How to Schedule an Instagram Story

What Is an Instagram Story?

An Instagram Story is a full-screen, vertical post that appears at the top of your followers' feeds and disappears after 24 hours. Stories are great for behind-the-scenes content, quick updates, and time-sensitive promotions.

With SocialCal you can schedule Instagram Stories in advance — just like feed posts and Reels. They publish automatically at the time you choose.

Requirements

• Your Instagram account must be a Business or Creator account (the same requirement as connecting Instagram in the first place)
• A Story must include one photo or video — Stories can't be text-only
• Recommended format: 9:16 vertical (full-screen). Other ratios will still post, but Instagram may crop or letterbox them
• A caption is optional for Stories

How to Schedule an Instagram Story

1. Go to Create New Post in the sidebar
2. Select Instagram in the platform toolbar
3. Click the 📸 Story format button (next to 📰 Feed and 🎬 Reel)
4. Upload the photo or video you want to share
5. (Optional) Add a caption
6. In the publishing panel on the right, click Publish to post now, or toggle to Schedule and pick a date and time
7. Click Schedule Post — your Story is queued and publishes automatically

Good to Know

• Stories expire after 24 hours, exactly like a Story posted from the Instagram app
• First comments aren't available on Stories — the First Comment option is hidden when the Story format is selected, because Instagram Stories don't support comments
• Each Story is a single photo or video. To post several in a row, schedule a separate Story for each
• You can mix formats in one session — schedule a Feed post, a Reel, and a Story for the same day

Tips

• Keep key content centered: Instagram overlays your profile icon at the top and interface buttons at the bottom, so keep important text and elements in the middle of the frame
• Design at 1080 × 1920 px: this 9:16 canvas gives the cleanest full-screen result
• Schedule around the 24-hour window: post Stories when your audience is most active so they're seen before they expire