How to Change the Background of Your Instagram Stories (and why you should)
Are you interested in changing the background of your Instagram story? Here are a few tricks of the trade to take your story content to the next level.
Emma Levin
Freelance Content Writer
Are you interested in changing the background of your Instagram story? It might not be obvious, but there are a few ways to switch up the app’s default background colors. This is ideal for anyone looking to experiment beyond the app’s boring auto selections.
Posting to your IG story is a popular feature on Instagram. Some followers prefer the 24-hour feature since it's not permanent (as opposed to posting to their profile). Stories allow users to share casual life updates without sacrificing a perfectly curated grid. Keep reading to learn how to take your IG stories to the next level.
Why you should change the background of your Instagram Stories
Stories are a quick, easy way to communicate directly with your followers, because they appear above the user’s feed. Some users don’t even scroll the grid anymore, but prefer to tap through stories.
By using a custom background in your story, you can create unique, on-brand content with the potential to boost engagement. . The app has roughly one billion users, so originality is the only way to go to make your brand stand out. Stay ahead of the trends, and keep reading to learn how to optimize these tricks of the trade.
Whether you’re looking to write text, share a new post, or upload a photo, follow these tricks to customize your backgrounds and master the art of the IG story.
# 1: How to change the background color of an Instagram story
Are you frustrated by the app’s auto background colors? Follow these steps to flex your color palette:
Open the Instagram app on your Android, iPhone, or iPad and tap “Your Story”
Take a random photo, or select one from your camera roll
Hit the three dots icon from the top menu bar (if your version doesn’t have this menu, you can probably jump to the next step)
Hit the draw icon
Pick a color from the bottom of the screen
Tap and hold your finger on the screen (about 1-3 seconds) until your color of choice fills the background
Bonus tip: Hold down the color you desire, and a color slider will pop up. Then, slide to your unique color option to change the background of your story.
# 2: How to change the background color of a photo on your story
Attempting to change the background of a photo on your story can lead to a headache. Instagram automatically chooses a color gradient that matches your photo, but it might not be your taste. There are a few steps to nail this trick, but it’s worth the effort.
Follow the steps above to choose your desired background-color
Hit done
Click the Sticker icon (the square smiley face) on the top menu bar
Scroll down until you see a small circle with the latest photo from your camera roll
Click on the circle to choose a photo and Voila!
Bonus Tips: Quick tap on the photo to reveal different shapes. You can share your photo in the shape of a circle, heart, star, or square. You can also create a collage by going back into the Sticker icon and adding more photos from your camera roll.
# 3: How to change the background color of a shared post
Are you using your story to direct your followers to your latest post? Here’s how to add a splash of color to the background:
Go to your Instagram profile and find a post to share
Click the Share icon or the paper airplane symbol in the bottom left of the post
Hit “Add post to your story”
Hit the three dots icon from the top menu bar
Hit the draw icon
Pick a color from the bottom of the screen
Tap and hold until the color of your choice fills the background of your shared post
Bonus Tip: You can also change the background to a photo from your camera roll. After adding a post to your story, click on the sticker icon to find your camera roll photos. Then, enlarge the photo and move the shared post until you reach the desired sizing. This creates a layover effect on your story.
# 4: How to create the scratch card effect
If you’re looking to add a little mystery to your stories and rank up your click count, then you should try out the scratch card effect.
Choose a photo to share on your IG story
Hit the three dots icon from the top menu bar (if your version doesn’t have this menu, you can probably jump to the next step)
Hit the draw icon
Pick a color from the bottom of the screen
Press and hold your finger on the screen until your color of choice fills the post
Choose the eraser tool from the top menu bar
Erase away part of the color to reveal the photo beneath!
This is a great way to hint at a product launch and get your followers excited about what's to come.
# 5: How to add a GIF to the background of your story
Probably one of the least known tricks of the trade is that you can create an entire background out of a single GIF.
Open Stories and hit “Aa,” or the Create button on the left-hand side of the screen.
Slide through the menu bar on the bottom of the screen
When you hit GIF, search GIPHY for your favorite GIF
Hit Next on the upper-right hand corner
Then add text, or add a picture from your camera roll!
Have fun showing off your new skills! Remember to update your Instagram app to make sure you have access to all of these features.
+++++
UNUM is your best tool for planning, creating, and executing beautiful social media feeds and stories. Signup today for a free account.
[Header image by Patrick Tomasso on Unsplash]
Latest Blog Posts
How to Create a Reusable Social Media Template in Canva (2025 Guide + Free Template)
Creating content every day is exhausting. But here’s a secret: you don’t need to reinvent the wheel every time you post. That’s where reusable social media templates come in. Whether you’re posting to Instagram, TikTok, Threads, or LinkedIn, having a set of ready-to-go Canva templates can save you time, boost consistency, and keep your brand looking chef’s kiss across every platform. In this post, we’ll walk you through how to create a reusable Canva template for social media — and yes, we’ve included a free template you can download and customize.
2025 Social Media Posting Times: A Heatmap Guide to Higher Engagement
Timing is everything on social media. You could craft the most engaging post ever—but if no one sees it, it won’t move the needle. That’s why knowing when to post is just as important as knowing what to post. We analyzed the latest data from Sprout Social and added our own research to help you find the best times to post on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and Threads in 2025. Below, you’ll find global engagement heatmaps, key takeaways, and expert tips for each platform so you can post with confidence.
The Complete Guide to Social Media Content Pillars (with Examples + Templates)
If you're struggling with what to post or how to stay consistent on social media, you're not alone. One of the simplest and most powerful ways to fix that? Content pillars.
How to Build a Social Media Calendar That Actually Works (Free Template Inside)
Consistency is everything online — but planning ahead is what actually makes it possible. If you’re tired of last-minute posts, content chaos, or just staring at a blank page wondering what to say… you need a better system. Enter: the social media calendar.
25 Best Social Media Tools for Creators, Brands, and Agencies (2025 Edition)
From content planning to analytics, these tools help you stay ahead on Instagram, TikTok, Threads, and more. Whether you're a solo creator, a growing brand, or a full-service agency, your tech stack can make or break your online presence. In 2025, there are more tools than ever promising to help you design, plan, publish, and scale content. But which ones are actually worth using? We’ve rounded up the 25 best social media tools across every category — from Canva-style design tools to advanced analytics — and we’re showing you how to combine them (or replace them entirely with an all-in-one tool like UNUM).
Read more
Join our Newsletter
Sign up to our newsletter for all things marketing.