Instagram icon: how to change to the old logo, view your past stories and other new features to celebrate the app’s 10th birthday

As part of its birthday celebrations, Instagram is letting users change the icon back to the old retro logo
Instagram is letting users change up the apps look as part of its birthday celebrations (Photo: Shutterstock)Instagram is letting users change up the apps look as part of its birthday celebrations (Photo: Shutterstock)
Instagram is letting users change up the apps look as part of its birthday celebrations (Photo: Shutterstock)

Instagram turned 10 years old on 6 October, having first launched on 6 October 2010.

As part of its birthday celebrations, the social media platform is rolling out a host of new features, including a fun way to access all the stories you’ve posted over the years.

This is everything you need to know.

How to change the app icon?

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As part of its birthday celebrations, Instagram tweeted a somewhat cryptic guide to how to change the icon of the app on mobile devices.

Although the tweet was composed of just emojis, eagle eyed fans quickly deciphered the message.

To change the icon, all you need to do is open up your Instagram app, go to your account and open your settings by tapping the three horizontal lines at the top right corner of the screen, and then selecting settings found at the bottom right.

Now from here, simply pull down on the settings menu - you should see some fun emojis to let you know you’re on the right track, like a pair of eyes, then a confused face, then a hand pointing upwards and finally a present emoji.

Your screen will automatically turn into a new page which says “app icon”, with a message that says: “Celebrate with us! To celebrate our birthday, this month you can add a home screen shortcut using your favourite icon below.”

Included in the icon options are things like the original icon from when the app first launched in 2010, the classic icons that many of us were familiar with before Instagram changed its logo in 2016, and an array of different colour options as well.

Just tap on the icon you want to use and place it on your devices home screen.

How do I find old stories?

Taking to Twitter, the official Instagram account tweeted that users can find a map and calendar of their old stories posted over the last three years.

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While you could already find your old stories in your archives settings, the map and calendar features are new.

To do this, you need to head to your profile, and then tap the three horizontal lines at the top right of the page.

From there, you should see an option that says ‘Archive’ - click that button and you’ll find three options to see your old stories.

The first option is just a simple gallery that you can scroll back through, the second option is a calendar which lets you tap on the dates you posted a story to view them and the third option is a map which lets you see the stories you’ve posted in certain locations.

If you tap on one of your stories, from any of the options, you’ll have the opportunity to save the picture or video, to post it again to your story or to save it as a highlight on your page.

What other features are coming?

Writing on Instagram’s official blog, Adam Mosseri, head of Instagram, explained that “over the coming months, you’ll see some major changes from [Instagram]”.

Mosseri says that these changes include “tabs for Reels and shopping” and “some big improvements to messaging”.

The updated messaging features for Instagram were initially announced on 29 September, with Instagram revealing that Facebook Messenger and Instagram would become connected, “to bring some of the best Messenger features to Instagram”.

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Instagram explained: “Messages and calls from friends and family using Instagram will stay in your Instagram app.

“The main change is that people using the Messenger app can now reach you on Instagram without you needing to download a new app, and vice versa.”

These are all the new features coming soon:

- Communicate across apps by being able to talk to family and friends acros Instagram and Messenger by using either app

- Watch Together - this feature lets you and your friends watch videos like Facebook Watch, IGTV, Reels, TV shows and movies during a video call

- Vanish Mode - you can made a message disappear after its been seen or when you close the app

- Selfie Stickers - you can create a series of boomerang stickers using a selfie

- Chat Colours - you can personalise your chats with different colours

- Custom Emoji Reactions - create a shortcut to your favourite emojis to react quickly to your friends

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- Forwarding - you can easily share content with up to five friends, or groups

- Replies - respond directly to a specific message in your chat

- Animated Message Effects - you can add a range of animated effects to your messages

- Message Controls - this allows you to decide who can message you directly, and who can’t message you at all

- Enhanced Reporting and Blocking - you can report full conversations as well as single messages on Instagram, and access proactive blocking suggestions

Instagram said: “We’re rolling out these new features on Instagram and Messenger in a few countries around the world, and we’ll expand globally soon.”