The fastest way to change your story background

Open Instagram and tap the camera icon or swipe left from your feed to start a new story. Before you take a photo or video, look at the bottom of the screen — you'll see a row of icons. Tap the smiley face icon (it's the effects button), then swipe left through the options until you find "Filters". These colored overlays change the tone and color of whatever you photograph, giving your story a different look without changing the background itself.

If you want a solid color or pattern behind your content instead, tap the pen tool (it looks like a marker) at the top of the screen after you've taken your photo or video. This opens the drawing tools. Tap and hold on the color circle to see more color options, then use the fill bucket tool to paint the entire background. You can also type text or draw shapes on top of a colored background.

For a more polished look, use the gradient tool: select two colors and the app will blend them across your background. Swipe between the drawing tools at the bottom until you see the gradient option, pick your colors, and drag across the screen to set the direction.

Key Takeaways

  • Filters at the bottom of the camera screen change the color and tone of your story without replacing the background.
  • The pen and fill bucket tools let you paint a solid color or gradient across your entire story background after you take a photo or video.
  • You can layer text, stickers, and drawings on top of a colored background to create a custom look.
  • Saved filters appear in your effects menu, so you can reuse your favorite backgrounds across multiple stories.

Using stickers and text to cover or replace the background

Another way to change how your background looks is to cover it with stickers. After you take your photo or video, tap the sticker icon (it looks like a square smiley face) at the top of the screen. Instagram offers music stickers, poll stickers, location stickers, and decorative stickers. Drag these across your screen to cover parts of the background you don't want visible, or arrange them to frame your content.

Text also works as a background element. Tap the "Aa" icon at the top, type your message, and choose a text style. Some text styles have colored backgrounds built in — tap the style options to see which ones fill the entire screen behind your words. You can make the text large enough to cover most of the background, then add a photo or video on top of it.

Creating a custom background with the blur tool

If your photo has a busy or distracting background, you can soften it without replacing it entirely. After taking your photo, tap the pen tool, then look for the blur or smudge option in the drawing tools menu. Select a soft brush, choose a light color that matches your background, and gently paint over the areas you want to fade. This works best for backgrounds that are already similar in color.

Alternatively, use the eraser tool to remove parts of your photo entirely, which reveals a transparent background. You can then fill that space with a solid color using the fill bucket, or leave it transparent and add a colored shape or sticker behind your main image.

Using pre-made templates and layouts

Instagram sometimes offers story templates — pre-designed layouts with backgrounds already built in. To find these, open the camera and look for the "Create" option or template icon (it varies by phone and Instagram version). Tap it to see available templates. These often include themed backgrounds for holidays, promotions, or seasonal content. Select one, and Instagram will explore the layout to your story so you can add your own text or images on top.

Templates are not always available in every account or region, and the selection changes regularly. If you don't see a template option, your version of Instagram may not have this feature enabled yet.

Uploading a photo from your phone as a background

You can also use a photo you've already taken as your story background. Start a new story by tapping the camera icon. Instead of taking a live photo, look for the image icon (usually at the bottom left) to access your phone's photo library. Select the photo you want to use as your background. Once it's in your story, you can add text, stickers, drawings, or additional images on top of it.

This method works well if you have a branded image, a solid-color photo, or a texture you want to use repeatedly. You can also use screenshots, graphics, or any image saved to your phone.

Saving and reusing your favorite backgrounds

When you create a background you like, you can save it as a filter for future use. After you've designed your story with a colored background or effect, look for a "Save" option at the bottom of the screen (this appears on some versions of Instagram). Tap it, and the background becomes a custom filter you can access from your effects menu in future stories.

If your version of Instagram doesn't show a save option, take a screenshot of the finished story before posting it. You can then upload that screenshot as a background in future stories and add new content on top of it. This is a workaround that works on all phones and all Instagram versions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a video as my story background?

Yes. Record or upload a video to your story, then add text, stickers, or drawings on top of it. The video will play as your background while your overlays remain static or animate depending on what you add.

Why don't I see the filter or effects button on my camera?

Make sure you're on the newest version of Instagram — update the app from your phone's app store. If you've updated and still don't see effects, try closing and reopening the app, or restart your phone. Some older phones may have limited access to newer features.

Can I make a transparent background for my story?

Instagram stories always have a background, but you can make it very light or use the eraser tool to remove parts of your image. The space you erase will show a light gray or white background by default.

Do my custom backgrounds save automatically?

No. If you want to reuse a background, either save it as a filter (if that option is available) or take a screenshot before posting. You can then upload the screenshot to future stories.

What's the difference between filters and effects?

Filters change the color and tone of your photo or video. Effects are animated overlays, face filters, or interactive tools. Both appear in the effects menu, but filters are simpler and faster to explore.