How to change length of instagram story


Instagram Story Video Length: How Long Your Videos Should Be

The maximum length for an Instagram Story video is 15 seconds. 

But if you're wondering how to get around the time constraint, here’s a simple trick: You can string multiple 15-second clips together to make a longer video sequence. 

IG Stories are short video clips that disappear after 24 hours. Stories are only visible to your followers. 

Instagram Story videos are shorter than the average “story” format of other social media platforms:

  • Facebook Stories: Up to 20 seconds
  • Snapchat Stories: Up to 60 seconds
  • WhatsApp Status: Up to 30 seconds

Story content isn't just limited to video. You can intersperse images and videos to create a more textured Story experience for your followers. Like a carousel post, viewers can tap through a mix of images and videos in your Story sequence.

How do Stories compare to other types of Instagram videos?

  • Instagram Story videos: The maximum length for an IG Story video is 15 seconds. Photos in Instagram Stories appear for 7 seconds.
  • Instagram Reels: Reels are Instagram's response to TikTok. A Reel video can last up to 60 seconds.
  • Instagram Live videos: Livestream videos shot from the Instagram app can be up to 4 hours long. They can also be uploaded in their entirety to your Story or Feed after they've ended.
  • Instagram Video: As of October 2021, IGTV video and Instagram Feed videos are now one format—Instagram Video. Video previews on the feed last up to 60 seconds. Regular accounts can upload video clips between 15 seconds and 10 minutes in length. Verified accounts or accounts with large followings can upload up to 60-minute videos.
  • Instagram Video ads: Story ads can last between 5-15 seconds. Reels ads, up to 30 seconds. And Feed video ads can last up to 60 seconds.

How to edit the length of an Instagram Story video

If you're starting with a video that's longer than 15 seconds, and you want to post it to your Stories, you have two options:

Option 1

If you want to post longer videos from your camera roll to Stories, but they exceed the 15 second limit, Instagram automatically splits the first minute of your video into 4 x 15-second story cards.

As long as the video is less than a minute, you're fine. And since you're starting with a single video, your sequence will still maintain a sense of continuity, even though it's broken into separate parts.

Option 2

If your video is longer than a minute, Instagram will turn the first minute into 4 x 15-second cards like in Option 1, but will discard anything past the 60-second mark.

To upload the full video you’ll need to trim your content manually using Instagram's native video editing feature. Or, you can use a quality third-party video editor tool like CutStory to trim and edit your footage before posting.

Instagram has a new native editing feature that lets you trim videos to the desired length. 
Credit: Instagram

Is it better to use long videos or short videos?

Long and short Stories can both work well. 

It ultimately depends on the type of content you're looking to post and how well you can capture and hold the viewer's interest. 

→ Pro tip: As a rule of thumb, the longer the story sequence, the more you'll need to incentivize users to continue watching. Keep reading for a few tips on how to do this.

But first, let’s take a look at how to make either format work for you. You’ll also learn how to make an Instagram Story video that gets people to engage.

Longer videos

Stringing several Instagram Story videos together gives you more space to share your message. 

The challenge? 

If your first video doesn't hook a user in the sequence, they will likely ignore it and tap to the next Story in their feed.

That first video has to grab their attention. Let’s take a look at how this works in practice.

Example
: Everlane
Length: 90 seconds+ across multiple Story cards

Everlane sells ethical activewear, including a variety of quality denim goods. 

To communicate one of their central themes—transparency—they published a sequence of stories to educate followers on the truth about modern denim manufacturing.

But education alone isn't enough to hold people's attention. You need to incentivize them to watch your content.

Everlane accomplishes this with interactive polls and quizzes to increase engagement and therefore, Watch Time. This makes it easy for viewers to tap through to the end of the Story sequence.

  • Engage your audience by asking questions: Use binary yes-no engagement poll stickers (just tap a button to weigh in).
  • Use micro commitments: A small form of engagement at the start, or micro commitment, increases the odds you’ll stick through to see the end.
  • Combine education with interaction: Multiple polls interspersed with facts and insights for more engagement opportunities.
Why it works:

Everlane's first Instagram Story card opens with a simple question that immediately grabs your attention: "Denim is notoriously dirty… Do you know why?" 

The hook in the first second of the video determines whether or not a user is sticking around to watch the rest of the Story. 

Everlane interspersed "question" cards with "education" cards, which makes the educational experience fun and interactive, and makes it easy for people to tap through the full Story sequence.

Shorter videos

Once upon a time, there was an app called Vine. Vine videos were 6 seconds long and could tell entire stories with a beginning, a middle, and an end. Shorter instagram Story videos—under 15 seconds using a single Story card—can be highly effective and addictive too.

The key is remembering they need to stop a user in their casual Story swiping. You have to grab their attention, just like longer videos. 

Let’s look at an example from a company that sells custom couches DTC and see why it works.

Example: CouchHaus
Length
: 14 seconds

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Couch Haus (@couch_haus)

  • Design for sound-off: Most people don’t watch Instagram with sound on. This is true of Stories and most other IG video placements. Be sure that your content doesn’t require sound to understand. Use captions to communicate the key points.
  • Quick video cuts: Within this single 15-second Story card, there are at least six different video clips strung together to tell a simple coherent story. This adds motion and visual variety, which keeps you watching. In just 14 seconds, you've learned exactly how the product works and what makes it interesting.
Why it works

While not necessarily the norm for Stories content (most are filmed spontaneously), this short video is heavily-edited to make the content shorter and easier to consume.

In a single Story card, CouchHaus walks you through the entire process of ordering a custom couch online. They use captions to communicate value props, and visuals to show off the product and simple order process.

If you strip away the video, you're left with a clear testimonial that explains the product and speaks to its value props:

  • Custom couches online: I designed a custom couch on CouchHaus.
  • Easy process: The process was so easy.
  • Wide selection: I picked the color, fabric, and size.
  • Pet-friendly: I chose the performance fabric, which is perfect for pets.
  • Easy to clean: It's easy to keep clean, and it looks amazing in my house.
  • Positive experience: I never knew it would be that easy.
Pro tip

If you're going to invest the amount of time and energy to create a video like this, make sure to repurpose it in as many places as you can.

For instance, this example is clearly a repurposed social ad, but it still works as an organic Story post. The same principles that make this CouchHaus video effective apply to all social ads and social media platforms.

How to make an IG Story video

There are several ways to do it. Here’s an easy tutorial:

Step 1

Log in to your Instagram account. Tap the “Your Story” icon in the top left of the Instagram app on iPhone, iOS device, or Android. You’ll jump straight into the camera.

Step 2

Shoot a video in the default “Normal” mode or drag the side menu to any of the following video modes:

Create

Use text, music, stickers and GIFs to bring your Story videos to life. You can also use a number of interactive features to increase engagement with your Stories posts, including: 

  • Shoutouts: @ another account in your Story.
  • Polls, Questions, and Quizzes: Let your audience engage with your Stories. 
  • Donations: Build goodwill by asking for donations to a good cause.
  • Countdown timers: Drive urgency for product launches and special events.
  • Gifs, stickers, templates: Use visual overlays to enhance your content. 
Boomerang

Videos that play forward. Then play backward. Then forward again.

Layout

Divide your Story video into various grid patterns. 

Hands-free

Record without holding the button down. Or, select a video from your camera roll, simply by swiping up.

Multi-capture

Take up to 8 photos at a time, in quick succession.

Dual

Record video using both camera lenses simultaneously.

Level

Displays an on-screen level to help orient your shot.

Step 3

Your video preview should now be looping. Tap the arrow icon in the bottom right of the video to instantly post the video to your Instagram Story.

Tap "Your Story" to post your video.

Tip: To upload multiple videos to your Stories sequence, consider using a tool like Sked Social to upload assets in bulk rather than one-by-one.

Instagram Stories tips

There’s no right way to make an Instagram Story video. But here are some tips to help you get started:

Optimize for the format

Instagram Story videos are always vertical. They’re designed to be watched on your phone. So when you’re creating content, be sure that it’s also natively vertical. If it isn’t, Instagram automatically adapts it to the Story format. But vertical videos that are designed for the platform tend to have higher engagement than non-native videos.

Keep it casual

You don’t need to spend tens of thousands of dollars on expensive video equipment. Video recorded from a smartphone works just fine. In fact, many times phone footage outperforms high-production video because it feels more natural and less like marketing.

Use Instagram add-ons

There are infinite ways you can deck out your Instagram Story videos. Draw all over them. Use hashtags, emojis, polls, and text to spice them up. These make your videos pop and make them more engaging. And they fit how Instagram users use the Stories placement.

Turn your top Story videos into highlights

Instagram Story videos last for 24 hours. Then they’re gone. But you can turn your Story videos into highlights that stick around on your profile forever. This is a great way to feature your best Story content.

Reshare Story video posts you’re tagged in

If you’re tagged in another user’s Instagram post, you can re-share their post to your Story. This is a great way to feature happy customers shouting out your brand. And sharing that enthusiasm with the rest of your audience.

Why Is My Instagram Story Music Only 5 Seconds?

Are you having problems with your Instagram story? Or are you unable to add music to your stories? Or are you wondering why is your Instagram story music only 5 seconds long?

This article discusses these issues and other problems related to the Instagram story music feature. By following the steps below, you can add music longer than five seconds to your Instagram Stories and make them more engaging.

Table of Contents

  1. Things You Don’t Know About Instagram’s Story Music
    • For Longer Music, You Need Latest Instagram Update
    • Make Sure That Your Account Is Not Business
  2. Why Is My Instagram Story Music Only 5 Seconds?
  3. How To Add a Story With Music of Required Length?
  4. How To Change the Duration of Instagram Story?
    • Make Your Photos Last Through Music on Instagram
  5. How To Add Multiple Pictures & Longer Videos With Music?
  6. Conclusion
  7. FAQs

Things You Don’t Know About Instagram’s Story Music

Adding music to your Instagram Story requires very little time and effort, but it can boost the appeal of your content. If you sometimes get frustrated by the fact that your Instagram story music should be longer, here’s what you need to know.

For Longer Music, You Need Latest Instagram Update

Sometimes, many Instagram users face issues while adding music to their stories because they have not updated their Instagram or have not installed the latest version.

So, if you need to add music to your stories and want it to be longer than 5 seconds, make sure you have installed or updated the latest version of Instagram on your mobile device. 

Make Sure That Your Account Is Not Business

If you have just created the account or are about to create it, make sure you don’t have a business account.

If your account is a business account, you will not be able to use music on Instagram. This restriction is because businesses cannot use Instagram music for commercial purposes.

You may only search for and use music if your Instagram account is a personal or creator account but not a business account.  

Why Is My Instagram Story Music Only 5 Seconds?

Suppose you previously added an Instagram story that was 5 seconds long. In that case, the chances are that the following stories will also play music for only 5 seconds, even if the new stories you are posting are longer than 5 seconds.

Instagram may save the length you previously selected as part of future settings for your stories.

How To Add a Story With Music of Required Length?

The Instagram music library will appear when you click on the Instagram Music Sticker. You can add music to your playlist from thousands of tunes from the library. Popular, Genres, and Moods are the three options for adding music to your Instagram Story.

These choices are filters to help you find the perfect music for your Instagram Stories. After choosing a song for your Instagram story music, you must determine how long you want it to play.

If you use a picture, the minimum length of music on your Instagram Story is five seconds. However, when adding music, the maximum length is fifteen seconds, and there is no way that you can exceed that.

By clicking the seconds button on the left, you may change the length of the music.

On the other hand, for video postings, the song’s duration will automatically change to the length of your video. Because of how Instagram Stories music is set up, you may also add lyrics to any song on your Instagram story.

How To Change the Duration of Instagram Story?

You can make longer stories on Instagram and even have Instagram story music longer than five seconds. To do so, you can use the new feature and make lengthier Instagram stories.

Start by tapping the “Your story” icon and then press and hold the record button in the bottom-right corner for as long as you want to record your story. You do not have to worry about the 15-second limit here.

Make Your Photos Last Through Music on Instagram

You can add music to your videos, but Instagram also allows you to add music to your photos or still shots to make them last longer when someone sees your story.

If a photo in your story is not long enough, you can add a song to make it a few seconds longer, which is the same limit as video clips.

To add music in the Story editor:

  1. Tap the stickers button.
  2. Select the “Music” option.

Following these steps will help you create a more engaging and attractive Instagram story with your choice of music in the background.

How To Add Multiple Pictures & Longer Videos With Music?

You can post a video longer than two minutes, but you must cut it into two segments of two minutes each.

After selecting your clip and touching “Next,” press “Trim” and hold and drag your video until the minute you wish to use is within the handles, and then you can apply Instagram story music to these segments of videos.

You can then add music to your story using Instagram’s library. Go to the Music screen and browse the various categories and genres to choose a song.

There is a wide variety of images that comes along with different tracks. However, the multiple photo feature was only recently introduced to Instagram users.

It may be possible that it is not available in your region. Nevertheless, if you cannot access this feature, try updating your Instagram to the latest version to get this amazing feature. 

Conclusion

In a nutshell, if you’re wondering why my Instagram story music is only 5 seconds, then this may be because you previously set the music length to 5 seconds. You can adjust this as per the methods discussed above.

Typically, users can incorporate up to fifteen seconds of Instagram story music into their video and photo posts to their stories.

There are a few genres and moods to choose from, as well as a search tool if you cannot find what you are looking for on the first page.

Happy Instagramming!

FAQs

Instagram stories have a limited length of 15 seconds, but if you want to post something longer, you can trim the video or clip and post it in segments.

If your music is limited on Instagram, then it is advised that you install the latest version of the Instagram app to get unlimited music. However, if you still do not get it, then it means that this specific feature is somewhat not available in the region you live in. 

How many seconds does Instagram Stories last and how to increase the duration

Published: Author: Egor Denisov keeps Stories

  • How to increase the storage duration of Stories
  • There are separate requirements and rules for each type of Instagram post. For example, how many seconds an Instagram Stories lasts can be determined through file placement or by reading our article.

    How many seconds a Stories on Instagram lasts maximum

    The duration of Stories on Instagram is no more than 15 seconds per post. But there is no limit on the number of posts posted. That is, a user can publish from one to hundreds of Stories per day.

    Photos are subject to standard times. While watching, viewers can stop the show by holding their finger on the screen. Long videos from the Gallery will be split into several parts of 15 seconds each.

    Other parameters for Instagram videos:

    • video to Feed - 59 seconds;
    • IGTV - from 15 seconds to 10 minutes, verified pages - up to 60 minutes;
    • Stories - up to 15 seconds.

    After posting a long video, thumbnails with sliced ​​parts will appear when editing. They can be deleted by clicking on the trash can icon.

    How to increase the video length and bypass the restriction

    You can bypass the video length restriction in Instagram Stories in the following ways:

    • add a link in Stories to a video posted in the feed;
    • using IGTV URL;
    • place multiple parts of one clip.

    In the first case, the page owner posts an entry in the Feed and with the help of: "Share in Stories" - sends a thumbnail and a link to Stories. By clicking on the post icon, the viewer will be automatically redirected to the photo or video.

    How to make a link in Stories:

    • Didn't find the answer? Ask a question, we will prepare and send you an answer by e-mail
    • Powerful pumping of Instagram account
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    1. Open Instagram - log in.
    2. Go to publications - click on the button in the form of a paper airplane.
    3. Share - Send to my Story.
    4. Place thumbnail, add stickers.
    5. Publish.

    By clicking, the visitor will be prompted to go to the publication. Or - post a post on IGTV by making a link through the appropriate tool.

    How long does a Story last

    Instagram Stories time is 24 hours . During the day, statistics will be available, the function: "Reactions" and "Answers". After - the entry will be moved to the Archive or removed from the show. Stories are kept on Instagram for 24 hours and can be saved in the "Actual" so as not to lose.

    How to add publications to the Topical:

    1. Create a Story - edit.
    2. Share - add to « Actual ".
    3. Specify the section to send to.

    Or, after placement, click on the temporary post and mark with the button: " Select ". A list of available pinned posts will appear. The same functions are available when creating a new section in the "Actual".

    If the user needs to re-share the disappeared History:

    1. Open the side menu - Archive.
    2. Category: "Stories" - select a post.
    3. An inscription will appear below: “ Share .”

    The Stories edit menu and the post that was previously posted will reappear. Below the inscription: "Memories" indicating the date of the initial placement.

    How to increase the storage duration of Stories

    In addition to "Archive" and "Actual", the user can save the duration of posting Stories on Instagram by re-adding. But in this case, the original entry must be kept in the Gallery. In order not to lose published photos or videos, specify in the Stories parameters: “ Save to Gallery ".

    How to specify parameters:

    1. Go to Stories - Normal mode.
    2. Top gear - Save.
    3. Save to Archive and Gallery - Done.

    If you do not specify automatic storage in the Archive, the record will be deleted. It will not be possible to restore data, even when contacting technical support or sending it to Direct.

    Photo and video from the Archive can be shared in posts in the feed:

    1. Go to the Archive of Stories - select a post.
    2. Click the three dots below - Share in a post.
    3. Edit and post.

    When archived, the entry will be moved to " Post archive ". When choosing a post to post, you need to remember how many seconds a Story on Instagram lasts. Video longer than one hour, the system will not be able to divide into separate parts. Such material needs to be edited through third-party applications.

    How many seconds of Instagram stories are the duration of the video story, the length of stories is

    Sooner or later, everyone comes to such a wonderful feature in Instagram as stories. These are short videos in which you can introduce subscribers to your surroundings, as well as advertise a product.

    Before starting to shoot such “short films”, any user thinks: how many seconds are stories on Instagram? Is there enough time to present your idea to the profile readers? Stay tuned, we'll figure it out together.

    Allowed time for one story

    So, how many seconds does an Instagram story last? The system of this social network creates time limits for each video. First of all, this is necessary for the convenience of followers. After all, what kind of subscriber would like to watch three-hour "movies" of his idol.

    One story can go up to 15 seconds. “And how do you fit them?” - you ask. The developers went forward and increased the limit to 60 seconds, but with one amendment. More about her in the next section.

    Making a story out of a big video

    If the length of the video you want to upload is more than a quarter of a minute, do the following:

    1. Open any video editor.
    2. Add required material.
    3. Divide it into mini-rolls of 15 seconds. The total duration of the videos should not exceed 60 seconds.
    4. Save the result.
    5. Launch the Instagram application on your gadget.
    6. Log in to your account. To do this, use your login (nickname/email/mobile phone number) and password.
    7. Swipe the screen from left to right and enter story editing mode.
    8. Swipe up from the bottom of the gallery and select those same 15-second mini-rolls in the gallery.
    9. Filter them if necessary.
    10. Review the result and click the Next button.
    11. Decide on the category of subscribers who will have access to your one-minute video sequence.
    12. Tap "Share".

    Done. Your story is now displayed in the feed section at the very top of the screen.

    For your information. To select multiple files from the gallery, hold down one of them with your finger and check the boxes for the rest.

    Is it possible to repost a video longer than one minute

    The maximum duration of a video in Stories should not exceed 60 seconds. Unfortunately, it is not yet possible to “surpass” this bar. The developers do not plan to increase the limit in the near future.

    However, if you still cannot do without a long video, then here's a note for you:

    • allowed video file length on IGTV - up to 10-15 minutes;
    • The allowed length of a video file in a general feed post is up to 1 minute.

    Good to know. In the general feed, you can post several "short guys" at once for 60 seconds in different posts.

    Do not forget about the live broadcast, which, in total, lasts up to 1 hour.

    How to increase the duration of stories

    But what about Instagram without tricks? There are a couple of tricks that can show your followers the right time for the video. This can be done in three ways.

    First:

    1. Log in to the Instagram app.
    2. Open history capture mode. To do this, you need to swipe the screen from left to right.
    3. Add a link to your long IGTV video in the text.
    4. Share.

    Second:

    1. Enter the story capture mode again.
    2. Post one story.
    3. Return to survey mode.
    4. Add a second clip.

    Third:

    1. Log in to the Insta program and log in using your login and password.
    2. Tap on the "person" icon in the bottom menu.
    3. Select a post in the feed with a suitable video and open it.
    4. Click on the “paper airplane” icon and the inscription “Add post to stories”.
    5. Confirm placement.

    After what time the story will be deleted

    As a rule, one story will be kept in the feed of your subscribers for exactly 1 day, that is, 24 hours. Then the system will simply delete them. This is done to avoid overloading the server and to keep the content updated.

    But there are also a couple of tricks that will keep your readers happy for longer. They are completely simple and completely legal.

    Extending the retention of stories

    To increase the retention of stories in your profile, again, you can go in several ways.

    First:

    1. Open the Instagram app and log in.
    2. Switch to story mode.
    3. Tap on the "gear" located in the upper left corner of the screen.
    4. Check the box "Save to archive". Optionally, you can also "Save to Gallery".
    5. Wait for clip to be deleted after 24 hours.

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