How to Repost Stories on Instagram
Have you ever seen an Instagram Story that you wanted to share with your followers? Maybe a friend posted a funny moment, someone mentioned your account in their Story, or a creator shared something you think your audience would enjoy. Whatever the reason, reposting Instagram Stories is an easy way to share content and interact with other users.
However, Instagram doesn’t offer the same reposting options for every Story. If someone mentions your account, you can usually share that Story directly to your own Story. If they don’t mention you, the sharing options may be limited, depending on the original account’s privacy settings and Instagram’s current features.
In this guide, you’ll learn how to repost Stories on Instagram, share Stories you’re tagged in, and work with public content.
How to Repost Stories on Instagram
To repost an Instagram Story that mentions your account, open Instagram, go to your Direct Messages, open the message containing the Story mention, and tap “Add to your story.” Customize the Story if you want, then tap “Your story” to publish it.
If someone hasn’t mentioned you, you might not see the same option. In that case, check whether Instagram offers a sharing feature for that content, ask the original poster to mention your account, or get permission before sharing it another way.
The exact buttons and available features can vary by account, app version, and Instagram’s current rollout.
Here’s how to handle the most common situations.
Step 1: Open Instagram and Find the Story You Want to Repost
Start by opening the Instagram app on your iPhone or Android phone. Sign in to the account where you want to publish the repost.
If the person has recently posted a Story, look at the profile circles across the top of your Instagram home feed. Tap the person’s profile picture to view their Story.
Watch the Story and check whether your username appears in it as a mention. A mention is usually a clickable username that identifies your Instagram account.
If you’re mentioned, Instagram may send you a notification or a direct message telling you that someone mentioned you in their Story. This message is often the easiest way to access the repost option.
If you can’t find the Story in your feed, visit the person’s profile and tap their profile picture if a Story is still available. Remember that regular Instagram Stories generally disappear after 24 hours, unless the person saves them to Highlights.
Once you’ve located the Story, move on to the next step.
Step 2: Repost a Story That Mentions You
This is usually the simplest way to share someone else’s Instagram Story.
Open Instagram and tap the Messenger or Direct Messages icon near the top of the home screen. Depending on your app version, the icon may look slightly different.
Open the conversation with the person who mentioned you. Look for a message indicating that they mentioned you in their Story.
Tap the message or the available Story preview. If your account is eligible and the original Story can be shared, Instagram may display an Add to your story option.
Tap that option to open the Story editor. Instagram will usually include a preview of the original Story, along with a link to the original creator’s account.
You can now adjust the placement of the shared Story preview, add text, or include stickers if those editing options are available. Avoid covering important parts of the original content with your own additions.
When you’re happy with the result, tap Your story or the corresponding share control to publish it. The repost will appear in your Story for your audience to view.
If you don’t see the Add to your story option, the original poster’s settings, account restrictions, or the availability of the feature may prevent direct sharing.
Step 3: Repost a Story When Someone Has Not Mentioned You
What if you want to share a friend’s Story, but they haven’t tagged your account? Instagram may not provide the same direct repost button in this situation.
First, open the Story and look for a Share option or another available sharing control. If Instagram provides a way to share the content to your Story, follow the on-screen instructions.
If there is no option to add the Story to your own Story, the easiest solution is to ask the original poster to mention your username. They can edit or repost their content with your account mentioned, depending on the available options. You can then use the mention notification to share it.
You can also ask the person to send you the original photo or video if you want to publish it separately. Get their permission before reposting the content, and give appropriate credit.
Keep in mind that a public account doesn’t automatically give you permission to reuse everything it posts. Also, sharing a Story link is different from reposting the Story itself. A link lets people visit the original content, while a repost displays the shared content within your own Story when Instagram supports that feature.
Step 4: Repost a Public Instagram Post or Reel to Your Story
Sometimes, the content you want to share isn’t a Story. It may be a regular Instagram post or Reel that you want your followers to see.
Open Instagram and find the public post or Reel you want to share. Tap the Share icon, which usually looks like a paper airplane or appears among the available sharing controls.
If Instagram offers Add to story, tap it. The post or Reel will open in the Story editor as a preview that links back to the original content.
You can resize or reposition the preview and add your own text or stickers if the editor supports them. When you’re finished, tap Your story to share it.
If the Add to story option isn’t available, the original account’s sharing settings or the content type may prevent reposting. Private-account content may also be restricted. Don’t use third-party tools to bypass these limitations.
Step 5: Repost Your Own Instagram Story
You can also share your own previous Stories again. This is useful when you want to bring back a product announcement, travel photo, tutorial, or memorable moment.
Open Instagram and visit your profile by tapping your profile picture in the bottom-right corner. Tap the three-line menu in the upper-right corner and look for Archive.
Depending on your app version, you may need to open the Stories archive. Find the Story you want to share and open it.
If Instagram provides a Share or Add to Story option, tap it and customize the content as needed. Then publish it to your Story.
If the Story is no longer available in your archive, you may need to find the original photo or video in your phone’s gallery and create a new Story. Archive settings and the availability of older content can affect what you can recover.
Customize Your Reposted Story Before Publishing
Before publishing a repost, take a moment to make sure it looks good on your profile.
When the Story editor opens, you may be able to add text, stickers, GIFs, or other available elements. You can also adjust the position and size of the shared content.
For example, if you’re sharing a friend’s restaurant recommendation, you could add a short message explaining why you like the place. If you’re sharing a creator’s tutorial, you could add a brief comment about what your followers might learn.
Keep your additions relevant and avoid covering the original creator’s username or important information. If you have permission to share content separately, make sure the credit remains clear.
When everything looks right, tap Your story to publish it. If Instagram offers separate audience options, such as Close Friends, select the audience you want before sharing.
Fix the Instagram Repost Option When It Is Missing
If you can’t find the repost option, don’t assume your account is broken. Instagram’s sharing features depend on the content, privacy settings, and app version.
First, check whether the original poster actually mentioned your account. If they didn’t, ask them to mention you or send you the original content with permission.
Next, update Instagram through the official app store on your phone. An outdated version may not show the same controls as a newer release.
If the option is still missing, close Instagram and reopen it. You can also restart your phone and check again.
On Android, you can try clearing Instagram’s cache through Settings > Apps > Instagram > Storage or the equivalent menu on your device. Choose Clear cache, not Clear data, unless you understand the consequences of resetting the app.
If none of these steps work, visit Instagram’s Help Center or report the problem through the app. The feature may simply be unavailable for that particular Story.
FAQs
1. Can I repost someone’s Instagram Story without being tagged?
Sometimes, but Instagram doesn’t provide a universal direct repost option for every Story. Check the available sharing controls or ask the original poster to mention you. Always get permission before reusing their content.
2. Why can’t I add someone else’s Story to my Story?
The person may not have mentioned you, their privacy settings may restrict sharing, or Instagram may not support reposting that particular Story. App version and account-specific feature availability can also make a difference.
3. Can I repost an Instagram Story after 24 hours?
You generally can’t repost a regular Story once it has expired unless the original creator has saved it somewhere accessible, such as Highlights, or shares it with you again. Your own expired Stories may be available in your Stories archive if archiving was enabled.
4. Will the original person know if I repost their Story?
When someone mentions you, and you share their Story through Instagram’s built-in feature, they may be able to see the repost or receive relevant notifications, depending on Instagram’s current behavior. Don’t assume that every sharing action is private.
5. Can I repost a Story from a private Instagram account?
Sharing options for private-account content are restricted. Even if you follow the account, you may not be able to repost its Story directly. Respect the account’s privacy and ask the creator for permission.