How To Edit Instagram Stories Before and After Posting

Instagram Stories are short videos, images, and clips you share with followers, and the content disappears after 24 hours. Because these posts are only live for a short period of time, they should be as polished as possible to make a strong impact.

In this article, we’ll explain how to edit Instagram Stories and share techniques for creating eye-catching content that your followers will love.

How To Edit an Instagram Story Before Posting

Before you press publish on a new post, use Instagram’s tools to fine-tune your Stories — here’s how.

Include Relevant Hashtags 

When people click on hashtags, they’ll pull up a feed of related posts using that tag. So, choosing relevant keywords will help Instagram’s algorithm place your content in front of your target audience. 

If you’re not sure which hashtags to use, try an AI Hashtag Generator to find trending and niche keywords designed to boost engagement on your page.

Add Emojis, Stickers, and GIFs 

Use GIFs, emojis, and interactive stickers to add personality to your Story. You can find plenty of options in Instagram’s sticker library:

• Find your visuals — Click the “Sticker” or “GIF” button and scroll through your options, using the Search Bar at the top to look for specific images. 
• Insert — Once you find what you want, click on it, then press and drag to place it where you’d like.

Incorporate Polls and Questions 

Adding features like polls, quizzes, and Q&A stickers to your Story makes your audience feel involved and gives them an opportunity to interact with your content. 

When editing your Story, you’ll find the polls and question stickers under the Stickers menu. Browse the options, then customize the poll or quiz’s text to match your video’s content. 

Use Third-Party Instagram Story Editors Like Captions

If Instagram’s in-app tools don’t quite cut it, try a third-party tool like Captions. Our Instagram Story Maker automatically adds subtitles, sound effects, and scene transitions to your post.

Here’s how to use it: 

• Upload your footage — Log into Captions and import your video. 
• Edit your post — Choose a style and let AI customize your Story dimensions, animations, and design. 
• Save your template — Store your settings to quickly replicate your edits for future posts. 
• Download and share — Upload your creations to Instagram. 

How To Edit an Instagram Story After Posting 

Once you’ve posted your Story, your editing options are limited. Instagram doesn’t let you change everything once you’ve pressed “Share,” but there are a few ways to make adjustments.

Customize the Story Settings 

If you accidentally upload something you don’t want your entire audience to see, change the Story settings to prevent them from viewing it.

Here’s how to change Story settings on Instagram: 

• Find your settings — Go to your Settings, click “Privacy,” then “Story.” 
• Adjust your audience — Condense your audience to your Close Friends list or even hide your Stories from specific followers. 

Delete and Repost if Necessary 

If you notice a glaring error on your Story after uploading, deleting and reposting might be the best move. To avoid losing your video completely, save it to your camera roll. 

Note that this move will delete any view and reply statistics. So, if you’re tracking metrics for that particular upload, it may be better to leave the post in place.

How To Edit Your Instagram Story Highlights 

Instagram’s Story Highlights feature lets you save and organize past Stories, converting them into a collection in your profile. This is a great way to share answers to frequently asked questions and save behind-the-scenes content.

If you want to add a Story to an existing Highlight, follow these steps: 

• Open your Instagram profile — Choose the Highlight you’d like to add your Story to. 
• Find your content — Click “More,” then “Edit.” Tap “Stories” to choose the post you want to add. 
• Save — Press “Done” to update your Highlight.

However, if you’d like to create a new Highlight and add multiple Stories to it, the steps are a bit different: 

• Open the app — Press the “Plus” button in the top right corner. 
• Find your content — Press “Story Highlight.” Select the posts you’d like to add to the collection. 
• Customize and save — Click “Next” and enter a title for the Highlight, then press “Done.” 

Best Time to Post a Story on Instagram

Here are a few factors that affect the best times to post Instagram Stories.

Be Aware of Your Audience’s Time Zones 

Use your Instagram Insights to check when your followers are most active. Take note of those times and share your Stories during those hours. This way, your followers will have a higher chance of seeing and interacting with your content.

Watch Your Competitors 

Keep an eye on when your competitors’ Stories are getting the most engagement, and try posting during those times, too. Since you’re in the same niche, it’s safe to assume that your audiences are pretty similar, and uploading when they’re already receiving engagement can get more views on your original Story.

Create Instagram Content You’re Proud To Share With Captions 

Good editing brings out your Stories’ full potential, ensuring you publish top-notch content your audience loves. 

Captions is a go-to tool for content creators who want to improve their Instagram content. Features like our Instagram Story Maker or Instagram Video Editor help you produce and share professionally edited content faster than ever. 

Improve your Stories with Captions. 

FAQs 

Can You Edit an Instagram Story After Posting? 

Unfortunately, it’s not possible to edit Instagram Stories after posting. Once your content is live, editing options are limited to adjusting who can see it. If you need to change your content, it’s best to delete and reupload it.

Can You Delete One Part of a Story on Instagram? 

Yes, you can delete a single part of an Instagram Story. Here’s how: 

• Open the Story — Click your profile picture, then scrub through the post until you find the frame you want to delete.‍
• Remove the section — Choose “More,” then “Delete.” This will permanently remove that frame.