How to Edit Your Facebook Story: A Step-by-Step Guide
Ever posted a Facebook Story and instantly regretted a typo, a missed tag, or just wanted to tweak something? While Facebook Stories are designed to be ephemeral, you’re not entirely locked into the initial version. Thankfully, Facebook provides some limited editing capabilities. While you can’t change the core content of the image or video, there are still ways to modify your Story after it’s live. This guide will walk you through the different ways you can edit your Facebook Story.
Understanding Facebook Story Edits
It’s crucial to understand that Facebook doesn’t allow direct editing of the image or video within your Story once it’s posted. You can’t change the picture, video, or text overlay that was part of the original creation. However, you can make adjustments to a few elements, such as:
- Adding Text or Stickers: You can add more text or stickers to an existing story.
- Adding Music: If you forgot to add a song, or want to add a different one, you can usually do that.
- Adjusting Privacy: You can change who can see your story after it’s posted.
- Archiving or Deleting: You can remove your story from public view.
How to Add Text, Stickers, or Music to an Existing Facebook Story
Let’s dive into the steps for adding extra elements to your existing story.
Step 1: Open the Facebook App
Start by launching the Facebook app on your mobile device (iOS or Android).
Step 2: Navigate to Your Story
Locate the circular profile picture at the top of the feed with a blue ring around it (this indicates your story). Tap on it to view your current story.
Step 3: Access the ‘More’ Options
While viewing your story, look for the three horizontal dots (the ‘More’ button) usually located at the bottom right of the screen. Tap on it.
Step 4: Select ‘Edit Story’
From the options that appear, select the ‘Edit Story’ option (may also appear as ‘Add to Story’). If you do not see this, unfortunately, you cannot add additional text/music to this particular story.
Step 5: Add Your Text, Stickers, or Music
This will open the editing interface. At the bottom, you’ll typically see options to:
- Add Text: Tap the ‘Aa’ icon to write new text.
- Add Stickers: Tap the sticker icon to browse and select from various stickers, GIFs, or polls.
- Add Music: Tap the music icon and search for the desired song.
Customize the text, stickers, and music as you like. Resize and reposition them with your fingers.
Step 6: Post Your Edits
Once you’re satisfied, tap the ‘Done’ button (or a similar checkmark icon) typically located in the top right corner. This will update your existing Story with your added elements. Your followers will now see the edited version.
How to Adjust the Privacy of Your Facebook Story
You can also adjust who can see your story after it has been posted.
Step 1: Open Your Story
Like before, open the Facebook app and tap on your story at the top of the feed.
Step 2: Access Story Settings
Look for the three dots (More) at the bottom right of the screen and tap on them.
Step 3: Choose ‘Edit Privacy’
From the menu, select ‘Edit Privacy’.
Step 4: Adjust Privacy Settings
Here, you can choose from the following options:
- Public: Anyone on or off Facebook can see your story.
- Friends: Only your Facebook friends can see your story.
- Friends Except: Choose specific friends who cannot see your story.
- Custom: Choose specific friends who can see your story.
Select your desired audience.
Step 5: Save Changes
Once you’ve selected the new privacy settings, they will automatically be applied. There’s no specific save button to press.
How to Archive or Delete Your Facebook Story
If you simply want to remove your story, you have the option to archive it or delete it entirely.
Archiving a Story
Archiving saves the story to a private archive you can access later, but it will no longer be visible to your friends. To do this:
- Open your story.
- Tap the ‘More’ button.
- Select ‘Save Story to Archive’
Deleting a Story
Deleting a story removes it permanently. To do this:
- Open your story.
- Tap the ‘More’ button.
- Select ‘Delete’ and confirm.
Important Considerations
- Limited Editing: Remember that you cannot edit the core image or video in your Facebook Story.
- Time Sensitivity: These edits are usually possible within the 24-hour lifespan of the story.
- App Updates: Facebook updates its app frequently, so the location of buttons and options may change slightly.
Conclusion
While Facebook Stories aren’t fully editable after posting, you can still make crucial adjustments to enhance your content and privacy. By adding text, stickers, or music, tweaking your audience, or removing the story altogether, you have control over your fleeting moments on the platform. Hopefully, this guide will be useful the next time you need to fine-tune your Facebook Story. Happy posting!