Where to find stickers and how to add them
Stickers in Instagram appear in the Stories camera and the post editor. When you open Stories, tap the smiley-face icon at the top right of your screen — this is the sticker menu. A grid of sticker packs appears. Tap any sticker to add it to your story, then drag it around, resize it by pinching, or rotate it with two fingers. You can layer multiple stickers on top of each other.
For regular feed posts, open the photo or video you want to edit, tap the smiley-face icon in the editing toolbar, and choose your stickers the same way. The sticker menu works identically whether you are building a story or a post.
Instagram comes with built-in stickers already installed — emoji stickers, text stickers, and seasonal packs. You do not need to download anything to start using them. If you want additional sticker packs beyond what appears by default, you can search for them or browse the full library by scrolling through the sticker menu.
Key Takeaways
- Tap the smiley-face icon in Stories or the post editor to open the sticker menu, then tap any sticker to place it on your content.
- Drag stickers to move them, pinch to resize them, and use two fingers to rotate them once they are on your story or post.
- Instagram includes emoji stickers, text stickers, and themed packs by default without requiring you to download anything separately.
- You can search for specific sticker packs by name or browse the full library by scrolling through the sticker menu to find new options.
- Stickers work the same way in Stories and feed posts — the process does not change between the two formats.
Using interactive stickers like polls and questions
Some stickers do more than sit on your story — they let followers interact with you. The poll sticker shows two options and counts votes in real time. The question sticker lets followers type responses that only you see. The quiz sticker tests knowledge with multiple-choice answers. These interactive stickers appear in the same sticker menu as regular decorative stickers.
To add a poll sticker, tap the sticker menu, find the poll sticker, and tap it. Type your two options into the fields that appear. Followers will see the poll on your story and can tap one option to vote. You can watch the results update as people respond. After 24 hours, the story expires and the poll closes automatically.
The question sticker works similarly — tap it, type your question, and followers type their answers. Answers come to you as direct messages or notifications, depending on your settings. These stickers are useful for gathering feedback, starting conversations, or making your stories feel more like a two-way exchange rather than a broadcast.
Finding and downloading new sticker packs
Instagram regularly adds new sticker packs, and you can browse them by scrolling through the sticker menu. At the bottom of the menu, you will see a search icon. Tap it and type what you are looking for — "animals," "holidays," "neon," or the name of a specific creator. Results show matching sticker packs with a plus sign next to each one.
Tap the plus sign to add a sticker pack to your library. Once added, those stickers appear in your sticker menu whenever you open it. You can remove packs you no longer use by opening the sticker menu, finding the pack, and tapping the minus sign. Removing a pack does not delete stickers already on your stories — it just stops new ones from appearing in your menu.
Some creators design custom sticker packs that appear in the library. These are created by artists and designers who work with Instagram, so they maintain consistent quality and style. Browsing by category — like "3D," "minimalist," or "retro" — helps you find packs that match the look you want for your content.
Resizing, rotating, and layering stickers
Once a sticker is on your story or post, you have full control over how it looks. To move a sticker, simply drag it with one finger to a new spot. To resize it, place two fingers on the sticker and pinch inward to make it smaller or spread outward to make it larger. The sticker stays proportional — it will not stretch or distort.
To rotate a sticker, place two fingers on it and twist in either direction. This works smoothly for any sticker and lets you angle text stickers, emoji, or decorative elements however you want. You can rotate a sticker all the way around or just tilt it slightly — the control is yours.
Layering stickers creates depth and visual interest. Add one sticker, then add another on top of it. The newest sticker appears in front. If you want to change the order, tap and hold a sticker to bring it to the front, or tap it once and look for a "send to back" option if available. Experiment with overlapping stickers to create custom designs that feel more polished than a single sticker alone.
Using text stickers versus regular stickers
Text stickers are different from the regular text tool in Stories. A text sticker is a pre-designed graphic that holds words — like a banner, a label, or a speech bubble. Regular text is just typed letters on a plain background. Text stickers are useful when you want your words to stand out visually or match a specific theme.
To add a text sticker, open the sticker menu and look for stickers labeled "text," "labels," or "banners." Tap one, and a text field appears. Type your message, and the sticker displays your words in its built-in style. You can still move, resize, and rotate text stickers just like any other sticker. If you want to change the text after placing it, tap the sticker and edit the words directly.
Regular text, added through the text tool (usually an "A" icon), gives you more control over font, size, and color, but it does not have a graphic background. Use text stickers when you want a designed look, and use regular text when you want simplicity or custom formatting. Many creators use both on the same story for variety.
Stickers that link to other content
Some stickers let you link to other Instagram accounts, hashtags, locations, or external websites. The mention sticker tags another account directly on your story. The hashtag sticker links to a hashtag page. The location sticker links to a location page. These stickers make your story interactive and drive followers to related content.
To add a mention sticker, tap the sticker menu, find the mention sticker, and tap it. Type the username you want to mention. That account gets a notification that you tagged them, and followers can tap the sticker to visit their profile. This is useful for collaborations, shout-outs, or crediting someone in your content.
The hashtag and location stickers work the same way — tap the sticker, type the hashtag or location name, and followers can tap to explore that page. If you have a business account or creator account, you may also see stickers that link to external websites or your own content. These appear in the sticker menu and work the same way as other interactive stickers.
Troubleshooting stickers that do not appear or work
If stickers are not showing up in your menu, the most common cause is an outdated Instagram app. Open your phone's app store, search for Instagram, and check for an update button. If one appears, tap it to install the latest version. Sticker packs are added regularly, and older app versions may not display new ones.
If a specific sticker pack disappeared from your menu, you may have accidentally removed it. Open the sticker menu, search for the pack by name, and tap the plus sign to add it back. If you cannot find it through search, scroll through the full library by swiping through categories until you locate it.
If stickers are not responding when you tap them, try closing the Stories camera completely and reopening it. Sometimes the app needs to refresh. If the problem continues, restart your phone. If stickers still do not work after restarting, uninstall and reinstall Instagram — this clears out any corrupted files that might be causing the issue. Back up any draft stories first, as reinstalling will clear them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I create my own custom stickers?
Instagram does not let individual users design stickers for their own account. However, if you are a professional artist or designer, you can submit sticker packs to Instagram for review. The process requires a formal application through Instagram's creator tools. Most users add existing stickers from the library instead.
Do stickers I add to my story stay there after 24 hours?
No. Stories disappear after 24 hours by default, and any stickers on them disappear too. If you want to save a story with stickers, tap the three dots on your story before it expires and select "Save." This saves the story to your phone's camera roll, but it will not appear on Instagram after 24 hours.
Can followers see the stickers I add to my feed posts?
Yes. Stickers on feed posts are permanent and visible to anyone who views the post. They work the same way as stickers on stories — followers can tap interactive stickers like polls or questions, and link stickers take them to the tagged account or hashtag.
Why do some sticker packs have a lock icon next to them?
A lock icon means the sticker pack is not yet in your library. Tap the lock or the plus sign to add it. Some packs may require you to follow a specific account or meet other conditions, but most are free to add. Once added, the lock disappears and you can use those stickers anytime.
Can I use the same sticker multiple times on one story?
Yes. Tap the sticker menu, select the same sticker again, and it adds another copy to your story. You can add the same sticker as many times as you want, and each copy can be moved, resized, and rotated independently. This is useful for creating patterns or repeating design elements.