Change your story background before you post
You can change the background color or add a gradient to your Instagram story in the camera before you take or upload a photo. Open Instagram, tap your profile picture or the camera icon to start a new story, then swipe left on the color bar at the bottom of the screen. This shows you solid colors, gradients, and other background options. Tap the one you want, then take your photo or video — the background will show behind whatever you post.
If you have already taken a photo and want to change just the background behind text or stickers, you will need to use the text tool or draw tool instead. The background color options work best when you are posting a plain photo, a video, or mostly text with few other elements.
Key Takeaways
- Swipe left on the color bar at the bottom of the camera screen to see solid colors, gradients, and other background styles before you take your photo.
- The background you choose will appear behind your entire story post, so pick it before you take the photo or upload one from your phone.
- If you want to change the background behind only text or stickers, use the text tool and change the text background color instead of the story background.
- You can also use the blur or focus tools to soften the background of a photo you have already taken, which works without changing the color.
Finding the color and gradient options
When you open the camera to create a story, look at the bottom of your screen. You will see a thin horizontal bar with colors in it — usually starting with white, black, and a few other solid colors. Swipe left on this bar to reveal more options. Instagram shows you solid colors first, then gradients (two colors blending together), and sometimes special effects or textures depending on your phone and app version.
Tap any color or gradient to select it. Your camera view will change to show that background. If you change your mind, swipe the color bar again and pick a different one — you can switch as many times as you want before you take the photo. The background stays selected until you post the story or close the camera.
Taking a photo or video with your new background
Once you have chosen your background color or gradient, take your photo or video the normal way. If you are taking a photo, press and hold the large circle button at the bottom center of the screen. For a video, tap and hold the same button — it will record as long as you keep your finger on it. The background color you selected will appear in the final story post.
If you want to upload a photo from your phone instead of taking a new one, tap the small square icon in the bottom left corner of the camera screen (it shows your recent photos). Select the photo you want, and the background color will apply behind it. This works best with photos that have simple subjects or a lot of empty space, because the background color will show around the edges or behind transparent areas.
Using text backgrounds instead of story backgrounds
If you have already posted a story and want to add text with a colored background, you do not need to delete it and start over. Open the story in edit mode (tap the three dots and select Edit), then tap the text tool (the "A" icon). Type your text, then tap the color circle that appears above your text. This lets you change just the background behind the words, not the entire story background.
You can also add stickers with colored backgrounds — tap the sticker icon and choose from the available stickers. Many stickers come with their own background colors built in. This approach gives you more control over where the color appears on your story, since it only affects the text or sticker, not the whole post.
Blurring or softening the background of an existing photo
If you have already taken a photo and the background is too busy or distracting, you can soften it without changing the color. In the camera, take your photo, then look for the blur or focus tool — it usually looks like a circle with lines around it. Tap it and drag the slider to add blur to the background. This keeps your subject sharp while making the background fade into the distance, which can look more polished than a solid color.
This tool works on photos you take in the moment, not on photos you upload from your phone. If you want to blur a photo from your camera roll before posting it to your story, you will need to edit it in a separate app first, then upload the edited version to Instagram.
Troubleshooting background color issues
If the color bar is not showing at the bottom of your camera screen, make sure you are in the main story camera view, not in a filter or effect mode. Tap the back arrow or close any open menus, then look for the color bar again. On some phones, you may need to swipe up from the bottom of the screen to reveal it.
If the background color is not appearing in your posted story, the photo you uploaded may have a white or opaque background that is covering it. Try taking a new photo with the camera instead of uploading one from your phone, or use the text tool to add a colored background behind text instead. If you are using an older version of Instagram, some background options may not be available — update the app from your phone's app store to get the latest features.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a photo as my story background instead of a solid color?
No, the background options in the story camera are limited to solid colors, gradients, and built-in effects. To use a photo as your background, upload it from your phone and post it as your story, then add text or stickers on top of it. You cannot replace the photo with a different background after you have posted it.
Will the background color show if I upload a photo from my phone?
Only if your uploaded photo has transparent areas or empty space around the edges. If your photo fills the entire screen, the background color will not be visible. Solid-color backgrounds work best when you take a new photo with the camera or when you post mostly text and stickers.
How do I change the background color of just one text box in my story?
Use the text tool instead of changing the story background. Tap the "A" icon, type your text, then tap the color circle above it to change only that text's background. You can add multiple text boxes with different background colors to the same story this way.
What if I want to undo a background color I just chose?
Before you post, swipe the color bar again and select a different color, or tap the white or transparent option to remove the background. Once you post the story, you can edit it by tapping the three dots and selecting Edit, but you cannot change the background — you would need to delete and repost it.