How to Add Filters to Instagram Stories

Gone are the days when Instagram only offered few filter options for photos. Now you will find many ways to improve your Instagram stories. To use the existing filters, just choose from the preloaded camera options. And finding new filters to save to your camera is also relatively easy.

In this article, we'll explain how to find, save, and then add a new filter to your Instagram stories through mobile and desktop.

How to Add Filters to Instagram Stories on an iPhone

Here's how to find filters to add to your IG stories:

1. Log in to your Instagram account, then swipe left on your News Feed to access your camera.
   
2. In the camera screen menu bar, swipe left until you see the "Browse Effects" option represented by a magnifying glass.
   
3. Select it to access the "Effect Gallery".
   
4. Select a filter from the most popular on the home page or browse and select categories at the top. Or you can tap the magnifying glass in the top right to search for filters.
   To save the filter to your iPhone:
   
5. In "Effect Gallery", select the filter you want to try, then wait for the preview page to launch.
   
6. Tap the download icon at the bottom right to save the filter to your camera.
7. The arrow icon will appear as a check mark once the filter is saved.
8. At the top right of the filter preview screen, tap the "X" or return to the "Effect Gallery" by swiping down.
   
9. While previewing, at the bottom of the screen, tap the filter name to reveal the “Save Effect” option.
   
10. Tap it to save the filter to your camera.
    
11. Tap the "X" in the top left to exit "Effect Gallery".
    

You can now access the filter from the menu.

To add the filter to your IG story:

1. At the bottom right of the camera, tap the smiley face icon to access your saved filter.
   
2. Select the filter, then tap or long press the white circle button to take a photo or video. This will take the photo or video with the filter enabled. You can also tap the "Camera Roll" icon on the bottom left to choose an existing photo or video.
   
3. At the bottom left, tap "Your Story".
   

Your filtered photo or video will be added to your daily story.

How to Add Filters to Instagram Stories on Android Device

To find filters to add to your IG story, follow these steps:

1. Launch IG then go to the camera by swiping left on your News Feed.
   
2. Via the camera screen menu bar, swipe left to access the “Browse Effects” option.
   
3. Tap it to access the "Effect Gallery".
   
4. Choose a filter from the most popular on the home page or scroll and select categories at the top. You can also use the magnifying glass at the top right to search for filters.
   To save the filter to your Android device:
   
5. In "Effect Gallery", choose the filter you want to try and wait for the preview.
   
6. Select the download icon in the bottom right to save the filter to your camera.
   
7. The arrow icon changes to a check mark when the filter is saved.
   
8. At the top right of the filter preview screen, tap the "X" or return to the "Effect Gallery" by swiping down.
9. At the bottom of the preview screen, tap the filter name to reveal the "Save Effect" option.
   
10. Select it to save the filter to your camera.
    
11. At the top left, press the back arrow to exit the "Effect Gallery".
    

The filter will now be available in the menu.

To add the filter to your IG story:

1. At the bottom right of the camera, select the smiley face icon to access your saved filter.
   
2. Choose the filter, then press or hold the white circle button to take a photo or video. This will take the photo or video with the filter enabled. Or you can tap the "Camera Roll" icon on the bottom left to choose an existing photo or video.
   
3. At the bottom left, tap "Your Story".
   

Your filtered photo or video will be added to your daily story.

How to Add Filters to Instagram Stories on PC

IG's photo editing feature is only supported on Android and iOS. Therefore, for Instagram filters on your PC or Mac to apply to your photos and videos, it requires the help of a third-party application.

Try filter-enabled photo-editing apps like LotPhoto, Photos (Windows, Mac), or CameraSac Photo, to create your filters and then save them to your desktop.

Since IG is a mobile-focused app, the photo upload feature is also not available when accessing from the web. Therefore, follow these steps to access the mobile IG view, via "Developer Tools" in Google Chrome:

1. In Google Chrome, go to Instagram.com and sign in to your account.
   
2. Right-click anywhere on the page to display the menu.
   
3. Select "Inspect" to open the "Developer Tools" panel. "Developer Tools" will launch on the right.
   
4. At the top left of the "Developer Tools" window, click "Toggle device toolbar". It's the icon that looks like a phone and a tablet. This will switch your IG account to mobile view.
   
5. At the top of the main window, click the "View" drop-down menu to select a view, eg iPhone, iPad.
   
6. Refresh the browser.
   
   To add your saved filter to an IG story:
7. At the top left of your News Feed, click the plus sign (+) next to "Your Story".
   
8. This opens the camera screen. Make sure "Story" is selected at the bottom.
9. At the bottom right of the camera, select the smiley face icon to access your saved filter.
10. Locate the previously created filter from "File Explorer" or "Finder".
11. Click on it to select it.
12. Click or long press the white circle button to take a photo or video. This will take the photo or video with the filter enabled. Or tap the "Camera Roll" icon on the bottom left to choose an existing photo or video saved on your computer.
13. At the bottom left, click on “Your story”.

Your filtered photo or video will be added to your daily story.

FAQ

How do I find Instagram filters by creator?

Here's how to find an IG filter from a specific creator:

1. Locate the creator's profile.

2. Above their grid, tap the smiley.

3. Select the filter you want, then tap "Try" or select the down arrow to download it.

4. Take a photo or video using the filter to share with your friends.

Add filters to your IG stories

When it comes to popping selfies and videos, IG is one of the best photo editors for social media. Their filters help make your posts stand out with an artistic finish.

By using the IG mobile app, you will have access to all editing features to add filters to your stories. However, since IG is a mobile-focused app, these options are not available on desktop. Luckily, when you access your IG account through "Developer Tools" in Google Chrome, the mobile view offers most mobile functionality.

What type of filters do you most like to add to your photos and videos? Tell us in the comments section below.