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How to Change the Background on an Instagram Story

We show you how to customize your Instagram stories by changing background colors or adding custom images. Follow our step-by-step guide to create visually appealing stories that stand out.

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Instagram Stories have become an essential part of how users share moments, express creativity, and engage with their followers. The ability to customize stories with personalized backgrounds enhances their visual appeal, whether you are posting a photo, video, or simple text. Changing the background color or adding a custom image to your Instagram story can significantly improve its design and make it stand out from the rest.

Whether you’re an Android or iPhone user, Instagram offers different methods to change the background in stories, giving you flexibility when sharing. In this tutorial, we will walk you through the steps to change the Instagram story background color, whether you’re using a photo or a video. Additionally, we will cover how to add beautiful backgrounds to your stories to make them even more engaging.

Let’s dive into two primary methods for changing the background of your Instagram stories: customizing the background color and adding your own background image.

How to Change Instagram Story Background Color

Changing the background color is one of the simplest ways to customize your Instagram story, particularly for text-based stories or when you’re sharing posts. This method allows you to apply a solid color background, giving your story a more polished and cohesive look.

  1. Open the Instagram app
     
    To get started, launch the Instagram app on your Android or iPhone device. Then, tap on the plus (+) icon at the top-left of your screen.
     
    Android - Instagram App - Add Icon
  2. Add a new story
     
    Select “Story” from the available options. This will open the story creation mode where you can create or upload content.
     
    Android - Instagram App - Add Icon - Story
  3. Tap “Create”
     
    If you’re starting with a blank story or sharing a post, tap the “Create” button. This option allows you to choose a solid background color before adding your text or other elements.
     
    Android - Instagram App - Add Icon - Story - Create
  4. Choose a background color
     
    In story creation mode, tap the color selector on the bottom-right of the screen. From here, you can choose a background color that will appear behind any text or media you add.
     
    Android - Instagram App - Add Icon - Story - Create - Change Background Colour
  5. Type your text
     
    Once the background color is set, type any text you want to include in your story. You can adjust the font, size, and position to suit your preferences.
     
    Android - Instagram App - Add Icon - Story - Create - Change Background Colour - Type
  6. Select a font style
     
    To further customize your story, you can choose from various font styles, such as “Neon“, “Modern“, or others. This allows you to match your text’s appearance to the overall aesthetic of your story.
     
    Android - Instagram App - Add Icon - Story - Create - Change Background Colour - Type - Change Font Style - Next
  7. Customize further
     
    Feel free to personalize your story further by adding stickers, GIFs, or additional text. You can also change the font style or color at any time.
     
    Android - Instagram App - Add Icon - Story - Create - Background Colour - Font Style - Edit
  8. Share your story
     
    When you’re satisfied with the design, tap the “Your Stories” button to post it. Your followers will see your customized background and the content you’ve added.
     
    Android - Instagram App - Add Icon - Story - Create - Background Colour - Font Style - Add More - Share Your Stories

How to Add Beautiful Backgrounds to Instagram Stories

Adding a beautiful image or template as a background to your Instagram story is a great way to personalize your content. This method allows you to use photos, designs, or branded elements to make your stories more engaging and visually appealing. By using custom backgrounds, you can give your stories a distinctive look that resonates with your audience.

  1. Start a new story
     
    Open the Instagram app and tap the plus (+) icon at the top-left corner of your screen to begin creating a new story.
     
    Android - Instagram App - Pus Icon
  2. Select “Story” mode
     
    From the available options, select “Story” to enter the story creation mode. This will allow you to create or upload content for your Instagram story.
     
    Android - Instagram App - Add Icon - Story
  3. Swipe up to add an image
     
    In the story creation screen, swipe up from the bottom to access your phone’s photo gallery. This will display all the images and templates saved on your device that can be used as backgrounds.
     
    Android - Instagram App - Add Icon - Story - Swipe Up
  4. Choose the image or background
     
    Select the image or background template you want to use. This could be a photo from your gallery or a design you’ve prepared in advance. After selecting it, the image will fill the story frame.
     
    Android - Instagram App - Add Icon - Story - Swipe Up - Choose Pic
  5. Add text or media on top
     
    With the background in place, you can now add text, stickers, or other media on top of it. Adjust the position and appearance of these elements to match your design vision.
     
    Android - Instagram App - Add Icon - Story - Swipe Up - Choose Pic - Edit
  6. Share your story
     
    When your story is complete, tap the “Your Stories” button to share it with your audience. Your beautiful custom background will add a unique touch to your story, helping it stand out in the feed.
     
    Android - Instagram App - Add Icon - Story - Swipe Up - Choose Pic - Edit - Share

FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions About Customizing Instagram Story Backgrounds

Can I use a custom image as an Instagram story background?

Absolutely! To use a custom image, open your Instagram app, navigate to create a story, and swipe up to access your gallery. Here, you can select any image that you’ve saved on your device. Once selected, it’ll serve as your entire background for your story. This allows you to create a more personalized and engaging story.

Is it possible to add more than one photo to a single Instagram story?

Yes, Instagram allows you to include multiple photos in a single story via the ‘Layout’ feature. To do this, start creating a story, tap on the layout icon (which looks like a grid), and then choose your desired layout. You can then add different images into each section of the grid, allowing for a dynamic and visually diverse story.

How do I ensure my text is readable against a busy background image in my story?

To ensure text readability over a busy background, you can use features like a text shadow or a contrasting background. Additionally, consider placing a semi-transparent color layer behind the text. You can do this by selecting the drawing tool, choosing a color, and then tapping and holding on the screen until the color fills the area behind the text, adjusting the transparency as needed.

Can I view someone’s Instagram story without them knowing?

While Instagram directly notifies users about who has viewed their stories, third-party apps claim to offer anonymity for viewing stories. However, these apps can compromise your privacy and security, and using them may violate Instagram’s terms of service, so they are not recommended.

How can I add GIFs or stickers to my Instagram story background?

After setting your story background, tap the sticker icon located at the top of the screen in the story editor. This opens a variety of stickers and GIFs to choose from. Simply select your preferred sticker or GIF and place it anywhere on your background. You can resize and rotate these elements to fit your design needs.

Is it possible to use video clips as backgrounds in Instagram stories?

Yes, you can choose a video just like you would select a photo for your background. When creating a new story, swipe up to open your gallery, select a video, and it will automatically play in the background of your story. You can add text, stickers, or other elements on top of the video for interactive and dynamic content.

Can the background color of a re-shared post in my story be changed?

Yes, when you share a post to your story, tap on the background area—which will have adopted a default color—and a color slider will appear. You can scroll through various colors or hold down on any color to bring up more shades, allowing you to match or contrast with the post you’re sharing.

How do I resize the background image in my Instagram story?

After selecting an image or video, use two fingers to pinch in or out to resize it within the story frame. You can also rotate the background by twisting your fingers, giving you full control over how the background fits into your story.

What are the limitations on the background customization options provided by Instagram?

Instagram primarily allows customization within preset options such as a range of solid colors, a library of GIFs, and your own media from the gallery. For more intricate designs or to include branded elements like logos, you might need to prepare the images or videos in advance using external graphic design tools, then upload them as backgrounds.

Can I set a default background for all my Instagram stories?

Currently, Instagram does not offer a feature to set a default background for all stories; you need to manually select or customize the background each time you create a story.

How do I use a branded template as my story’s background?

To use a branded template, first ensure the template is saved to your device. When creating a story, swipe up to access your gallery, choose your template, and it will load as the background. This is particularly useful for maintaining brand consistency and recognition.

How can I add stickers without covering important parts of my background image?

When adding stickers, strategically place them where they enhance rather than obstruct the background content. You can move, resize, and rotate each sticker via touch interactions to ensure they complement rather than cover key elements of your background.

What’s the best way to choose a background color that complements my content?

Opt for background colors that contrast with your foreground content such as text and stickers for better visibility and aesthetic appeal. Tools like color wheels or online palettes can help you choose complementary colors. Try to maintain a consistent color scheme that aligns with the mood or message of your content.

Can I delete a background image after it’s been added to a story?

If you haven’t shared the story yet, tap the ‘Undo’ button in the drawing or text mode, or simply discard the entire story draft and start over. This allows you to tweak your story until it meets your expectations.

Are there any tips for creating visually appealing story backgrounds?

Focus on simplicity and coherence. Use complementary colors, and keep the number of elements to a minimum for clarity. Ensure text is legible by using contrasting shades or the text shadow feature. Experiment with filters and editing tools available within Instagram to enhance your photos or videos before setting them as backgrounds.

Related: How to Add Multiple Photos to an Instagram Story

If you’re looking for a way to spice up your Instagram posts, you might want to consider using Instagram stories with multiple images. Instagram Stories are a great feature that let you share moments from your day with your followers, and they disappear after 24 hours. But why limit yourself to just one image per story?
 
Featured - how to put multiple pictures on instagram story

Related: How to Get Your Instagram Link or a Link to a Photo or Video on Instagram

Whether you want to direct friends to your Instagram profile, share a photo or video, or simply copy a URL for other uses, knowing how to efficiently obtain these links is crucial. In our other guide, we show you the steps to get your Instagram profile link, as well as how to copy links to specific posts, photos, and videos.
 
Featured - how to get instagram link

Related: How to Share an Instagram Post in an Instagram Story

Instagram Stories and Instagram posts are both powerful tools for connecting with an audience and growing one’s online presence. Sharing an Instagram post within an Instagram story can serve multiple purposes. In our other guide, we show you how to repost on an Instagram story and how to post your Instagram memories in an Instagram story. As an extra, we also show you how to share an Instagram post with select users privately if you don´t want all your followers to see it inside a story.
 
Featured-how-to-share-instagram-post-to-story.jpg

Related: How to View Instagram Stories Anonymously

Instagram Stories provide a unique way to share moments with followers, but they also come with a catch: the person who posts the Story can see who has viewed it. In our other guide, we show you how to bypass Instagram’s notification system and watch stories discreetly without being noticed.
 
Featured - how to view Instagram stories anonymously

Last Updated on October 3, 2024 12:58 pm CEST

Markus Kasanmascheff
Markus Kasanmascheff
Markus has been covering the tech industry for more than 15 years. He is holding a Master´s degree in International Economics and is the founder and managing editor of Winbuzzer.com.

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