How to Boomerang on Instagram

Instagram is the perfect social media app for vacation candids, your morning coffee, and nights out with friends. But IG is for more than just sharing photos – Instagram Reels, Stories, and Lives offer video-based content and even more features.

Boomerang was one of Instagram’s first new features after releasing Stories. A cross between an image and a video, it’s a no-fuss way to share special moments with your friends and followers. This step-by-step guide will teach you how to Boomerang on Instagram for the perfect Story post.

What is a Boomerang on Instagram?

Boomerang is an option on Instagram Stories. Instead of taking a photo or video, you can capture a moving picture that loops over and over. A Boomerang is similar to a GIF but loops forward and backward. So if you take a Boomerang of your friend jumping off a diving board, it’ll look like they jump off and float back up.

Boomerangs make a moment come to life in a way that photos and videos can’t. It’s a great feature for beginners because it’s so easy – a moment can look artistic with just a second of looped video and a few stickers to seal the deal.

Instagram developed the Boomerang app in 2015. Since then, it’s disappeared from app stores, but you can still use it within Instagram Stories. If you don’t have external applications to edit videos, the Boomerang feature is an accessible in-app resource.

How long are Boomerangs on Instagram?

Boomerangs are only six seconds long. The actual “image” that you capture is only a second or two, and the loop effect makes it longer. Boomerangs are a good replacement if you want to make your photos more exciting but don’t want to take a video.

How to Boomerang on Instagram

Creating a Boomerang is straightforward, especially because you can do it through Stories – no app necessary. Follow the steps below to Boomerang your best (or worst) moments.

• Open the Instagram app on your phone.
• Start creating a Story by tapping the plus sign (+) in the top right corner. Select the “Story” option at the bottom of the screen. You can also swipe right from your Instagram homepage to access Stories.
• Click the Boomerang icon on the left side of the screen. It looks like an infinity symbol, and it’s labeled “Boomerang” in case you aren’t sure.

• Tap or hold the circle to record your Boomerang. You’ll only have a second or two, so make it count. The circle has a spinning animation to let you know you’re recording.

• Once you get the shot, you can add text, stickers, and music with the icons on the top right of your screen. You can also tag other accounts or locations with the text function. Scroll through trending stickers or search for related keywords to find a sticker that matches.
• Once your masterpiece is complete, you’re ready to post. Add it to your Story from the bottom right of your screen, or click the arrow to share to your Story or send over messages.

Instagram Boomerang effects

Boomerangs are perfect for Instagram users who like to add a little extra to their Stories. To access Boomerang effects, make your Boomerang first. Then, click the infinity symbol at the top right of the screen – effects will appear at the bottom. Here’s each effect and what it does.

• SlowMo. This effect will slow down your video. It’s perfect for Boomerangs that are heavy on the action.
• Echo. The Echo creates a double-vision effect on your video. When a Boomerang’s subject moves, a faint “echo” appears, showing where they just were.
• Duo. This effect rewinds your clip with an old-school digital effect. It looks almost like a glitch.
• Trimming. This is more of a function than an effect, but you can trim your Boomerang to make it shorter. Drag the edges of the bottom bar to trim your clip.

How do I save my Boomerang?

Once you’ve made your Boomerang, click the three dots in the top right corner. A window will appear with an option to draw or save the video. Just tap the “Save” option to add it to your camera roll. That way, you don’t have to post it immediately if you don’t want to.

You can also save your video after posting by clicking the three dots at the bottom left of the screen. A menu will appear with several options, including deleting and saving. Like all Stories, Boomerangs will disappear after 24 hours, so make sure your memories don’t get lost.

Have fun creating Stories

Whether you want to grow your following or keep in touch with your friends, making Instagram content is fun. There are a lot of ways to share, such as Reels, Instagram links, and Boomerangs. You can connect with others and create unique content – and you don’t have to be an experienced video editor to do it.

Using effects to make the perfect Instagram Story might seem confusing, but our blog has everything you need to know. From technical questions to accessing old content, we have your back.

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