Throwback is a memory feature that surfaces one of your past photos on the same date, or a nearby date, from a previous year. It is designed to help you relive old moments and reflect on your photo journey over time.
What does Throwback do?
When available, Throwback shows you a photo you uploaded in a previous year that matches today’s date as closely as possible. It is a simple way to revisit everyday memories and see how life has changed.
Where can I find Throwback?
If a Throwback is available, it appears automatically as the first photo in your Me grid. You can recognise it by the frosted-glass THROWBACK badge, which shows how many years ago the photo was taken.
How often does Throwback appear?
Throwback appears once per day. If you have already seen or dismissed today’s Throwback, it will not appear again until the next day.
How is the Throwback photo selected?
PYM looks for photos you uploaded on or around today’s date in previous years.
Here is how it works:
Exact date matches are preferred
If there is no exact match, the app checks for photos taken within a few days of today’s date
If matches exist across multiple years, one year is chosen at random
That means you may see a different memory on different days, even when several years have matching photos.
Why am I not seeing a Throwback?
There are a few common reasons:
You need at least 6 months of uploaded photos before Throwback becomes available
There may be no past photos close enough to today’s date
You may already have viewed or dismissed a Throwback earlier today
What does “X years ago today” mean?
“X years ago today” means the photo was taken on the exact same calendar date.
“X years ago this week” means the photo was taken within a few days of today’s date.
Can I share my Throwback?
Yes. Tap the share button in the top-right corner of the Throwback card. PYM will create a ready-made Instagram Story card with:
your photo
the date
a #THROWBACK tag
If Instagram is installed, the story editor opens automatically. If not, your regular share sheet opens so you can share it elsewhere.
Can I dismiss a Throwback?
Yes. If you dismiss it, the Throwback card disappears from your grid for the rest of the day. It may return tomorrow with the same memory or a different one.
Does Throwback permanently add the photo to my album?
No. The Throwback card is only a temporary overlay in your grid. It does not duplicate, move, or change the original photo in your album.
Throwback is a once-daily way to revisit a photo from the same time in a previous year. It appears automatically in your Me Album when a match is available, can be shared easily, and disappears for the day if dismissed. Your original album always stays unchanged.