How to Add People to Close Friends on Instagram (Step by Step)
Updated 2026-10-12 · ClosePush Team
Go to your profile, tap the menu (three lines), tap "Close Friends", then tick the people you want to add. Changes save instantly. To post to them, take a story and tap "Close Friends" instead of "Your story".
On iPhone and Android
- Open your profile (your photo, bottom right).
- Tap the three lines in the top right.
- Tap "Close Friends".
- Use the search bar or the suggestions, and tick the circle next to each person.
- That's it. There is no save button.
From a story you are about to post
- Take or select your story.
- At the bottom, tap the green "Close Friends" button.
- If your list is empty, Instagram asks you to choose people first.
On desktop
Instagram on the web also lets you edit your Close Friends list from the settings. It's the same process: search and tick. This is also where tools like ClosePush work, since they run in Chrome on your computer.
Adding a lot of people
Ticking 20 people takes a minute. Ticking 2,000 takes hours, and Instagram may block you for going too fast. For big lists, read how to add all your followers to Close Friends.
FAQ
Do I need to save after adding people?
No. Each tick is saved immediately.
Will they know I added them?
Not through a notification. They will only see the green ring on your next Close Friends story.
Why can't I find someone in the list?
Use the search bar instead of scrolling the suggestions. If the account blocked you or was deleted, it won't appear.