Instagram gives you a full set of editing tools while you’re creating a Story: text, stickers, drawing, filters, music, and more. After you post, though, your options are much more limited. This guide covers how to edit a Story before you share it, what you can still change once it’s live, and the workaround for fixing a mistake.
Quick Answer
Before posting, use the tools at the top of the Story editor (text Aa, stickers, draw, effects, music) to edit your photo or video. After posting, you generally can’t change the photo, text, or stickers; open the Story, tap More (the three dots), and use Story settings to change who can see or reply, or Delete it and post a corrected version. Instagram has been testing an option to edit some posted Stories, so you may see an Edit choice on your account.
Edit a Story Before You Post It
- Open Instagram and tap your profile picture with the + (or swipe right from the feed) to open the Story camera.
- Take a photo or video, or swipe up to choose one from your gallery.
- Use the editing tools along the top or side:
- Aa (Text): type, then choose a font, color, alignment, background, and animation. Pinch to resize and drag to move.
- Stickers: add location, mentions, hashtags, polls, questions, links, music, GIFs, countdowns, and more.
- Draw: pen, marker, highlighter, neon, or eraser.
- Effects/filters: swipe left or right on the photo to change filters, or tap the effects icon.
- Music: add a song and choose the clip and display style.
- Restyle or AI tools: where available, newer AI tools can change backgrounds or styles before posting.
- To remove an element, drag it to the trash icon at the bottom.
- Tap Your story or Close Friends to post, or save a draft by tapping the back arrow and choosing Save draft.
What You Can Change After Posting
- Open your Story (tap your profile picture).
- Tap More (the three dots, bottom-right).
- Choose an option:
- Story settings: hide your Story from specific people, change who can reply, and choose whether others can reshare it.
- Highlight: add it to a profile highlight so it stays after 24 hours.
- Save: download the photo or video to your phone.
- Delete: remove this slide (other slides stay up).
You can also edit a highlight’s name, cover, and which Stories it contains at any time: open the highlight, tap More > Edit highlight.
The Edit Option Being Tested
In 2026, Instagram was spotted testing an Edit this story option for posted Stories. Reports suggest that editing effectively replaces the Story, so views and reactions may reset. If you see Edit in the More menu, you have access; if not, use the delete-and-repost method below.
Fix a Mistake: Delete and Repost
- Before deleting, tap More > Save if you want to keep the original photo or video (saved Stories include your stickers and text).
- Tap More > Delete and confirm.
- Create the Story again from your original photo or video, fix the mistake, and post.
Tip: turn on Save story to archive in Settings > Archiving and downloading so every Story is kept privately, and you can reshare it from Archive later.
Related: Creative Instagram name ideas.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does deleting a Story notify anyone?
No. People just won’t see it anymore. Anyone who already viewed it won’t be told it was deleted.
Can I change the music on a posted Story?
Not currently, unless you have the Edit option. Delete and repost with the new song.
Can I edit someone else’s Story I reshared?
Only the elements you added before sharing, and only by deleting and resharing.
Summary
- Do all your editing in the Story editor before posting.
- After posting, use More > Story settings, Highlight, Save, or Delete.
- To fix text or stickers, save, delete, and repost.
- Watch for the new Edit option as Instagram rolls it out.
Kermit Matthews runs Live2Tech from just outside Philadelphia. He is an IT specialist with over 20 years of experience, from a university help desk to small-business IT, IT management and his own consulting practice, and has written tech guides full time since 2020. Steps are checked against the current software on a real device or the maker’s official documentation. More about Kermit.