How to Edit a Story in Instagram

Instagram provides many ways to edit a story to reach as many people as possible and encourage them to interact with it. When editing an Instagram story, you can do it before and after posting it. In this article, you’ll find creative ways to edit your stories and reach your goals.

How to Edit a Story Before Posting It

Among the many ways Instagram lets you edit a story are hashtags, geolocation, stickers, and more. Here are all the ways you can personalize your Instagram stories using the Instagram app for iPhone and Android. Keep in mind that it’s not possible to upload Instagram stories from the app’s web version.

Add Stickers

Instagram provides a wide range of stickers you can add to your stories. First, you’ll have to create a story by adding a photograph or video you’d like to share. To do it, follow these steps.

1. Go to your profile icon in the upper left corner. You’ll see all your latest photographs and videos. Choose the one you want to post in your story.
   
2. When the picture or video is added to the main page, you can place two fingers on the screen of your phone or tablet to change its size and location on the screen.
   
3. Swipe left and right to add a filter to your story from the ones preset by Instagram.
   
4. Click the sticker icon in the screen’s upper right corner. A new menu will appear with many different alternatives.
   

On the stickers menu, you’ll find trending stickers that change over time and some that will always be available. Here’s a list of the stickers you can add to your stories.

• Specific question. With this sticker, you can ask any question you like to your audience. The question can be up to 60 characters long. Whenever someone replies, you’ll get a notification and the option to repost the answer in a new story.
• Hashtag. Adding a hashtag to your story will allow you to reach more people with your post. You can write whatever hashtag you want. However, Instagram will also suggest the most popular ones related to your topic.
• Your location. Whenever a follower clicks on the location sticker, they can see the area from where you posted the story.
• Add music. You can add your favorite song to your stories with the music sticker. On the screen, you can choose whether your followers can see the album cover or the song’s lyrics.
• Poll sticker. A poll sticker is like the “question” but has a few differences. Creating a poll allows you to ask the question and customize the answers. With this sticker, you’ll get real-time results of your audience feedback.
• Gifs. Adding Gifs to your Instagram stories will allow you to express emotions and create a story that is visually appealing at the same time. When clicking on the “Gifs” sticker, you’ll have a search bar to find the one you want.
• Tag someone. The “Mention” sticker will allow you to tag one of your followers in your story.
• Countdown. When preparing for a special event, you can use the countdown sticker. It’ll let people know the time remaining for the event and get a notification when the big day arrives.
• Current time and weather. These stickers give your followers more information and context to your story.
• Quiz. You can ask a multiple-choice question and customize the answers. This is a fun way to engage and play with your followers.
• Link. If you’re posting a story with helpful information your followers might be interested in, you can choose the “Link” sticker. This will allow you to add the site URL you’re promoting.

Add Text

On your Instagram stories, you can add any message you want just by typing it yourself. Here’s how to add text to your stories.

1. Go to your profile icon in the upper left corner. You’ll see all your latest photographs and videos. Choose the one you want to post in your story.
   
2. When the picture is added to the main page, you can place two fingers on the screen of your phone or tablet to change its size and location on the screen.
   
3. Swipe left and right to add a filter to your story. If not, you can go with the original version.
   
4. Click the “Aa” icon in the screen’s upper right corner. You’ll automatically have the option to type a message.
   
5. On the lower side of the screen, you’ll find different fonts.
   
6. To change the size of the text, sweep the sidebar on the left side of the screen up and down.
   
7. On the top of the screen, you’ll find other options to edit the text.
   
   • Click on the horizontal lines to change the position of the text.
   • Tap on the colored circle to change the color of your massage.
   • The icon with an “A” and two little stars will allow you to add a special effect to the text.
   • Tap on the “A” with two lines if you want your message to have a motion effect.

Make a Drawing

You can also add a drawing to your stories to make your post more personal and decorative. If you want to draw on your Instagram stories, follow these steps:

1. Go to your profile icon in the upper left corner. You’ll see all your latest photographs and videos. Choose the one you want to post in your story.
   
2. When the picture is added to the main page, place two fingers on the screen of your phone or tablet to change its size and location on the screen.
   
3. Swipe left and right to add a filter to your story.
   
4. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner, and from the menu, tap “Draw.”
   
5. You can use your finger to decorate your story however you like. At the top of the screen, you’ll have different pencil tools and an eraser if you make a mistake.
   
6. At the bottom of the screen, you’ll be able to choose the color of the drawing.
   
7. If you want to change the size of the stroke of the pencil, you can use the sidebar on the left side. Swipe it up and down using your finger.
   

Add Instagram Effects

Instagram provides many fun effects you can add to your stories before you post them. Here’s how to add an effect to your stories.

1. Go to your profile icon in the upper left corner. You’ll see all your latest photographs and videos. Choose the one you want to post in your story.
   
2. When the picture is added to the main page, you can change its size and location on the screen using two fingers.
   
3. Click the “Stars” icon in the upper right corner. At the bottom of the screen, you’ll find many effects available. Swipe your finger left and right to see the effects available. On the main screen, you’ll get a preview of the result.
   

Edition of Stories After Posting

Unfortunately, the number of options available to edit an Instagram story after you’ve posted it is limited. You can’t change the story drastically unless you delete it and start over. Here are the changes you can make and how to do them.

1. Go to the Instagram story you want to edit and click on the three dots in the lower right corner.
   
2. Tap on “Story Setting.” A new menu will pop up titled “Story Controls.” Here you can:
   
   • Choose the Instagram users you don’t want to see your story.
   • Choose a selected group of friends you want to see your story.
   • Decide who can reply to your story. You can choose between everyone, only your followers, or nobody.
   • You can also activate “Save stories to camera roll” to ensure you don’t lose your stories.
   • Choose “Save stories in the archive” if you want to save them but don’t want them on your phone’s camera roll. You’re the only person that can access the archive from your Instagram account.

Instagram Stories FAQs

Is it possible to delete an Instagram story before 24 hours?

An Instagram story can be deleted whenever you want. Tap on the three dots in the lower right corner and select “Delete” from the menu.

Can I choose the users who can see my Instagram story?

Yes. If you want to hide your Instagram story from a few users, you can do it from the story settings menu. Tap on the three dots in the lower right corner of your story. From the menu, select “Story settings.” Under “Viewing,” you’ll find “Hide story from.” You can add all the users you want to hide your story from in that section.

Why are always the same users at the top of my Instagram story viewers list?

The story viewers list is based on the users who most interact with your profile. When a person visits your profile regularly, reacts to all your stories, and likes your posts, that person will luckily appear on top of your story viewers list.

Creating Instagram Stories Has Never Been Easier

Instagram stories are a fast way to share moments of your day with your followers for only 24 hours. This doesn’t mean, however, that they have to be dull. Instagram provides many tools you can use to edit your stories to make them more fun and engaging.

What stickers and editing features do you like to use in your Instagram stories> Tell us in the comment section.