Change your story background in three steps

To change your Instagram story background color, open the camera, take or upload a photo, then tap the marker icon and hold down on any color in the palette. This creates a solid background. If you want a gradient or pattern instead, swipe left on the color options before posting.

The process works the same whether you're using an iPhone or Android phone. Instagram stores your recently used colors, so if you pick a color you like, you'll see it again next time you create a story.

Key Takeaways

  • Tap the marker icon in story creation mode, then press and hold a color to fill your entire background with that color.
  • Swipe left on the color palette to access gradients, which blend two colors together, or patterns with texture.
  • You can layer text, stickers, and drawings on top of your colored background after you set it.
  • Instagram remembers the colors you use most often and shows them first in your color palette.

Step-by-step: solid color background

Open Instagram and tap the camera icon in the top left corner, or swipe left from your feed. This opens the story camera. You can either take a new photo by tapping the circle button, or tap the gallery icon at the bottom left to upload an existing photo from your phone.

Once you have your photo or a blank canvas, look for the marker icon (it looks like a pen tip) at the bottom of the screen. Tap it to open the drawing tools. You'll see a color palette appear at the bottom with a row of colored circles.

Press and hold your finger on any color in that palette for about one second. The entire background of your story will fill with that color. Release your finger when the color looks right. If you want to change it, just hold down on a different color.

Using gradients and patterns instead

If you want something more interesting than a flat color, swipe left on the color palette. This reveals two additional options: gradients and patterns. Gradients blend two colors together smoothly, while patterns add texture like dots, lines, or waves.

Tap on any gradient or pattern to preview it on your story. Swipe left again to see more options. Once you find one you like, press and hold it just like you would a solid color, and it will fill your background.

You can layer text, emoji stickers, and drawings on top of your colored background. Tap the text icon (the "A") or sticker icon (the smiley face) to add these elements after you've set your background color.

What to do if the color palette doesn't appear

If you don't see the color palette when you tap the marker icon, make sure you're actually in drawing mode. The marker icon should be highlighted or show a checkmark. If it's not, tap it again.

On older phones or if Instagram hasn't updated recently, the color palette might be in a slightly different location. Look for a row of colored dots at the very bottom of the screen. If you still can't find it, try closing the Instagram app completely and opening it again.

Saving and reusing your favorite colors

Instagram automatically saves the colors you use most often. The next time you create a story, the colors you picked before will appear first in your palette. This makes it easy to keep a consistent look across multiple stories.

If you want to use a specific color from a photo or another source, you can use the eyedropper tool. When the color palette is open, look for a circle with a crosshair or dropper icon. Tap it, then tap any color in your photo to match it exactly.

Troubleshooting common issues

If your background color looks different after you post it than it did while you were creating it, this is usually because of your phone's screen brightness or color settings. The color itself hasn't changed — it's just how your display shows it. Other people will see the color as you intended.

If you accidentally filled your entire story with color and want to undo it, shake your phone or look for an undo button (usually an arrow pointing left) at the top of the screen. This will remove the color fill and let you try again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a photo as my story background instead of a solid color?

Yes. Instead of using the marker tool, just upload a photo from your gallery or take a new one with the camera. You can then add text, stickers, or drawings on top of it. If you want to darken or lighten the photo, use the brightness adjustment tool before posting.

Why does my gradient look different on my phone than on my friend's phone?

Screen brightness, color settings, and phone model all affect how colors appear. The gradient itself is the same — it just displays differently depending on the device. This is normal and doesn't mean anything is wrong.

Can I create my own custom color that isn't in the palette?

You can match a specific color using the eyedropper tool. Open the color palette, tap the dropper icon, then tap any color in a photo you've uploaded. Instagram will create a custom color that matches it exactly.

Do I have to use a background color, or can I post a story with no background?

You don't have to use a background color. If you upload a photo or take one with the camera, that becomes your background automatically. The color fill is optional and only needed if you want a solid or gradient background instead of a photo.