Scheduling social media content has a lot of important benefits for creators, influencers, and social media managers.

Whether you're a content creator, influencer, or social media manager, scheduling lets you plan ahead, stay consistent, and post at the right times — even when you're busy or offline (You won’t have to wake up at 3 AM just to post for a global audience). It also frees up your day for things like engaging with your audience, analyzing results, or working on bigger strategies.

Since 38% of all social “teams” are actually just one person, scheduling posts is a critical way to get more out of the very limited number of hours in your day.

In this guide, we break down how you can schedule posts, Stories, Threads, and even Reels – so you can plan and execute effective Instagram campaigns rather than wearing out your thumbs posting on the fly.

Can you schedule Instagram posts in advance?

This is an easy one: Yes. In several different ways, in fact. We’re about to show you 3 best ways for scheduling Instagram posts.

1. Schedule posts on Instagram (the app)

This method works for both posts and Reels — but not Stories.

1. Open Instagram, tap the plus icon, then tap Post or Reel to create your content as usual.
2. Once you’ve made your edits and added your caption, scroll down to the bottom of the screen and tap Advanced Settings.
3. Toggle the Schedule switch on and choose the date and time you want you post to go live.

4. Tap the back button and then tap Share to schedule your post.
5. If you want to revise your scheduled posts, open your Instagram profile and tap the menu icon in the top right.
6. Tap Scheduled content, then tap the three dots next to the relevant post or Reel to edit, reschedule, share now, or delete.

Note that you can schedule a maximum of 25 posts per day and a maximum of 75 days in advance.

2. Schedule Instagram posts in Meta Business Suite

If you’d prefer to schedule posts on desktop rather than mobile, you can use Meta Business Suite. This method allows you to post stories as well as Reels and posts.

To schedule Instagram posts from your computer using Meta Business Suite, follow these steps:

1. Open Meta Business Suite and click Content in the left menu.
2. Click Create Reel or Create post. To create a Story, click the down arrow next to Create post and choose Create Story.

3. Choose your Instagram account under Post too.
4. Complete your post, Reel, or Story with all the appropriate image(s), video(s), text, stickers, and so on.
5. Check to make sure you’re happy with the preview of your post or Story.
6. To schedule a post, slide the toggle on next to Set date and time. For a Story or Reel, click Schedule and enter your desired time.

That’s it! Now you can lean back and check your DMs.

3. Schedule Instagram posts with SO9

As mentioned above, Meta Business Suite is a solid option if you only need to schedule content for Instagram and Facebook. But for most social media professionals, using a dedicated social media management tool can save a lot more time and effort by managing all platforms from one dashboard.

SO9 allows you to schedule posts not only to Instagram and Facebook, but also to TikTok, LinkedIn, X (Twitter), and more — all from one easy-to-use platform.

With SO9, you can schedule regular posts, stories, carousel posts, Reels – all in one place.

Here's how to get started:

Step 1: Add your Instagram Business account to SO9

To be able to connect your Instagram to SO9 first, your account must be converted from a "Personal" or "Creator" account to a "Business" account. This is a mandatory mechanism that Instagram requires in order to be able to connect your account to a licensed 3rd party like SO9.

It’s easy to link your Instagram account or other social media platforms. From the SO9 dashboard:

• Go to Manage Channel > Social profile > Add Channel

• Choose Instagram

• You will be taken to the screen granting posting permission to SO9. Agree and click Continue
• Once completed, you will see the Instagram channel displayed in your channel list. You can now start scheduling posts and reels.

Step 2: Compose your Instagram post

• In your SO9 dashboard, click Compose, then select Social Post.
• In the Publish To field, choose your preferred Instagram account from the list. The default option is to create a post. To switch to a Story or Reel, upload your media.

Final Thoughts: Which Instagram Scheduler is Best for You?

Whether you're a solo creator or managing multiple clients, scheduling your Instagram posts helps you stay consistent, save time, and grow your audience.

• Use Instagram’s native tool if you're only managing one account.
• Try Meta Business Suite if you're focused on Facebook and Instagram.
• Choose SO9 if you want a powerful, time-saving tool to manage multiple platforms, schedule in bulk, and collaborate with your team.

👉 Ready to streamline your workflow and never miss a post again? Start your free SO9 trial today

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