Instagram now lets you edit Stories with Meta AI — here’s your step-by-step guide

Instagram has rolled out a major update that embeds Meta AI’s photo and video editing capabilities directly into the Stories interface. According to Meta, this update lets users “change photos and videos in their Stories simply by entering text prompts.” 

Previously, users who wanted to apply Meta AI’s editing had to interact via the dedicated Meta AI chatbot; now, the tools are integrated into the Stories edit menu for faster, more intuitive access. 

What’s new in Instagram Stories with Meta AI

How to edit Instagram Stories with Meta AI – Step by Step

Accessing the feature

• Open Instagram and start a new Story by uploading a photo or video.

• Tap the paintbrush icon, located at the top when you’re editing a Story. 

• In the menu that appears, you’ll find the “Restyle” section. 

Using text prompts

• Within the Restyle menu, you can choose between options: “add”, “remove”, or “change”. 

• After picking one, type in a prompt describing your desired change. For example: “change hair colour”, “add a crown”, or “insert a sunset background”.

• Once you submit, Meta AI will apply the transformation and you can preview and then post or save your Story.

Preset effects and video features

• Beyond custom prompts, the update includes preset styles for quicker edits. For images: add sunglasses, apply a watercolour filter, change outfit. 

• For videos: apply effects like simulated snowfall or flames, or change style and setting. 

• The Restyle tool now supports both still images and videos in Stories. 

Important notes & considerations

Cost & availability

• The AI editing features are free for users of Instagram Stories. (No specific paid tier mentioned in the sources.)

Data & privacy implications

• When you use Meta AI editing tools, you agree to Meta’s AI Terms of Service. Meta states that by using the tool, you permit your media (photos/videos), facial features and content to be “summarise[d] … modified … and generate[d] new content based on the image.” 

• Users should therefore be aware of how their images/videos might be used by Meta for training and editing.

Competitive context

• The rollout underscores Meta’s push to integrate AI deeply into its social apps, keeping pace with other platforms and their generative-AI features. 

Conclusion

Instagram’s integration of Meta AI editing tools into its Stories feature is a meaningful shift — rather than relying on separate AI-chatbot workflows or external apps, users can now directly apply text prompts within the Stories editor to add, remove or change visual elements in both photos and videos.

With the “Restyle” menu accessed via the paintbrush icon, the barrier to creative editing is significantly lowered.

That said, users should remain mindful of the privacy and data-use implications of deploying AI tools, and creators should experiment responsibly. For consumers and creators alike, the update represents a step closer to professional-level editing being available at the tap of a prompt — and it hints at how social platforms will continue embedding generative AI into everyday content tools.