diff --git a/docs/configuration.rst b/docs/configuration.rst
index a995c139..fdae3a99 100644
--- a/docs/configuration.rst
+++ b/docs/configuration.rst
@@ -3085,6 +3085,16 @@ Description
         Do not download videos
 
 
+extractor.instagram.stories.split
+---------------------------------
+Type
+    * ``bool``
+Default
+    ``false``
+Description
+    Split ``stories`` elements into separate posts.
+
+
 extractor.itaku.videos
 ----------------------
 Type
diff --git a/docs/gallery-dl.conf b/docs/gallery-dl.conf
index 0fbf834b..f6e80345 100644
--- a/docs/gallery-dl.conf
+++ b/docs/gallery-dl.conf
@@ -365,7 +365,11 @@
             "order-files": "asc",
             "order-posts": "asc",
             "previews"   : false,
-            "videos"     : true
+            "videos"     : true,
+
+            "stories": {
+                "split": false
+            }
         },
         "itaku":
         {
diff --git a/gallery_dl/extractor/instagram.py b/gallery_dl/extractor/instagram.py
index 0f88cac3..0da44f92 100644
--- a/gallery_dl/extractor/instagram.py
+++ b/gallery_dl/extractor/instagram.py
@@ -583,7 +583,10 @@ class InstagramStoriesExtractor(InstagramExtractor):
         reel_id = self.highlight_id or self.api.user_id(self.user)
         reels = self.api.reels_media(reel_id)
 
-        if self.media_id and reels:
+        if not reels:
+            return ()
+
+        if self.media_id:
             reel = reels[0]
             for item in reel["items"]:
                 if item["pk"] == self.media_id:
@@ -592,6 +595,16 @@ class InstagramStoriesExtractor(InstagramExtractor):
             else:
                 raise exception.NotFoundError("story")
 
+        elif self.config("split"):
+            reel = reels[0]
+            reels = []
+            for item in reel["items"]:
+                item.pop("user", None)
+                copy = reel.copy()
+                copy.update(item)
+                copy["items"] = (item,)
+                reels.append(copy)
+
         return reels