Instagram Stories have become one of the most powerful ways to connect with your audience in real time. But posting manually every day can be stressful and inconsistent. That’s why learning how to schedule Instagram Story in 2025 is a game-changer. By scheduling, you can plan content ahead of time, post at the best hours, and keep your profile active without the daily hassle.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through the step-by-step process of scheduling Instagram Stories in 2025, highlight the main tools you can use, and share the key benefits you’ll gain from this strategy.
Why should you Schedule Instagram Story in 2025?
Instead of scrambling to post at the last minute, you can plan ahead and make sure your content reaches your audience at the right time. Here are the main benefits you’ll gain
Stay Active
Posting regularly is one of the most important signals to both your followers and Instagram’s algorithm. A consistent posting schedule shows that your brand is active and reliable. This not only helps you stay in touch with your current followers but also increases your chances of appearing in front of new users.
Best timing
Not all posting times are equal. By scheduling, you can make sure your Stories go live during peak activity hours – often called “golden hours.” This simple step can dramatically boost engagement rates, since more of your audience will be online and ready to interact with your content.
Time saving
Instead of stressing about what to post every single day, scheduling allows you to batch-create content in advance. This means you spend less time worrying about daily uploads and more time focusing on other important tasks—like building campaigns, engaging with followers, or improving your products and services.
How to schedule Instagram Story in 2025
There are two easy methods you can use to schedule your Instagram Story:
- Schedule Instagram Story by using Meta Business Suite
- Schedule Instagram Story with Third-party tools
Pro Tip: Some advanced tools also allow you to auto-publish Stories without manual confirmation, while others send you a reminder to post. Make sure to choose the one that fits your workflow
Schedule Instagram Story by using Meta Business Suite
How to Schedule Instagram Story on Desktop
- Step 1: First, go to Meta Business Suite’s Homepage, click the button “Create story” on the right side
Note: Meta Business Suite only allows you to schedule stories from Desktop.
- Step 2: Then, go to the first field named “Share to”, and select your Instagram page.
- Step 3: Select the photo/video you want to upload on your Instagram Story
- Step 4: Once you’re done, click the “Schedule” button to schedule your Instagram Story
Schedule Instagram Story on Mobile
1. Start a new Story
From your Meta Business Suite dashboard, head to the Planner tab and hit Create Story.
2. Add your content
Upload the photos or videos you want to share. If you’re creating a sequence, you can select multiple files in one go.
Tip: To make your Story stand out, consider adding good Instagram captions, stickers, or GIFs. You can drag, resize, and adjust these elements until they fit your brand style.
3. Move to the next screen
After you’re happy with the design, then click Next to proceed.
4. Select publishing destinations
At this stage, choose where the Story will go live – on Instagram, Facebook, or both, depending on your strategy.
5. Pick a time and schedule
Finally, instead of posting right away, choose Schedule for later. Set the exact date and time, then confirm (tap Done on iOS or Schedule on Android).
Your Story is now officially scheduled! You can check upcoming posts anytime by opening Posts & Stories and switching to the Calendar view.
Schedule Instagram Story with Third-party tools
1. Connect your Instagram account
To begin, sign up for a scheduling platform of your choice and link your Instagram profile. In most cases, tools support both Business and Creator accounts.
2. Upload your Story content
Next, go to the tool’s dashboard and add the photos or videos you want to schedule. Additionally, many platforms let you organize your media into folders or a content library for easy access later.
3. Create and customize your Story
After that, drag and drop your content into the built-in calendar. From here, you can arrange the order of your Stories, add captions, and even include stickers, links, or swipe-up CTAs (depending on your account type). Furthermore, you can also explore more ways to customize your Instagram Story to make it more engaging.
4. Choose your date and time
Once everything looks good, select when you want your Story to go live. Depending on the platform, some apps can auto-publish Stories at the scheduled time, while others send you a push notification on your phone as a reminder to post.
5. Review and manage your schedule
Finally, after scheduling, you can revisit your calendar view to edit, reschedule, or delete Stories anytime. Most platforms also provide analytics, showing metrics like views, replies, and engagement – valuable insights for refining your strategy.
Conclusion
Scheduling Instagram Stories is a smart way to stay consistent, post at peak times, and save valuable hours. Whether you use Meta Business Suite for simplicity or third-party tools for advanced features, planning ahead helps boost engagement and strengthen your brand presence.
FAQs
What’s the difference between scheduling posts and Stories
Instagram posts (feed posts or reels) stay on your profile permanently, while Stories disappear after 24 hours. In addition, scheduling posts usually offers more editing options and advanced analytics, whereas scheduling Stories focuses on short-lived, time-sensitive content.
Why can’t I schedule Instagram Stories directly in the Instagram app?
At the moment, the Instagram app doesn’t have a built-in scheduling feature for Stories. Therefor, to schedule, you’ll need to use Meta Business Suite or third-party tools that integrate with Instagram’s API.
Will scheduling Instagram Stories reduce engagement?
On the contrary, scheduling can actually scheduling can increase engagement because it helps you post consistently and at peak hours. As a result, what matters most is the quality and timing of your content, not whether it was scheduled or posted manually.
Can I schedule Instagram Stories for free?
Yes. Meta Business Suite allows you to schedule Stories for free as long as you have a Business or Creator account connected to Facebook. In addition, some third-party tools also offer free plans, though advanced features may require a subscription.