The quickest way to add stickers to your Instagram Story
Open Instagram and tap the camera icon or swipe left from your feed to start a new story. Take a photo or video, or select one from your camera roll. Once you have your image or video ready, tap the sticker icon — it looks like a square smiley face — in the toolbar at the top of the screen. A menu will appear showing all available sticker types. Tap the one you want, then tap again on your story to place it. You can resize it by pinching, rotate it by twisting two fingers, or move it anywhere on the screen by dragging.
Instagram offers different sticker categories: emoji stickers, text stickers, location stickers, time stickers, music stickers, poll stickers, and question stickers. Each one works the same way — tap the category, choose what you want, and place it on your story. You can add as many stickers as you want to a single story frame.
Key Takeaways
- The sticker icon is a square smiley face in the top toolbar, and tapping it opens a menu of all available sticker types.
- You can resize stickers by pinching, rotate them by twisting two fingers, and move them by dragging anywhere on your story.
- Emoji stickers, location stickers, music stickers, and poll stickers all use the same placement method.
- Instagram updates which stickers are available, so you may see different options depending on when you post.
Using emoji and text stickers
Emoji stickers are the simplest option. Tap the sticker icon, then tap "Emoji" to see a grid of emoji stickers — these are larger, more colorful versions of regular emojis. Scroll through the grid to find the one you want, tap it, and it will appear on your story. You can then move, resize, or rotate it. Text stickers work similarly: tap the sticker icon, tap "Text," type what you want to say, choose a font and color, and place it on your story.
The difference between a text sticker and regular text is that text stickers have a colored background and are designed to stand out more. If you want plain text without a background, use the text tool in the main toolbar instead of the sticker menu.
Adding location and time stickers
Location stickers show where you are when you post. Tap the sticker icon, then tap "Location." Instagram will show you nearby locations based on your phone's GPS. Tap the one you want, and it will appear on your story with the location name. This is useful if you want to tag a restaurant, venue, or neighborhood you are visiting.
Time stickers work the same way. Tap the sticker icon, tap "Time," and choose a time format — you can show the current time, a countdown to a specific date, or a timer that counts up from zero. The time sticker updates automatically as time passes, so if you post a story with a countdown to an event, the countdown will change as people view it.
Using music and poll stickers
Music stickers let you add a song to your story. Tap the sticker icon, tap "Music," and search for a song by title or artist. Once you find it, tap it to add it to your story. The sticker will show the song title and artist, and people who tap it can listen to a preview. This is different from adding music to the background of your story — a music sticker is a visible element that people can interact with.
Poll stickers let you ask your followers a question with two answer options. Tap the sticker icon, tap "Poll," type your question, and enter two possible answers. People can tap one answer to vote, and you will see the results in real time. Polls are a way to get feedback or start a conversation with your audience.
Troubleshooting stickers that do not appear
If you do not see the sticker icon in your toolbar, make sure you are using the latest version of Instagram. Open your phone's app store, search for Instagram, and update it if an update is available. Stickers require an internet connection, so check that you are connected to WiFi or mobile data.
Some stickers, like music stickers, are only available in certain countries or regions due to licensing rules. If you cannot find a music sticker option, your location may not have access to it yet. Location stickers require your phone's location services to be turned on — if you have turned off location access for Instagram, the location sticker will not work. You can turn it back on in your phone's settings under Privacy or Location Services.
Moving and editing stickers after you place them
After you add a sticker, you can change it before you post. Tap the sticker to select it, then tap it again to see editing options. For emoji and text stickers, you can change the color or style. For poll stickers, you can edit the question or answers. For music stickers, you can change which song appears. If you want to remove a sticker entirely, tap it and press Delete or the trash icon.
You can also layer stickers on top of each other. Add one sticker, then add another in the same spot — they will stack. This is useful if you want to create a more complex design or cover part of your image with multiple stickers.
Stickers that require account type or settings
Some stickers work differently depending on your account type. If you have a business or creator account, you may see additional sticker options like the "Shop" sticker, which lets you link to products. Regular personal accounts do not have access to shop stickers. You can check your account type in your profile settings under "Account Type."
Question stickers and poll stickers work best if you have a public account or a large following, because they rely on people seeing your story and responding. If your account is private, only your followers will see your story and can answer polls or questions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use stickers on stories I did not create myself?
No, you can only add stickers to stories you create. You cannot edit or add stickers to stories other people have posted. However, you can repost someone else's story to your own account using the share button, and then add your own stickers to your repost.
Do people have to have the latest version of Instagram to see my stickers?
Yes, stickers require a recent version of Instagram to display properly. If someone is using an older version, they may see a blank space where your sticker is. Most people update Instagram automatically, so this is rarely a problem.
Can I save a sticker I created to use again later?
Instagram does not have a built-in way to save custom stickers. However, if you create a text sticker with specific colors or fonts, you can recreate it by using the same text tool settings. Some stickers, like emoji stickers, appear in your recent stickers list if you use them often.
What happens to stickers after my story expires?
Stickers disappear when your story disappears. By default, stories last 24 hours. If you save your story to your highlights or archive it, the stickers stay with it. If your story expires and is not saved, the stickers are gone.
Why can I not find a specific sticker type?
Instagram adds and removes stickers based on location, account type, and updates. Music stickers, for example, are not available everywhere due to licensing. Some stickers are only available to business accounts. Check that you have the latest Instagram version and that your location services are on if you are looking for location-based stickers.