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How to Use Picture in Picture on Instagram for IG Story

James Hogan
James Hogan updated Mar 27, 25
7 min(s)

Instagram actually offers a variety of features that might surprise you if you know how to use them right. One of our favorite features on Instagram is Picture in Picture (PiP), which lets you creatively layer photos in your Instagram Stories.

If you want to try out the Picture in Picture feature on your IG Story but aren't quite sure how everything works, don't worry! We're here to help you level up your Instagram game and show you just how fun and easy it can be to add a little bit of creativity to your Stories.

In this article
  1. About Instagram Picture in Picture
  2. How to Enable Instagram Picture in Picture
  3. How to Enable Picture in Picture to Split Videos on IG Story

Part 1. About Instagram Picture in Picture

First of all, how does Picture in Picture on IG Story work? If you open the Instagram Story sticker feature, you'll see that Instagram offers a plethora of tools designed to enhance your stories. One such tool is the option to add a Photo and Cutouts, which you can use to make an Instagram Picture in the Picture effect.

instagram story sticker feature

What's the difference between adding a photo and cutouts?

  • Adding a Photo: Simply insert an image into one frame.
  • Cutouts: Use this feature to add another photo as a sticker. You can select and isolate specific objects within the image, automatically or manually removing the background for more creative placement in your frames.

Additionally, Instagram also lets you overlay your picture through the Frame sticker, which works a bit like a digital Polaroid. When you use the Frame sticker, your photo will appear in a frame and initially look blurry. When posted, your viewers can interact by shaking their phones or tapping the frame to clear up and fully view the photo within the frame.

frame sticker feature on instagram

Part 2. How to Enable Instagram Picture in Picture of Your Photos

There are a few easy ways to create a Picture in Picture effect on Instagram to layer your photos over a video or image. The first method is using Instagram's built-in tools, which we've briefly discussed. The second method is by copying and pasting an image directly onto your Story.

Method 1: Add A Photo in Instagram Story

1
Open Instagram Story
Launch Instagram and open the Story camera by swiping right or tap Your Story. You can either take a new photo or video or choose one from your gallery.
add a new ig story
2
Tap the Sticker Icon
Once your main photo or video is ready, tap the sticker icon at the top of the screen.
select the sticker feature
3
Select the "Photo" Sticker
Find and tap Photo or Cutouts to insert an additional image. If you want to use the frame sticker instead, select Frame.
4
Choose a Photo
Pick any photo from your gallery that you want to overlay on your Story. If you are adding a photo, you can tap on the added photo to change the shape.
select photo sticker for pip
5
Customize Your Story
Drag, pinch, or rotate the added photo to place it exactly where you want it on the screen. Then, you can add text, GIFs, stickers, or other effects to make your Story even more appealing.
6
Post Your Story
Once you're happy with the design, tap Your Story to share it with your followers!

Method 2: Copy and Paste Your Photo to Instagram Story

Another way to create a Picture in Picture effect in Instagram Stories is by copying the image you want to add and pasting it directly onto your Story. If your phone supports auto-masking (which most iPhones do), you can even add an image without its background.

1
Copy the Image to Add as an Overlay
Open your Photos or Gallery app. Then, copy the picture you want to add as an overlay to your Instagram Story.

On iPhone:

  • If you want to copy an image without a background, long-press the subject of the photo until you see an outline around it. Tap "Copy" when the option appears.
  • If you want to copy the full image, tap the Share button and select "Copy Image."

On Android:

Some Android devices also allow copying images, but if you don't see the option, you can use third-party apps to achieve a similar effect.

2
Open Instagram and Create a Story
Open Instagram and access the Story camera. Take a photo, record a video, or choose an image from your gallery as your background.
3
Paste the Image onto Your Story
Once your Story background is ready, tap anywhere on the screen to open the text tool. Then, press and hold until the "Paste" option appears, and tap it. Your copied image will appear on the screen.
copy paste photo for ig story
4
Resize and Position the Image
Drag, resize, or rotate the pasted image to place it exactly where you want. You can add more copied images by repeating the process!

Part 3. How to Enable Picture in Picture to Split Videos on IG Story

Although Instagram Picture in Picture lets you overlay pictures over an image or video in your Stories, it doesn't currently support overlaying a video within the app. Those looking to combine multiple videos or overlay a video over an image on an Instagram Story will need a little extra help from an external tool.

Thankfully, making use of Picture in Picture for videos is easy using Wondershare Filmora. Available for both iPhone and Android, Filmora is a versatile video editing app that provides a wide range of features, including Picture in Picture, that you can use for your Instagram Story.

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There are a few reasons why we recommend Filmora as your go-to tool for enhancing your Instagram content:

  • Versatile Picture-in-Picture Capabilities: Filmora supports advanced picture-in-picture options, allowing you to overlay videos on videos or images on videos, giving you more creative control over your content.
  • AI Smart Cutout: Instantly remove backgrounds from your videos or images in one tap and overlay them with different backgrounds or effects.
  • Blending Mode: Choose from various blending options like Overlay, Multiply, Color Burn, and Darken to make your overlays look artsy.
  • Direct Sharing to Instagram: Conveniently share your edited videos directly to Instagram from within the app, making your content creation workflow more efficient.

How to Use Picture in Picture to Overlay Videos

1
Start a New Project in Filmora
Open Filmora and create a new project. Select the primary video you want to use from your gallery.
create new project on filmora
2
Turn on Picture-in-Picture (PiP)
After your main video is uploaded, hit the PiP button on the bottom toolbar. Choose a media file from your collection and tap the Checkmark icon to add it.
access filmora picture in picture
3
Edit Picture-in-Picture
To refine your PiP content, tap the video to bring up the editing menu.
available pip editing tools

From the available options, you can do several things, including:

  • Add Animation
  • Apply Blending Mode
  • Smart Cutout
  • Tracking (attach your PiP content to a specific object or area within the main video)
edit the pip content

Conclusion

After learning how to use Picture in Picture on Instagram, your IG Story can no longer be ordinary! Now's the time to experiment and channel your inner designer to create Instagram Stories that awe your followers.

To elevate your content even further, you can apply the Picture in Picture effect to your videos using Filmora. Filmora lets you to blend your PiP content with overlays, play with animations, and try the smart cutout option to fully express your creative vision.

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FAQ

  • Can you apply Picture in Picture during an Instagram Live session?
    Currently, Instagram doesn't support Instagram Live Picture in Picture. This means you can't overlay images or videos while streaming live directly within the app.
  • Can you view Instagram Stories in Picture in Picture mode while using other apps?
    No. There is no built-in Picture in Picture (PiP) mode on Instagram that lets you watch Instagram Stories while using other apps.
  • Is it possible to apply filters to the picture you add to your Instagram Story?
    You can apply filters to the main picture or video of your Instagram Story. If you wish to apply a filter uniformly across multiple pictures or videos, you will need to use a third-party app to edit them before uploading to your Story.
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