How to Create an Instagram Story in 7 Simple Steps

How to create an Instagram story? 

Open the app, swipe right, and start recording. That’s the short version. If you’ve just joined Instagram and feel unsure about where to begin, you’re not alone. Instagram stories appear first when users open the app, and posting stories makes your Instagram profile more active from day one.

More than half of Instagrammers globally use Stories along with their feed every day. That means Instagram stories aren’t just a trend, they’re part of how people use the app day-to-day. Because Instagram stories feel quick and casual, there’s less pressure to post something perfect. Even if you’re just starting out, it’s easy to share everyday moments in a way that feels natural.

In this blog, you’ll learn how stories work, how to post one that doesn’t look rushed, and how to plan them.

What Are Instagram Stories?

Instagram Stories are short photo or video posts that stay visible for 24 hours. They show up in a row at the top of the app and are often the first thing people tap when they open Instagram. You can share small moments here without needing to keep them on your main profile.

However, Instagram offers an archive feature that allows you to preserve your stories beyond the usual 24-hour visibility. This archive can be utilized to create Story Highlights on your profile, enabling better organization and display of past stories.

Each story plays in vertical format, filling the entire screen. You can post photos, short videos, text, boomerangs, or stickers. Stories reach all followers or only your Close Friends list.

Unlike feed posts, stories disappear after 24 hours unless saved to Highlights. Viewers comment on Stories, and these comments remain visible to anyone who can view public Stories.

Instagram Story Time Limit 

• Instagram Story: Up to 60 seconds
• Instagram Reels: Up to 90 seconds
• Instagram Video Ads: Up to 120 seconds
• Instagram In-Feed Video: Up to 60 minutes
• Instagram Live: Up to 4 hours

Longer clips can still be posted, but Instagram doesn’t show the full content in stories. You have to open that video to see the full content. These limits apply across the Instagram mobile app on both iOS and Android devices. Whether you’re sharing a quick moment, planning a long-form video, or managing content for multiple Instagram accounts, knowing how to time your Instagram post matters.

Instagram Story Dimensions and Format

To avoid blurry uploads or cut-off visuals, follow these updated specs when creating your Instagram story:

• Dimensions: 1080 pixels wide × 1920 pixels high
• Aspect Ratio: 9:16 (vertical full-screen view)
• File Formats: PNG, JPG for images; MP4, MOV for videos
• Size Limits:
  • Image files: Under 30MB
  • Video files: Under 4GB

Using the right size helps your photo or video fit the screen fully on any iOS or Android device through the Instagram mobile app. This gives your followers a clean viewing experience—whether they’re watching story highlights, tapping through your feed, or replying to a quick insta story.

Instagram Story Privacy and Sharing Rules

• You can control visibility using Close Friends or Hide Story settings.
• Stories from public accounts can be shared in DMs.
• Stories from private accounts can’t be shared outside of followers.

How to Create an Instagram Story Step-by-Step

Making your first Instagram Story doesn’t take much time. Just follow these steps in order and you’ll be ready to post without second-guessing what to do next.

Step 1: Add and Edit Your Content

Swipe right from the home screen → Tap the “+” icon on your profile → Hold the shutter to record a video, tap once to take a photo, or swipe up to upload from your gallery → Add text, apply filters, draw, or use stickers

Step 2: Use Interactive Features
Add interactive elements to engage followers: Polls | Questions | Quizzes | Mentions | Location tags | Hashtags | Music | GIFs | Countdown | Link sticker (if available). These features increase audience engagement through direct interaction.

Step 3: Choose Who Sees Your Story
Post to “Your Story” → Send to Close Friends → Hide from certain followers (Story settings) → Save as draft if needed

Step 4: Keep Stories in Highlights
Add Story to existing highlight: Go to your story → Select Highlights  → Select an old Highlight

Create a new HIghlight:

• Go to your profile → Select Highlights → Tap on “New” →  Add title → Add 
• Go to your profile → “+” under profile info → Select past stories/Create a new → Add 

Step 5: Delete or Repost If Needed
Open story → Tap three dots → Delete → Re-upload to share again

Step 6: Meta in Instagram Stories
Image Generation → Tap “+” → Select “AI images” → Enter a prompt to create a visual

Step 7: Change Background Color in Instagram Stories

To change the solid background color:

• Take a photo or upload content → Tap the pen icon at the top → Select any color → Tap and hold anywhere on the screen until the entire background fills with that color

To change background color without covering a video or photo:

• Upload your video or photo → Tap the sticker icon → Select the “Media” sticker → Add your video/photo to the sticker → Resize as needed → Now you can change the background color using the pen tool method

To create a color gradient background:

• Take a photo or upload content → Tap the pen icon → Select the gradient tool → Choose your colors → Tap and hold on the screen to apply the gradient effect

Best Practices for Engaging Instagram Stories

If you’re learning how to create an Instagram story, knowing what to post is just one part. Making it interesting is what keeps people watching. Here’s how to keep your stories clear, fun, and worth watching all the way through.

#1 Post When More People Are Online

Posting time affects viewership. Early mornings (7–9 AM), lunch breaks (12–2 PM), and evenings (6–9 PM) generate the most views. Track when your followers engage most and post during those timeframes.

#2 Start with a Hook, Then Build on It

Stories require immediate attention, with viewers deciding within 1–3 seconds whether to continue watching. Start with a compelling first slide—a question, bold text, or bright photo.

Keep messages concise and distribute content across slides when necessary. End stories with interactive elements like polls or question stickers.

#3 Keep Text Easy to Read

Use legible fonts with minimal text per slide. Position text away from top and bottom screen edges to prevent obstruction by buttons or username.

Select colors contrasting with your background. Prioritize clean, simple designs over elaborate ones.

#4 Stick to One Style for Consistency

Maintain visual consistency across stories by using 1-2 filters or colors matching your aesthetic. Apply the same fonts throughout slides.

Consistency creates familiarity for followers who recognize your content before seeing your username.

#5 Try Templates to Save Time

Canva, Mojo, and StoryArt offer free templates where you can insert photos into pre-designed layouts. Templates maintain design consistency and eliminate starting from scratch.

Instagram provides native templates through the “Templates” option, or you can create custom templates for your preferred style.

#6 Always Add a Way to Interact

Stories function as two-way communication. Use:

• Polls: “Which one would you pick?”
• Questions: “Ask me anything”
• Quizzes: “Guess the answer”

These tools prompt followers to pause and engage rather than skip through content.

#7 Add a CTA

Incorporate stickers such as polls or questions to solicit responses. Simple prompts like “What do you think?” generate replies and maintain audience engagement.

#8 Repeat Your Style

Use the same filter or font across stories. This helps people recognize your stories without checking your name. It also keeps your profile from feeling messy or random.

#9 Use RecurPost to Stay on Track

If you want to post stories but don’t want to log in every day, use RecurPost’s Instagram scheduler. You can plan a week’s worth of stories in one go and have them ready to go out at the right time.

This keeps your feed from feeling rushed. If you’re serious about learning how to create an Instagram story and want to post regularly, this takes the pressure off daily posting.

Instagram Story Analytics: How to Read the Data

After you learn how to create an Instagram story and begin posting often, it’s a good idea to check how people interact with them. Instagram shows stats for every story, which makes it easier to see what your audience likes.

How to View Instagram Story Insights

If your account is set as professional or creator, you can view insights for each story. While watching your story, swipe up. You’ll see how many people viewed, replied, tapped forward, or exited.

Instagram Story Metrics

Here’s what each number means:

• Impressions – Total number of views, including replays
• Reach – How many individual users saw the story
• Replies – Direct messages sent from that story
• Forward Taps – Number of skips to the next story+
• Back Taps – Number of times users went back to a previous story
• Exits – Number of users who left the story viewer on that slide
• Completion Rate – Percentage of people who watched every slide in the story

Why Instagram Story Analytics Matter

If your stories get skipped or exited quickly, the message may not be clear or the timing could be off. Stories with low replies might need more engagement tools like polls or questions.

Stories that people watch to the end often have clean visuals, a short message, and a reason to stay. Keep checking your numbers to learn what works best.

Common Mistakes Beginners Should Avoid

Whether you’re using the Instagram mobile app on an iOS or Android device, avoid these common issues that can make your story harder to watch or share.

Posting Too Many Slides at Once: Excessive back-to-back story frames appear spammy. Limit stories to 3–5 slides per post, maintaining follower interest without causing rapid skipping.

Using the Wrong Size or Ratio: Your photo or video should be vertical—1080 by 1920 pixels. Anything else may not fit the screen well. The Instagram app is built for mobile, so keep your visuals clear and sized right before you upload directly.

Cluttering the Screen: Adding too much—text, stickers, GIFs, or music—can drown out the main message. Keep the theme clean. If you’re adding a location tag or a poll, make sure it doesn’t block faces or images.

Not Checking Before Posting: Before you publish posts, preview your insta story. Fix typos, review your camera roll uploads, and double-check your story highlights if you want to keep it beyond 24 hours. Stories disappear fast, but bad ones last in memory.

Skipping Story Insights: Even if you just want to share moments with friends, checking views and taps helps. If you manage multiple Instagram accounts or run a brand, use the calendar view in tools like RecurPost to plan and track your stories.

Each Instagram story is a chance to connect. Whether you’re sharing a product, an update, or just a quick moment, even small tweaks can make your media easier to watch and share across your pages, feed, and even Facebook.

Conclusion

Stories occupy prime position at the top of Instagram—preceding feeds, posts, and news. Their quick, visual format delivers immediate content. Whether sharing camera roll media, polls, or location tags, stories communicate before your profile loads.

Learning how to create an Instagram story gives anyone—from solo creators to social media managers—a fast way to connect with their followers. With templates, stickers, and the option to upload directly from any iOS or Android device, stories are built for speed and style.

Open Instagram, tap the camera icon in the top left corner, and post authentic content. A single story can transform perception of your brand, pages, or daily experience.

For frequent posters, RecurPost facilitates planning and publishing stories efficiently. Whether managing brands, multiple accounts, or personal sharing, stories begin with a single tap.

FAQs

Ruchi Dhimar

Ruchi Dhimar is a skilled content writer with 4 years of experience. She is  passionate about crafting compelling narratives, specializing in writing content for different industries.