To add a text box in an Instagram Story, open the story camera, add your photo or video and tap Aa. Type your words, then tap the A-in-a-box button at the top of the screen: each tap cycles the background behind your text from none, to a solid box, to a see-through box.
That A-in-a-box button is the bit most people miss. It's what turns plain letters into the coloured label look you see on so many stories, and once you know it's there, you'll use it on almost every story you make.
Add text to your story
- Tap the plus at the top of your feed or profile and choose Story, or swipe right from the feed.
- Take a photo or video, or pick one from your gallery.
- Tap Aa (the text tool).
- Type your text.
- Pick a font from the chips along the bottom of the screen.
- Tap one of the colour dots to colour your text.
- Tap the A-in-a-box button at the top to add a background behind the words. Tap again to switch between a solid and a see-through box, and once more to remove it.
- Tap Done. Then pinch to resize, drag to move, and twist with two fingers to rotate.
If an icon looks different in your version of the app, tap the text itself to bring the toolbar back up and look along the top.
Every text control, at a glance
| Control | Where you'll find it | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Font | The chips along the bottom | Changes the typeface, from clean to handwritten to typewriter-style |
| Colour | The row of colour dots | Colours the letters, or the box when the box is switched on |
| Background (A-in-a-box) | Top of the screen | Cycles between no background, a solid box and a see-through box |
| Alignment | Top of the screen, beside the other text tools | Lines your text up left, centre or right |
| Animation | The Aa with lines icon | Makes the words appear with movement |
| Size | Pinch with two fingers | Makes the text bigger or smaller |
| Position and angle | Drag, or twist with two fingers | Moves and rotates the whole text box |
The catch: once the box is switched on, the colour you pick goes to the box, not the letters, and the letters switch to white or black on their own. So if your text seems to disappear, or you can't get the colour you want on the words themselves, tap the A button to cycle back to no background. The colour then goes back onto the letters.
This catches out almost everyone the first time. It's not a bug. The box and the letters simply share one colour choice, and the button decides which of the two gets it.
Colour the whole background
A flat colour behind everything, or a colour with part of a photo peeking through, uses the drawing tool rather than the text tool. It's quick once you've done it once.
- Add your photo to the story as usual.
- Tap the scribble (draw) icon.
- Choose a colour from the dots.
- Press and hold anywhere on the screen. The whole story fills with that colour.
- Pick the eraser and rub out part of the fill to reveal the photo underneath.
- Tap Done, then add your text on top with Aa.
That's the trick behind stories where a product photo shows through a coloured frame, or where a simple announcement sits on a flat brand colour. If you want to show several photos at once instead, the grid layout for Instagram stories is the faster tool, and you can still add a text box over the top.
Small design habits that make text easier to read
- Keep away from the edges. Your profile name sits at the top and the reply bar sits at the bottom. Text placed there gets covered.
- One or two fonts per story. More than that looks busy and slows people down.
- Contrast beats colour. Dark text on a light background, or light on dark. A pretty colour that's hard to read isn't doing its job.
- Use the see-through box over busy photos. It lifts the words off the picture without hiding the whole image.
- Short lines. Stories are tapped through quickly. A few words per line read faster than a paragraph.
- Mention people with the mention tool. Typing a name in a text box doesn't tag anyone. My guide on how to tag people in an Instagram story shows how to do it so they're notified.
If you're posting a run of video clips, the same text style on each one makes them feel like a set. My guide to posting multiple videos on an Instagram story covers getting several clips up in one go.
Quick fixes when the text tool misbehaves
- The box is too wide. Tap into the text and add line breaks with the return key. Shorter lines make a neater, narrower box.
- You can't find Aa. Make sure you've added a photo or video first; on some versions you can also tap anywhere on the screen to start typing. If it still isn't there, update the app.
- You want to change text you've placed. Tap it once to reopen the editor with all the controls, as long as you haven't shared the story yet.
- You want to delete a text box. Drag it to the bin that appears at the bottom of the screen.
Using text boxes for a business account
Text boxes are where a small business can look consistent without a designer. Pick one font, one brand colour and one box style, and use them every time. After a few weeks, regular followers will recognise your stories before they've read a word. Use the solid box for headlines and key details, like opening times or a new product name, and the see-through box for anything that sits over a photo you want people to see.
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Keep the wording plain. A story is on screen for a moment, so a short line that says exactly what's happening does more than a clever one that needs a second read.
What I'd do
If it were my account, I'd choose one font and one colour that suit my brand and use the solid box on every announcement. It's the simplest way to make stories look like they belong together.
Frequently asked questions
How do I put a background behind text on an Instagram Story?
Tap Aa, type your text, then tap the A-in-a-box button at the top. Each tap cycles between no background, a solid box and a see-through box.
Why did my text turn white when I changed the colour?
With the box switched on, the colour you pick goes to the box and the letters switch to white or black. Tap the A button to go back to no box and the colour returns to the letters.
How do I change the whole background colour of an Instagram Story?
Tap the draw icon, choose a colour, then press and hold anywhere on the screen to fill it. Use the eraser to reveal part of your photo underneath.
Can I animate the text on my story?
Yes. With your text selected, tap the Aa with lines icon to add an animation to the words.
