How to make Stories on Instagram

Instagram Stories are content that lasts 24 hours – photos or short videos with text, stickers and links. Good for daily updates, behind-the-scenes and direct conversation with followers. Here's how to make Stories from scratch.

When it's useful

• When you want to update followers without a permanent post.
• When you want to show "behind the scenes" or day-to-day.
• When you want to ask questions, run polls or promote a link (on Business profiles).

Steps to create a Story

1. Open Instagram and log in. At the top of Feed (or from your profile) you'll see "Add to your story" or the circle with + next to "Your story."

2. Choose content type – Photo (single tap), video (hold), or upload from gallery (top or side).

3. Record or upload – Take a photo/video or pick from gallery. You can also choose "Boomerang," "Hands-free" and more.

4. Edit – Add text (T), draw, stickers (faces, music, polls, questions, GIF). You can also use filters.

5. Add link (if you have a Business profile) – "Add link" or "Link" – only for Business/Creator accounts.

6. Share – Tap "Share to story" or "Your story." The Story appears to followers for 24 hours.

Common mistakes

• Story too long – Video over 15–20 seconds can lose viewers. Better to cut or split.
• Text too small – Make sure text is readable on a small screen.
• Link without Business profile – Links in Stories are only for Business/Creator accounts. Without that there's no "Link" button.
• Ignoring Highlights – Saving Stories to Highlights keeps them on your profile and adds value for visitors.

Summary

Make a Story by tapping + in Stories, choose photo/video/gallery, add text and stickers, and if you have a Business profile – add a link. After "Share to story" the content is visible for 24 hours.

Next steps

• How to add a link to your Story – links in Stories
• Why people can't see your Story – privacy and visibility
• How to add more than one photo to a Story – slides and gallery
• How to edit a Story after publishing – what you can change
• How to post Stories only to Close Friends – Close Friends
• Why your Story looks blurry – quality and resolution