How to change the background of your Instagram story

Posted by

Lara Bakker

September 13, 2026

On September 13, 2026

You can change the background of an Instagram Story in several ways. For a text Story, you can choose a different colour directly using the colour circle. When you share a post, you can often set a new background colour with the drawing tool. If you want to use a photo, video or GIF as the background, the easiest options are to use a photo from your gallery, the photo sticker or a design app such as Canva, Mojo or Unfold.

What Instagram allows depends on the type of Story you are creating. A standard text Story, a repost, a shared feed post and a Story with a photo all work slightly differently. That is why you will find the easiest methods below, along with solutions if the background colour does not change or an option is not visible to you.

Change the background colour of an Instagram Story
Use a photo as the background of your Instagram Story
Change the background of a shared post in your Story
Can you edit an Instagram Story after posting?

Why the background of your Instagram Story matters

The background is often the first thing someone notices when they open your Story. A calm colour can make your text clearer. A photo in the background can make your Story feel more personal. A moving background can attract more attention, provided it does not become too busy.

A good background mainly helps with three things:

Your message stands out sooner. Text on a clear background is easier to read.
Your Story looks more polished. This is particularly useful for businesses, creators and anyone who likes using a recognisable style.
You direct attention to the right place. For example, to a product, announcement, poll, link sticker or quote.

You do not need to make it complicated. A simple background colour with clear text often works better than a busy design with too many stickers, GIFs and different fonts.

Change the background colour of an Instagram Story

The easiest way to change your Story background is to use Instagram’s text tool or drawing tool. This works particularly well when you want to create a simple Story with text, an announcement, a question or a short update.

Change the background colour of a text Story

Open Instagram.
Tap the plus icon or swipe right to create a new Story.
Choose the text option if it is visible to you.
Enter your text.
Tap the coloured circle or colour field at the top of the screen.
Browse the colours and choose the background you like.
Adjust your font, text colour and alignment if needed.
Publish your Story or save it first.

Want your Story to look calmer? Choose a background colour with enough contrast against your text. White text on a light yellow background, for example, is harder to read. Black or dark blue text on a light background often works better.

Choose your own colour with the eyedropper

If you have a photo or image in your Story, you can often use the eyedropper to select a colour from that image. This is useful if you want the background to match your photo, logo or brand style.

Create or upload a Story.
Tap the drawing icon.
Choose a colour or tap the eyedropper.
Tap a colour in your photo or image.
Hold your finger on the screen to fill the background if this option works for your Story.

Not every Story responds to this action in the same way. Sometimes Instagram fills the entire background, while at other times it only adds a drawing layer over your image. Test it briefly before posting your Story.

Change the background of a shared post in your Story

When you share a feed post to your Story, Instagram automatically places a background behind it. That colour is often based on the colours in the post itself. Fortunately, you can usually change this background.

How to change the colour behind a shared feed post

Go to the feed post you want to share.
Tap the paper aeroplane icon or the share button.
Choose Add to your story if that option is available.
Tap the drawing icon at the top.
Choose a colour at the bottom of the screen.
Hold your finger on the empty background for a few seconds.
The background should now change to your selected colour.

Your shared post usually remains as a sticker on top of the background. You can make that sticker larger or smaller, rotate it or move it around. It is also worth tapping the post once because Instagram displays different styles for some shared posts.

Why does changing the background not always work?

Instagram frequently tests features, and not every account sees exactly the same buttons. It also depends on the type of content. A shared reel, a memory, a link or a shared Story may behave differently from a regular feed post.

Try these steps if the background does not change:

Update the Instagram app through the App Store or Google Play Store.
Close the app completely and reopen it.
Try the drawing tool instead of using only the colour circle.
Take a screenshot of the post first and use it as an image if your main goal is to create an attractive design.
Use an external design app if you want full control over the background.

Take care when using screenshots of other people’s content. Ask for permission if you clearly reuse someone else’s content, particularly when it includes photos, art, business content or recognisable people.

Use a photo as the background of your Instagram Story

You can set a photo as your background in two ways. You can use the photo directly as the base of your Story, or add a photo as another layer with the photo sticker. The second option is useful if you want to combine a background photo with a product photo, selfie, logo or text block.

Method 1: Upload a photo as the background

Open Instagram and create a new Story.
Swipe up or tap your gallery.
Choose the photo you want to use as the background.
Use two fingers to make the photo larger or smaller.
Add text, stickers, a poll, music or a link sticker.
Check that everything is easy to read before publishing.

This is the quickest method. The downside is that your background photo immediately becomes the full image. If you want to add another image afterwards, you need to use the photo sticker.

Method 2: Use the photo sticker for an extra image

First choose your background photo in your Story.
Tap the sticker icon at the top.
Choose the photo sticker if it is available to you.
Select a second photo from your gallery.
Drag, rotate or enlarge the photo until it looks right.
Add text or other stickers.

On some Android devices, the photo sticker is not always visible in the same place. Can’t see it? You can copy the extra photo from your gallery and paste it into Instagram, or create your design first in an app such as Canva, Mojo, Unfold or Adobe Express.

When is a design app easier?

Instagram is quick, but it is not always precise. If you want to create a Story with multiple photos, set colours, tidy margins or a professional layout, a design app is often easier.

What you want to create	Best choice	Why
Quick text Story	Instagram itself	You can immediately add a colour, text and sticker.
Quote with an attractive background	Instagram or Canva	Instagram is quick, while Canva gives you more control over fonts and layout.
Collage with several photos	Canva, Unfold or Mojo	You can position photos more neatly and adjust them more easily.
Story for a brand or business	Design app	You can use set colours, logos and templates.

If you want more inspiration for creative Stories, Later’s guide to Instagram Stories is also worth browsing.

Use a video or GIF as the background

A moving background can make your Story feel more lively. Consider a short video of a shop, an atmospheric shot, a product in use, a city, an event or a calm animation. The most important thing is that the movement supports your message without distracting from it.

Use a video as the background

Open Instagram Stories.
Choose a video from your gallery.
Fit the video to the screen.
Add text, stickers or a poll.
Preview the Story to check that the text remains easy to read.

Is your video very busy? Add a semi transparent colour layer over your video in a design app, or place your text in a solid text box. This prevents people from having to work too hard to read your message.

Use GIFs without making your Story messy

GIFs can be fun, but use them carefully. One subtle GIF can strengthen your Story. Five moving stickers can quickly make your Story feel chaotic.

Use a GIF to point to something, such as a link, product or question sticker.
Choose GIFs that match the style of your Story.
Do not place moving elements over important text.
Always watch your Story once more before sharing it.

Change the background of a repost or shared Story

A repost does not always work in the same way as a regular feed post. If someone mentions you in a Story, you can often share that Story to your own Story. You can then usually add text, stickers and sometimes a background. However, your options depend on privacy settings and the type of content.

Why can’t you share some Stories or posts?

Not everything on Instagram can be shared again. Sometimes you will not see the share option, or you may receive a message saying the Story is unavailable. There can be several reasons for this:

The account is private.
The person has disabled sharing to Stories.
The Story has expired or been deleted.
You are no longer part of the audience, for example, Close Friends.
The content has settings or rights that restrict sharing.
Instagram is temporarily experiencing an error or loading issue.

For general information about sharing, visibility and Story features, you can also check the Instagram Help Centre, including the page about sharing to Stories and the information about Story settings and features.

Can you edit an Instagram Story after posting?

No, you cannot properly edit an Instagram Story after publishing it. This means you cannot change the background colour, text, photo or video afterwards while keeping the same Story online. If there is a mistake, you need to delete the Story and post it again.

What you can do:

Delete the Story and upload it again. This is the best option if you want to correct a mistake.
Save the Story for later. This is useful if you want to reuse the design.
Post an improved version. You can use the same photo or video again with a better background.
Add the correct version to Highlights. Only add the clean version to your Highlights.

One small habit can help a lot: save your Story before publishing it. This is particularly useful if you spent more time on it, used several layers or created a design for your brand.

Common mistakes with Instagram Story backgrounds

Changing a background is easy, but keeping a Story attractive and clear requires a little extra attention. These common mistakes are easy to avoid.

Not enough contrast between the text and background

If your text is almost the same colour as your background, people will quickly lose interest. Choose clear contrast instead. Dark text on a light background or white text on a dark background usually works well.

Too many stickers and GIFs

Stickers can make your Story more engaging, but too much movement can make it look messy. Use stickers that add something, such as a poll, question sticker, location, link or short call to action.

Important text is too close to the edges

Instagram displays your profile name at the top and sometimes a reply box or other buttons at the bottom. Do not place important text right at the top or bottom. Leave some space so your text does not get covered.

Giving every Story a completely different style

Variety is fine, but if you have a business, creator profile or recognisable theme, it helps to use the same colours and fonts more often. This makes your Stories easier to recognise.

Creative tips for an attractive background design

You do not need to be a designer to create a good Instagram Story. With a few simple choices, your Story can already look much stronger.

Think in layers

Think of your Story as a stack of layers. The background is the base. On top of it, you place text, stickers, photos, GIFs or interactive elements.

Start with a calm background.
Add one main message.
Only then add extra stickers or decoration.
Check whether your most important text is immediately clear.

Use a dark or light overlay

Do you have a busy photo as your background? Add a semi transparent dark or light layer over it in a design app. This keeps the photo visible while making your text stand out more clearly.

Match your background to your goal

Goal of your Story	Suitable background	Tip
Personal update	Your own photo or a calm colour	Keep it spontaneous and easy to read.
Sharing a quote	Solid colour or soft photo	Make the text the main focus.
Showing a product	Calm background or brand colour	Make sure the product does not blend into the background.
Making an announcement	Contrasting colour	Make the date, time or action especially clear.

If you are actively working on the appearance of your Instagram profile, it can help to view your Stories, feed and profile as a whole. On the Instagram services from SocialKings page, you can find options that may support this. Some users combine better content with Instagram views, Instagram likes or Instagram followers, without replacing good content. Your Story still needs to be clear, attractive and relevant to your audience.

Troubleshooting when your background does not change

Sometimes you do everything correctly, but Instagram still does not cooperate. That is not always your fault. The app changes regularly, and features can vary by account, device or country.

The photo sticker is not visible

Check whether your Instagram app is up to date.
Look for a photo icon in the sticker menu.
Try copying another photo from your gallery and pasting it into your Story.
Use a design app as a temporary solution.

The background colour does not fill the screen

Check that you are using the drawing icon rather than only changing the text colour.
Hold your finger a little longer on the empty part of the screen.
Try a different type of Story, such as starting with a standard image and adding stickers afterwards.
Close Instagram and reopen the app.

The shared post keeps an unusual background colour

With shared posts, Instagram sometimes automatically chooses a colour based on the post. If you do not like it and cannot change it, you can create your own background in Canva or another app. Then upload your design as a Story and add a screenshot or image of the post if you have permission to use it.

Frequently asked questions about Instagram Story backgrounds

How do you change the background of an Instagram Story with text?

Create a text Story and tap the colour circle or colour field at the top. This changes the background colour. You can then also adjust your text colour and font.

How do I change the background of a shared post in my Story?

Share the post to your Story, tap the drawing icon, choose a colour and hold your finger on the empty background. If Instagram allows this feature for your type of post, the background will change to the selected colour.

Can I set a photo as the background?

Yes. Choose a photo from your gallery as the base of your Story. If you want to place another photo on top, use the photo sticker or create the design first in an app such as Canva, Mojo, Unfold or Adobe Express.

Can I use a video as the background?

Yes. Upload a video from your gallery as a Story and place text, stickers or other elements on top. Make sure the video is not too busy, or your text may become difficult to read.

Can I still edit my Story after publishing?

No. After publishing, you can no longer edit the content of your Instagram Story. You can delete the Story, adjust it in a new version and post it again.

Why can’t I change the background of a repost?

This can happen because of the type of content, the other account’s privacy settings or a limitation in the app. Try the drawing tool, update Instagram or create your design first in a separate app.

Which colour works best as a Story background?

That depends on your goal. For text, a calm colour with clear contrast works best. For a brand or business, it makes sense to use colours that match your recognisable style.

Good to remember

Changing the background of your Instagram Story is a simple way to make your content look better and clearer. For a quick Story, use the colour button or drawing tool in Instagram. For a photo background, choose a photo from your gallery or use the photo sticker. For a cleaner design with multiple layers, an app such as Canva, Mojo, Unfold or Adobe Express is often easier.

Always check your Story before posting it. After publishing, you can no longer change the background, text or image. If you are unsure, save your Story first. You can then improve it without rushing, upload it again and post the version that looks best.