How to Change Your Instagram Reel Cover Image After Posting

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read the disclaimer

Have you ever posted an Instagram Reel and then realized the cover image throws your whole feed off brand? The good news is you can still update your reel cover images, even after it’s been posted, and it’s super easy.

So, whether you’re changing things up on your feed or putting things together, here’s how to make your Instagram feed look even more stunning! Watch the video here or skim this tutorial blog below.

Quick and Easy Steps to Change Your Reel Cover

Step 1. Design Your Thumbnail in Canva

Create a thumbnail that fits your brand or the general aesthetic you’re going for on Instagram. Canva is perfect for this—choose a template you love or make your own.

How to Change Your Instagram Reel Cover Image After Posting - canva template first

For this example, I am using these mindful purple reel templates collection from inside the Ivory Mix Content Membership.

Step 2. Download the image to your phone / camera roll

Once you’ve got the image and thumbnail for your reel just right in Canva, you should download the image to your phone so you can make the update to your Instagram reel. To make this easier, you’ll probably just want to download the Canva App on your phone and login there to download it.

If you’ve been struggling to keep your Instagram grid aesthetic, pleasing to the eye, and on-brand, then I would plan an Instagram brand before hand. You can get a link to this free document right here.

Step 3. Tap the three dots at the bottom right of your reel.

Open Your Instagram App to the Reel You Want to Update and tap the three dots at the bottom right of that reel.

How to Change Your Instagram Reel Cover Image After Posting - tap the three dots

Step 4. Select ‘Manage’ and then ‘Edit’

Here’s the fun part – actually changing the reel cover and watching your feed take on a new look!

After hitting those three dots in the step before, you’ll want to look for ‘manage’ and tap that, then tap ‘Edit’ on the ‘manage your reel’ of settings.

How to Change Your Instagram Reel Cover Image After Posting-tap manage and edit

Step 5. Edit the Reel Cover Image and Thumbnail

Once you make it to the editing page of your reel, you’ll want to tap ‘edit’ on the image you see. Once you tap edit on the thumbnail, you will see a screen where you can upload the new thumbnail image you created in Canva.

You should have the new image available to use right from your phones camera roll. If you still need to do that, then go downloaded the design you created from the Canva app before getting to this step.

Once you’ve uploaded the new cover image, tap ‘Done’ in the top right corner. You’ll be redirected to the editing page where your caption is. On that page, you’ll need to tap the checkmark in the top right corner.

Step 6. To get a cohesive on-brand grid, Repeat these steps for your all your reels

If you want your whole feed to look cohesive, repeat these steps for all your reels. Your Instagram grid will be looking polished in no time!

repeat for all reels to have a cohesive feed - even after posting them on instagram you can change them

Need More Help with Content?

The stock photos and Canva templates you see in our examples are exclusive to the Ivory Mix Content Membership. We send you monthly content that’s already planned out and ready to use—straight to your inbox! If you’re looking to save time and keep your content strategy on point, check out our membership for more details on how it can help you.