How to upload saved photos to Instagram story?

Shreyas Patil SEO
Shreyas PatilUpdated :
How to upload saved photos to Instagram story?

Instagram Stories have become one of the most popular ways to share photos and videos. With Stories, you can easily upload photos and videos taken in the moment using your phone's camera. But did you know you can also upload previously taken photos and videos to your Stories from your phone's gallery or camera roll?

Uploading saved photos to your Instagram Stories is a great way to share old memories or photos you've edited. In this guide, we'll show you how to upload photos from your phone's gallery to Instagram Stories in just a few easy steps.


Prerequisites for uploading saved photos to Instagram Stories

Before uploading saved photos to your Instagram Stories, there are a few requirements you need:

  • The latest version of the Instagram app installed on your iPhone or Android device. Make sure to update to the newest version.

    latest version of the Instagram app installed

  • Saved photos already on your phone that you want to upload. The photos need to be in your camera roll or gallery.
  • An active Instagram account to upload photos to. Your account must be public or have Stories enabled.
  • A decent internet connection to upload the photos. WiFi is recommended over mobile data.

As long as you meet these prerequisites, you're ready to start uploading your saved photos!


Finding the photos you want to upload

The first step is accessing the photos on your phone that you want to upload to Instagram Stories. Here's how to find them:

On iPhone

  • Open the Photos app on your iPhone. This has all the photos and videos saved on your device.
  • Tap on the Albums tab at the bottom. This organizes your photos into albums.
  • Scroll through and find the specific photos you want to upload.Tap on them to open the photo full screen.
  • When you find a photo to upload, tap on the Share icon in the bottom left corner.

On Android

  • Open the Gallery app on your Android device. This houses all your photos.
  • Tap on the Albums tab to browse your photo albums if the photos are organized into them.
  • Otherwise, scroll through your full photo gallery to find the images you want.
  • Tap on a photo to open it. Then tap on the three vertical dots or Share icon.

Now the photos you want to upload are ready to send to Instagram!


Accessing Instagram Stories camera

With your photos selected, now open the Instagram Stories camera:

  • Open the Instagram app on your phone.
  • Tap on your profile picture or the Your Story circle at the top left.
  • This opens the Stories camera. But don't take a photo yet!

The Instagram Stories camera lets you access photos on your phone. Here's how to do it:


Uploading saved photos on iPhone

If you're uploading saved photos on an iPhone, follow these steps:

  • In the Instagram Stories camera, swipe left across the screen.
  • This shows your phone's photo gallery below the camera shutter button.
  • Tap on the Albums tab to view your albums or All Photos to view every photo.
  • Browse and select a photo to upload to Stories.
  • You can select multiple photos by tapping on each.
  • Tap on the arrow icon at the bottom right when you've chosen your photo(s).
  • This will insert the photos into your Instagram Story. You can edit with stickers, text, etc.
  • Finally, tap on Your Story at the bottom to share the Story with your followers.

And that's it! The photos will now appear in your Instagram Story for 24 hours for all your followers to see.


Uploading saved photos on Android

To upload saved photos on an Android device, the steps are very similar:

  • Open the Instagram Stories camera and swipe left across the screen.
  • Tap on the Gallery tab to view your phone's albums and photos.
  • Browse and select the photo(s) you want to upload.
  • Tap on the checkmark icon at the bottom when finished selecting.
  • Edit the Story with stickers, text, etc if desired.
  • Tap on Your Story to post the photo Story.

The photos will upload directly from your Android's gallery to your live Instagram Story!


Tips for uploading saved photos

Here are some quick tips to get the best results when uploading saved photos to Instagram Stories:

  • Edit or filter the photos before uploading for more engaging Stories. The Instagram app has great editing tools.
  • Rotate portraits and landscapes to the proper orientation so they don't appear sideways.
  • Trim longer videos to 15 seconds so they conform to the Story format.
  • Add relevant context with location tags, captions, hashtags, etc to enrich the Stories.
  • Use creative stickers and text to make fun overlays andAnnotations on your photos.
  • Save your favorite Stories to your camera roll to re-share later on.

Uploading photos through a third-party app

In addition to the Instagram app, you can also upload saved photos to Stories using third-party apps. Here are some top options:

1. Facebook App

If you connect your Instagram account to Facebook, you can easily upload photos to Instagram Stories right from the Facebook app. Just create or access your Story and select photos to share.

2. Snapseed App

This photo editing app from Google lets you enhance photos and seamlessly share to Instagram Stories with just one tap. A time saver!

3. InShot App

InShot has powerful editing tools to perfect your photos. You can then export them directly to Instagram Stories within the app.

4. Pic Stitch App

This collage maker lets you combine multiple photos into creative layouts and upload the finished Stories images to Instagram.

5. Canva App

Design beautiful photo compositions in Canva and share them to your Instagram Story with the click of a button. Lots of templates available!


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FAQs about Uploading Saved Photos to Instagram Stories

How do I upload multiple photos to Instagram Stories at once?

You can select multiple photos from your camera roll before uploading to Instagram Stories. Simply tap on each photo you want to upload when browsing your gallery in the Instagram app. Then tap the arrow icon to share all the selected photos together in your Story.

Can I upload photos older than 24 hours to Instagram Stories?

Yes! Instagram Stories don't limit how old or new your photos are. You can share photos taken weeks, months or years ago just like you would any recent photo. The image just needs to be saved in your camera roll.

Do my Instagram Story photos get deleted after 24 hours?

The photos you upload to Instagram Stories will no longer be viewable in your Story after 24 hours. However, the original photos remain safely stored in your phone's camera roll or gallery. Instagram only stores a temporary copy that gets deleted.

Can I edit photos before uploading to Instagram Stories?

Absolutely! Use the editing tools within the Instagram app to crop, adjust, filter and enhance your photos before sharing them to Stories. You can also edit in other apps and then upload the saved edits to Stories.

How do I know who viewed my Instagram Story photos?

When you share a photo or video on your Instagram Story, you can see a list of followers who have viewed it. Open your Story, swipe up, and tap on the eye icon to see names and avatars of everyone who has seen that piece of content.

How many photos can I share at once on Instagram Stories?

You can share between 1 and 10 photos or videos at one time on Stories. To share multiple photos, select up to 10 images or videos when uploading from your camera roll. They will upload as a slideshow Story.

Can I upload the same photo to my Story and my Feed?

Definitely! Adding a photo to your Instagram Story does not prevent you from also posting it on your regular feed later on. Post away to both places if you want your followers to see the photo multiple times.

How do I put my photo gallery on my Instagram Story?

To share your entire gallery, use the "Select Multiple" option when accessing your camera roll in the Instagram Stories camera. Tap the maximum limit of 10 photos to select a batch from your gallery. Or, upload batches of 10 photos at a time to share your full gallery over time in Stories.

Is there a limit to how many photos I can share on Stories?

No, there is no limit to the number of photos you can share on Instagram Stories, as long as you upload them in batches of up to 10 at a time. You can share hundreds of photos from your camera roll over time by uploading them 10 at a time on Stories.

Conclusion

Uploading your favorite saved photos to share on Instagram Stories is fun and easy! Simply access the photo you want to upload from your camera roll, open the Instagram Stories camera, select the photo, make any edits or enhancements, and share it with your followers.

Now you have lots of creative options for showcasing old memories and quality content. Try mixing up Stories with a variety both new photos taken on-the-go, and meaningful throwback pictures saved on your phone.

What cool photos will you share on Instagram Stories next? Get ready to curate your camera roll and take your followers down memory lane by uploading your saved photos today!

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