How to Post a Story on Instagram

Time-limited Instagram stories can be a great marketing tool for building a brand, or they can be fun for just sharing moments with friends and family. Here's how to post a story on Instagram and share it with others.

What Is an Instagram Story?

Instagram stories are photos or short video clips that disappear after 24 hours (unless you add them to your Instagram profile as a highlight). Unlike regular Instagram posts, stories lack certain features like social media buttons and comment sections. It's possible to repost Instagram stories that you are tagged in provided that the original poster enables sharing. You can even live stream Instagram Stories using the Instagram Live Video feature. Users who have 10,000 or more followers can add links to their Instagram Stories.

For more information, the Instagram website has an extensive FAQ page about Instagram stories.

How to Make an Instagram Story

To share photos and videos as a story on Instagram:

1. Launch Instagram and tap the camera icon, or swipe right on the screen.

2. Tap the circle to snap a photo, or tap and hold to record a video.

   If you want to choose a photo or video from your device's gallery, swipe up on the screen.

3. Use the tools at the top to add doodles, text, filters, or stickers, then tap Your Story (or Your Stories) at the bottom of the screen.

   

4. Tap Share next to Your Story.

   If your Facebook account is linked to your Instagram, you'll have the option to share your post as a Facebook story as well.

5. At the top of your feed, tap Your Story to view your post. If you want to keep the story after 24 hours, tap Highlight under your story.

   

Where Do Instagram Stories Appear?

Whenever you post an Instagram story, a ring will appear around your profile picture. When other users tap your profile picture, they will see your story. Your story, however, will not be visible on your profile grid.

Stories appear at the top of your feed. If you see a friend's profile picture, tap it to view their story. Your profile picture will also appear at the top of your friends' feeds as well as next to your posts and direct messages. If your story includes a hashtag or geotag, it will show up in searches unless you make your Instagram account private.

How to Delete an Instagram Story

To delete your current story on Instagram:

1. Tap Your Story on your feed.

2. Tap More.

3. Tap Delete.

   

How to Delete an Instagram Story From Your Archive

Once an Instagram story expires, it remains in your archive for your eyes only (unless you highlighted it or shared it elsewhere). To permanently delete the story:

1. Tap your profile picture at the bottom of your feed.

2. Tap the hamburger menu.

3. Tap Archive.

   

4. Tap the story you wish to delete.

5. Tap More.

6. Tap Delete.

   

   When you delete a story from the archive, it will also be deleted from your highlights and anywhere else you shared it.

How to Share an Instagram Story

It's possible to share Instagram stories you've previously posted from your archive:

1. Tap your profile picture at the bottom of your feed.

2. Tap the hamburger menu.

3. Tap Archive.

   

4. Tap the story you wish to share.

5. Tap Share at the bottom of the screen.

6. Tap Your Story, or tap Send to if you want to share it with someone.

   

How to Add to an Instagram Story

Before you share a story, you have the option to add stickers, text, and other elements. If you tap the sticker icon while editing your story, you'll see a bunch of additional options. For example, you can add music to an Instagram story, tag your location, or even create a quiz. To add a selfie sticker, scroll down the stickers page and tap the camera. You can adjust the size of the stickers you place by pinching the screen. You can also swipe left and right to cycle through filters.

It's also possible to pin stickers and text to moving elements in a video. After placing your text or sticker, tap and hold the screen until you see Pin at the bottom of the screen, then tap the object in the video you want to pin it to.