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Instagram Story Generator

Build a realistic Instagram Story mockup — 9:16 vertical format with the progress bar, header, and reply bar — for presentations, content planning, or a template to reuse. Nothing is posted to Instagram.

Last updated: August 16, 2026

Client-Side Processing
Input Data Stays on Device
Instant Local Execution
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What is Instagram Story Generator?

An Instagram Story generator creates a visual mockup of an Instagram Story slide — the top progress-bar segments, the username and avatar header, a full-bleed photo or gradient background, an optional caption overlay, and the bottom reply bar — without publishing anything to Instagram. It follows the same mockup-tool approach as the Instagram Post Generator, sized for Stories' 9:16 vertical format instead of the square feed format.

Stories differ from feed posts in a few visual ways this generator reproduces: the segmented progress bar at the top (one segment per slide in a multi-slide Story), the close (X) button instead of a menu, and the "Send message" reply field instead of a caption/comment area. All rendering happens in the browser — no Instagram account or login required.

How to Use Instagram Story Generator

1

Enter the username and how many hours ago the Story was "posted"

2

Set the slide count and which slide is active (controls the progress bar)

3

Upload a profile photo, and either pick a gradient background or upload your own photo

4

Optionally add caption text as an overlay

5

Click "Download PNG" to save the finished Story mockup as an image

Common Use Cases

  • Creating a Stories mockup template to reuse for a content calendar or campaign preview deck
  • Building a UX prototype of a Stories feature that needs to look like a real Instagram slide
  • Making a presentation slide that shows how a multi-slide Story sequence will look, using the progress bar to indicate slide position
  • Testing how a caption overlay reads against a photo vs. a gradient background before publishing
  • Producing a joke or reaction mockup styled as an Instagram Story to share with friends

Example Input and Output

A three-slide Story, currently on slide 2, with a caption overlay:

Story configuration
Username: sam.wilson
Posted: 2 hours ago
Slides: 3, active slide: 1 (second segment)
Background: gradient (Instagram brand gradient)
Caption: "Weekend vibes ☀️"
Mockup output description
✅ Mockup generated: instagram-story-sam.wilson.png

Preview includes:
  ✓ 3-segment progress bar (first two filled)
  ✓ Avatar + username + "2h" timestamp
  ✓ Close (X) icon
  ✓ Gradient background with caption overlay
  ✓ "Send message" reply bar with heart/share icons

How This Tool Works

The Story slide is rendered as styled HTML — progress bar, header, background, and reply bar — sized to a 9:16 container. When you click download, html2canvas captures the rendered element at 2x scale and exports it as a PNG via canvas.toDataURL().

Technical Stack

Reacthtml2canvasClient-side only

Total Privacy

All mockup rendering happens locally in your browser. Uploaded photos and text are never sent to our servers, Instagram, or Meta.

Using Mockups in Client Proposals

Add a clear "MOCKUP — NOT A LIVE STORY" watermark when sharing mockups externally to prevent confusion with a real posted Story.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this post a real Instagram Story?

No. This tool only generates a PNG image that looks like an Instagram Story slide. It does not publish to Instagram, does not connect to the Instagram API, and does not require any Instagram account.

What is the correct Instagram Story aspect ratio?

Instagram Stories use a 9:16 vertical aspect ratio, typically 1080×1920px at full resolution. This generator uses that same ratio for the on-screen preview and PNG export.

What does the progress bar at the top represent?

Each segment represents one slide in a multi-slide Story. Set "Slide count" to the total number of slides and "Active slide" to which one is currently showing — segments up to and including the active slide render as filled.

Can I use a photo instead of a gradient background?

Yes. Upload a photo and it replaces the gradient as the full-bleed background, with the header, progress bar, and reply bar overlaid on top — matching how a real photo Story looks.

Is my uploaded photo sent to a server?

No. Photos and caption text are only used locally in your browser to render the preview and PNG export.

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