How to Edit a Video on an Instagram Story

Editing a video directly within your Instagram Story can transform a simple clip into scroll-stopping content that captivates your audience. More than just a place for candid moments, the Story editor is a powerful, free toolkit for trimming videos, adding text, layering music, and dropping in interactive elements that drive real engagement. This guide will walk you through every feature you need to know, from the absolute basics to some clever tricks that will make your video Stories stand out.

Getting Your Video into the Story Editor

Before you can start editing, you need a video. You have two simple ways to get your clip into the Instagram Story creation screen.

Option 1: Record Directly in a Story

This is perfect for capturing live, in-the-moment content. It also gives you access to Instagram's massive library of AR effects and filters while you record, which can inspire some incredible creativity.

• Open the Instagram app and tap the plus icon (+) at the top of your screen or simply swipe right from your feed to open the Story camera.
• Make sure you are in "Story" mode (check the options at the bottom, like Post, Reel, Live).
• You can swipe through the AR effects along the bottom of the screen to find one you like.
• Press and hold the record button to film a video clip. You can also tap it once to take a photo. You can record a clip for up to 60 seconds.

Option 2: Upload a Pre-Recorded Video

If you've already filmed your video with your phone's camera or a different app, you can easily upload it to your Story.

• Open the Story camera (swipe right from your feed).
• Tap the gallery icon in the bottom left-hand corner of the screen.
• Select the video you want to edit from your camera roll. If your video is longer than 60 seconds, Instagram will automatically split it into multiple 60-second Story segments for you.

Once your video is recorded or uploaded, you’ll land on the main editing screen. Now the fun begins.

The Essentials: Trimming and Arranging Your Clips

Nobody wants to watch a four-second empty shot at the beginning of a video. Trimming your footage is the most fundamental edit you can make, and it instantly makes your content look more professional.

At the bottom of the editing screen, you’ll see a visual timeline, or "filmstrip," of your video clip.

• To trim the beginning: Press and hold the left handle of the filmstrip and drag it to the right.
• To trim the end: Press and hold the right handle and drag it to the left.

This simple adjustment allows you to cut out any awkward pauses or unnecessary footage, getting straight to the action. If you've uploaded a longer video that Instagram has split into multiple segments, you can tap on each segment in the bottom timeline to trim it individually, giving you precise control over your complete story.

Adding Personality with Text and Stickers

This is where you can infuse your video with brand personality, context, and opportunities for engagement. The icons at the top right of your editing screen are your creative toolbox.

Mastering the Text Tool (The "Aa" Icon)

Text provides context, emphasizes points, and makes your Stories more accessible to people watching with the sound off. Tap the "Aa" icon to get started.

• Write Your Message: A cursor will appear. Type what you want to say.
• Choose Your Font: Several font styles are available at the bottom of the screen. Tap through them to find one that fits your brand's vibe. Some fonts have different variations if you tap the style button at the top left.
• Change Colors: Tap the color wheel at the top to select a color. You can choose from the presets, or you can use the dropper tool to select a color directly from your video for a perfectly coordinated look.
• Add a Background: Tap the text background icon (an 'A' with stars) at the top left. This can make your text pop, especially against a busy video background. Tap it again for a semi-transparent background.
• Animate Your Text: Tap the animation icon (an 'A' with lines) on the top right. This makes your text appear on screen in dynamic ways, such as typing out or sliding in.

Pro Tip: You can add multiple text boxes to a single Story. After placing your first text box, just tap the "Aa" icon again to create another one. Use your fingers to resize, rotate, and move the text anywhere you want on the screen.

Using Stickers for Interaction and Fun (The Sticker Icon)

The sticker icon (a smiley face in a square) unlocks some of the most powerful engagement features on Instagram. Let's look at the most useful ones for brands and creators:

• Link Sticker: This is a game-changer. Use it to drive traffic directly to a blog post, product page, or landing page. You can customize the sticker text to create a clear call-to-action like "Shop Now" or "Read a New Post."
• Poll/Quiz Stickers: Want to know what your audience thinks? Use the Poll sticker to ask a question with two custom answers. Use the Quiz sticker to test their knowledge and create a fun, interactive moment.
• Question Sticker: Perfect for Q&As or gathering feedback. Post this sticker with a prompt like "Ask me anything!" or "What content should I create next?" and your followers can submit their replies directly.
• Mention Sticker: A must-use when collaborating with other brands or creators. It notifies them that you've tagged them and allows them to easily re-share your Story to their own audience.
• Hashtag Sticker: Makes your Story discoverable to a wider audience browsing that specific hashtag.
• GIFs: Powered by GIPHY, this is your library of animated stickers. You can find everything from bouncing arrows to aesthetic animations that add a touch of motion and personality to your video.
• Emoji Slider: A light, fun way to gauge sentiment. Ask a question and let your audience slide the emoji to show how they feel.

Elevating Your Story with Audio

Sound is a massive part of the Story experience. You can add popular music, subtitles for silent watchers, or even your own voiceover to truly narrate your video.

Adding Music (The Music Note Icon)

Adding a trending song is one of the fastest ways to make your content more relevant and engaging.

1. Tap the sticker icon and select the "Music" sticker.
2. Search for a song by a specific artist, title, or browse through the "For You" or "Browse" tabs for recommendations and trending audio.
3. Once you select a song, a timeline of the audio will appear. Scrub through it to choose the exact snippet (up to 15 seconds) that you want to play over your video.
4. You can also select how the music is displayed on your Story - either as a small song credit block or with animated lyrics.

Auto-Captions for Accessibility

Many users watch Stories with their sound off. Auto-captions make your content accessible to everyone and deliver your message no matter the viewing context.

1. Tap the sticker icon and select the "Captions" sticker.
2. Instagram will automatically transcribe the audio from your video.
3. It does a surprisingly good job, but you can tap the transcribed text to edit any words for accuracy. You can also customize the font and color just like you would with regular text.

Adding a Voiceover

Want to explain what's happening in your video or add personal commentary? A voiceover is the perfect tool.

1. On the top menu, tap the music note icon.
2. At the bottom right, you'll see a button for "Voiceover." Tap it.
3. A recording timeline will appear at the bottom. Simply drag the bar to where you want the voiceover to start, then press and hold the record button to add your audio. You can also mute the original video audio so that your voiceover is the main sound.

Working with Filters and Effects

Visual filters can adjust the mood, color, and texture of your video. Tap the sparkle icon (✨) at the top of the editing screen or simply swipe left or right on your screen to cycle through your saved filters. This is a quick way to add a consistent brand aesthetic or a different artistic vibe after you’ve already recorded your video.

Here's a helpful hint for finding the best filters: go to the Reels tab on the Instagram homepage and find top-performing videos by filtering for "Most Liked" or "Most Viewed." When you find a video with a filter you like, tap the "Use filter" option at the bottom right to add it to your Story.

Final Touches with the Drawing Tool

The draw tool (the squiggly line icon) is great for adding a personal, hand-crafted touch. You can use it to underline text, circle important elements in your video, or add simple designs. There are several brush tips to choose from - including a standard pen, a highlighter, a neon brush, and an eraser. Use the slider on the left to adjust the brush size and the color tray at the bottom. You can also use the dropper tool to find a perfect color match!

Putting It All Together: A Pro-User Tip for Layering

One trick that makes Stories look professionally designed is layering. You can stack text, GIFs, and stickers on top of each other. But sometimes, it's hard to select an element that's stuck behind another. Here’s a workaround:

Press and hold with one finger anywhere on the screen where an object is located. While still holding, use another finger to tap the object you want to bring to the front of the layer. This lets you cycle through different elements, making it easy to edit objects even when they're crowded together.

Final Thoughts

By using Instagram’s built-in editing features, you have every tool needed to create dynamic, engaging, and effective video Story content. From trimming and texting to interactive stickers and voiceovers, these tools are designed to be intuitive and accessible, enabling anyone to create compelling content without needing expensive software or years of editing experience.

Spending less time juggling complicated software and more time on creation is exactly why we built Postbase. Creating great Stories takes creativity, and you can’t get into a creative flow when you’re worried about scheduling glitches or paying for basic features. We handle the reliable scheduling and analytics for your feed posts, Shorts, and Reels, so you have the mental space and time to dive into in-app tools like the Story editor and make your content shine.