---
title: "How to schedule Instagram Reels with a cover image"
url: "https://get1post.com/guides/post-instagram-reels-with-a-cover.md"
canonical_url: "https://get1post.com/guides/post-instagram-reels-with-a-cover"
last_updated: "2026-10-23"
type: "how-to"
summary: "Upload a Reel, choose its cover, add a caption and alt text, name collaborators and schedule it, checking length and shape first."
related: ["https://get1post.com/guides.md", "https://get1post.com/platforms/instagram.md", "https://get1post.com/glossary/trial-reels.md", "https://get1post.com/glossary/reels-vs-shorts.md"]
---

# How to schedule Instagram Reels with a cover image

Upload a Reel, choose its cover, add a caption and alt text, name collaborators and schedule it, checking length and shape first.

Open the composer, pick your Instagram account, choose Reel and upload the video. Add a cover image, a caption of up to 2,200 characters, and up to three collaborators if you want. 1Post checks the file against Instagram's rules before it goes out at the time you schedule.

## Steps

1. Choose Reel. In Compose pick your Instagram account and set the post type to Reel.
2. Upload the video. Add the video file. Use the [video spec checker](https://get1post.com/tools/video-spec-checker.md) first if you are unsure about its length or shape.
3. Set the cover. Pick or upload a cover image so the grid shows the frame you want.
4. Write the caption. Add the caption and hashtags. Put hashtags in the first comment if you want a clean caption.
5. Add collaborators and alt text. Name up to three collaborators and describe the image for alt text.
6. Schedule. Pick a time or the next free slot. A Trial Reel setting is available on the same tab.

## Good to know

- Instagram takes JPEG images; a PNG or WebP cover is converted for you.

## Questions

**Can I schedule a Story instead?**

Yes. Choose Story as the post type; a first comment is not available on Stories.

**Can I add a first comment?**

Yes, on a Reel. Add it in the first comment box and it posts with the Reel or after the delay you set.

## Sources

- [Instagram Platform: content publishing](https://developers.facebook.com/docs/instagram-platform/content-publishing), read 2026-10-22

## Related

- [How-to guides for scheduling social media posts](https://get1post.com/guides.md)
- [Schedule Instagram posts: formats, limits, setup](https://get1post.com/platforms/instagram.md)
- [Trial Reels: definition for social media posting](https://get1post.com/glossary/trial-reels.md)
- [Reels versus Shorts: what it means in social media](https://get1post.com/glossary/reels-vs-shorts.md)