How to Make a Carousel on TikTok

TikTok’s swipeable photo carousels are one of the most effective ways to tell a multi-part story, showcase a collection of moments, or break down a tutorial in one seamless post. Far from just a slideshow, this format boosts engagement by encouraging viewers to interact and swipe through your content at their own pace. This article will walk you through exactly how to create standout photo carousels on TikTok, complete with creative ideas and best practices to help your content connect.

What is a TikTok Carousel (and Why Should You Use One)?

A TikTok carousel, officially known as "Photo Mode," is a post type that allows you to share a series of static images (and even short video clips) that viewers can swipe through horizontally. Unlike a traditional TikTok video that pieces clips together into a single, auto-playing video, a carousel gives the user control to navigate the content slide by slide.

But why is this format so popular? The benefits are clear:

• Increased Engagement Time: The simple act of swiping keeps users on your post longer. This extended "dwell time" is a positive signal to the TikTok algorithm, which can result in broader distribution and more views. Viewers are actively participating rather than passively watching.
• Powerful Storytelling: Carousels are perfect for telling a story with a beginning, middle, and end. You can build suspense, reveal information gradually, or create a powerful before-and-after narrative that a single video might rush through.
• Informational Content, Simplified: This format is outstanding for educational content. You can break down complex topics into bite-sized, digestible slides. Think step-by-step guides, lists of tips, recipe instructions, or workout routines where each slide represents one part of the process.
• Versatile and Repurpose-Friendly: Carousels give new life to your existing photos. They’re also an amazing way to repurpose content from other platforms, like screenshots of insightful tweets, key points from a blog post, or customer testimonials.

How to Make a Carousel on TikTok: A Step-by-Step Guide

Creating a carousel is straightforward once you know where to look. Here's a detailed breakdown of the process from start to finish.

Step 1: Open TikTok and Tap the "+" Icon

Start just like you would for any other post. Open the TikTok app and tap the plus sign (+) at the bottom center of your screen to open the creation camera.

Step 2: Access Your Camera Roll

In the bottom-right corner of the camera screen, tap the 'Upload' button. This will take you to your phone's photo library, where you can access your saved photos and videos.

Step 3: Select Your Photos and Videos

Here’s where you’ll build your carousel. In the corner of each photo/video thumbnail, you'll see a small circle. Tap the circle on each piece of content you want to include in your carousel. A number will appear on each one, indicating its order in the sequence.

A few key things to remember:

• You must select more than one item to create a multi-slide post.
• You can combine both photos and short video clips within the same carousel. This is great for adding dynamic movement to an otherwise static post.
• You can reorder your selected assets later, so don't worry about getting the sequence perfect right away. Just choose everything you want to include first.

Once you’ve selected all your desired media, tap the 'Next' button at the bottom.

Step 4: Switch to "Photo Mode"

This is the most important step for creating a true, swipeable carousel. After tapping 'Next', TikTok will automatically compile your selected images and videos. At the very bottom of the screen, you’ll see two options: 'Switch to video mode' and 'Switch to photo mode'.

• Video Mode: This mode automatically stitches your selected content together into a single video file set to music, much like an Instagram Reel or a slideshow video.
• Photo Mode: This is the carousel mode. It keeps each image or video clip as a separate, swipeable slide.

Make sure ‘Photo mode’ is selected. You’ll know you’re in the right mode when you can swipe left and right through your individual slides in the editor.

Step 5: Edit and Enhance Your Carousel

Now it's time to add the "TikTok flavor" that makes your content pop. The editing options for carousels are nearly identical to those for standard videos.

• Add Music: Tap 'Add sound' at the top of the screen. This is essential! Adding a popular, trending song can significantly increase your post’s visibility. The audio you choose will play continuously as the viewer swipes through your carousel.
• Add Text Overlays: Tap the 'Text' tool (Aa) on the right-hand panel to add text. You can change fonts, and colors, and place it anywhere on the screen. A pro tip: Your text can stay on every slide or you can set its duration to appear only on a specific slide.
• Use Stickers and Effects: Explore the 'Stickers' and 'Effects' options to add personality. You can use polls, GIFs, or visual effects to make your content more engaging.
• Reorder Your Slides: Simply tap and hold any slide at the bottom of the editor and drag it to a new position to change the order.
• Edit Individual Clips: If you included video clips, you can tap on them individually to trim their length or adjust their volume.

Once you’re happy with your edits, tap 'Next'.

Step 6: Write Your Caption and Post

You’re at the finish line! On the final posting screen:

1. Write a compelling caption: Your caption should add context, ask a question to encourage comments (e.g., "Which is your favorite?"), and give viewers a reason to care.
2. Add relevant hashtags: Use a mix of broad, high-volume hashtags (#fyp, #viral) and niche, specific hashtags that relate to your content (#homedecorideas, #photographytips).
3. Tag people and set your privacy: Tag any relevant accounts, choose your audience, and adjust your post settings.

When you're ready, hit 'Post', and your carousel will go live on your profile.

3 Creative Ideas for Your TikTok Carousels

Stuck on what to create? Here are some popular and highly effective ideas for the carousel format.

1. Step-by-Step Tutorials and How-To Guides

This is arguably the best use of the carousel format. Break down any process into simple, visual steps. The viewer can swipe at their own pace, making it easy to follow along.

• Recipes: Slide 1: Ingredients. Slide 2: Step 1. Slide 3: Step 2, and so on.
• Workouts: Each slide demonstrates a different exercise in a circuit.
• DIY Projects: Show the materials, the process, and the final result across multiple slides.

2. Before-and-After Transformations

Humans are wired to love a good transformation. The side-by-side or swipeable "reveal" is incredibly satisfying for viewers.

• Home Renovations: Show the "before" mess and the "after" masterpiece.
• Client Results: If you're a coach or service provider, showcase the transformation your clients experience.
• Photo Editing: Slide 1 is the raw photo, slide 2 is the final edited version. You can even use subsequent slides to show your editing steps.

3. Storytelling Photo Dumps and 'A Day in the Life'

Use the carousel format to tell a story or recap an event where a video might feel too chaotic. This feels more intimate and personal, like flipping through a digital photo album.

• Event Recaps: Share highlights from a concert, a vacation, or a party.
• Aesthetic "Dumps": Curate a collection of images around a specific theme or aesthetic (e.g., "My Favorite Fall Photos," "Bookstore Vibes").
• Behind-the-Scenes: Show the process of your creative work - the studio mess, the initial sketches, and the final product.

Bonus Tips for Making Your Carousels Stand Out

• Hook Them with the First Slide: Your first image is your headline. It needs to stop the scroll. Use a powerful image or add a text hook like "5 Mistakes You're Making..." or "You won't believe what happened..." to build curiosity and encourage that first swipe.
• Create a "Looping" Effect: Try to make your last slide transition smoothly back to the first. This can subconsciously encourage viewers to swipe through your content multiple times, boosting engagement metrics.
• Use On-Screen Text as a guide: Add text like "Swipe for the reveal" or "Part 2 on the next slide" to actively guide users through the experience. Don't assume they'll know to swipe.

Mastering the TikTok carousel gives you another powerful tool in your content creation arsenal. It combines the visual appeal of photography with the narrative power of storytelling, all while leveraging the app’s algorithm in your favor.

Final Thoughts

TikTok carousels offer a uniquely engaging way to connect with your audience, providing the space to educate, entertain, and tell richer stories than a single video sometimes allows. Now that you are a master of TikTok carousels and know exactly how to make them, you can start incorporating this dynamic format into your content strategy to stop the scroll and hold your viewers' attention.

As you plan more carousels, videos, and short-form content, managing it all can get complicated. At Postbase, we built our tool specifically for the way social media works today. Our visual calendar lets you plan all your content - TikToks, Reels, Shorts, and more - in one clean space so you can see your entire strategy at a glance. We focused on building a simple, reliable platform that helps you schedule your posts without the headaches, so you can spend less time wrestling with tools and more time creating.