How to Add a Background to Instagram Stories

Lee Stanton July 14, 2023

One way of customizing Instagram Stories is adding a background. Most of the time, your story won’t cover the entire screen and your post will appear undone. But with a background, you can make your story more appealing and show your personality and creativity. However, adding a background to your story the wrong way can make it look even worse.

This article will explain how to add a background to your Instagram Stories.

How to Add a Background to Your Instagram Stories

Instagram differentiates itself from other social platforms by using visual effects to communicate. Whatever you post on your Instagram profile should be visually compelling, including your Instagram Stories background.

However, Instagram only avails the tools for you and allows you to show your creativity. This is handy for Instagram Stories backgrounds because you get various customization choices. For example, you can add a background that matches the mood of your story and give it visual appeal. This way, your stories become more click-worthy and engaging.

Adding a Solid Color Background to Your Instagram Stories

When you post a story, Instagram automatically adds a hue to it. But you may want a color that makes your story stand out. Luckily, you can find tons of colors on Instagram Stories.

Here’s how to add a solid color background:

Open your Instagram app and go to your profile.
Click the “Add” icon in the top right corner and tap “Story.” The story creator window should open. You can create a story or upload an existing one from your camera roll.
Once your story is ready, tap on it and click the “Ellipses” icon in the top right corner.
On the options that appear, click “Draw.” A toolbar with multiple options appears at the top and bottom of the screen.
On the top toolbar, select the leftmost “Pencil tip” icon. An array of colors will appear on the screen.
Choose the color you want. If you want your color to be transparent, choose the highlighter in the middle of the top toolbar. Choose a color that doesn’t contrast your story’s color for the best results.
Tap and hold anywhere on the screen. This will fill the screen with your chosen color, covering even your story.
To make your story visible, go to the top toolbar and select the “Eraser.” It is the rightmost option in the toolbar. Drag your fingers slowly and carefully across the screen and remove the color covering your story.
If you make a mistake, tap the “Undo” button in the top left corner to restore your previous move.
When you finish, edit the story and post it.

How to Add a Color Gradient Background to Your Instagram Stories

You can add a color gradient to your Instagram Stories using the “Create tool.” It has inbuilt templates that have one color that slightly transitions to another. It’s a fast way to add a background to your timer, poll, or GIF. The only downside is it doesn’t work for images and videos. Here’s what you need to do:

Go to your Instagram account and open your profile, click the “Add” icon in the top right corner and tap “Story.”
On the left side of the screen, click the “Creator” icon (Aa).
This opens a page where you can select your story’s template. Also, a circular color-filled icon appears in the bottom right corner of the screen. Click on it to filter through different colors.
Once you find a template that impresses you, select it. Add content to your story and post.

How to Add a Green Screen Background to Your Instagram Story

The green screen is a popular video and photo background across social media. Instagram is aware of the hype, and it has this feature too. However, it gets integrated with the story you’re creating. You may need to add a background on your story screen when posting. To access the green screen, follow these steps:

Open your Instagram profile and tap the “Plus” icon in the top right corner.
Tap “Story” to start recording or creating your story.
On the create story screen, go to the bottom and swipe the filter options until you see a “Green icon with a gray head inside.” Click “Search” at the end if you can’t find it. Tap the magnifying glass and type “Green screen” on the search bar.
Select your desired Green screen effect, and automatically, your background will be green. Your face will appear as a cut-out.
Select “Add media.” This will prompt you to the camera roll, where you can choose the video or image you want to add as a background.
Now you can record your story with the background active. Using the finger pinch gesture, you can move your face anywhere on the screen.
When you’re happy with your story, post it.

Make Your Instagram Stories Shine

Nothing makes your Instagram Story more appealing than a catchy background. It adds tone and makes it visually engaging. This keeps your followers interested and looking out for more of your content. With the above methods, adding a background to your Instagram Story doesn’t have to be challenging anymore.

Have you ever added a background to an Instagram Story? If so, did you use any of the tips and tricks featured in this article? Let us know in the comments section below.