Instagram filters have become a powerful tool for improving photos, enhancing storytelling, and increasing engagement on Instagram. Whether you’re a content creator or small business owner, Instagram Filters can instantly convert a plain photo into a scroll-stopping visual.
As a content strategist and someone who has personally experimented with hundreds of Instagram effects for brand campaigns, I have seen how the right filter can increase engagement by 25%. I use filters not just for visuals, but also to maintain consistency and create a recognizable style for clients.
Today, I am going to share with you how these filters matter the most to your visuals and engagement with your target audiences.
Why Instagram Filters Matter (Expert Insight)
Instagram filters are built-in editing effects that change the look of your photos, videos, stories, and reels with just one tap.
They adjust elements like brightness, contrast, color tone, skin smoothing, shadows, highlights, and even background blur, without needing a separate editing app. Instagram filters are not just visual effects, but they also influence engagement and brand perception on social media.
According to Meta’s internal data:
- Content with filters and effects gets higher engagement than content without them.
- Augmented Reality (AR) filters can increase story completion rates.
- Creators using trending effects appear more frequently on Explore and Reels discovery pages.
“As a digital content strategist, I’ve tested over 300 effects for brands and creators. Posts using the right filters can boost engagement by <strong>25–50%</strong> and reduce editing time by half!”
–Ali Raza, Writer at NogenTech.org
How to Use Filters on Instagram Stories and Posts
That’s not rocket science, that you wouldn’t get it before, right? But here, what I am going to talk about is how you can search for better options.
Use Filters on Your Instagram Stories:
- Open Instagram and swipe right to open the Story Camera.
- Swipe left on the bottom carousel to browse existing filters.
- Tap any filter to preview it in real time.
- Capture your photo or record a video.
- Tap Your Story or Send To → to post.
👉 Pro Tip: Use natural-looking filters like Oslo, Tokyo, or aesthetic AR effects to maintain authenticity in your stories.
Use Filters on Your Instagram Posts:
- Upload a photo as you normally would.
- Before posting, swipe through Instagram’s built-in photo filters, such as:
- Clarendon
- Juno
- Lark
- Valencia
- Tap the filter again to adjust the filter strength (0–100).
- Tap Done to share your visuals with your fam.
How to Search and Save Filters on Instagram
If the filter you want is not in the carousel:
- Open Story Camera/Reels Camera.
- Swipe left on the effects bar until the end.
- Tap Search (Browse Effects).
- Use the search bar and type keywords like:
- “aesthetic filter”
- “blur background”
- “beauty filter”
- “cinematic tone”
- Tap the filter to try it.
- Click on the Save icon to save filters to your collection.
Why Some Creators Can’t Find Filters (Troubleshooting)
| Issue | Fix |
|---|---|
| Instagram app is not updated | Update the app from the Play Store/App Store |
| Camera loading issue | Force close & relaunch Instagram |
| Slow internet | Switch to Wi-Fi or data |
Top 5 Viral Filters to Try (2025)
These five viral filters are from my personal collection of Instagram filters that give more satisfaction over time.
| Filter Name | Why It’s Trending |
|---|---|
| Sunkissed Glow | Perfect warm skin tones |
| Aesthetic Blur | Portrait mode effect on Stories |
| Cinematic Teal Orange | Professional editing looks |
| Take My Day | Perfect daily vlog tone |
| Color Pop | Enhances colors without oversaturation |
Two Cents on Instagram Filters
Instagram Filters are more than fun, but they are a strategic tool to boost engagement and create eye-pleasing visuals without external editing apps. Once you learn how to use and save them, you streamline your content creation process and show up more confidently on Stories and Reels.
However, you can also use third-party tools to create engaging and eye-catching Instagram stories for better engagement rates from your target audiences. Do lemme know if this guide was beneficial for you, or should I create more guides like this.
These Questions are Popping Up Regularly on Google
How do I search filters on Instagram Story?
Open Story → swipe to the end of filters → tap Browse Effects → search by name.
Can I save Instagram filters?
Yes. Tap the filter name → choose Save Effect.
Why don’t filters show up on my Instagram?
You need to update your app or clear caches to have the latest features to use Instagram.
