What Do the Symbols & Icons Mean on Instagram (Updated 2024)

What Do the Symbols & Icons Mean on Instagram

If you’re new to Instagram or just want to brush up on your skills, you might be wondering what do the symbols & icons mean on Instagram. You know, those little things that pop up on your screen when you scroll through your feed, profile, or post and story. Well, wonder no more because I am here to help you decode the Instagram language and make sense of all the features and functions.

Instagram is full of symbols, acronyms, and abbreviations that can make your head spin. From DMs to comments and captions, you will see them everywhere. Be it the meaning of PC on Instagram, the abbreviation CFS, or the Flag icon on business accounts; there’s a lot to learn and master. Don’t worry about those symbols, I will explain what each of them means and how to use them effectively.  

So, if you’re ready to become an Instagram pro, keep reading this article and find out what do the symbols & icons mean on Instagram. You’ll be surprised by how much you can do with this amazing app and how it can help you connect with your friends, family, and followers. Let’s get started!

What Do the Symbols & Icons Mean on Instagram?

Instagram has a lot of symbols and icons that you need to know if you want to make the most of the app. They can help you navigate the app, communicate with others, and express yourself creatively. In the following sections, we’ll go over some of the most common and important symbols and icons on Instagram and what they mean. We will also find out what does the arrow next to the follow button on Instagram mean, in case you want to know that. Let’s dive in!

Instagram Home Screen Symbols & Icons

When you open Instagram, you’ll see some icons at the bottom and the top right of your screen. They do different things and help you use the app. Here is the Instagram icons meaning: 

1. Heart Symbol: This icon shows you your notifications, such as likes, comments, follows, and mentions. You can also see the activity of the accounts you follow.

2. Messenger Icon: Clicking on this icon will lead you to the Instagram Direct (DM) page. This is where you can find all your ongoing conversations, as well as initiate new ones.

3. Home Icon: This icon takes you to your main feed, where you can see the posts from the accounts and pages you follow.

4. Magnifying Glass Icon: This icon opens the Explore page, where you can discover new content, accounts, and hashtags based on your interests.

5. Add Symbol (+): This icon lets you create a new post, story, reel, or live video. You can also access your camera roll and edit your photos or videos before posting them.

6. Clapperboard With Play Sign: This icon leads you to the Instagram Reels page, where you can scroll through thousands of reels.

7. Profile Picture Icon: This takes you to your profile page, where you can see your posts, stories, reels, and saved collections. You can also edit your profile, settings, and privacy options. If you have not uploaded a profile picture, you will see the Instagram person icon here.

Instagram Post Symbols & Icons

When you check out a post on Instagram, you’ll see a bunch of symbols and icons below or above it. They’re there to help you do all sorts of stuff with the post, like giving it a like, leaving a comment, sharing it with others, saving it for later, or even reporting it if something’s off. Here, I will break down what do the symbols & icons mean on Instagram posts and what are all the icons on Instagram post. 

1. Heart Icon: This icon shows you how many people have liked the post. You can also tap it to like the post yourself. If you double-tap the post, you’ll also like it and see a bigger heart animation.

2. Chat Bubble Symbol: This symbol shows you how many comments the post has. You can also tap it to see the comments or add your own. You can also reply to other people’s comments by tapping and holding their comments.

3. Plane Icon: This icon lets you share the post with your friends through direct messages. You can also tap and hold it to see who has shared the post with you.

4. Banner Icon: This icon lets you save the post to your collections. You can access your collections by tapping the same icon on your profile page. You can also create different collections for different types of posts.

5. 3 Vertical Dots: This icon opens a menu with more options for the post. You can report the post if it violates Instagram’s guidelines, copy the link to the post, turn on post notifications, mute the account, or unfollow the account.

6. Person Icon: This Instagram person icon shows you who is/are tagged in the post. If you want to see who it is or who they are, just tap on it

Instagram Profile Page Symbols & Icons

On Instagram, there are two kinds of profile pages: your own and other users’ profiles. Let me break down the icons you’ll find on each of these pages so you’re in the know about both yours and your friends’ profiles. Here is the profile Instagram icons explained:

Your Instagram Profile Page Symbols & Icons

When you go to your profile page on Instagram, you’ll see some symbols and icons at the top and bottom of your screen. They help you manage your account, create new content, and see your posts and reels. In the following, I will tell you what do the symbols & icons mean on Instagram and how to use them. Here is the Instagram profile icons meaning:

1. Hamburger Icon: This icon opens a menu with more options for your account. You can access your settings, archive, insights, activity, QR code, saved collections, close friends list, and guides from here.

2. Plus Icon: This icon lets you create a new post, reel, story, or live video. You can also access your camera roll and edit your photos or videos before posting them.

3. Arrow Icon Next to Your Username: This icon lets you switch between different accounts that you have logged in on Instagram. You can also add a new account or manage your accounts from here.

4. Grid Icon: This icon shows you your posts in a grid layout. You can see all the photos and videos that you have posted on Instagram. You can also edit or delete your posts from here.

5. Clapperboard with Play Sign: This icon shows you your shared Reels in a grid layout. You can see all the short videos that you have created or shared on Instagram Reels. You can also edit or delete your reels from here.

6. Person Icon: The Instagram person icon shows you the posts and reels of others where you are tagged in. You can see all the photos and videos that other people have tagged you in on Instagram. You can also remove yourself from the tags or hide them from your profile from here.

Other’s Instagram Profile Page Symbols & Icons

When you visit someone else’s profile page on Instagram, you’ll see some symbols and icons that are different from yours. They let you do different things with their account, like reporting them, following them, muting them, or seeing their posts and reels. In this subsection, I will show you what each of these symbols and icons means and how to use them. Here they are:

1. 3 Vertical Dots: This icon opens a menu with more options for their account. You can report them if they violate Instagram’s guidelines, restrict them if you want to limit their interactions with you, block them if you don’t want them to see your profile or contact you, copy their URL if you want to share their profile with someone else, and more.

2. Bell Icon: This icon lets you get priority notifications when they share anything. You can subscribe to one or many options, like posts, stories, reels, or live videos. It will only appear when you are following them. You can also turn off the notifications if you don’t want to see them anymore.

3. Arrow Icon Next to Following: Worried? What does the arrow next to the follow button on Instagram mean? This icon lets you unfollow, restrict, mute, or add their account to your favorites.

4. Plus + Next to Person Icon: This icon suggests follow-worthy accounts that are either followed by or following the account you’re checking out. 

5. Grid Icon: This icon shows you their posts in a grid layout. You can see all the photos and videos that they have posted on Instagram. You can also like, comment, or share their posts from here.

6. Clapperboard with Play Sign: This icon shows you their shared reels in a grid layout. You can see all the short videos that they have created or shared on Instagram Reels. You can also like, comment, or share their reels from here.

7. Person Icon: This icon shows you the posts and reels of others where they are tagged in. You can see all the photos and videos that other people have tagged them in on Instagram. You can also like, comment, or share these posts and reels from here.

Instagram Story Symbols & Icons

Symbols & Icons Mean on Instagram

Instagram stories are a great way to share your moments with your friends and followers. They are short videos or photos that disappear after 24 hours. You can also add stickers, filters, music, text, and more to make them more fun and creative. In this section, I will tell you what do the symbols & icons mean on Instagram Stories, be it yours and others. Here is what are all the icons on Instagram Stories:

Your Instagram Story Symbols & Icons

When you create or view your own story on Instagram, you’ll see some symbols and icons at the top and bottom of your screen. Here is what each of these symbols and icons means:

1. Three Dots: This icon opens a menu with more options for your story. You can delete your story if you don’t want it anymore, save your story to your camera roll or archive, share your story as a post or reel, or change your story settings. You can also see who can view, reply, or share your story from here.

2. Create Icon: This icon lets you transform your story into a reel. A reel is a short video that you can edit with music, effects, and more. You can also share your reel with your followers or on the Explore page. You can also save your reel to your camera roll or drafts from here.

3. Paper Plane: This icon lets you share your story with other friends through direct messages. You can also see who has shared your story with you from here. You can also turn off the sharing option if you don’t want anyone to share your story.

4. Profile Icons: These icons show you who has viewed your story. You can tap on them to see the names of the viewers. You can also see their reactions or replies to your story here.

Other’s Instagram Story Symbols & Icons

When you view someone else’s story on Instagram, you’ll see some symbols and icons at the bottom of their screen. Here they are:

1. Three Dots: This icon opens a menu with more options for their story. You can report their story if it violates Instagram’s guidelines, mute their story if you don’t want to see it anymore, or hide their story if you don’t want them to see that you viewed it.

2. Paper Plane: This icon lets you share their story with other friends through direct messages. You can also add a comment or a reaction when you share their story.

3. Heart Icon: This icon lets you like their story. You can tap it to send them a heart emoji as a reaction to their story. They will see your reaction in their direct messages.

4. Send Message Capsule: This icon lets you reply to their story. You can type a message or send an emoji as a reply to their story. They will see your reply in their direct messages.

Instagram Reels Symbols & Icons

Instagram Reels are short videos that you can create or watch on Instagram. You can discover new reels from other people on the Reels tab or the Explore page. In this section, I will tell you what do the symbols & icons mean on Instagram Reels. Here they are:

1. Heart Icon: This icon shows you how many people have liked the reel. You can also tap it to like the reel yourself. Liking a reel helps it get more views and reach more people.

2. Chat Bubble Symbol: This symbol shows you how many comments the reel has. You can also tap it to see the comments or add your own. You can also reply to other people’s comments by tapping and holding their comments.

3. Paper Plane: This icon lets you share the reel with your friends through direct messages. You can also tap and hold it to see who has shared the reel with you.

4. Three Dots: This icon opens a menu with more options for the reel. You can report the reel if it violates Instagram’s guidelines, save the reel to your camera roll or collections, copy the link to the reel, turn on reel notifications, mute the account, or unfollow the account.

5. Audio Cover: This icon shows you the audio used in the reel. You can tap it to see the name and artist of the song or sound. You can also see other reels that use the same audio from here. You can also use the same audio for your own reel from here.

6. Profile Icon: This icon shows you who created or shared the reel. You can tap it to go to their profile page and see more of their reels.

7. Camera Icon: This icon lets you create your own reel. You can access your camera and record a video or use a video from your camera roll.

Instagram Messaging Icons and Symbols 

Symbols & Icons Mean on Instagram

Instagram messaging is all about staying connected with your friends and followers in a fun and interactive way. You’ve got a whole bunch of cool features at your fingertips, like sending messages, photos, videos, voice messages, stickers, GIFs, and more. Pretty awesome, right? Now, let’s dive into what do the symbols & icons mean on Instagram DMs: 

1. Camera Icon: Say cheese! This icon lets you snap photos or videos right then and there and instantly share them with someone. 

2. Microphone icon: Get your voice heard! With this icon, you can record and send a voice message in a jiffy. And don’t worry, you can also listen to the voice messages others send you.

3. Image Icon: This one’s for your personal multimedia collection. Choose this icon, and you can easily add photos or videos from your mobile’s library to your messages.

4. Sticker Icon: This icon is your gateway to a world of stickers. From emojis to animals, food to GIFs, you’ll find a sticker for every mood and occasion.

5. Heart Icon: Show some love! With this icon, you can send a heart emoji to brighten someone’s day. Double-tap on a message to bring it to their message(s).

6. Video Camera Icon: Time for face-to-face interaction! This icon lets you kick off a lively video call with someone special. 

7. Phone Icon: Dial it up! This icon lets you initiate a good old-fashioned voice call. And guess what? You can invite others to join in, too, by tapping the plus icon at the bottom left corner.

Wrapping Up

And there you have it, folks! That wraps up our rundown of what do the symbols & icons mean on Instagram. I hope you found this guide interesting and satisfying and that it helps you navigate your way through the world of Instagram like a pro!

But hey, if you’re hungry for more social media, gaming, and tech articles to quench your thirst for knowledge, then I’ve got just the place for you. Make sure to swing by regularly at Path of EX, where you’ll find a treasure trove of exciting content waiting for you. Happy browsing, and until next time, keep on exploring the endless possibilities of the social media universe!

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are the different icons on Instagram?

The icons on Instagram are symbols that help you use the app. They let you do things like go to your feed, search for content, comment, like, create a post, see your notifications, or go to your profile.

2. What do the icons under an Instagram post mean?

The icons under an Instagram post are symbols that let you interact with the post. They let you do things like like the post, comment on it, share it, save it, or see more options.

3. What is the symbol for in top right on Instagram?

It depends; if you are on your Home Page, you will see a Messenger icon there; if you are on the Reels Page you will see a camera icon, and so on.

4. What does the triangle symbol mean on Instagram?

The triangle symbol on Instagram is a play sign within the clapperboard. It shows you the reels on Instagram. Reels are short videos that you can create or watch on Instagram. You can also add music, effects, filters, text, stickers, and more to your reels.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *