How to Pin Text on Instagram Story (2026 Guide)
TL;DR - Quick Answer
10 min readTips you can use today. What works and what doesn't.
Quick answer: To pin text on an Instagram Story, add your text, then tap and hold on it. Drag it to the position you want, and Instagram will pin it to that spot. For video stories, the text moves with the object you pin it to.
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For Video Stories
- Record or upload your video to Instagram Stories
- Add text by tapping the "Aa" icon or tapping anywhere on the screen
- Type your text and customize the font, color, and size
- Tap "Done" when finished editing
- Tap and hold on the text you want to pin
- Drag it to the exact position on the video where you want it pinned
- A slider appears at the bottom, scrub to the moment you want the pin to start
- Tap "Pin" to lock it in place
The text now moves with whatever object or area of the video you pinned it to.
Need a quiz sticker instead? See our guide on how to make a quiz on Instagram Story.
For Photo Stories
Pinning works differently on photo stories since there's no movement:
- Upload or take your photo
- Add text using the text tool
- Position the text by dragging it anywhere on the photo
- Resize by pinching in or out with two fingers
- Rotate by twisting with two fingers
On photo stories, text stays exactly where you place it, no pinning animation needed.
Pinning Comparison
What's the key difference between pinning text on a video story vs. a photo story?
How to Pin Stickers on Instagram Story
The same pinning technique works for stickers and GIFs:
- Add a sticker or GIF from the sticker tray
- Tap and hold on the sticker
- Drag to position on your video
- Use the slider to choose when the pin activates
- Tap "Pin" to lock
This works with:
- Emoji stickers
- GIFs from GIPHY
- Location stickers
- Mention stickers
- Custom stickers
Creative Ways to Use Pinned Text
Product Labels
Pin text labels to products in a video as you show them off. Each label appears as the product comes into frame. Great for Instagram shopping features and product launches.
Name Tags
Pin names above people in group videos. Great for team intros or event coverage.
Before/After Labels
Pin "Before" and "After" text to transformation videos. The text follows the movement naturally.
Price Tags
Pin prices to items in a product showcase video. Creates a dynamic shopping experience.
Step Numbers
Pin numbered steps in tutorial videos. Each step appears as you demonstrate it.
For more interactive story ideas, see our creative Instagram Story ideas guide.
Troubleshooting
Text Won't Pin
- Make sure you're using a video, not a photo (pinning to movement only works on video)
- Update Instagram to the latest version
- Try pressing and holding the text for at least 2 seconds
Pin Moves to Wrong Position
- Use the timeline slider more precisely
- Pin to a high-contrast area of the video (Instagram tracks contrast points)
- Avoid pinning to fast-moving objects, slower motion tracks better
Your pinned text keeps drifting away from the object in your video story. What's the most likely fix?
Text Disappears After Pinning
- The pin might be set to appear after the visible timeline
- Delete and re-pin, making sure the slider is at the right moment
- Check if the pinned item moves off-screen during the video
Tips for Better Pinned Text
- Use bold, readable fonts, small text gets lost in motion
- Pick contrasting colors, white text on bright backgrounds is invisible
- Keep text short, 2-3 words work best for pinned labels
- Pin to slow-moving areas, the tracking is more accurate
- Test before posting, preview to make sure the pin looks natural
- Use background highlights, the text background option improves readability on busy videos
Want to add more to your stories? Learn how to add links to Instagram Stories and add multiple photos to one story.
Looking to pin posts to your Instagram profile grid instead? See our Instagram Pinned Posts Guide.
You can also save your best pinned text stories as highlights. Learn how in our how to save Instagram Stories guide.
FAQ
Can you pin text on Instagram Story on Android?
Yes. The pinning feature works on both iOS and Android. The process is identical: add text, tap and hold, position it, and tap Pin. Make sure your Instagram app is updated to the latest version.
How many items can you pin on one Instagram Story?
There's no official limit to how many text elements or stickers you can pin on a single Instagram Story. However, pinning too many items can make the story look cluttered and may cause tracking issues. Stick to 2-3 pinned elements per story for best results.
Can you pin text to a specific time in the video?
Yes. When you tap and hold the text, a timeline slider appears at the bottom of the screen. Scrub to the exact moment you want the text to appear, then tap Pin. The text will show up at that timestamp and follow the movement from that point.
Does pinned text work on Instagram Reels too?
Yes, Instagram Reels also support pinned text. The process is slightly different: after adding text to your Reel, tap on the text, then tap "Pin" and select the frame where you want to attach it. Reels pinning offers more precise frame-by-frame control.
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