Quick Answer:
- Your own story: Tap and hold the sticker, then drag it to the trash icon that appears at the bottom of the screen.
- Someone else’s story: You cannot remove stickers directly inside Instagram. Download the story first, then use a photo editing app like Snapseed, AirBrush, or Photoshop to erase the sticker.
Whether you accidentally added a sticker to your own story or want to see a clean version of someone else’s photo, the process is completely different in each case. This guide covers both situations clearly.
How to Delete Stickers on Your Own Instagram Story
If the story belongs to you, removing a sticker is fast and built into Instagram:
Before posting:
- While editing your story, tap and hold the sticker you want to remove
- Drag it to the trash icon that appears at the bottom of the screen
- Release when the trash turns red — the sticker is deleted
After posting:
You cannot edit a story after it has been posted. Your options are:
- Delete the story and repost it without the sticker
- Wait for it to expire after 24 hours
How to delete saved stickers on Instagram:
- Open Instagram and go to any story creation screen
- Tap the sticker icon at the top
- Find the sticker you want to remove from your saved collection
- Press and hold the sticker until a delete option appears
- Tap Delete to remove it from your saved stickers
How to Remove Stickers from Someone Else’s Instagram Story
Instagram does not provide a way to remove stickers from someone else’s story inside the app. To do this, you need to:
- Download the story image or video to your device
- Open it in a photo or video editing app
- Use the eraser, healing, or clone tool to remove the sticker
- Save the edited version
Results vary depending on the background complexity and the size of the sticker.
Best Apps to Remove Stickers from Instagram Stories
| App / Tool | Platform | Cost | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Snapseed | Android / iOS | Free | Quick mobile edits, Healing tool |
| AirBrush | Android / iOS | Free (in-app purchases) | Easy erasing for beginners |
| TouchRetouch | Android / iOS | Paid | Precise one-tap object removal |
| Cleanup.pictures | Web (any device) | Free | Fast AI-based removal, no install |
| WebinPaint | Web | Free trial / Paid | Online, highlight and erase |
| GIMP | Windows / Mac / Linux | Free | Advanced users, Clone tool |
| Photoshop | Windows / Mac | Paid | Professional results, Clone Stamp |
Step-by-Step: Remove Sticker from Instagram Story Using Snapseed (Free, Mobile)
- Download the Instagram story to your phone (use a story saver app)
- Open Snapseed and import the photo
- Tap Tools and select Healing
- Use your finger to paint over the sticker area
- Snapseed automatically fills in the background
- Tap the checkmark to apply and then export the edited image
Step-by-Step: Remove Sticker Using Cleanup.pictures (Free, Web, No Install)
- Go to cleanup.pictures
- Upload the downloaded story image
- Use the brush to paint over the sticker area
- Click Clean and wait a few seconds
- Download the result
Step-by-Step: Remove Sticker Using Windows Paint with AI (Windows 11)
- Download the Instagram story to your computer
- Right-click the image and select Open with → Paint
- Use the Selection Tool to draw a box around the sticker
- Click the Remove Background or Erase option in the toolbar
- In Windows 11 with Copilot integration, use the AI removal feature if available
- Touch up any rough edges with the Brush tool
- Save as a new file with File → Save As
How to Remove Music Sticker from Instagram Story
The music sticker is one of the most commonly searched for removal. The process is the same as other stickers:
- If it is your own story: tap and hold the music sticker → drag to the trash before posting
- After posting: you cannot edit it. Delete the story and repost without the music sticker
- For someone else’s story: download the image and use Snapseed or Cleanup.pictures to paint over the sticker area
How to Remove Song Sticker from Instagram Story
Song stickers work the same way as music stickers. For your own story before posting, drag it to trash. After posting, your only option is to delete the story. For others’ stories, use a photo editing app on the downloaded image.
Free vs Paid Apps: Which Should You Use?
| Feature | Free (Snapseed, GIMP, Cleanup.pictures) | Paid (Photoshop, TouchRetouch) |
|---|---|---|
| Ease of use | Beginner friendly | Steeper learning curve |
| Result quality | Good for simple backgrounds | Best for complex images |
| Installation required | Not always (web tools available) | Usually yes |
| Cost | Free | Monthly or one-time fee |
Tips for Better Results When Removing Stickers
- Simple or solid backgrounds give the cleanest results
- Zoom in before selecting the sticker area for more precision
- Use the Clone or Heal tool rather than just erasing
- Try multiple apps and compare results — no single tool works perfectly for every image
- Save the original image before editing so you can go back if needed
Is It Legal to Remove Stickers from Someone’s Instagram Story?
Editing someone else’s Instagram content and reposting it without permission violates Instagram’s terms of service and may infringe on the creator’s rights. These methods should only be used for:
- Personal use only
- Content you have rights to
- Educational or editorial purposes with appropriate context
Never repost or redistribute someone else’s edited content without their explicit permission.
FAQ
How do you remove stickers on Instagram story?
If it is your own story before posting: tap and hold the sticker and drag it to the trash. After posting, you cannot edit the story — delete it and repost without the sticker. For someone else’s story, download it and use a photo editing app.
How to delete saved stickers on Instagram?
Open the story editor, tap the sticker icon, find your saved sticker, press and hold it until a delete option appears, then tap Delete.
How to remove sticker from Instagram story after posting?
You cannot edit a story after it has been posted. Your only option is to delete the entire story and repost it without the sticker.
How do you remove stickers from someone else’s Instagram story?
Download the story first using a story saver tool, then use a photo editing app such as Snapseed, AirBrush, or Cleanup.pictures to erase the sticker.
How to remove music sticker from Instagram story?
Before posting: tap and hold the music sticker and drag it to trash. After posting: delete the story and repost. For another person’s story: download and edit with a photo editing app.
Can you remove stickers from Instagram videos?
Yes, but it is more complex. Use a video editing app or an online tool that supports object removal from video. The results may be less clean than with photos.
How to remove an emoji from someone else’s Instagram picture?
Download the image, then open it in Snapseed, AirBrush, or Photoshop and use the Healing or Clone tool to paint over the emoji area.
How to hide music sticker on Instagram story?
You can move it to a less visible part of the screen before posting, or cover it with another sticker. There is no option to hide it completely after posting.
Can you remove the Add Yours sticker from an Instagram story?
If it is your story before posting: drag it to trash. If already posted: delete the story. For someone else’s story: not possible from within Instagram.
Related articles:
- How to make videos loop on Instagram story
- How to put slow motion video on Instagram story
- How to change photo shape in Instagram story
- Instagram story pinning not working
For more discussion on this topic, see this Reddit thread.
9 Responses
Wow, thanks StoryDL for this awesome article! It’s exactly what I was looking for. I haven’t been able to figure out how to remove stickers from Instagram stories without them messing up the whole picture, but your guide with Photoshop made it super clear.
Now, I have a quick question. Could you recommend any free or simple editing tools that achieve the same result without needing Photoshop? I’m not a pro at editing, so something user-friendly would be ideal.
Hey there! We’re so glad you found our article helpful! You’re absolutely right, removing stickers without Photoshop can be tricky, but there are definitely some user-friendly options out there.
For beginners, I’d recommend checking out:
Snapseed: It’s a free app with an “Object Eraser” tool that lets you easily brush away unwanted elements like stickers. 🪄
TouchRetouch: Another free app with a similar “Object Removal” feature that’s specifically designed for photos. You can simply mark the sticker and watch it disappear! ✨
PicsArt: This one has a free version with a “Cutout” tool that allows you to isolate the sticker and delete it without affecting the rest of the image.
Remember, these tools might not work perfectly on complex backgrounds or intricate stickers, but they’re a great starting point. ✨
If you’re willing to try something a little more advanced, apps like Canva or GIMP (free and open-source) offer more precise control and more powerful tools for sticker removal. But, the learning curve might be steeper.
Feel free to ask if you have any questions about using these tools, and happy story-editing!
I don’t have Photoshop or Lightroom. What’s the easiest way to remove stickers from Instagram stories?
The article says that there are many ways to remove stickers from Instagram stories, and that some of the easiest ways are to use free apps like Apowersoft Watermark Remover or GIMP. GIMP is a photo editor that is available for free, and it has a variety of features that can be used to edit photos, including removing stickers. Apowersoft Watermark Remover is another free app that can be used to remove stickers from photos. It is a good option if you want to remove stickers from multiple stories at once.
This is exactly what I was looking for! I’ve been trying to figure out how to remove stickers from instagram story for ages. Is it actually possible after it’s been posted?
Hi Chris! It’s a common question. Unfortunately, you can’t remove a sticker to see what’s underneath once it’s been posted by someone else, as it’s “baked into” the image. This guide explains the best workarounds using editing tools.
This article was a lifesaver! I needed to download instagram story without stickers for a project, and the tips here really helped. It’s all about unspooling the digital narrative to see what truly works today.
I have a question. So, can you remove stickers from instagram stories for real? I’ve seen some apps that claim they can do it.
Hi Tony! Great question. As of now, no app can truly “remove” a sticker to reveal what’s underneath. This guide explains why and shows what’s actually possible with editing tools like Photoshop or Snapseed’s healing brush.