15 Instagram Story Hacks and Hidden Features You Should Know

Hidden Story Features

Instagram stories have many features that aren't immediately obvious. Here are the best hidden tricks.

Text and Font Hacks

Custom Colors

Tap and hold the color palette to access the full color spectrum. You can pick any exact color, not just the presets.

Color Picker from Photo

Select the dropper tool to pick any color from your photo. This creates perfectly matched text and background colors.

Rainbow Text

Type your text, select all, then drag one finger on the color slider while holding the text selection with another. Each letter gets a different color.

Multiple Fonts

Layer multiple text boxes with different fonts to create unique typography compositions.

Layout Hacks

Collage Mode

Use the Layout mode to create multi-photo collages directly in stories. Available in the story camera menu. For more details, see our guide on view stories anonymously. For more details, see our guide on how long Instagram stories last.

Full-Screen Color Background

Choose Create mode, pick a color, then add text and stickers for a clean, non-photo story.

Photo Inside Text

Type large text, add a photo from gallery, resize it to cover the text. The text acts as a mask for the photo.

Engagement Hacks

Invisible Polls

Make the poll text the same color as your background. The poll is visible but the text blends in, creating a cleaner look.

Countdown Timer

Use the Countdown sticker for product launches or events. Followers can tap to get reminded when the countdown ends.

Mention Hack

Tag accounts in your story, then shrink the mention text and hide it behind a sticker. The mentioned account still gets notified.

Organization Hacks

Save Templates

Create a story template, screenshot it, and save to your favorites. Use it as a background for future stories.

Highlight Covers

Create custom highlight covers using the Create mode with your brand colors and icons.

Schedule Stories

Some third-party tools allow scheduling stories in advance, helping you maintain consistency.

Analytics Hacks

Check Who Viewed

Swipe up on your story to see the viewer list. Look at this data to understand your most engaged followers.

Track Story Completion

Check if viewers watch your entire story series. If completion drops after slide 3, consider making stories shorter.

Use StoriesFly to Research

View competitor stories anonymously with StoriesFly to study their story techniques and apply insights to your own content.