How to Schedule Instagram Stories in 2025

Last Updated on August 12, 2025 by Himanshu Rawat

Instagram Stories are a fun and fast way to share updates, behind-the-scenes moments, and connect with your followers. But posting Stories every day can take a lot of time—especially if you’re busy running a business or managing other social media platforms.

That’s why scheduling your Instagram Stories can be a big help.

When you schedule Stories ahead of time, you don’t have to stop what you’re doing to post. You can plan everything in one go, stay consistent, and make sure your content goes live at the best time—even when you’re not online.

In this blog, we’ll show you how to schedule Instagram Stories using tools like Meta Business Suite and apps like Outfy, Later, and more. We’ll also explain how to delete scheduled Stories, share some tips, and answer common questions.

Let’s get started!

Can You Schedule Instagram Stories?

Yes, you can!

Instagram lets you schedule Stories using its free tool called Meta Business Suite. It works if you have a business or creator account.

You can also use other apps like Outfy, Later, Planoly, and more. These tools help you plan and design your Stories ahead of time. Most of them will send you a reminder on your phone when it’s time to post the Story—so you’ll still need to post it manually.

The only tool that currently lets you auto-post Stories (without reminders) is Meta Business Suite.

So if you want to save time, stay organized, and keep your Instagram active, scheduling your Stories is a smart idea.

Benefits of Scheduling Instagram Stories

If you’re busy running a business or handling lots of things at once, scheduling your Instagram Stories can make life a lot easier. Here’s why it’s a good idea:

1. You Save Time

Instead of posting every single day, you can plan a bunch of Stories at once and schedule them. This means less stress and more free time.

2. You Stay Consistent

Posting regularly helps keep your followers interested. When you schedule Stories, you don’t have to worry about forgetting to post.

3. It’s Easier to Plan Ahead

Got a sale coming up? Launching a new product? You can create Stories in advance and schedule them to go live at just the right time.

4. You Can Reach More People

By scheduling Stories for when your followers are most active, you have a better chance of getting seen—even if you’re offline.

5. You Learn What Works

When you schedule content, it’s easier to track which Stories get more views or replies. This helps you know what your audience likes.

How to Schedule Instagram Stories Using Meta Business Suite

Meta Business Suite is a free tool from Meta that lets you schedule posts and Stories for Instagram and Facebook. Here’s how you can use it to schedule Instagram Stories in a few simple steps:

Step 1: Log in to Meta Business Suite

You can open Meta Business Suite from your Facebook or Instagram account, or directly by going to business.facebook.com.
Once you’re in, click on “Create Story”.

Step 2: Choose Your Instagram Account

A new screen will open where you’ll see a “Share to” option. Click on it and select the Instagram account you want to post your Story to. If you’ve connected both your Facebook and Instagram accounts, you’ll see them listed here.

Step 3: Add Your Story Content

Now, click “Add photo/video” to upload the media for your Story.
You can either upload a video or up to 10 images at once. After uploading, a preview of the Story will appear on the right-hand side so you can see what it will look like.

Step 4: Edit Your Story (Optional)

If you want to make changes, click “Edit” next to the image or video.
Here, you can:

• Add text
• Crop your media
• Use stickers
• Add a custom link to your Story (great for promotions or product pages)

Once you’re happy with the changes, click Apply.

Step 5: Set the Schedule

At the bottom of the screen, switch the “Share Now” toggle to “Schedule”. Then choose the date and time you want your Story to be published.

Once you’ve selected the time, click Save, then hit Schedule to confirm.

Tip: You can schedule Stories from 20 minutes to 29 days in advance. Not sure when to post? Click on the “Active times” button. Meta will suggest the best time slots based on when your followers were most active in the past week. You can go with one of these suggested times or choose your own.

How to Delete Scheduled Instagram Stories

Sometimes plans change — and that’s okay! If you’ve scheduled an Instagram Story but want to delete it before it goes live, here’s how you can do it:

Using Meta Business Suite:

• Open Meta Business Suite on your desktop or mobile app.
• Go to the “Planner” section.
• Find the Story you’ve scheduled on the calendar.
• Click on it to open the preview.
• Click the three dots (•••) or Options.

• Choose “Delete” and confirm.

That’s it! Your scheduled Story will be removed and won’t be posted.

Tip: If you want to make changes instead of deleting it, you can usually edit the post before it goes live.

Best Tools to Schedule Instagram Stories (Other Than Meta Business Suite)

Meta Business Suite is helpful, but it does have some limits. That’s why many people use other apps to plan and schedule their Instagram Stories more easily.

Here are some great tools you can try:

1. Outfy

Outfy is a great tool for small businesses, especially if you sell products online (like on Etsy or Shopify).

With Outfy, you can:

• Make Instagram Stories and posts using ready-made designs
• Schedule them ahead of time
• Use your product info to quickly create content
• Get a reminder on your phone when it’s time to post

Outfy won’t post the Story for you, but it helps you stay on schedule by sending alerts. It’s super helpful if you want to post often without spending all day on social media.

2. Later

Later is an easy-to-use app that helps you plan your Stories using a calendar.

You can:

• Drag and drop your Story content in the order you want
• See a preview of how it’ll look
• Get a phone notification when it’s time to post

It also gives tips on the best times to post, based on when your followers are active.

3. Planoly

Planoly is simple and visual. It’s great if you like things neat and organized.

With Planoly, you can:

• Plan and schedule your Stories
• Get reminders to post
• Keep your Instagram feed looking clean and on-brand

It’s also helpful if you sell products, as it has shopping features.

4. Buffer

Buffer is great for beginners or small teams.

You can:

• Plan Stories and get reminders
• Manage other social media accounts too
• Check how your content is doing with simple analytics

It’s easy to use and doesn’t feel overwhelming.

5. Hootsuite

Hootsuite is a bit more advanced and is good for bigger teams.

It lets you:

• Plan Instagram Stories and get phone reminders
• See all your scheduled posts in one calendar
• Work with your team and check detailed analytics

If you manage a lot of social media accounts, this tool can save you time.

Tips for Scheduling Instagram Stories

Want to make the most of your scheduled Stories? Here are a few easy tips to help you do it right:

1. Plan Ahead

Don’t wait until the last minute to decide what to post. Try planning your Stories a few days—or even a week—in advance. It saves you time and keeps your content consistent.

2. Use Templates to Save Time

Not a designer? No problem. Tools like Canva or Outfy offer ready-made templates for Instagram Stories. Just add your text and images, and you’re good to go.

3. Pick the Right Time to Post

Your followers aren’t online all day. Use scheduling tools like Meta Business Suite to find out when they’re most active. Posting at the right time helps more people see your Story.

4. Mix Up Your Content

Don’t just post the same type of Story every time. Try a mix—like product photos, videos, polls, behind-the-scenes clips, or quick tips. This keeps your audience interested.

5. Learn from What Works

After your Story goes live, check the views, replies, and engagement. See what your audience enjoys, and use that info to make better Stories next time.

FAQs about Scheduling Instagram Stories

1. Can you schedule Instagram Stories directly from the app?

No, Instagram doesn’t let you schedule Stories directly from the app. But you can use Meta Business Suite or third-party tools like Outfy, Later, or Buffer.

2. Is it free to schedule Instagram Stories?

Meta Business Suite is free to use. Some third-party tools offer free plans, but advanced features may need a paid subscription.

3. How far in advance can I schedule a Story?

With Meta Business Suite, you can schedule Instagram Stories between 20 minutes to 29 days ahead of time.

4. Can I edit or delete a scheduled Instagram Story?

Yes! Go to your scheduler (like Meta Business Suite), open the scheduled Story, and choose to edit or delete it before it’s published.

5. Can I schedule Stories with music, links, or stickers?

Most tools don’t support adding music or certain interactive features (like stickers) while scheduling. You may need to add those manually after posting.

Final Thoughts

Let’s be real—keeping up with Instagram every day can be a lot. That’s where scheduling Stories really helps. Instead of posting on the fly, you can plan ahead, stay organized, and show up consistently (without the stress).

Whether you use Meta Business Suite or something like Outfy, these tools make it easy to create and schedule Stories at the best time—so more people actually see them.

Try it out and see how much easier your content routine gets. Once you start scheduling, you might not want to go back!