orientation you choose (square, portrait or landscape) affects every photo or video in the post. You cannot pick a different orientation for each one.
- You can add one location and caption for the whole post, and tag someone in each individual photo.
- In your feed, people see the first photo or video with a row of dots beneath it, and swipe to see the rest.
- Likes and comments apply to the entire post, not to individual photos.
- Posts with several videos may take longer to upload, so use a reliable connection.
Choose a strong first image, since it is what people see before they swipe. Our guide to taking better photos for Instagram and our notes on writing captions can help with each slide.
Editing a carousel after posting
According to the same Help Center page, after you share a carousel you can reorder the content, remove photos or videos, edit your captions, edit the location and change the accounts you tagged. To do it, tap the three-dot menu on the right side of the carousel, choose Edit, long press to reorder, then tap Done.
You cannot add new photos or videos after you have shared the carousel. If you need to, Instagram says you can delete the post and start again.
How to make a photo slideshow reel
Instagram’s own blog post on Reels tips and tricks (dated 20 June 2024) says reels do not require video clips and that photographers can share their work as a slideshow with music and video effects.
The easiest route is a template. Instagram’s Help Center page on using a template to create a reel says templates are only available for reels that include music and at least 3 clips, and let you reuse the music and timing of an original reel while replacing the photos or video clips with your own. In the app:
- Tap Create at the top, or swipe right anywhere in Feed.
- Tap Reel at the bottom, then Templates.
- Swipe through the available templates and tap the one you want.
- Tap Add media, then tap your photos in the order you would like them to appear.
- To swap one, tap the clip and choose Replace media.
- Preview and share your reel.
You can also use a reel you see in Feed as a template by tapping its template label and then Use template. Instagram notes that not all reels can be used as templates, and the page says the feature is not available on computers.
If you would rather build the reel yourself, Instagram’s page on recording a reel says you can add clips from your camera roll, then add music, text and stickers, trim clips and reorder them on a timeline before you share. Reel length is a separate limit: Instagram says clips can add up to 20 minutes, and that reels over 3 minutes will not be recommended to new audiences. For a photo slideshow you will rarely need more than a few seconds per photo. Outside video apps can also help; see our roundup of video makers for Instagram.
Looking at outside apps instead? See the wider content and scheduling category.
When a slideshow works well
These are editorial suggestions, not Instagram rules:
- Before and after: one comparison across two slides.
- A sequence of steps: one step per slide, with the result last.
- Several angles of one subject instead of near-duplicate posts.
- An event or trip recap: the best photos in the order they happened.
- Behind the scenes: a mix of photos and short videos in one post.
Keep the slide count to what the story needs, even though the limit is 20. More ideas are in our list of Instagram tools and Instagram guides.
Also useful: using quotes on Instagram and how to save Instagram photos.
FAQ
How many photos can I put in one Instagram post?
Instagram’s Help Center page says up to 20 photos and videos in a single post (a carousel). Older articles, including an earlier version of this one, said 10.
Can I add more photos after posting?
No. Instagram says you cannot add new photos or videos after sharing, but you can reorder or remove content, or delete the post.
Can each photo have a different shape?
No. The orientation you choose applies to all photos and videos in the post.
Do videos in a carousel count as reels?
No. Instagram says videos in carousels are not considered reels and will not show up in the Reels tab or have reels features.
Can I make a slideshow with music?
Yes, as a reel. Instagram’s blog says photographers can share a slideshow with music and video effects, and its template feature uses the original reel’s music and timing.
Is there a time limit for a slideshow reel?
Instagram says reel clips can add up to 20 minutes in total, and reels over 3 minutes will not be recommended to new audiences.
Features and limits change, so if a step differs on your screen, check the Help Center pages linked above.