Instagram is testing new customization options for Notes, allowing users to add colors and emojis to personalize their updates. This small but noticeable tweak would give users more ways to make their Notes stand out and add a bit more personality to quick posts.
As shown in a discovery by app researcher @varma.adwaith, Instagram is testing a new feature that allows users to customize their Notes by selecting a color and emoji.
Instagram explains the update as follows:
“Now you can customize your note by adding color and an emoji. Anyone can choose to use your note style as their own, and your name won’t appear next to it.”
This means users can not only personalize their Notes but also inspire others without attribution, adding a subtle layer of shared creativity to the feature.
In theory, this new option would give users another way to make their Notes stand out, by allowing them to customize the background color and add an emoji that better matches the tone or theme of their message.
Instagram has experimented with emoji use in Notes before, including limited activations like its March Madness promotion earlier this year.
Instagram has previously introduced colored Notes for specific celebrations and events, so the concept itself isn’t entirely new. However, bringing customizable colors and emojis to general Notes could add another layer of personalization and creativity to the feature.
That said, it’s still early days.
Instagram confirmed that this feature is currently only an internal prototype, with no plans for public testing at this stage. It’s possible it may never roll out — or it could eventually be part of a broader push to expand Notes functionality as Instagram looks for new ways to drive engagement and interaction.
Notes have proven especially popular among younger users, a key demographic for Instagram. With more activity shifting into DMs rather than feed posts or Reels, Notes offer a lightweight, casual way to maintain connections. Despite pulling Notes from Reels and feed posts, Instagram appears committed to experimenting with how to keep this feature valuable for personal engagement.
For now, though, customized Notes remain just an idea — but it’s one that fits well with Instagram’s broader strategy to keep users interacting in the app.
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