How to See Responses to Instagram Story Questions

You’ve just added the perfect "Ask me anything" sticker to your Instagram Story, and the notifications are rolling in. But you may wonder where all these responses actually go. Don't worry, this guide will show you how to find, view, share, and manage every response your question sticker receives - both while your Story is live and after it disappears.

How to See Responses to Your Live Instagram Story

First, let’s cover the most common scenario: when your Story is still active (within its 24-hour lifespan). Finding your responses is straightforward once you know where to look. They are not in your Direct Message inbox, which is where most people check first. Instead, the answers are attached directly to the Story itself.

Follow these simple steps:

1. Open your own Instagram Story. Tap your profile picture at the top-left of your feed, the same way you would to watch your Story.
2. Navigate to the specific Story slide that has your question sticker on it. If you posted multiple slides, just tap through until you land on the right one.
3. Swipe up on the screen. You can also tap the "Activity" or "Viewers" icon in the bottom-left corner, which shows little profile pictures of people who have seen it.

This opens up the Story's analytics and engagement dashboard. Here, you’ll see a list of viewers at the top. Below that, you will find a dedicated section for "Responses" to your question sticker, organized for easy review.

You’ll see a scrollable list of all the submitted answers. Each response displays the username and profile picture of the person who sent it, alongside their answer.

What If My Story Already Expired? Finding Old Responses

It's easy to forget to check your question responses before the 24-hour clock runs out. Previously, this meant losing those valuable interactions. Fortunately, with Instagram's Story Archive feature (enabled by default for most accounts), you can access old Story responses easily.

Here’s how to find them:

• Go to your Instagram Profile. Tap your profile picture in the bottom-right corner of the navigation bar.
• Open the Menu. Tap the three horizontal lines (the "hamburger" icon) in the top-right corner.
• Select "Archive." You'll see options here. Tap "Archive" to open your collection of past content.
• Find your Story. Your Story Archive will appear, often in a calendar or grid view. Navigate to the date you posted the Story with the question sticker and tap on it.
• Swipe Up. Just as with a live Story, swipe up to find the viewer and response data. You can see who answered and what they said, long after the Story has vanished from your public profile.

This archiving feature is a game-changer for businesses and creators using question stickers for audience feedback, content ideas, or market research, allowing you to revisit those insights whenever needed.

How to Share Responses to Create More Engaging Content

Viewing responses is only part of the fun. The real power of the question sticker lies in sharing those answers to spark public conversations with your audience. When you share a response, it becomes a new Story slide, encouraging engagement.

Here’s how to share a response:

1. Find the Response. Follow the steps above (either for a live Story or an archived one) to access your list of responses.
2. Tap on the Response You Want to Share. Scroll through your list and pick a question or comment that you find interesting, funny, or helpful.
3. Click "Share Response." Below each submission, you’ll see a blue button that says "Share Response." Tapping this opens a brand new Story creator screen.
4. Customize Your New Story. The response appears as a sticker on a plain gradient background. Customize as follows:
   • Change the background: Tap the color bubble at the top to cycle through different gradients, or swipe up to select a photo or video from your camera roll.
   • Resize and reposition: Use two fingers to pinch, zoom, and move the question sticker anywhere on the screen.
   • Add your answer: Use the text tool to type your reply. You can also use another sticker, a GIF, or even talk over it in a video.

Importantly, sharing a response keeps the original asker anonymous. Instagram automatically hides their username and profile picture so your audience only sees the question itself, fostering a safe environment for genuine interaction.

Beyond "Ask Me Anything": Creative Ways to Use the Question Sticker

Now that you know the mechanics, you can think strategically. The "Ask Me Anything" format is popular, but this sticker is more versatile. Here are creative strategies to build a more engaged community and gather valuable insights for your brand.

Market Research & Product Feedback

Use the question sticker to get direct input from your customers. It's free, instant market research that your audience willingly provides.

• Example for an e-commerce brand: "What new T-shirt color should we launch for spring?"
• Example for a software company: "What's the #1 feature you wish our app had?"
• Example for a local cafe: "Besides coffee, what kind of drink would you love to see on our menu?"

Generate Content Ideas

If you're stuck in a content rut, let your audience tell you what they want. This ensures you're creating content that genuinely helps and interests them.

• Example for a fitness coach: "What's your biggest struggle when it comes to workout motivation?"
• Example for a financial advisor: "What's the most confusing personal finance topic you'd like me to explain?"
• Example for a graphic designer: "What tutorial would you most like to see next: logo design or typography basics?"

Bust Myths or Address Assumptions

This is a fun way to control your brand's narrative and connect with your audience on a deeper level. Use a prompt like "Ask me an assumption you have about [my brand/my industry]." Then, share the assumption and counter or confirm it. This builds authority and personality simultaneously.

Collect Testimonials (Social Proof)

Gather feedback that can be repurposed later. Ask a simple question to get glowing reviews.

• Example: "What was your favorite part of working with us?" or "Share your favorite result from using our product!"

You can then screenshot these responses (or share them directly) in your Stories, add them to a "Reviews" highlight, or use them on your website (with permission).

Build Hype for a Launch

Anticipating a new product, service, or announcement? Use the question sticker to build anticipation and answer questions before they hit your inbox.

• Example: "Our new collection drops Friday. What questions do you have about it?"

This allows you to address things like pricing, materials, and availability, driving more informed and excited traffic when you go live.

Final Thoughts

The Instagram Question Sticker is more than a novelty, it's a direct line to your audience's thoughts, questions, and ideas. By knowing how to locate responses in your live and archived Stories, you can tap into this feedback. By creatively sharing those responses, you can turn a simple feature into an ongoing conversation that builds community and trust.

Keeping up with all this engagement - from Question Responses to DMs and comments - can be demanding. We built Postbase because we understand that managing a social media presence today means handling conversations across countless surfaces. Our unified inbox compiles your comments and DMs from all connected platforms into one streamlined feed, so after sparking conversations with a creative Story, you can manage the follow-up without switching frantically between apps.