Open the Story camera, tap Boomerang (the infinity symbol) in the tools on the left, then tap the capture button. Instagram records a short burst and plays it forward and back on a loop, ready for you to add stickers and share.
Once it's recorded, tap the infinity icon at the top of the screen to choose a mode, Classic, Slowmo, Echo or Duo, and use the slider to trim the loop. Then share it to Your Story or Close Friends like any other story.
Record a Boomerang, step by step
- Open the Story camera. Swipe right from your feed, or tap your profile picture with the + on it.
- Look at the tools down the left side of the screen and tap Boomerang, the infinity symbol. You may need to tap the small arrow to see all the tools.
- Point your camera at something that moves and tap the capture button once. Instagram records a short burst on its own.
- Watch the preview. If you don't like it, tap the back arrow and record again.
- Tap the infinity icon at the top to choose a mode and trim the length.
- Add text, stickers or a mention if you want to.
- Share to Your Story or Close Friends.
Hold the phone as still as you can. The movement should come from the thing you're filming, not from your hand, or the loop looks shaky when it reverses.
Light matters more than you'd think. A Boomerang is a quick burst, so in a dim room the movement smears. Film near a window or under good light, and pick a plain background so the moving thing stands out.
Instagram moves its camera tools around now and then. If a name looks different in your version, search the app's settings for the key word, or look for the infinity symbol in the Story camera.
The four Boomerang modes
After recording, the infinity icon at the top opens the modes. Each one changes how the loop moves:
| Mode | What it does | Try it for |
|---|---|---|
| Classic | Plays the clip forward, then backward, over and over | Almost anything, it's the default |
| Slowmo | Plays the loop at a slower speed | Pouring, splashes, hair or fabric moving |
| Echo | Adds a blurred trail behind whatever moves | A wave, a spin, a dance move |
| Duo | Speeds up and slows down within the loop | A jump, a toss, a quick reveal |
Tap through all four on the same clip before you choose. The same few moments of video can look quite different in each mode, and it costs nothing to compare.
Trim the loop so it looks clean
On the same screen as the modes, there's a slider showing your clip. Drag its ends inward to cut the start and finish.
Trimming is where most Boomerangs get better. The first and last moments often show your hand moving or the camera settling, and those bits jump out when the loop reverses. Cut them off and keep only the movement you want people to see. A shorter loop usually looks smoother than a long one. Play it back a few times after trimming. If the point where it turns round still looks jerky, pull the ends in a little more until the movement flows both ways.
Turning a video from your gallery into a Boomerang
The catch: a Boomerang can only be recorded live in the Story camera. A video already in your gallery can't be turned into a Boomerang inside Stories, however you upload it. The Boomerang tool simply isn't offered for gallery clips.
So you've got two options. Record it again live with the Boomerang tool, if you can recreate the moment. Or make it a Reel and edit the clip there instead, accepting that you won't get the exact Boomerang effect.
If you also use Snapchat, its version of the same back-and-forth effect is called Bounce. Here's how to do a Boomerang on Snapchat if you'd like to compare.
Boomerang, Reel or a normal video?
A Boomerang is best for one small action that looks fun on repeat: a clink, a spin, a jump. It has no sound, so it's not the tool for talking, explaining or showing a process step by step.
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If you need people to hear you, record a normal video story. If you want something that stays on your profile and keeps finding new viewers, make a Reel. I'd treat a Boomerang as a light extra between those, a quick moment that adds some movement to a run of photos.
Boomerang ideas for a small business
Boomerangs suit small, repeatable movements. These are a few starting points to adapt to your own shop or service:
- Two coffee cups clinking on the counter to say good morning, or to mark a new week.
- A product turning slowly on a table so people see every side.
- The shop door opening on launch day, or the sign flipping to Open.
- A parcel being sealed with your sticker, for an order day.
- Confetti, flour or glitter tossed up over a finished piece of work.
- A pen signing a card or note before it goes in a box.
Keep each one short and give it one line of text at most, like 'Doors open at ten' or 'Packed and ready'. If you're mixing a Boomerang into a run of photos, the order matters, and my guide on how to upload multiple photos to an Instagram Story in order covers that.
When the Boomerang won't share
If the Boomerang records fine but gets stuck on the way out, it's usually the same thing that stops any story: a weak connection, an out-of-date app or a phone that's low on storage. Update the app, switch between Wi-Fi and mobile data, and try again. If it keeps failing, here's why an Instagram Story won't upload with each fix in turn.
What I'd film first
If it were my account, I'd start with Classic on one simple object, trimmed tight, before trying Echo or Duo. One clean, short loop of something you sell says more than a busy one.
I keep every related walkthrough in the Instagram Help: 81 Guides to Followers, Hashtags, Money, Accounts and Fixes.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Boomerang on Instagram Story?
Open the Story camera and look in the tools down the left side. Boomerang is the infinity symbol; tap the small arrow if you can't see all the tools.
Can I make a Boomerang from a video in my camera roll?
Not inside Stories. Boomerang only works when you record live in the Story camera, so record it again or edit the clip as a Reel instead.
How do I change the Boomerang effect after recording?
Tap the infinity icon at the top of the screen and pick Classic, Slowmo, Echo or Duo. The slider on the same screen trims the loop.
Can I share a Boomerang to Close Friends only?
Yes. When you share, choose Close Friends instead of Your Story.
What is the Snapchat version of Boomerang called?
Snapchat calls the same back-and-forth effect Bounce.
