If you’ve ever looked at someone’s Facebook profile and seen a row of curated story collections sitting pretty under their bio, those are Facebook highlights.
Think of them as your own personal story gallery, an easy way to keep your best moments alive long after the 24-hour story window closes.
highlights let you pin and present the best parts of your Facebook Stories in a way that’s clean, creative, and easy to explore. And in this guide, I’m breaking down exactly how Facebook highlights work and how you can start using them to show off your life’s most memorable moments.
So, What Are Facebook Highlights?
Facebook highlights are collections of stories that you choose to save and display on your profile permanently or at least until you decide to remove them.
Normally, Facebook Stories disappear after 24 hours, right? But highlights break that rule. They let you turn those short-lived stories into lasting showcases.
Each highlight is like a digital album, you pick the stories, give it a title, choose a cover photo, and boom, your followers (and anyone who visits your profile, depending on your privacy settings) can view it anytime.
How to Create Facebook Highlights (Step-by-Step)
Creating your first highlight is super simple. Here’s how to do it on the Facebook mobile app:
Head to Your Profile - Open your Facebook app and tap on your profile picture to go to your profile page.
Scroll to the “Story highlights” Section - Just under your profile picture and bio, you’ll see a section titled Story highlights. Tap “+ New” or the little plus (+) icon if you already have highlights.
Pick Your Stories - Facebook will show you your archived stories (yes, they’re saved automatically unless you turn off story archiving). Select the ones you want to add to your new highlight.
Name It & Customize It - Give your highlight a name that reflects its theme, and choose a custom cover image, either from the selected stories or from your gallery.
Tap Done - Once you're happy with your selection, tap “Done” or “Create Highlight”, and you're all set!
Pro Tips to Make Your Highlights Stand Out
Let’s be honest, not all highlights are created equal. If you want yours to stand out, keep these tips in mind:
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Use Eye-Catching Covers: Choose visually appealing cover images to attract more taps.
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Be Consistent with Themes: Group stories based on topics like “Vacay Vibes,” “Fitness Journey,” “Dog Life,” or “DIY Projects.”
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Keep It Fresh: Update your highlights regularly by adding new stories or removing outdated ones.
Use Hashtags & Stickers: These add personality and may even boost visibility if your profile is public. -
Tell a Story: Don’t just dump random stories, think of your highlight as a mini slideshow with a beginning, middle, and end.
Who Can See Your Highlights?
That depends on your privacy settings. If your stories were shared publicly, then anyone can view those highlights. If they were shared with friends only, then only your friends will be able to see them.
Pro Tip: You can always tweak the privacy of each story before adding it to a highlight.
Can People Tell If You Viewed Their Facebook Highlights?
Yes... and no:
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If you’re friends with someone and you view their story within the first 24 hours, they’ll see your name in the viewer list.
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After 24 hours, your name drops off and only the view count remains visible.
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If you’re not friends and their profile is public, you can view their highlight without them knowing.
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If their profile is private, you won’t see their highlights at all unless you're added.
Facebook Highlights vs. Stories: What's the Real Difference?
Why Should You Even Bother with Facebook Highlights?
Here’s why I think highlights are worth your time:
Your Stories Deserve to Live Longer
We’ve all posted a story that felt too good to disappear in just a day. Highlights are your way of keeping those memories alive on your profile for as long as you want.
Keep Things Organized
Instead of letting your stories fade into the archive, you can sort them into themed categories: Vacations, Events, Food Diaries, Behind the Scenes, and more.
Show Off Your Personality
Highlights are a great way to tell people who you are, what you love, and what moments matter to you most.
Boost Profile Engagement
Did you know that people actually tap through highlights when they land on your profile? Whether it’s a friend, a potential client, or a stranger who stumbled across your page, highlights give them a quick and interactive peek into your world.
FAQs About Facebook Highlights
How many highlights can I have?
There’s no hard limit but for a clean profile look, it’s smart to stick to 5–10 well-organized highlights.
Can I edit a highlight later?
Absolutely. You can always go back, add new stories, remove old ones, or even rename and change the cover.
Do I need to turn on Story Archive?
Yes. Facebook pulls highlights from your story archive. If archiving is off, you won’t be able to access past stories for highlighting.
To turn it on:
Settings > Story Settings > Story Archive > Turn On
Takeaway
If you haven’t tried creating highlights yet, now’s the perfect time. Scroll through your story archive, pick the best bits, and let your personal story shine a little longer.
