Instagram Stories are still the heartbeat of social media. But in 2025, simply posting on a whim isn’t enough to stand out. With the algorithm constantly evolving and attention spans shorter than ever, it’s all about working smarter, not harder.
What if we say you can consistently grab your audience’s attention, soar engagement, and save hours each week? That’s where this guide comes in. Whether you’re a small business owner, influencer, or marketer, optimizing your Stories with an intelligent scheduling strategy is the game-changer you didn’t know you needed.
Ready to elevate your Instagram game and stay ahead of the curve? Let’s get into the ultimate guide for scheduling Stories in 2025.
Instagram Stories in a Glimpse
Instagram Stories offer a unique way to connect with your audience. According to research, about 500 million users view them daily. Since Instagram stories disappear after 24 hours, they create a sense of urgency and encourage viewers to watch immediately.
Moreover, IG stories are an interesting way to interact with the audience through polls, questions, and slides.
But here comes a question from busy social media managers and marketers: Can you schedule Instagram Stories? Yes, you can.
Though Instagram doesn’t offer a built-in scheduling feature, many third-party tools and Facebook Business Suite allow you to plan and schedule your IG stories in advance.
Why You Need to Schedule Instagram Stories
Now, you know that you can schedule your Instagram stories ahead of time and post them later at a time you select.
Save Time
Scheduling Instagram stories allows you to plan your content. Instead of posting manually, you can create Stories in bulk and schedule them for later, freeing up your time for other tasks. And there’s another benefit of planning your Instagram stories–you don’t randomly post stuff. Instead, you post content that brings something tangible, like followers and sales.
Maintain Consistency
Regular posting is vital to Instagram’s success. Scheduling in advance and posting on time helps maintain a consistent posting schedule and keeps your audience engaged.
Reach More People
Posting at optimal times increases your chances of reaching more people. Scheduling IG stories allows you to post when your audience is most active, helps improve your account’s visibility, and enables you to gain more potential followers.
Improve Planning
By scheduling Stories, you can plan your content strategically, create a cohesive and engaging feed, and align your stories with your overall marketing goals and campaigns.
You can also experiment with different content formats and themes the Instagram Stories feature offers.
Reduce Stress
Many social media managers and creators agree that last-minute content creation is stressful and can lead to mistakes. Scheduling stories eliminates the pressure to create content on the go and ensures your content goes live even if you’re busy.
Analyze Performance
Review and track the performance of your Instagram Stories to understand what works best for your audience. Use this data to refine your content strategy accordingly and create more content that resonates with your audience and that they love interacting with.
How to Schedule Instagram Stories In 2025
Now that we know what Instagram stories are and why they must be scheduled in advance, let’s learn different methods for scheduling them.
Method 1: Schedule Instagram Stories Using SocialBu
Can you schedule Instagram stories? Absolutely.
The first way to schedule your Instagram story is through SocialBu. This popular social media management tool allows you to easily schedule your Instagram stories and other content to post automatically at a specific time.
1. Connect Your Instagram Account
Log in to your SocialBu account and go to the “Accounts” section. Click “Add Account” and choose your Instagram account.
Follow the on-screen instructions to link your Instagram account/profile. However, ensure you’re connecting a business profile to access scheduling features.
2. Create Your Instagram Story
Click on the “+ New Post” or “Publish” button. 
From accounts, select Instagram and select “Story” as the post type from the dropdown. Now, upload your image or video content.
Edit it to add text, stickers, or other creative elements as desired.
3. Schedule Your Story
Once you’ve finished creating your Instagram story, click the “Show Options” button and select the “Post as a Story” option.
Choose the specific date and time you want your Story to go live. Click “Schedule” to save and schedule your story.
4. Preview and Confirm
Please double-check the details of your scheduled Story, including the content, date, and time. Then, confirm your schedule and save it.
This is how your scheduled stories will show up on the screen.
Method 2: Schedule Instagram Stories Using Facebook Business Suite
If you have a Business Instagram account, you can schedule your Instagram Stories using Facebook’s native Business Suite.
Facebook/Meta Business Suite is a helpful tool for managing your Instagram and Facebook accounts. However, it will only help you schedule your Instagram stories and content on these two social media platforms.
That’s why it’s recommended that you use a social media management tool to schedule content and manage all your social media accounts from a single dashboard.
Here’s how to schedule your Stories using this method:
1. Access Meta Business Suite
Log in to your Facebook page and select Meta Business Suite from the menu on the left side of the screen.
After that, choose your account from the top left side of the screen.
2. Create Your Story
Now, it’s time to draft and create your Instagram story. You can perform this action from the three significant places in the dashboard’s menu:
- Create a Post button on the left side of the screen
- Posts and Stories item on the left side of the screen
- Create a Story button in the center of the dashboard
Once you select one of these options, a story creator window will appear. Now, select the account with which you want to share your story and choose the photo or video you want to use for your story.
3. Edit Your Story
Add text, stickers, or other elements to customize your Instagram story and make it visually appealing.
4. Schedule Your Instagram Story
Instead of posting immediately, click the arrow beside the Publish Story button for various scheduling options.
Click “Schedule Story”.
Then, choose the date and time you want your Story to go live and click the schedule option. Your story will then be posted to your Instagram account.
5. Review and Confirm
After choosing and saving the date and time, double-check the details of your scheduled Instagram Story before confirming by going to Post and Stories, then Stories, and Scheduled.
You can also manage your posts, reschedule, publish them immediately, or delete them permanently.
And It’s Done!
Following these steps, you can efficiently schedule your Instagram Stories and save time.
Additional Tips to Post Stories on Instagram
To stand out in the crowd and keep your business updated, follow these additional tips:
- Consistency: Remember that consistency is the key. No matter how good your content is, you might have the hide-and-seek of high and low posts if you’re not consistently posting Instagram stories. Schedule and post stories regularly to maintain audience engagement.
- Keep it Short and Sweet: Stories disappear after 24 hours, so keep your content concise and engaging. But it should have something meaningful that people wait for your Instagram stories.
- Variety: Stories help you understand the likes and dislikes of your audience. So, it’s best to dig deep into your target audience’s preferences. Use different story formats (image, video, poll, quiz, etc.) to keep your audience interested.
- Know Your Audience: Understand when your target audience is most active. This could help your content gain more engagement and ultimately increase the conversion rate.
- Create a Content Calendar: Plan your Instagram stories. Do not randomly post them; plan them according to your goals. A content calendar helps maintain consistency and variety.
- Utilize SocialBu’s Features: SocialBu offers many options for managing your social media. Use those options to post Instagram stories and track their performance. Explore SocialBu’s features, such as Reel Scheduling, analytics, and team collaboration, for better management.
Learn the best time to post on Instagram and schedule your Instagram stories accordingly.
By following these steps, you can effectively schedule your Instagram Stories, save time, and maintain a consistent presence on the platform.
Troubleshooting: Why Can’t I Schedule Instagram Stories?
Can you schedule Instagram Stories to post? Yes, but sometimes you might encounter issues for several reasons. Here are some common problems and their solutions to schedule stories on Instagram:
Incorrect Account Type
Only business profiles can schedule Stories on SocialBu, not personal accounts. So ensure you’ve switched to a business or creator account. Otherwise, the scheduling tool might show some glitches.
Outdated App Version
Update your Instagram app to the latest version. Older versions might have bugs or missing features.
Tool Compatibility
Some tools restrict the scheduling of Stories. If you’re using a third-party scheduling tool, ensure it’s up-to-date and compatible with Instagram’s API.
If you continue to face the problem, try again later or contact Instagram support.
Story Format Issues
Ensure your Story images or videos meet Instagram’s requirements for size and format.
Tool Connection Issues
Verify that your scheduling tool is correctly connected to your Instagram account. If you continue encountering issues, try the troubleshooting steps provided by your scheduling tool or contact its support team.
Final Words
Here you go—now you have the answer to your question: Can you schedule Instagram Stories? Absolutely. This guide has shown you how to plan and schedule your Instagram Stories effectively.
Scheduling Instagram Stories can significantly enhance your social media strategy. So, use these tips and methods today to save time, increase reach, grow your Instagram audience, and achieve your marketing goals.
Sign up for SocialBu and try scheduling your stories now. It won’t cost you a dime until your free trial ends.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do You Schedule an Instagram Story?
Instagram doesn’t offer a built-in scheduling feature for Stories. You can use third-party tools like Meta Business Suite, SocialBu Hootsuite, or Buffer to plan and schedule your Stories in advance.
How to Schedule Instagram Stories With Links?
To schedule Instagram Stories with links, use tools like SocialBu. Create your story, add the link, and set the publish time. Ensure your account has enabled the “Swipe Up” feature, or use the link sticker if you meet the follower requirement.
How to Schedule Instagram Stories For Free?
You can schedule Instagram Stories for free using tools like SocialBu, Buffer, or Planoly. Sign up for an account, connect to your Instagram, and use their basic scheduling features. Note that free versions may limit the number of scheduled posts and lack advanced analytics.
