Instagram is quietly stacking up a significant set of new features in 2026. While none of them have made it to a splashy announcement, a wave of in-development functionality has been spotted in recent weeks — and together they paint a picture of a platform that is pushing harder on both creative tools and personalization.
From the ability to draw anywhere in your DMs to custom app icons and a mysterious new “Your Algorithm” feature, here is everything Instagram is currently testing.
Drawing Anywhere in DMs
One of the more creative additions spotted in testing is the ability to draw directly within Instagram DMs. This is a meaningful expansion of the existing drawing tools available in Stories and Reels. Being able to sketch, annotate, or doodle inside a conversation window opens up new ways for friends and creators to communicate visually in private chats.
Instagram has not confirmed a rollout date, but the feature has been spotted in active testing on iOS.
Adding Links to Posts
This one has been a long time coming. Instagram is currently working on the ability to add a clickable link directly to a regular feed post — not just in bio, not just in Stories with a swipe-up, but embedded in the post itself. For creators, brands, and anyone sharing content that references an external source, this is a significant quality-of-life improvement.
Instagram has historically kept links tightly controlled on the platform, directing most traffic through the link-in-bio convention. Allowing links on posts directly could represent a meaningful shift in how traffic flows on the platform.
Custom App Icons
Instagram is also testing the ability to let users customize the app icon on their home screen. This kind of personalization feature has become increasingly popular across apps — WhatsApp Plus, for example, is testing a similar cosmetic premium experience that includes custom themes and iconography. Instagram taking this in-house, and likely for free or as part of a subscription tier, makes sense given Meta’s broader push into customization.
New Instagram Notes Feature: Custom Fonts
Instagram Notes — the short-form status-style text feature that sits at the top of the DM inbox — is getting an upgrade. Instagram is testing custom font support for Notes, giving users more control over the visual style of their quick updates. It is a small change, but it deepens the Notes format at a time when Instagram is trying to grow engagement in the inbox.
“Your Algorithm” — A New Transparency Feature
Perhaps the most intriguing item in the current testing slate is a feature called “Your Algorithm.” Details are limited, but the name strongly suggests Instagram is preparing to give users some visibility into — or control over — how their feed and recommendations are personalized. This would be a notable transparency move, especially given ongoing regulatory pressure on social platforms around algorithmic accountability.
WhatsApp Link Banner on Profiles
Instagram has also added a new profile banner specifically for a WhatsApp link. This ties directly into Meta’s push to unify its apps under the new Meta Account system — Meta recently announced a single login across Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and even its AI Glasses and Quest devices. The WhatsApp profile banner makes cross-promotion between the two apps more seamless and visible.
Dubbed Reels in Broadcast Channels
For creators with international audiences, Instagram has added support for dubbed Reels in broadcast channels. This allows creators to share versions of their Reels with audio dubbed into different languages, expanding reach without requiring a separate post for each audience. It is a practical feature that reflects how global Instagram’s creator base has become.
Story to Highlights Shortcut and Highlights on the Main Grid
Two smaller but useful changes are also rolling out. First, Instagram now allows users to add a Story directly to Highlights from within the story creation flow — removing the step of going back to do it manually afterward. Second, Instagram has moved Story Highlights to the main profile grid, making them more prominent and easier to browse for anyone landing on a profile.
How This Connects to Meta’s Broader Push in 2026
These feature tests do not exist in a vacuum. Meta has been aggressively building out Instagram as both a creator platform and a subscription business. Earlier this year, Meta announced it would test premium subscription tiers across Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp, with Instagram’s subscription expected to focus on audience management and visibility tools. Some of the features in testing — custom fonts, custom icons, drawing in DMs — could well end up gated behind Instagram Plus when it launches.
The broader strategic direction is clear: Meta wants Instagram to feel more personal, more expressive, and more tightly integrated with its other apps. The features currently in testing are a direct reflection of that goal.
Frequently Asked Questions
What new features is Instagram testing in 2026?
Instagram is currently testing the ability to draw anywhere in DMs, add links to regular feed posts, customize the app icon, use custom fonts in Instagram Notes, and a new “Your Algorithm” transparency feature. It has also added dubbed Reels in broadcast channels and a WhatsApp link banner for profiles.
When will Instagram allow links on regular posts?
Instagram is working on the ability to add links directly to feed posts, but no official rollout date has been confirmed. The feature is currently in testing.
Will Instagram let you customize the app icon?
Instagram is testing custom app icons, but this feature has not been officially confirmed for a full release. It may arrive as part of a premium subscription tier or as a free option.
What is the Instagram “Your Algorithm” feature?
“Your Algorithm” is a feature currently in testing that appears to give users visibility into or control over how their Instagram feed is personalized. Full details have not been confirmed by Instagram.
Is Instagram getting drawing tools for DMs?
Yes, Instagram is testing the ability to draw directly within DMs, expanding its existing drawing tools beyond Stories and Reels into private conversations.
What to Watch Next
Instagram moves fast, and features in testing can ship quickly or get shelved entirely based on how the rollout goes. The next big signal will likely be whether any of these tools end up tied to Instagram Plus when Meta confirms pricing and availability for its subscription tier.
For the latest on Instagram, WhatsApp, and everything happening across Meta’s app ecosystem, keep checking the Apps section on 8BitToast for updates as they land.
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