Ethan Brooks
How To Change Background Color in Instagram Story Easily
Creating eye-catching Instagram Stories is kinda crucial if you want your content to stand out, whether you’re a creator, small biz, or just obsessed with aesthetic. So, here’s the deal: changing that ugly or plain background behind your photos, text, or reposts — without messing around with third-party apps — is actually pretty doable. You just need to know the tricks.
Step 1: Open Instagram App
Start by launching Instagram. Make sure you’re logged in; obviously, if you want to do anything with stories. No point if it keeps saying “Sign in,” right?
Step 2: Access the Story Creation Interface
Swipe right from your main feed — or tap the profile picture at the top left — to get into the story creation screen. That’s where the magic begins.
Step 3: Pick a Photo or Video
Hit the Gallery icon (bottom left), choose your background image or video. If you pick a photo, it’ll fill up the story canvas. Sometimes it automatically sets for you, but other times, it’s just a plain background, so it’s a bit hit or miss depending on what you want.
Step 4: Tweak Background Color
If the background isn’t exactly what you hoped — say, it’s got a weird hue or just plain plain — try zooming out or cropping. Sometimes the photo’s background gets in the way, and tweaking the image can help. But if you want a solid color, keep going.
Step 5: Use Draw Tool for Custom Colors
This part is kinda weird but useful: tap the three dots in the upper right → select Draw. Here, you get a color palette. On some setups, you can use the eyedropper to pick a color from your image (pretty slick). This helps match your brand colors or just make things look consistent.
Step 6: Fill the Background with Your Chosen Color
Pick a color, then press and hold anywhere on the screen. The color will fill in as a solid background. Yeah, that’s how you get that simple, bold backdrop for your text or stickers. Sometimes it takes a couple of tries, because of course, Instagram has to make it a little harder than necessary.
Step 7: Add Stickers or Text
Feeling fancy? Tap the Stickers icon to add some GIFs, emojis, or even profile pics. Or tap the text icon to drop some words in. Position and resize until it looks just right. Text can be tricky if the background is busy, so pick your colors and font size with that in mind.
Step 8: Share It
Happy with how it looks? Hit Send To (bottom right) and pick Your Story. Done! Now everyone gets to see your epic background choices.
Extra Tips & Common Issues
Because sometimes it’s not perfect on the first try:
- Try experimenting with different colors — maybe take a screenshot of your brand palette and match it in draw.
- Feeling fancy? Use the gradient tool for a colorful splash — you can find gradient apps or overlays if Instagram’s native options aren’t enough.
- Legibility matters: test how your text looks against the background. Sometimes you gotta switch colors or add a shadow to make it pop.
Why it Helps, When it Applies, and What to Expect
If your background looks weird, pixelated, or just plain boring, this method can help you quickly punch up your story’s visual. Basically, it applies when you want a clean, vibrant, or branded background behind your content — no complicated Photoshop skills required. Expect a little trial and error, especially with colors and fills, but after a few tweaks, it looks way better. Just keep in mind, sometimes the background won’t look perfect on all screens, so preview on different devices if you can.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I save my custom colors for next time?
Nope, Instagram doesn’t have a palette save, but using the eyedropper tool or taking a screenshot of your favorite palette is a hack that kinda works.
What if my background color looks weird on different devices?
Color varies between screens, so preview your story if possible. If it’s off, try adjusting the color slightly — it might look better on other devices.
Can I edit my story after posting?
Nah, once it’s live, you can’t tweak it. If you want a better version, just delete and re-post with the new background.
Summary
- Use the draw tool to pick a color and fill the background by holding down
- Experiment with different images and gradients for more dynamic looks
- Preview your story before posting to avoid surprises
Hopefully this shaves off a few hours for someone. Because, man, sometimes Instagram feels like a puzzle you just can’t crack without a tiny bit of fuss. Good luck, and may your stories look as good as they deserve.