How to Change Instagram Story Background Color

To change Instagram story background color, open your Story, tap the Draw tool (pen icon), choose the marker and pick a color. Then press and hold the screen for two to three seconds until it fills. Want a gradient? Use Create mode (Aa) and tap the color circle. Want the photo to stay visible? Use the highlighter for a transparent tint.

The 4 Methods at a Glance

Times are rough estimates. Your results will depend on your device and app version.

Why Your Story Background Color Matters

You decide in about a second whether to keep watching a Story, and so do your viewers. A clean story background makes your text overlay easy to read, while a clashing one pushes people to swipe away.

That's why it's worth choosing your colors on purpose. Instagram's own Stories guide shows that the editor already gives you text, drawing, stickers and filters to work with. The background is simply the layer that holds everything together.

Color also shapes how people react to what you post. If you want to go deeper, read how color psychology affects clicks on carousel posts. The same ideas apply to Stories.

Here's the good part. You don't need a design degree, and you don't need extra apps to start.

Method 1: Use the Draw Tool for a Solid Color Background

The draw tool fill is the most popular way to get a solid color background. It works on both iPhone and Android, and it only needs one finger.

Older Instagram style guides describe the same trick: take a photo of anything, tap the drawing tool, choose a color, and hold down anywhere on the screen.

Step by Step

1. Open Instagram and start a new Story.

2. Add any photo (it will be covered).

3. Tap the pen icon, or the three dots and then Draw.

4. Choose the marker pen, the first option, as Adaptly explains.

5. Pick a shade from the color palette.

6. Press and hold for two to three seconds, per EvergreenFeed.

Getting a Custom Color

Want something outside the default swatches? Outfy notes that you can tap and hold any color to open the full spectrum. You can also use the eyedropper tool to copy a color straight from your image.

What about an exact brand color? According to TechIdea, Stories don't usually accept direct HEX code input. So the workaround is to upload a swatch of your brand color, then sample it with the eyedropper. If you need a specific shade, our dark blue HEX code guide is a handy place to find exact values to turn into a swatch.

Method 2: Use Create Mode for Gradient Backgrounds

Create mode is built for text stories, and it comes with gradient backgrounds out of the box. It's the quickest option when your message matters more than the picture.

Step by Step

1. Open the Story camera.

2. Tap Create (the Aa icon).

3. Tap the color circle at the bottom.

4. Keep tapping until a gradient suits your mood.

5. Type your message and post.

Birdeye and Outfy describe this same flow, so you can cross check it.

One note worth making: some guides, such as Stack Influence, say the Draw tool has no true gradient option. That's consistent with the steps above, because the gradients come from Create mode and not from drawing.

Method 3: Change the Background When Sharing a Feed Post

When you share a post to your Story, Instagram adds an automatic background. It's convenient, but it's not always the color you want.

Fortunately, the fix is simple. After tapping Add to Story, tap the background to cycle through colors. If none of them fit, open Draw, pick a color, and press and hold the empty space around the post.

If the fill doesn't reach the edges, zoom the post in slightly and try again.

By the way, Birdeye's FAQ says the default color is based on the image's dominant color. That explains why your background sometimes looks blue or green for no reason.

Method 4: Add a Transparent Color Tint Without Hiding Your Photo

Sometimes you want a color wash, not a solid block. In that case, the highlighter is your friend.

Pick the highlighter instead of the marker, then press and hold. You get a transparent overlay that keeps your photo or video visible, which Zeely recommends for videos in particular.

Also, if you've filled the screen with a solid color and want part of the picture back, use the eraser. Tailwind notes that it reveals the image underneath.

Troubleshooting: Common Problems and Fixes

Things don't always work on the first try. Here's what usually goes wrong.

• The color won't fill the screen: You probably chose a brush that isn't the marker. Adaptly says the full fill only works with the marker pen.

• The fill looks incomplete: Hold for longer. A short press is a common mistake.

• The color covers your video: Switch to the highlighter, as Zeely suggests.

• The editor glitches: Back out and restart it.

• Your brand shade looks off: Sample it from an uploaded swatch with the eyedropper.

One source discrepancy is worth knowing about. Some guides call the fill tool the "pen" and others call it the "marker," so look for the first brush in the tool row if the names differ on your device.

Going Beyond the Standard Editor

Instagram's editor is great for fast results. But it has limits, especially with custom gradients, textures and strict brand consistency.

If that's you, a design tool can help. Adobe Express offers Instagram Story templates where you can set a background color, add your image and format branded text. YouCam Perfect is another option that promotes AI assisted backgrounds. Compare them yourself and try the free tiers before committing.

Prefer to edit on your phone? Here's our roundup of the best free photo editing apps for iPhone, which can help you prepare backgrounds and swatches before you upload them.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I change the background color on an Instagram Story?

Open the Story editor, tap Draw, choose the marker, pick a color, and press and hold the screen until it fills.

How do I make an Instagram Story background black?

Follow the same steps and select black from the palette. Perfect Corp's guide gives the same instructions.

Can I use a HEX code for my Story background?

Usually not. TechIdea says direct HEX input isn't typically offered. Upload a swatch and use the eyedropper instead.

How do I change the background without covering my photo?

Use the highlighter for a transparent tint. If you want the blank space around the image changed, add the background first and the photo second, as TechIdea describes.

Does this work on both iPhone and Android?

Yes. says the steps match on both platforms.

Can I use a gradient background?

Yes, through Create mode. Tap the color circle to cycle through the options.

Final Thoughts

You now have four reliable ways to change your Instagram story background color: the Draw tool fill, Create mode gradients, the shared post fix and the highlighter tint. Start with the Draw tool, since it's quick and free.

So open Instagram, pick a color, and hold your finger down. Your next Story is a few seconds away.