How to React to Instagram Stories: 2022 Guide
One of the easiest features to use on the app is reacting to Instagram stories. Nowadays, users post more stories than actual posts, so interacting with them is the new norm.
Along with some additional advice you might find useful, we’ll go over everything you need to know about responding to Instagram Stories.
How to React to Instagram Stories
You might want to respond in some way to an Instagram story that stands out to you while you’re scrolling through the feed. The format for commenting and liking is a bit different because this is a story rather than a real post.
Instagram was kind enough to provide users with a few options for responding to someone else’s story. There are currently six different emoji reactions that you can use. Here’s how to get to them:
- Find the Instagram story you want to respond to as you swipe through the feed.
- You only need to swipe up on the screen to get to the story itself.
- Then six reactions emojis that you can use to respond to the user’s story will appear on screen.
- Instagram will automatically reply when you click the reaction you want to send the user.
- You’ll notice that the emoji you pick will float up on the screen, which is essentially the “reaction” you’re giving to someone else.
- The response you sent will show up in your direct messages if you want to review it later.
How to Like Someone’s Reply to Your Instagram Story
When someone replies to your story, you might occasionally just want to like it and carry on with your day. Because it only requires a few taps, this procedure is incredibly straightforward.
- The top right corner of the screen’s direct messages tab is where you should go.
- Select the message that a different user has sent you.
- When you double-tap on their response where it says “their message,” a red heart will show up. This indicates that you liked the user’s story reply, and they will be notified of your liking it.
How to Like Instagram Stories
Instagram provides a like button for stories if you don’t want to go as far as sending a reaction that fills the entire screen when replying to someone’s story.
- Find the Instagram story you want to like by scrolling through the feed.
- In the bottom right corner of the screen, select the heart icon.
- Just as you would with liking a standard Instagram post, the user whose story you liked will receive a notification.
How to Send a Message to Someone Else’s Instagram Story
Instagram also provides the option to directly message a user about their story if their story particularly appeals to you.
When you’re scrolling through stories, you’ll notice a bar on the bottom of the screen that says “Send message.” You must use this in order for this feature to function.
- Find the user whose story you want to send a message to while scrolling through Instagram stories.
- Click on the “Send message” bar at the bottom of the screen.
- Type out your message and hit the “Send” button.
Disable Message Replies Or Reactions on Instagram Stories
- Open the Instagram app and tap on the profile icon at the bottom right to navigate to the profile screen.
- Select the hamburger icon at the top right and select Settings.
- Next, tap on Privacy and then select Story.
- Now, in Allow Message Replies section select Off if you wish to turn off replies for everyone or select People You Follow to disable message replies from the people you don’t follow while keeping the replies for others turned on. After doing this, viewers of your story won’t have the option to message or comment.
The aforementioned strategy will function for already-uploaded stories. For an existing story, there are additional ways to access this Story Settings screen.
Send Message option will no longer appear when someone views your Story
In addition to our steps, you can also watch our video:
Block Replies on An Already Uploaded Instagram Story
- You can access your Instagram story by tapping on your profile photo or your story avatar in the stories section at the top of the news feed.
- Under your story, you have two ways to get to the Story Settings. Either tap on the 3 dots icon at the bottom right and select Story Settings.
Or Swipe upwards while you have your story opened and select the gear icon ((Settings) in the upper left corner. - Under the Story Settings screen, follow Step # 4 from the above method.
The message replies or reactions can always be enabled at a later time from the same Story Settings screen. And read this in-depth post if you want to do the same for your Instagram posts.
How to Use Quick Replies on Instagram Direct
Let’s now examine how to use quick replies in Instagram messages, which is a similar quick method of responding to a story.
Quick reply is a feature that lets you type repetitive messages faster. It does this by allowing you to designate a word or a shortcut for a specific message. Therefore, when you type the shortcut, the full response will appear automatically, and tapping it once will give you the full response. However, there is a limitation—it is only accessible to business accounts. The steps to set up or create and use quick replies are therefore listed below for all business account holders.
Here’s how to create a quick reply:
- Go to your profile page after opening the Instagram app. After that, tap on the hamburger menu icon and select Settings.
- Next, tap on Business.
- Under Business, select Saved Replies.
- Now, tap on + icon at the top right to add a quick reply.
- The next screen gives you fields to type the message and the corresponding shortcut for it. Provide the necessary information and once done tap on the tick mark icon at the top right to save it.
By using the same procedures, you can create as many replies as necessary. - Now, to see them in action go to any conversation and type the shortcut. Doing this, it will automatically show you a blue reply icon, tap on it and it will type the complete message (set in quick reply) for you.
You may edit it or send it as it is by tapping on Send.
It is possible to edit existing replies by going to the Saved Replies section and then select the desired reply. You can edit the shortcut and message for it by tapping on it. You will also get the option to Delete Saved Reply at the bottom of this screen.
How Does Instagram Stories Work?
Here’s a brief explanation of how Instagram Stories operate, but if there’s something in particular you’d like to learn how to do, check out our full list of Instagram Stories tips and tricks for a more in-depth overview.
Posting
Tap the “+” button in the top right of your screen and tap on “Story” in the bottom right, or swipe right from anywhere in your Instagram Feed.
Then, to take a photo or video, long press the record button at the bottom or tap it. Additionally, you can tap Boomerang in the tool bar on the left to take burst photos that loop forward or backward. You can also tap the arrow on the tool bar to choose the hands-free mode and access other features like Superzoom.
When finished, tap the doodle, text, or sticker icons at the top of the screen to add effects. Location data, polls, and song lyrics can all be found on stickers.
Once you’re finished editing, you can save your creation to your phone or tap the “Send to” in the bottom right of your screen to share it to your story. Images and videos that you post to your story vanish from the feed and your profile after 24 hours.
Hide Your Story from Someone
You can keep your story a secret from someone if you don’t want them to hear it. Simply tap the profile icon in the bottom right corner of the Instagram app to access your profile. Next, tap the three horizontal lines in the top right corner. Select Settings > Privacy > Story > Hide Story From > and then choose the users you want to hide your story from.
Viewing
When you upload a photo or a video to your story, it appears on your profile (where people can tap the colorful ring around your profile picture to view your story) and at the top of the Instagram feed (where people can tap the profile pictures that appear in a row at the top of their followers’ feeds to view your story).
In the Search & Explore tabs, public stories might also be found.
You may also see it on hashtag or location pages if you’ve added a location, a hashtag, or a location-based sticker.
Replying
You can reply to stories with a message reply or a quick reply emoji by tapping on the “Send Message” box at the bottom of the story you are watching.
Your response and a thumbnail of the original story will be sent to your friend via Direct Message.
Wrap
Reactions offer a different engaging way to interact with IG Stories.
Not only is it cool, but it also expresses your feelings more quickly. The same is true of Instagram message quick replies. They don’t just make things quicker; they also take the place of repeatedly typing the same messages. Isn’t it?
This troubleshooting guide may be helpful if you’re having trouble sending your reactions or quick replies.
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