How To Make Your Instagram Story Picture Longer & Shorter
Instagram stories have become popular for sharing fleeting moments and creative content. However, the default time limit for each story picture is 15 seconds, which can be limiting when you want to convey a longer message or showcase more of your photography skills.
Fortunately, some tricks and techniques allow you to extend or shorten the duration of your Instagram story pictures. This guide will explore various methods to help you add Instagram Story Picture Longer And Shorter to better suit your storytelling needs.
Whether you want to stretch the suspense or keep it concise, we’ve got you covered. Let’s dive in!

Key Takeaways
- Use the Instasize app to adjust image duration and resize for longer Instagram Story pictures.
- Craft engaging videos with video effects for captivating Instagram Stories.
- Use apps like Snapseed to crop images and add GIFs for shorter Instagram Story pictures.
- Split longer stories into multiple 15-second clips or utilize the Longform feature for smoother flow and longer Instagram Stories.
How To Make Your Instagram Story Picture Longer
Let’s dive into how you can make your Instagram story picture longer or shorter, a simple tweak that could significantly enhance the visual appeal of your stories. We’ll also explore how to use apps to extend your image and even look into using videos for a dynamic effect.
This easy-to-understand guide will provide you with detailed steps to customize your Instagram stories engagingly and uniquely.
Use an app to extend the image.
Extending your Instagram story picture with Instasize is easy, boosting its visibility and leaving a lasting impression. With this app, you’ll have control over the ‘Image Duration,’ easily adjusting it to make your story longer or shorter based on your needs.
Simply drag and drop an image into the editing window, resize it according to Instagram’s requirements for stories, and voila! Your extended image is ready.
The customizable templates are a bonus, too, helping you add that extra flair. Export the finished product and upload it to Instagram for a larger image size than standard photos from your device’s camera roll.
Use a video
Using a video in your next Instagram Story post can have a significant impact. Creating a video with engaging ‘Video Effects’ can extend the duration of your content beyond an image’s limit span, making it longer or shorter as needed.
With videos, you have up to 15 seconds to engage your audience – a long time compared to the fleeting glance at an image. Plus, videos offer dynamic storytelling possibilities like showcasing products in action or offering behind-the-scenes insights.
If editing seems difficult, numerous apps offer easy-to-use templates and transitions for polished results. So why not step out of the still frame? Using videos in your Instagram Stories could be that game changer you’re looking for!
How To Make Your Instagram Story Picture Shorter

Let’s dive into how you can make your Instagram story picture shorter to enhance your visual storytelling.
One effective method is using an app to crop the image, allowing you total control over its dimensions and giving you the ability to create a concise, impactful picture.
Adding a GIF is another unique way of doing this. It not only shortens the size but also adds an element of fun and engagement to your story.
Use an app to crop the image.
Use cropping to stand out in a crowded field on Instagram. With this editing technique, you can easily alter the length or breadth of your photo before posting it.
Simply open an app like Snapseed, upload my chosen image, and tap ‘Edit.’ Selecting ‘Crop’ gives me size options from 1×1 square to a wide 16:9 aspect ratio. After following any on-screen prompts and adjusting the picture as needed, hit “Done.”
This brings up a save menu with different resolutions defining your edited image’s length and width. By carefully selecting options that satisfy Instagram’s dimension requirements (~1080×1920 pixels) and size restrictions (2 MB min.), you can ensure optimal results for my stories.
Use a GIF
Using a GIF-maker website can transform your story on Instagram. It allows you to have complete control over the duration of each image or video, transforming the way you create narratives.
By integrating GIFs into your Instagram stories, you can customize their length to suit your narrative flow perfectly. If you want to highlight a particular moment, you can easily extend its duration using the ‘GIF Integration’ feature. On the other hand, if there is less important content, you can shorten it.
This feature allows you from Instagram’s 15-second limit per story. You can seamlessly connect together multiple frames to create longer stories or trim down videos to fit within the boundary. It’s all about giving you the creative freedom to craft captivating and personalized tales for your followers.
Related: How To Hide Chats On Instagram
Can you change the story length on Instagram?

You might be wondering if there’s a way to make your Instagram stories longer than the usual 5 seconds or even go beyond the 15-second limit per story. Well, there is!
Let’s delve into how you can post a longer-second story on Instagram by breaking it into chunks or using video editing tools that allow you to manipulate your content duration and create engaging stories.
How do you make your Instagram stories longer than 5 seconds?
To extend the duration of your Instagram stories beyond 5 seconds, you have two options: splitting your story into multiple 15-second clips or using the ‘Longform’ feature.
Splitting your story into several parts is easy. Simply tap the ‘ Trim ‘ button after recording or importing your video or photos. This will divide your content into manageable 15-second segments.
On the other hand, if you prefer a smoother flow, you can use the Longform feature. To do this, press the ‘+’ icon in the top left corner of the app, select ‘Story,’ and then hold down on ‘Video’ to record.
These features, known as ‘Story Duration Customization,’ allow you to express yourself fully. So go ahead and make your Instagram stories longer than 5 seconds!
Can Instagram stories be longer than 15 seconds?

Yes, posting stories on Instagram that exceed the old 15-second limit is possible. The ‘Story Duration Limitations’ have been updated, allowing for a maximum story length of 60 seconds. This change came about in September 2022 and is great news for those craving more freedom in their storytelling.
If you’ve got a video longer than the allowed time, don’t worry! You’ve got two options: divide your video into multiple 15-second parts and upload them separately, or use an external app to trim your footage down.
Just remember, if you’re working with still images rather than videos, they’ll always display for just 5 seconds. So get creative with your stories and enjoy this extra room to express yourself!
Also, Read: How To Change Theme In Instagram – Easy Ways
How do you post a 20-second story on Instagram?
Let’s dive into the specifics of posting a 20-second story on Instagram. It’s easy! First, open the Instagram app and tap the ‘+’ icon in the top left corner. Select ‘Story’. Next, hit the ‘Video’ button to start the fun! Record or import a video that lasts no more than 20 seconds. Once you’re happy with it, hit the ‘Share’ button to send it off into the Insta-sphere.
This way, your followers enjoy an uninterrupted 20-second glimpse into your world without swiping through multiple clips.
Can You Make Your Instagram Story Longer Than 24 Hours?
Unfortunately, you can’t make your Instagram Story last longer than 24 hours. This guideline is in place to ensure that content remains fresh and encourages regular posting. However, a feature called ‘Story Archiving’ automatically saves your stories privately.
FAQs
How can I extend my Instagram stories to 60 seconds?
You can extend your Instagram stories to 60 seconds by recording or uploading a video that is 60 seconds or less in length. Instagram will no longer automatically split videos longer than 15 seconds into multiple 15-second clips.
How do you make your Instagram stories longer than 30 seconds?
You can make your Instagram stories longer than 30 seconds by uploading videos in a row. Instagram will automatically play these videos back-to-back.
How can Instagram stories be longer than 15 seconds?
Instagram stories can be longer than 15 seconds since the app updated its time limit from 15 seconds to 60 seconds in September 2022. You can now record or upload videos that are up to 60 seconds long without them being split into multiple clips.
How do you shorten pictures on Instagram stories?
You can shorten pictures on Instagram stories by cropping them to a smaller size. To do this, open the picture you want to shorten and tap on the crop icon in the bottom right corner. Then, drag the edges of the crop box to resize the picture. Once you’re happy with the size, tap on the checkmark icon to save your changes.
Conclusion
In conclusion, altering your Instagram story picture’s duration isn’t as tricky as it seems. Whether you want to make it longer or shorter, there are simple steps you can follow.
While the platform limits stories to 24 hours, you can bypass this by adding them to highlights. Now go on and enjoy sharing memories with your followers in the most fitting time frame!