The Boomerang feature lets you create short looping videos that make your Instagram Stories stand out. This guide shows you exactly how to master Boomerang – from basic recording to advanced effects.
Boomerang started as a separate app but now sits right inside Instagram Stories. You’ll find creative options like Slow-Mo, Echo, and Duo that help capture attention-grabbing moments.
This guide works whether you want quick Story clips or shareable content that gets noticed. You’ll learn the exact steps to record, edit, and share Boomerangs that people love watching.
Ready to make your Instagram Stories more interesting? Let’s get started with the basics.
What Makes Instagram Boomerang Special
Boomerang captures a burst of five photos and turns them into a short video that plays forward and backward. The back-and-forth motion makes your Instagram posts more eye-catching than regular videos or GIFs.
Key Differences from Regular Videos
Your one-second Boomerang clip plays forward and reverses three times to create a six-second loop. The app saves every clip to your phone, making it easy to share anywhere you want.
Boomerang comes with four main effects:
- SlowMo: Cuts speed in half for a two-second playback each way
- Echo: Adds motion blur trails behind moving objects
- Duo: Creates a glitch effect during rewind
- Trimming: This lets you adjust where clips start and end
How to Do Boomerang on Instagram: Why People Love Boomerangs
Boomerangs grab attention better than photos or regular videos. The looping motion helps show off quick moments you might miss in normal videos.
Here’s what makes Boomerangs work so well:
- Quick to Make: Takes less time than videos but looks better than photos
- Catches Eyes: The loop effect naturally makes people want to watch
- Works Anywhere: Perfect for showing products or fun moments in a fresh way
- Feels Real: Encourages natural, unplanned moments that connect with viewers
Simple movements work best in Boomerangs. Pick actions that look good playing backward. The trim feature helps you get the exact moment right in your final clip.
Making Your First Boomerang
The Boomerang button sits right inside Instagram Stories. Here’s how to find and use it.
Opening Stories
Two quick ways to start:
- Swipe left from your home feed
- Tap the ‘+’ icon and pick ‘Story’
Finding Boomerang
Look for these on your screen:
- The infinity symbol (∞) on the left side
- Tap it to start Boomerang mode
Recording Tips
Three things make your Boomerangs look better:
- Keep Still: Hold your phone steady or find something to lean it against
- Test First: Check your lighting and angle before the real shot
- Quick Press: Hold the record button for about a second
Try these simple movements:
- Cut a birthday cake
- Pour a drink
- Make a quick hand gesture
Instagram turns your clip into a loop right away. You’ll find editing tools in the top-right corner for adding text and effects.
Watch your clip before sharing. Hit the ‘X’ in the top-left to try again if needed. Then pick where to share – your Story, Close Friends, or save it for later.
Steady shots make better Boomerangs. Rest your phone on something solid if you don’t have a tripod. Pick movements that look good going forward and backward.
Boomerang Effects Guide: How to Do Boomerang on Instagram
Four creative effects make your Boomerang videos stand out. Tap the infinity symbol after recording to find these four distinct effects.
How to Do Boomerang on Instagram: Classic Mode
Classic Boomerang plays your clip forward and backward without extra effects. This basic mode works best for quick, simple moments you want to capture naturally.
SlowMo Effect
SlowMo reduces the playback speed to half its normal speed. Your one-second clip stretches to two seconds, showing off more details in each loop.
Quick steps for SlowMo:
- Record your clip
- Tap the infinity symbol
- Pick SlowMo (second option)
- Check your slowed clip
Echo Effect
Echo adds ghost-like trails behind moving objects. Your subject gets three or four see-through copies following the main movement. Fast-moving objects and flowing gestures look best with Echo.
Duo Effect
Duo creates glitch-style horizontal lines in your clip. The effect adds a double-vision look during rewind. Your video plays slightly faster, giving it a modern feel.
The trim tool lets you pick the exact start and end points for your loop. This helps get the timing perfect for each effect you use.
Try different effects on your clips to see what works. Some effects look better with certain movements than others.
Making Boomerangs from Your Photos
Your camera roll photos work great for Boomerangs too. Here’s how to turn existing content into looping clips.
How to Do Boomerang on Instagram: Using Live Photos
iPhone users with iOS 9 or newer can use Live Photos to make Boomerangs. Live Photos catch 1.5 seconds before and after your shot, perfect for creating loops.
Steps for Live Photos:
- Open your camera
- Turn on Live Photo (circle icon, top right)
- Take your shot
- Find it in your gallery
Converting Your Photos
Two main ways to create Boomerangs from saved content:
Instagram Method:
- Swipe left to open Stories
- Tap the infinity icon
- Swipe up for the camera roll
- Look for infinity icons on Live Photos
- Pick your photo and tap infinity at the top
Other Apps: These tools help turn regular videos into Boomerangs:
- Loop Videos & GIF Maker: Makes 4K loops with free options (shows watermark)
- Clideo: Works right in your browser
- FlexClip: Gives you 12 free projects with:
- Speed controls (0.2X to 8X)
- Curve speed settings
- Extra effects
- Green screen tools
Short clips work best – trim videos to 3-4 seconds using video editing apps. Remember, Instagram’s built-in tool works best with Live Photos since it can’t convert regular videos directly.
Boomerang Success Tips
Boomerang gives your Instagram Stories more life than regular photos or videos. The looping clips plus effects like SlowMo, Echo, and Duo help your content stand out.
Good Boomerangs need three things: steady shots, planned movements, and perfect timing. The feature works great both for quick Story recordings and Live Photo conversions.
Simple clips often work best. Start with basic recordings, test different effects, and watch your Stories get better with each new Boomerang you make.
