Instagram is a constantly evolving social media platform. With so many new features regularly rolling out, it can be hard to keep up. Which is probably why you’re here, in search of the best Instagram stories hacks and Instagram story ideas. Well, you’ve come to the right place.

But first. If you need a quick refresher on the basics, be sure to take a peek at this handy guide on how to make an Instagram story and you’ll be golden. It’ll break down the simple things so that you’ll be ready to apply the following tips and tricks to kick your Instagram story game up a notch.

With these 12 Instagram stories hacks and some quick editing in your back pocket, your stories are about to go from standard to spectacular. Let’s get to it.

The Best Instagram Story Ideas

1. Instagram Story Collages

Instagram Story collage

Sometimes, sharing just one photo to your Instagram story isn’t enough. So let’s get you started with one of the easiest Instagram stories hacks: collages. The best part about a collage is that you can add multiple photos to an Instagram story frame, as well as text that helps tie them together.

Whether you want to use a premade template, or if you want to stand out with a custom collage, there is a unique way for everyone to find the perfect Instagram story collage for their profile. You could use the Layout feature on Instagram to create a multi-image collage, but the basic layouts provided don’t leave a lot of room for creativity. With Picsart, however, making a custom collage for your Instagram story is a breeze. Choose from easy-to-personalize Instagram story templates, stand-out shape collages, or custom layout collages that you can deck out even further with awesome effects and fun stickers. With 80+ grid collages to choose from, you’ll have no problem finding the custom story collage that works for you.

To get the full scoop on how you can up your Instagram story collage game and create an Instagram story with multiple photos, head here.

2. Change Your Instagram Story Background Color

Insta story background

Changing your Instagram story background color is another simple yet effective tool when it comes to customizing your story shares. There are a couple of ways to change the background color depending on how you are creating your story. If you are sharing another post from Instagram to your story, Instagram will automatically set the background color, but that doesn’t mean you have to commit to it. Here’s how to change background color on Instagram story when you share a post:

When Sharing a Post

1) Once the post or Story that you want to share is in the Story editor, select the Scribble icon in the top menu.

2) Choose any of the marker tools. The first option can be used for solid backgrounds, while the third creates a more transparent effect.

3) Next, choose the color you want to use for your background. You can select one of the preloaded color options, or use the Dropper tool to pull a unique color directly from the post or Story you are sharing.

4) After choosing your desired color, long-press on the screen (hold your finger down for a few seconds) to apply your new background color.

Now, if you are sharing a photo to your story from your camera roll, the process for changing the background color is going to be slightly different. If you tried the steps above, you’d find that your photo would just be covered up by the solid color. You can use the Eraser Tool in IG stories to reveal your image, but that can be time consuming and less precise. Instead, try this:

When Sharing from Your Camera

1) On your phone’s camera roll, select the photo you want to use on your Story, and copy that photo to your clipboard.

2) Open the Instagram app and create a new story.

3) Using the text feature, hold down, and select Paste. From here, your image copied from your camera roll will appear.

4) Follow the steps from above to change your background color. Because the image was added under the text feature, your image will remain revealed even after you long-press on the screen to change the background color.

See? Instagram Stories hacks aren’t that hard, are they?

3. Change Your Instagram Story Background With a Photo

Fancy one-upping the background color changing tip with another must-know Instagram Stories hack? Rather than having a solid color on your background, let’s learn how to change your Story background with a photo.

1) Find the Instagram post that you want to share and take a screenshot it, being sure to crop it so that it is just the post and no extras.

2) Next, click the paper airplane icon on that original feed post and select “Add post to your story.” In the Instagram story editor, strech the feed post to fill the whole screen. This may seem weird, but what you are doing here is making it so that the final post will be tappable so that you can go directly to the original post from your story. After all, you always want to give credit where credit is due.

3) Next, open your camera roll and add in the background pattern or photo of your choice. You can use Picsart to create your own custom background that will fit to your Instagram story.

4) Once you’ve added your new background, tap the text tool and paste in the cropped screenshot of your post on top and arrange or resize it as you’d like. When you are happy with how it looks, you’re ready to share it to your story.

4. Add Instagram Story Filters

Insta story filters

Filters are a huge part of Instagram as they can liven up your content, or they can help you carry your aesthetic over from your profile through to Stories and highlights. Instagram now has AR Story filters that you can use right in the creator, or you can add them to any existing video or photos that you want to share from your camera roll.

Once you’ve selected your Story content, click the round smiley face icon at the top of the screen to open a menu of filters. Browse all of the options to find a filter that works for you. To apply the one you like, simply tap on it and it will be applied to your story.

And if you’re not finding exactly what it is you are looking for on Instagram under the AR filters? Don’t worry. Picsart has even more story filter options for you to get creative with. Check out all of the filters and effects available on the web editor and in-app. You can upload an image to edit in Picsart and download it to upload to Instagram later. Get the full scoop on creating and adding the perfect Instagram story filters with Picsart here.

5. Turn Your Live Photos Into Boomerangs

Want to know an Instagram Story secret that not a lot of people know? Of course you do, that’s why you’re reading about Instagram Stories hacks. Well, you can create boomerangs out of live photos on your camera roll. The only catch is that for it to work, the live photos have to be used on your Instagram story within 24 hours of when it was added to your camera roll.

Once you know which live photo you want to add, simply swipe up on the screen in the Instagram Story editor, and select the live photo from your camera roll. Hold down on the screen for a few seconds, and you will see the word ‘boomerang’ appear. Yep, it’s that simple. Your live photo is now a boomerang.

6. How to Add Multiple Pictures to Instagram Story

Much like creating a collage, this Instagram Stories hack will help you add and layout multiple images on your Stories. The easy way to do this is to use the Photo Sticker option. Here’s how to add multiple pictures to an Instagram Story all in one go:

1) Open up your Instagram Stories and select the content you want to share from your camera roll, or use the camera to take an image directly in the Story editor.

2) Once you have the base of your Story, select the Stickers option and then select the Photo sticker.

3) Add more photos to your Story and drag and rearrange them as you like to create your desired effect.

7. Change the Alignment of Your Text

Sure, this may seem like a no-brainer, but if you don’t know simple Instagram Stories hacks for changing the alignment of your text, your Stories risk not looking as sharp as you intended. You can just tap the alignment button in the top left corner of the screen to change your text’s alignment to left, right or center. Some of Instagram’s fonts don’t have the option for the text alignment button, however, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still adjust it.

Instagram’s Modern, Neon, and Strong fonts lack the alignment button, for example. So they automatically center align text. To work around this is to type out your message in the font you want to use, then swipe a finger left or right on your text. This should change the text’s alignment.

8. Create a Text Color Gradient

Another Instagram stories hack that’s sure to impress followers here. It’s an oldie, but definitely a goodie. You can use the color picker tool under the text tool to create a color gradient or rainbow with your words. Simply type out your text and then highlight it so that it is all selected. While your text is highlighted, press and hold one finger down on the color palette tool to open the entire color spectrum. Drag one finger across the color slider, and one finger across your highlighted text, dragging both fingers across the screen at the same time. Move your fingers faster or slower for more variation in the color gradient. Just like that, you have eye-catching text that will leave your followers wondering how you did it.

9. Hide Your Hashtags

This is an easy one, but it will help your stories be more discoverable without messing up the look of it with too many clunky hashtags. All you have to do to hide your hashtags is type them out with the text tool, and then use a two-finger pinch to make them smaller. You can place a sticker or GIF over the hashtag text, or you can use the color chooser to set the text color the same as the background. That way, your hashtags will blend right in with your story.

10. Share Your Instagram Reels On Stories

Did you know that you can leverage the Reels feature on your Instagram Stories? Simply create your Instagram Reel taking advantage of all of the fun music, stickers and effects to create a 15-second clip that will stand out. Next share it on your Story. Your Reel will still be discoverable on the Explore page, increasing your chances of going viral.

11. Create One-of-a-Kind Instagram Stories with Picsart

If we’re being honest, the ultimate Instagram Stories hack is using Picsart. It’s got everything you need to create a unique, awesome Instagram Story from filters to layout to stickers and more. It really is your one stop shop for easily creating memorable content that’ll look unlike anything else popping up on your followers’ feeds.

Find everything you need and discover even more than what you were looking for on our blog and YouTube channel.

12. Increase Your Instagram Story Performance

Once you have the perfect Instagram Story, you’re going to want to make sure you are optimizing it to increase your performance. You made a cool thing so why not make sure everyone can see how awesome it is? Here are our top tips and hacks for increasing your Instagram story performance:

  • Use hashtags and location tags on your Stories to increase their reach and dicoverability.
  • Use Story highlights to increase the life span of your content.
  • Since Stories appear to your followers in chronological order, you’ll want to post at least once a day to make sure you are getting a regular amount of views and engagement.
  • Use the available options and stickers on the Instagram Story editor to increase engagement. Polls and questions stickers are great for this.

There you have it. With those 12 Instagram Stories hacks, you’re sure to impress your followers with all of your content.

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