> Quick answer: Tap the + button, select Story, choose your content type, add edits, then tap "Your Story" to publish. Your Story stays live for 24 hours, then disappears automatically.
Posting a TikTok Story takes under two minutes. Follow these steps to go from nothing to live.
What Are TikTok Stories?
TikTok Stories are photo and video posts that expire after 24 hours. They sit apart from your main feed and give followers a real-time window into what you are doing.
How Stories appear on TikTok
Per TikTok's Help Center, Stories appear on your profile, in the Inbox, and across the Following and For You feeds. A blue ring around your profile icon tells followers you have new Story content. It sits in a scrolling bar at the top of the Following page, similar to how Stories work on other platforms.
Why Stories matter for engagement
Stories keep your presence active between major posts. Casual content often earns more replies than produced videos. The 24-hour window creates urgency that regular posts do not.
How to Post a TikTok Story: Two Methods
TikTok gives you two ways into the Story creation flow. Both lead to the same screen.
Method 1: Post from the + button
- Open TikTok on your mobile device.
- Tap the + button at the bottom center of the screen.
- Tap Story below the Record button.
Method 2: Post from your profile icon
- Open the Following feed or your Inbox.
- Tap your profile icon in the Stories bar at the top.
- You land directly in the Story creation screen.
Choosing your content type (photo, video, text)
On the creation screen, select Photo, Text, or Video. Photos and Text suit quick updates. Video works best when you have something worth showing.
Upload or Record Your Content
You can pull from your camera roll or shoot fresh inside the app.
Uploading from your device
Tap the gallery icon to select a photo or video from your camera roll. Select your file and it moves straight to the editing screen.
Recording or capturing live
Tap the Record button to shoot new footage. Tap the capture icon for a still photo. Live recording keeps things spontaneous and personal.
Video time limit options
Before you record, TikTok lets you set a time limit for your clip. Options appear along the bottom of the Record screen. Shorter clips tend to perform better in Stories.
Edit Your Story Before Posting
A few quick edits make a real difference. Do not rush past this screen.
Add filters and effects
Swipe through filter options on the right panel. Effects are available before or during recording. Pick something that matches your usual tone.
Add text, stickers, and sounds
Tap the text icon to overlay words on your image or video. Stickers and sound options sit in the top toolbar. Music and stickers invite more viewer interaction.
Use advanced editing tools for videos
Video Stories unlock extra editing tools. You can trim, cut, and adjust clips on the editing screen. These tools appear after you record or upload your video.
Post and Manage Your Story
Publishing is one tap. Managing it takes a few seconds more.
Tap 'Your Story' to publish
When edits are done, tap Your Story. Your Story goes live immediately on your profile and in feeds.
View counts and who watched
Per TikTok's documentation, your Story shows a live view count. Swipe up on your own Story to see exactly who watched.
Delete a Story after posting
Open your Story, tap the three-dot menu, and select Delete. It comes down immediately. You do not have to wait for the 24-hour window to close.
Manage replies and visibility
Story replies route through your DM settings. Adjust who can reply in your Privacy settings. Public accounts can also allow others to share your posts to their Stories.
Story Dimensions and Best Practices
Correct dimensions mean your Story looks sharp on every screen.
Optimal size and aspect ratio
The optimal dimensions for TikTok Stories are 1080 x 1920 pixels at a 9:16 aspect ratio. Content outside this ratio gets cropped or letterboxed, which hurts the viewer experience.
How Coinis Revise tool helps with resizing
Running content across multiple platforms means juggling different size specs constantly. Coinis Revise includes Smart Resize, which reformats any image to a target platform spec in one click. No manual cropping. No pixel math.
Or post it for free.
Coinis publishes to Instagram and Facebook in one click. Posts. Stories. Reels. Scheduled or live. Same AI creatives. Same Brand Profile. No ad spend required.
Free on every plan. No credit card to start.
15 AI tokens a month. Organic publishing free forever.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do TikTok Stories last?
TikTok Stories expire after 24 hours. After that, they disappear automatically from your profile, feeds, and the Inbox. You can also delete a Story manually at any time before the 24 hours are up.
Can anyone see my TikTok Story?
Visibility depends on your account privacy settings. Public accounts can be seen by anyone. Private accounts limit Story views to approved followers. You can also control who can reply to your Stories through your DM settings.