The quickest way to add two photos
Open Instagram and tap your profile picture or swipe left to enter Stories mode. Tap the photo icon at the bottom of the screen to take or select a photo from your camera roll. After you place the first photo, tap the plus sign (+) in the bottom left corner — this adds a second photo to the same story without posting the first one yet. You can now position, resize, or rotate the second photo independently of the first.
Both photos will appear as separate frames when someone views your story. They'll see the first photo, then tap to advance to the second. This is different from putting two photos side-by-side in a single frame, which requires a different method.
Key Takeaways
- The plus sign (+) in the bottom left adds a new photo frame to your story without posting what you've already created.
- Each photo you add this way becomes its own separate frame that viewers tap through one at a time.
- You can add text, stickers, or drawings to each photo individually before posting the whole story.
- If you want two photos visible at the same time in one frame, you'll need to use the layout tool or edit them together before uploading.
Adding photos one frame at a time
After you've added your first photo, the plus sign appears in the bottom left corner of the screen. Tap it to bring up your camera roll again. Select your second photo — it will be added as a new frame right after the first one. You can continue tapping the plus sign to add a third, fourth, or fifth photo if you want a longer story sequence.
Each frame is independent. You can add different text, stickers, or drawings to each one. If you want to remove a photo you've already added, swipe left on that frame in the preview at the bottom of the screen, and it will disappear from your story.
Putting two photos side-by-side in one frame
If you want both photos visible at the same time instead of as separate frames, Instagram's layout tool lets you arrange them. After selecting your first photo, look for the layout icon (it looks like overlapping squares) near the bottom of the screen. Tap it to see layout options — you'll see choices like two photos side-by-side, one photo above the other, or one photo large with a smaller one in the corner.
Select the layout you want, then tap to add your second photo. Instagram will automatically resize both photos to fit the layout. You can still move, rotate, or resize each photo individually within the frame before posting.
Editing and arranging your photos before posting
Before you post your story, you can rearrange the order of your frames. At the bottom of the screen, you'll see a preview of each frame you've added. Press and hold on any frame, then drag it to a new position. This lets you change the order without deleting anything.
You can also add text, stickers, or drawings to each frame separately. Tap the text icon (looks like "Aa") or the sticker icon to add them to whichever frame is currently selected. If you want to delete a single frame, swipe left on it in the preview strip at the bottom.
What happens when someone views your multi-photo story
When you post a story with multiple photos, they appear as a sequence. Your followers will see the first photo, and they'll tap the screen to move to the next one. If you've added text or stickers to each frame, those will appear with each photo. The entire story will stay visible for 24 hours unless you delete it sooner.
People can pause on any frame as long as they want, but the story won't automatically advance. They have to tap to move forward. If you've used the layout tool to put two photos in one frame, both photos will be visible at the same time, and they'll only need to tap once to move past that frame.
Troubleshooting common problems
If the plus sign doesn't appear, make sure you've actually added a photo first — you can't add a second frame without a first one. If Instagram crashes while you're building your story, the photos you've added are usually saved, and you can continue where you left off when you reopen the app.
If a photo looks stretched or distorted after you add it, you can pinch and drag to resize it. Instagram automatically crops photos to fit the story format, which is a vertical rectangle. If your photo was taken in landscape mode, parts of it may be cut off — you can adjust this by moving or zooming the photo before posting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I add more than two photos to one story?
Yes. Keep tapping the plus sign to add as many photos as you want. Each one becomes a separate frame that viewers tap through. There's no limit to how many frames you can add, though very long stories may be harder for people to get through.
What's the difference between using the layout tool and the plus sign?
The plus sign adds photos as separate frames you tap through one at a time. The layout tool puts two or more photos in a single frame so they're visible at the same time. Use the plus sign for a sequence, and the layout tool if you want everything visible in one tap.
Can I rearrange photos after I've added them?
Yes. At the bottom of the screen, press and hold any frame in the preview strip and drag it to a new position. You can also swipe left on a frame to delete it entirely without affecting the others.
What happens to my story after 24 hours?
It disappears from your followers' feeds automatically. You can delete it sooner by opening your story, tapping the three dots in the top right, and selecting delete. The story won't be visible to anyone after that.
Why does my photo look cut off in the story?
Instagram crops photos to fit the vertical story format. If your photo was taken in landscape mode, the sides get cut off. You can adjust this by pinching to zoom out or dragging the photo around before posting to show the parts you want visible.