How to Find Templates on Instagram

Creating eye-catching Instagram content doesn't always have to start from scratch. Using templates is one of the fastest ways to produce high-quality Reels and Stories that feel polished and on-trend, saving you valuable time while keeping your audience engaged. This guide breaks down exactly how to find and use every type of template Instagram has to offer, from native Reels formats to custom-branded Story graphics.

The Easiest Win: Mastering Instagram's Native Reels Templates

Reels templates are the lowest-hanging fruit for creating dynamic video content quickly. They are pre-edited formats where all you have to do is drop in your own photos and videos, and Instagram automatically syncs them to trendy audio. It’s a perfect solution if you feel overwhelmed by video editing or want to jump on a viral trend without doing the heavy lifting.

Why You Should Use Reels Templates

Before we get into the "how," let's cover the "why." Using built-in templates has some serious advantages:

• Time-Saving: The most obvious benefit. Instead of spending hours manually trimming clips and syncing them to a beat, you can create a professional-looking Reel in minutes.
• Trending Power: Many templates are built around trending audios and editing styles. Using them gives your content a higher chance of being shown to new audiences on the Reels feed.
• Simple & Accessible: You don’t need any video editing skills. If you can tap and select photos from your camera roll, you can make a template-based Reel.
• Inspiration Engine: Stuck on what to post? Browsing templates can spark ideas for your next behind-the-scenes look, product showcase, or team highlight.

Method 1: Finding Templates Directly from a Reel

This is the most common way people discover templates - by spotting one in the wild while scrolling their feed. It’s straightforward, and you can act on your inspiration immediately.

Here’s the step-by-step process:

1. Scroll Your Reels Feed: As you watch Reels, keep an eye out for a button that says "Use Template" appearing above the creator's username. This tag indicates the Reel was made with a template available for public use.
2. Pay Attention to Audio: Sometimes, instead of a direct "Use Template" button, you might see that hundreds of thousands of other Reels have been created with the same audio. If you tap the audio at the bottom of the screen, you’ll often see a "Use template" option next to the audio.
3. Tap the Button: Once you tap "Use Template," Instagram will take you to an editing screen. Here, you'll see a series of gray boxes, each with a specific duration (e.g., 0.8s, 1.2s, 0.5s). These are the placeholders for your content.
4. Add Your Media: Tap the "Add media" button at the bottom of the screen or tap each gray box individually to select a video or photo from your camera roll. Be prepared! It’s helpful to have your clips ready and roughly in the order you want them to appear.
5. Let Instagram Do the Work: The platform will automatically place your selected media into the placeholders and sync them perfectly to the audio track. No manual trimming is required.
6. Finalize and Post: Tap "Next" to add any text overlays, stickers, filters, or a caption, just as you would with any other Reel. Then, share it with your followers!

Method 2: Discovering Templates in the Template Browser

Waiting to stumble upon the perfect template in your feed can be hit-or-miss. For a more direct approach, Instagram has a dedicated Template Browser where you can actively search for inspiration.

Here’s how to access it:

1. Open the Reels Editor: Tap the plus icon (+) at the bottom of your screen and select “Reel.”
2. Navigate to the Template Section: At the very bottom of the camera screen, instead of recording or uploading a clip, swipe right on the options (Camera, Drafts) until you see "Templates." Tap it.
3. Browse the Library: You're now in the Template Browser. This is essentially a feed dedicated to templates you can use. It's an excellent way to see what's popular without scrolling through your entire feed. You can explore a few categories:
   • Recommended: Templates Instagram thinks you’ll like based on your activity.
   • Trending: A curated list of the most popular and viral templates right now.
   • Saved: Any templates you've saved for later will appear here (more on that next).
4. Select and Create: Once you find a template you like, simply tap it and follow the same steps as Method 1 to add your media. This method is fantastic for planning content in advance rather than reacting to what’s in your feed.

Pro Tip: Save Templates for Later Use

Ever see a great template but weren't ready to use it? Instead of losing it forever, you can save it. When you see a Reel with the "Use template" tag, tap the three-dot menu (...) on the side of the Reel and hit "Save." Alternatively, when you are in the template creation screen, look for a small bookmark or flag icon to save it directly. Your saved templates will be waiting for you in the "Saved" section of the Template Browser.

Finding and Using Story Templates

While Reels templates are about video timing and audio, Story templates are typically focused on graphic design and viewer interaction. They range from simple trend formats using stickers to highly polished graphics you build outside of the app.

Jump on Trends With "Add Yours Music" Stickers

You’ve probably seen these pop up in your friends' Stories. The "Add Yours" sticker (often now as "Add Yours Music") is a simple template format created in collaboration with the song’s original artist. A typical prompt encourages viewers to share a photo or video matching a certain theme. The magic is in the network effect - when someone adds to the chain, their followers can too.

Here's how to use them:

• Spot the Sticker: While watching Stories, look for a sticker that says "Add Yours Music" or a similar call to action.
• Tap and Participate: Simply tap the sticker. Instagram will immediately open your camera roll, prompting you to select your own photo or video.
• Post Your Contribution: Once you select your media, Instagram adds it to a Story that includes the original template. Your followers will now see your contribution and get the same prompt to join in. It’s a beautifully simple way to create interactive, discovery-friendly content.

Sourcing High-Quality Story Graphic Templates (Outside of Instagram)

For a consistent, branded look, you'll want graphic templates. While Instagram has basic layouts and backgrounds, the best templates for polished Stories are found on third-party platforms. These are templates for announcements, quotes, Q&,As, promotions, and more.

Canva: The Gold Standard for DIY Design

Canva is the top resource for social media templates, offering thousands of free and professional designs specifically formatted for Instagram Stories. The versatility is unmatched.

Your workflow would look like this:

1. Go to Canva's website or open the app and search for "Instagram Story Template."
2. Browse thousands of options, filtering by style, theme, or color.
3. Select a template that fits your brand. Customize it by changing the colors, swapping the fonts, and adding your own photos or logo.
4. Download the finished graphic to your phone as a high-quality JPG or PNG file.
5. Open Instagram, start a new Story, and upload the image from your camera roll. Done!

The beauty of Canva is creating a cohesive set of Story templates. You can design five or six different layouts (e.g., one for a question, one for a new blog post, one for a behind-the-scenes photo) and use them repeatedly for effortless brand consistency.

Other Go-To Apps & Marketplaces

• Adobe Express: A powerful alternative to Canva, Adobe Express offers a massive library of sleek, professional templates with excellent customization features.
• Unfold: Initially popular for its clean, film-inspired aesthetic, Unfold offers beautiful and minimalist template collections that make any Story feel elegant.
• Etsy or Creative Market: If you want something truly unique and have a small budget, you can purchase template packs designed by professional graphic artists. Searching "Instagram Story Templates" will reveal countless packs that include dozens of coordinated designs for a polished, agency-level look.

Building Your Own Templates for Maximum Brand Control

Sometimes, the best template is one you create yourself. Building your own "template" style within the Instagram app is the ultimate move for brand consistency. It means establishing a set of visual rules and sticking to them, so your followers instantly recognize your Stories.

Using Instagram’s Native Story Editor

You can create simple but effective templates right inside the Story creator. Here's a basic framework:

1. Start with a Brand Background: Instead of a photo, tap the "Create Aa" mode. Use the color picker to select one of your exact brand colors for the background. You can even upload an image with your brand's pattern or texture.
2. Establish Your Font Hierarchy: Choose two, and only two, fonts to use consistently. One for headlines and a simpler one for body text. Always using the same fonts creates a powerful brand signal.
3. Leverage the Layout Feature: The "Layout" tool on the side menu lets you create collages with 2-6 photos in a clean grid. Using these consistent layouts prevents your stories from looking messy.
4. Save Your "Blank": Create your basic layout - background color, font positioning for a text box, maybe your logo as a sticker - and then save the image to your phone without posting it. Now you have a blank canvas to upload and write on for future stories!

Curate Your Own Sticker and GIF Set

Consistency also applies to the small elements. When you find a GIF or sticker you like, don't just use it once. If you hold down on the sticker in the search results, you can "Favorite" it by pressing a small flag icon. This saves it to your own personal favorites tab, making it ridiculously easy to find and add the same branded elements to your Stories over and over again. Search for things like "white line," "simple shapes," or "minimalist text dividers" to find aesthetic elements that match your vibe.

Final Thoughts

Finding templates on Instagram is simple once you know where to search. You can effortlessly create on-trend videos with the native "Use Template" feature for Reels, engage followers with "Add Yours" stickers in Stories, or build a recognizable brand identity with custom graphic templates from tools like Canva. Just choose the method that best fits your goals and workflow.

Once you have your content ready from a template, getting it scheduled consistently is the next hurdle. At Postbase, we designed our platform specifically to make scheduling short-form video for Reels, TikTok, and Shorts incredibly simple. You can plan your entire content calendar visually and trust that everything will publish reliably, directly, and on time. It removes the friction from your workflow, leaving you more time to focus on creating great content.