How to Use Instagram Filters & Effects Easily in 2023 [Without Posting]

Are you wondering how to use Instagram filters or effects on your next Instagram post or story to show off your photo editing skills to your followers, or perhaps you’re simply looking to make some cool adjustments to a photo but don’t know how?

Or do you want to up your Instagram marketing efforts by spicing up your Instagram posts and stories to attract a wider audience while giving them enough encouragement to follow you? 

Then you should definitely try out Instagram filters and effects to give the photos you wish to share a nice and perhaps pro retouch. 

We will cover all there is to adding Instagram filters and effects to any image in this post and help you make your profile look better by showing you:

• How to search filters on Instagram
• How to use filters on Instagram
• How to use Instagram Effects
• How to add effects to Instagram Story
• How to use Instagram filters without posting

What Are Filters and How to Use Instagram Filters? 

Filters are simple overlays that change your photos’ colors and tones. Instagram filters can give your post an edgy look or make any image look soft and bright. They’re also a proven method to get more followers on Instagram and increase your account’s engagement rate.

You can use filters when you post different kinds of media to your feed. You can use them when you want to publish a feed post or even when you add something to your Instagram Story. 

The only downside they have is you cannot add them to your scheduled Instagram posts or stories. However, this is not that big of a deal since you can rely on easy-to-use photo editing software/app to make necessary adjustments to any content that requires scheduling.

How to Use Instagram Filters and Effects in 6 Simple Steps 

Instagram has numerous unique features, and its filters and effects are one of them. You can make great posts by using really cool tools. Adding these filters to a post is pretty easy and can be done in the following steps:

Step 1: Open Instagram and tap the plus sign icon at the bottom middle of the screen.

Step 2: Click the post button.

Step 3: Choose the video or picture you want to upload.

Step 4: Tap next on the top-right button.

Step 5: Now you’ll see a sea of filters that you can choose to add to the post. You can even determine how strong or weak the filter should be. Also, if you don’t like the filters you can use, you can tap Edit in the bottom-right corner to make your own.

Step 6: Finally, tap ‘Next’ in the upper right corner to save your filtered post.

Your story can also have filters. Even though it is easier to add filters to your posts, you don’t have much control over them. 

You start by making a Story by taking a new photo or video or uploading something from your phone’s camera roll.

Then, when you’re on the page where you can add stickers and text, you can swipe left or right to choose from a dozen different filters and wrap up your Instagram story design!

How to Use Instagram Filters Without Posting

Sometimes you just want to enjoy Instagram editing features without posting the pictures. And the good news is there are three ways you can use Instagram filters without posting:

1. Use Instagram Filters Without Posting by Airplane Mode

The first way is to put your phone into Airplane mode. To do this, you would have to post on Instagram like you usually would. But instead of writing a caption and tapping the share button at the end, you put your phone in airplane mode. 

Even though Instagram will try to post your photo, it won’t be able to because airplane mode is on. But the photo would be saved to the camera roll on your phone.

From there, you should get a message that the post did not work and isn’t uploaded, but that Instagram will try to automatically post it when it can (when you turn off your airplane mode and you’re online again). All you have to do to stop that from happening is cancel that upload and take your phone out of airplane mode.

2. Use Instagram Filters Without Posting through Story

The second way is to share the photo as a story. To do this, click on your profile photo to create a story and choose an image or video.

Now try different filters by swapping left or right. You can also add music to your story. After you have finished editing, instead of publishing your story, click on the three dots at the top right corner of the screen and click ‘save’.

You can see the edited image or video in your gallery.

3. Use Instagram Filters Without Posting through Camera Roll

Finally, you can save the picture to your phone’s camera roll rather than posting it. To do this, open the photo in the Instagram app and tap the three dots in the bottom right corner of the screen, then select ‘save photo.’

Pro Tip: if you are too tired to follow these steps, You can simply take a screenshot after adding filters and effects to your story. There are a few disadvantages to this method. But, it’s a shortcut.

How to Search Filters on Instagram

When you open Instagram, you can swipe right to turn on the camera. Then you should see some round icons at the bottom of the screen. These are located next to the record button. 

Effects should see some circular icons with some designs inside them. These are all easy-to-use effects that you can add to your photos. Just tap on any one of them, and you’re ready to take an excellent photo.

But how can you find more filters on Instagram? Let’s find out how.

How to Search Filters on Instagram by ‘Filter Search’

The best way to search filters on Instagram is actually through searching! But not the normal search you use to find other accounts. Are you confused? Don’t worry, just follow these steps to find new filters on Instagram:

1. Open Instagram and swipe right.
2. When your camera is opened swipe the filters until the end.
3. Now click on the search icon and browse the world of new filters.

There are hundreds of new filters available, categorized in different sections.

How to Find Filters on Instagram by Creator

As you probably know, users can create their own filters. And lots of popular filters on Instagram are actually made by users. Therefore, if you find an interesting filter, there is a high chance that the user has made more filters like that. But how can you find them?

Follow these steps to find more filters on Instagram by the creator:

1. Open Instagram and swipe right.
2. Now find you favorite filter and click on the box below it.

3. In the opened menu click on the creator’s ID and go to their page. You can also save and share the filter with others from here.

4. Now you are taken to the filters they have created.

Note: If you already know a filter creator, you can find their filters by visiting their profile and clicking on the ‘three stars’ icon.

Remember, you can only use one effect at a time, so you can’t use them in combination with filters or other effects.

How to Add Effects to Instagram Story

Effects are not the same as filters in a lot of ways. Filters might only let you change the colors and make a small change to your Instagram story, but effects take your post or story to a whole new level. 

You can use animations and add different stickers. These are the same if you’ve ever used an effect on Tiktok.

All you have to do to spice up your Instagram tales with some camera effects are:

1. Swipe right from anywhere in the feed or tap Story in the upper left corner.
2. The Story tab is down below.
3. Choose an effect by swiping left from the bottom of the screen. Swipe all the way to the left and press to view effects from third-party developers.
4. Tap the screen to snap a photo, or hold down the screen to record a short clip. The closest person’s face will be altered to reflect the effect you select in either the forward- or rear-facing camera.

Even so, you can only use the Instagram effect when making a story, a Reels video, or when you’re live on Instagram.

What Is Effect Vs Filter on Instagram

On Instagram, “effects” and “filters” refer to different features that allow users to enhance and modify their photos and videos in various ways. Here’s a breakdown of the differences between effects and filters on Instagram:

What Are Instagram Filters

They are pre-designed adjustments applied to a photo or video that alter its appearance. They can change the colors, contrast, brightness, saturation, and other visual aspects of the image.

Instagram provides a wide range of filters that users can choose from to give their content a specific look or mood. Filters are applied with a single tap and can be adjusted in intensity using a slider.

What Are Instagram Effects

Effects on Instagram refer to augmented reality (AR) elements that can be added to photos and videos. These are interactive overlays that can include animations, masks, 3D objects, text, stickers, and other visual elements.

Effects are created by developers using Instagram’s Spark AR Studio platform, and they can be accessed and applied through the effects gallery within the Instagram camera. Users can browse and select various effects created by both Instagram and other creators to enhance their content and add unique visual elements.

While filters are more focused on adjusting the overall appearance of an image, effects offer a broader range of interactive and visually engaging elements that can be superimposed on top of a photo or video.

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FAQs on How to Use Instagram Filters & Effects

Here are some of the frequently asked questions regarding Instagram effects and filters.

Q1. What Is the Best Filter for Instagram Photos?

The “best” filter for Instagram photos largely depends on personal preference and the specific aesthetic you want to achieve. Popular filters like Clarendon, Juno, and Valencia offer versatile enhancements.

To create a cohesive Instagram feed, consider choosing a consistent filter that complements your content. Experiment with different filters, adjust their intensity, and use Instagram’s editing tools to fine-tune your photos. Ultimately, the “best” filter is the one that enhances your images while staying true to your desired style and conveying the mood or message you want to communicate.

Q2. Why Can’t I Find Filters on Instagram Story?

To use filters on Instagram Stories, you have to give permission to Instagram for using your camera and microphone. Filters rely on these features to work properly. If you don’t allow Instagram access to your camera and microphone, you won’t be able to use the filters.

How to Use Filters on Instagram: The TL;DR Version

To make a long story short, you can make your photos more attention-grabbing than those of your friends by applying various filters and effects. Simply follow the instructions above to use Instagram filters for your future posts and stories. Finding and applying IG filters and effects is pretty easy; using them will give your photos a cool vibe.