• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Social Media Examiner

Your Guide to the Marketing Jungle

  • 🔥 Free Newsletter
  • 🎙️ Podcasts
    • Social Media Marketing Podcast
    • AI Explored Podcast
    • Social Media Marketing Talk Show
    • Our YouTube Channel
  • 🌟 AI Society
  • 🗓️ Marketing Conference
  • 👋 About Us
    • Marketing Events
  • Search
  • Embrace AI & MarketingGet Ongoing Training & SupportBEGIN YOUR JOURNEY NOW

    Instagram Filter Hacks: How to Tap Into Hidden Filters

    by Jenn Herman / October 26, 2020

    Want to know how to find Instagram's hidden filters? Looking for quick and easy access to your favorite filters?

    In this article, you'll discover how to use Instagram filters on feed posts, stories, and reels. You'll also learn how to use a different filter for each image in a carousel post and find out how to customize filters to match your style and business type.

    Instagram Filter Hacks: How to Tap Into Hidden Filters by Jenn Herman on Social Media Examiner.

    To learn how to use Instagram filters, read the article below for an easy-to-follow walkthrough or watch this video:

    .

    How to Strategically Use Instagram Filters

    While Instagram has evolved in recent years, filters are still a key editing tool within the platform. The filters you use can quickly set a specific style and tone to your content and create visual cohesion for your brand.

    Before discussing how to access Instagram filters, I want to share a few tips for using them strategically for your brand, whether in Instagram posts, stories, or reels.

    First, make sure you pick filters that align with your brand's tone and style. For example, if you're a vintage furniture company, you could pick filters that offer a slight yellow tint and a less-saturated tone to give a more antique look to your content.

    example screenshot of the @vintage.hut.furniture instagram feed showing their yellow-tint for antique styling of image posts in whites, tans, and neutral colors

    Or if you're an ultra-modern brand, think about choosing filters that use a blue undertone with a high level of brightness.

    example screenshot of the @article instagram feed showing their modern furniture featured with lots of natural light and a filter styling which incorporates blue

    You also want to pick Instagram filters that accentuate your content. For instance, if you're sharing posts about food, you'll want to use filters with high saturations and deeper contrasts, which will make the food look more appetizing.

    example screenshot of the @rainbowplantlife instagram feed showing their vegan foods featured in deep, rich tones

    In contrast, if you're a brand focused on relaxation, you might want more muted colors and saturation that emulate a feeling of calm.

    AI Business Society

    Ready to Unlock AI Marketing Breakthroughs?

    If you’re like most of us, you are trying to figure out how to use AI in your marketing. Here's the solution: The AI Business Society—a new AI marketing community from your friends at Social Media Examiner.

    The AI Business Society is the place to discover how to apply AI in your work. When you join, you'll boost your productivity, unlock your creativity, and make connections with other marketers on a similar journey.

    I'M READY TO BECOME AN AI-POWERED MARKETER

    example screenshot of the @unplugmeditation instagram feed showing quotes, products, and people in various poses of medication in light blues, tans, and whites to promote relaxation and peace

    Pick two or three filters that fit your brand style and stick to those. If you constantly alternate your filters, your Instagram content will begin to look disjointed. Instead, by using a few similar filters, your content will look more cohesive in the feed and even create a subconscious alignment with your brand. That way, when people see posts in that style, they'll immediately connect them to your brand.

    Now that you have an idea of how you can strategically use filters on Instagram, here's how to add filters to your Instagram feed posts, Instagram stories, and reels.

    #1: Manage Instagram Feed Post Filters

    Whether you're uploading a photo or video to Instagram, you'll get the same options for filters. These filter options are the first editing page you encounter after you select an image or video to upload. Swipe left on the list of filters to see all of the options available to you.

    Did you know that you can edit the arrangement of these filters and find even more filters to use? If you scroll all the way to the right of the list of filters, you'll see a Manage option. Tap that box and the entire list of available filters will appear.

    instagram picture post menu option to manage filters

    If a filter has a checkmark next to it, that means it's shown on the filter selection screen.

    Here's where you can change how your filters are organized. If there are filters you don't use, simply tap the checkmark to deselect the filter and hide it from the filter selection screen.

    manage instagram filters menu options showing check marks next to filters included in the selection screen, highlighting an unchecked filter to be added to the filter selection screen

    If you scroll further down the page, you'll notice a number of Instagram filters that aren't checked. Tap on any of these filters to select it and add it to the filter selection screen.

    To take your filter organization one step further, you can rearrange how the filters appear on the selection screen. To do this, tap on the two lines to the left of the filter preview and drag the filter to reposition it anywhere in the list. Note that you can only move one filter at a time.

    manage instagram filters menu options showing double-horizontal selection bars next to filters allowing them to be reordered, and showing the skyline filter being dragged to the top of the filter selection list

    Pro Tip: I recommend putting the two or three Instagram filters you use most often at the top of the list.

    Discover Proven Marketing Strategies and Tips

    Want to go even deeper with your marketing? Check out the Social Media Marketing Podcast! Publishing weekly since 2012, the Social Media Marketing Podcast helps you navigate the constantly changing marketing jungle, with expert interviews from marketing pros.

    But don’t let the name fool you. This show is about a lot more than just social media marketing. With over 600 episodes and millions of downloads each year, this show has been a trusted source for marketers for well over a decade.

    CHECK OUT THE SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING PODCAST NOW

    When you're done rearranging your filters, tap on the checkmark in the top left of the screen to save your changes and return to the editing page. Once you've done this, Instagram will remember your settings and the filters will appear in this order every time you log in.

    Apply Filters to Instagram Carousel Posts

    If you're uploading a carousel post to Instagram, the filter screen is the first page you visit after selecting your photos or videos to upload. You'll notice the filter preview is blurry here. This is how Instagram signals that you're setting filters for all of the images and videos versus a single image or video. If you want to apply one filter to all of the content in the set, tap on the filter of your choice and it will be applied to everything.

    example of an instagram carousel post showing possible filters to be applied

    If you'd rather select filters for each photo or video individually, tap on the content to edit and select the filter of your choice.

    example of an instagram carousel post showing a filter being applied to a specific carousel image

    You can also complete other edits at this point (like saturation and brightness) for that individual image or video. Tap Edit at the bottom of the screen to see your editing options.

    When you're finished, tap Done to return to the carousel selection and tap on the next image or video to select the filter and make edits for that piece of content. Continue until you're done editing and then tap Next.

    Adjust Filter Intensity

    You might decide not to use certain Instagram filters because they're a little too intense or alter your image too much. I get it, and that's why I never use a filter at full intensity. Fortunately, Instagram lets you adjust the intensity of the filters you apply to your images.

    example instagram post showing lo-fi selected as the desired image filter

    When you select a filter for your post, tap the filter again to display the intensity slider, which ranges from 0 to 100. Simply drag the slider toward the 0 to reduce the intensity of the filter. This way, you can get the enhancement you want on the image or video but to the degree you prefer.

    example instagram filter menu option to tap the filter after selection to display the filter intensity slider, set to 20% for this image

    #2: Manage Instagram Stories Filters

    Now let's talk about Instagram Stories filters. When you add a photo or video to stories, you're taken to the editing screen where you can add stickers, doodles, and more. This is also where you can add filters to your post.

    Simply swipe left or right across the screen to access a variety of filters. As you scroll, you'll see the name of each filter on the screen.

    example of instagram stories filters with a sticker added with the name of the filter displayed and highlighted for identification

    Unlike Instagram feed posts, you can't edit or organize story filters. You just have to scroll through the list to find the one you want to use.

    #3: Manage Instagram Reels Filters

    You can choose from two types of filters for your Instagram Reels videos.

    Before you film a clip for a reel, select Effects from the left navigation.

    example of instagram reels menu option to add effects from the left-hand navigation

    This opens a series of filters or effects at the bottom of the screen next to the shutter button. Scroll left or right to choose the effect or overlay to add to your clip.

    example of instagram reels menu option with the filter effect series highlighted at the bottom of the screen

    Remember that you have to select these effects before filming each clip for your Instagram reel.

    Once you're done filming all of the clips, you'll move to the editing screen, which looks nearly identical to Stories. This is where you can add filters to your entire video. These filters are the same ones available for Instagram Stories. Swipe left or right just as you would in a story to select the filter to add to the reel.

    example of instagram reels editing screen which allows you to apply a filter to your entire video

    Conclusion

    If you're tired of scrolling through all of the Instagram filters to find the one you want to use, try these time-saving tips to organize your Instagram filters for the feed, Stories, and Reels. Stick with two to three filters to keep your Instagram content cohesive and on-brand.

    What do you think? What are your thoughts on choosing filters for your Instagram content? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

    More articles on Instagram marketing:

    • Learn why and how to apply Instagram location tags and product tags to your posts.
    • Find out how to navigate and use the desktop version of Instagram for your marketing activities.
    • Discover four places to drop your links on Instagram and discover pro tips and tricks to optimize your links for clicks.
    AI EXPLORED

    Curious About How to Use AI?

    Our newest show, AI Explored, might be just what you're looking for. It's for marketers, creators, and entrepreneurs who want to understand how to use AI in their business.

    It's hosted by Michael Stelzner and explores this exciting new frontier in easy-to-understand terms.

    Pull up your favorite podcast app and search for AI Explored. Or click the button below for more information.

    I WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT AI

    Tags: Instagram, Instagram Reels, Instagram Stories

    About the authorJenn Herman

    Jenn Herman is a social media trainer and Instagram advocate who writes her blog, Jenn’s Trends, focused on helping small business owners understand trends in social media management.
    Other posts by Jenn Herman »

    Get Social Media Examiner’s Future Articles in Your Inbox!

    Get our latest articles delivered to your email inbox and get the FREE Social Media Marketing Industry Report (43 pages, 50+ charts)!

    Industry Report Cover

    Worth Exploring:

    Facebook

    Marketing Help Explore More →

    Instagram

    Marketing Help Explore More →

    YouTube

    Marketing Help Explore More →

    Linkedin

    Marketing Help Explore More →

    AI

    Next Frontier Explore More →

    Social Media Marketing Industry Report

    Get Free Report →

    Social Marketing Trends

    The data you've been missing!

    Need a new plan? Discover how marketers plan to change their social activities in the 17th annual Social Media Marketing Industry Report. It reveals what marketers have planned for their social activities, content marketing, and more! Get this free report now and never miss another great article from us. Join more than 385,000 marketers!

    Simply click the button below to get the free report:

    Footer

    Your Guide to the Marketing Jungle
    Copyright © 2025 Social Media Examiner®
    All Rights Reserved. Terms of Use | Privacy Policy.

    Helpful Links

    • About us
    • Our content via email
    • Our podcasts
    • Our YouTube channel
    • Our live show
    • Our social media marketing industry report
    • Our generative AI marketing industry report
    • Sponsorship opportunities
    • RSS