The quickest way to change your story background

Open Instagram and tap the camera icon or swipe left from your feed to start a new story. Take a photo or video, or tap the blank canvas option at the bottom to start with no image. Once you're in the editing screen, look for the pen or marker icon in the toolbar at the top — tap and hold on the screen with one finger, then use your other finger to swipe left or right across the color palette that appears. The background will change to match each color as you swipe. When you find the color you want, lift your fingers and the background locks in.

If you want a solid color without any image, skip the photo step entirely. Tap the blank canvas, then when ready swipe to change the background. You can also use the fill tool (usually a paint bucket icon) to explore color to specific areas if you've already added an image.

Key Takeaways

  • Tap and hold on the canvas with one finger while swiping left or right with your other finger to cycle through background colors.
  • A blank canvas story (no photo or video) gives you the full screen to work with for solid color backgrounds.
  • The color palette refreshes each time you start a new story, so you can pick from the same range of options every time.
  • Gradient backgrounds appear when you swipe slowly between colors instead of quickly — hold longer to blend two colors together.

Using gradients instead of solid colors

If you want a background that blends two colors together, the process is the same but the timing matters. Tap and hold on the canvas, then swipe slowly between two colors instead of quickly jumping to one. The slower you swipe, the more the colors blend. When you see the gradient you like, stop swiping and lift your fingers.

Gradients work best on blank canvas stories because the entire background becomes the blend. If you've added a photo or video, the gradient applies only to the areas without an image, which can look uneven depending on what you've uploaded.

Where the color palette comes from

Instagram pulls the color options from your recent activity and the colors you've used before in stories. The palette changes slightly each time you open a new story, but the range stays roughly the same — you'll see warm colors, cool colors, pastels, and darker shades. You cannot customize this palette or add your own colors directly through Instagram's story tools.

If you want a very specific color that doesn't appear in the default palette, you can use a photo editing app before uploading to Instagram. Take a screenshot of the color you want (from a website, another photo, or a color picker tool), edit your image in an app like Canva or Snapseed to match that color, then upload it as your story background.

Adding text and stickers on top of colored backgrounds

Once your background color is set, tap the text icon (usually marked "Aa") to add words. The text will appear in white or black depending on how dark your background is — Instagram automatically chooses the color that's easiest to read. You can change the text color by tapping the color icon after you've typed, which opens the same color palette you used for the background.

Stickers, emojis, and filters all layer on top of your colored background without changing it. Tap the sticker icon to add location tags, time stamps, polls, or decorative stickers. None of these will affect the background color you've already chosen.

Why your background color might look different on other people's phones

The color you see on your screen while editing may look slightly different when your followers view the story. This happens because every phone displays colors a little differently depending on screen brightness, the type of display, and the phone's color settings. A bright yellow background might look more orange on someone's older phone or on a screen with lower brightness.

This is normal and not something you can control. If you're trying to match a specific brand color or design, test how it looks on a few different devices before posting if that matters for your account.

Removing or changing a background after you've posted

Once you've posted a story, you cannot edit the background color directly. You can delete the story and repost it with a different background, but you'll lose any views or interactions it had. If you want to keep the story but change how it looks, the only option is to delete it and create a new version.

Stories disappear after 24 hours anyway, so if you notice the color doesn't look right shortly after posting, you can delete it and repost with a better choice. Your followers won't see the deletion — they'll just see the new version appear in your story.

Using background colors to match your account's look

Many people use the same background colors across multiple stories to create a consistent visual style. If you post stories regularly, picking two or three colors you like and using them repeatedly helps your account feel organized and intentional. You can also match your story backgrounds to the colors in your profile photo or your feed's overall aesthetic.

This is purely a visual choice and doesn't affect who can see your stories or what data Instagram collects. It's just a way to make your account look more polished if that's something you care about.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I upload my own custom color or use a hex code?

No, Instagram's story tool doesn't let you enter a specific color code or upload a custom color. You're limited to the palette that appears when you swipe. If you need an exact color, edit your image in a photo app before uploading it as your story background.

Why can't I see the color palette when I tap and hold?

Make sure you're tapping and holding on the blank canvas itself, not on a button or icon. If you've already added a photo or video, the color palette may not appear the same way. Try starting a fresh story with no image and tap directly in the middle of the screen.

Do background colors affect my story's privacy settings?

No. Your story's privacy — who can see it, whether it shows your location, whether people can reply — is controlled separately in your story settings. The background color you choose has no effect on any of those controls.

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

Yes. Instead of using the blank canvas, take a photo or video, or upload one from your camera roll. That image becomes your background. You can then add text, stickers, and other elements on top of it.