Instagram Stories are a fun and spontaneous way to share moments, but sometimes we post something we regret—or simply change our minds. Whether it’s a typo, a blurry photo, or you just want to clean up your profile, deleting a story on Instagram is quick and easy. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the exact steps to delete your Instagram story on both iPhone and Android devices.
How to Delete a Live Story on IG
Once you upload a story on Instagram, it lasts for 24 hours. So, if you don’t want to keep an uploaded story visible on your account, here’s how you can delete the Instagram story.
1. Open the Instagram app and tap on Your Story on your feed. Tap on More.
2. Select Delete from the list of options. Tap on Delete again to confirm the deletion.
How to Remove an Instagram Story From the Archive
Once you upload a story on Instagram, it will be saved to Archive so that only you can view it later. Here’s how you can delete an Instagram story from the archive.
1. Open Instagram and tap on your profile picture at the bottom right.
2. Tap on the Menu button at the top right corner and select Archive from the options.
3. You will now see a list of your uploaded stories. Select the IG story that you want to delete. Now, tap on Delete to get rid of the story from your Archive.
4. Tap on Delete to confirm. Keep in mind that you will not be able to view it again in your archive.
How to Delete Past Instagram Stories From a Highlight
Instagram Story Highlights are a great way to showcase some of your best stories to your followers. But if you want to remove a saved Instagram story from the same, here’s how you can do it.
1. Open your Profile and long-tap on the story highlight you want to edit. Tap on Edit Highlight.
2. De-select the story you want to remove and tap on Done.
This will ensure that the story has been removed from the Highlight. However, it will remain in your Archives unless deleted.
What to Do if You Can’t Delete an Instagram Story
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Retry Deleting: Don’t give up after the first try—give it another shot.
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Use Instagram on a Browser: Log in via web and try deleting the story there.
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Restart the App: Close and reopen Instagram to resolve temporary glitches.
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Sign Out & Sign In: Refresh your session by logging out and back in.
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Clear App Cache: Remove stored cache to eliminate bugs.
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Update the App: Install the latest version for bug fixes.
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Reinstall Instagram: Delete and reinstall the app for a fresh start.
Conclusion
Deleting a story on Instagram is a straightforward process, and now that you know how, you can take control of what stays on your profile. Whether you’re correcting a mistake or simply curating your content, managing your stories helps keep your feed clean and intentional. Keep experimenting, keep sharing—but now, with the confidence that you can always undo a post when needed.