Instagram tests lockable posts feature with secret code unlocks

Instagram’s experimenting with something new: lockable posts. These are posts you can hide behind a secret code, and followers will need to crack that code to view the content.

It’s not officially live yet, but the company previewed the feature on its Design account. The teaser showed a reel locked behind a code. Based on clues in the caption and post, followers had to guess the right word, “threads. ” Enter it correctly, and boom: the post unlocks.

This isn’t just a fun gimmick. Instagram lockable posts could become a real tool for creators, brands, and marketers. Imagine teasing a product launch, hiding bonus content behind a puzzle, or sharing something only select followers will see. It’s like a digital scavenger hunt layered on top of your feed.

Creators might use it to build hype. Brands could turn it into a mini-campaign. Or maybe you want to drop a personal post for a few friends without having to go full Close Friends mode.

At the moment, Instagram only demonstrated it with a Reel. It’s unclear if it’ll work with other formats like image posts or Stories. We also don’t know if this will roll out gradually or go global all at once.

There’s no official date yet for the release of the Instagram lockable posts feature, but the “coming soon” caption on Instagram’s post suggests it’s not far off.