Instagram allows users to share someone else’s Story, but only under certain conditions: you must be tagged in the Story, the account must be public, and resharing must be enabled in privacy settings. If you’re tagged, Instagram notifies you via Direct Message, enabling you to quickly repost it with customization options. If the “Add to Your Story” button doesn’t appear, it’s often due to privacy settings, expired Stories, or app glitches. If you’re not tagged, you can still share a public Story using third-party apps like StorySaver or by manually screen recording or taking a screenshot while remembering to credit the original creator. Stories can also be shared privately via Direct Messages or externally using a shareable link, though these are only active while the Story is live. To make your own Stories reshareable, enable resharing in your settings and tag others to encourage reposting.
Can You Share Someone Else’s Story on Instagram?
Yes, but only under certain conditions. Instagram does not allow users to freely repost just any Story. You can typically only share another person’s Story if:
- You’ve been tagged in that Story.
- The user’s account is public (for indirect shares like DMs or outside the app).
- The original poster has enabled resharing permissions in their privacy settings.
Instagram restricts this feature to maintain privacy and control over content. If you aren’t tagged in a Story, your options become limited, and you may need workarounds such as third-party tools, screen recordings, or direct messaging.
How to Share a Story You’ve Been Tagged In
When someone tags you in their Instagram Story, the app typically notifies you via Direct Message. Once tagged, sharing it to your own Story is quick and simple.
Step-by-Step on Sharing a Tagged Story
- Open the Instagram App: Go to the home screen and tap the paper plane (DM) icon in the top-right corner.
- Find the Tag Notification: You’ll see a message that says “@username mentioned you in their story.”
- Tap “Add to Your Story”: This will open the Story editor where you can customize the Story with stickers, text, or GIFs.
- Post It: Tap “Your Story” or “Close Friends” to publish.
This reshares the tagged content as your own Story, crediting the original poster by default.
What to Do If the Option Doesn’t Appear
Sometimes, even if you’re tagged, the “Add to Your Story” option may not show up. Here’s why and what to try:
- Private Account: If the original poster has a private account, their Story can’t be reshared.
- Settings Restriction: The user may have disabled resharing of their Stories under Settings > Privacy > Story > Allow Resharing.
- Expired Story: Stories vanish after 24 hours. If you wait too long, you’ll lose the window to share.
- App Glitches: Try updating Instagram or restarting your device.
If all else fails, ask the user to enable sharing or send you the content directly to reshare manually.
How to Share a Story You’re Not Tagged In
If you haven’t been tagged in someone’s Instagram Story, you won’t see the “Add to Your Story” option. However, that doesn’t mean you’re completely out of options. While Instagram limits sharing for privacy reasons, there are still a few indirect (but effective) methods to share a Story you’re not tagged in especially if it’s public content.
Using Third-Party Apps
There are apps and websites specifically designed to help you view and download public Instagram Stories. These tools are often used by marketers or content creators who need to reshare content while giving credit.
Popular third-party options include:
- StorySaver (Android)
- Repost for Instagram
- InstaSave
Steps:
- Copy the username or Story URL (if public).
- Paste it into the app or site.
- Download the Story to your device.
- Repost it using your Story editor, crediting the original creator if needed.
⚠️ Always respect content ownership. Even when using third-party tools, sharing someone else’s Story without permission can violate Instagram’s community guidelines.
Using Screen Record or Screenshot
A quick and manual method is using your device’s built-in tools to capture the Story.
To screen record:
- iOS: Swipe down → Tap the screen record icon.
- Android: Swipe down → Tap “Screen Record” (if available) or use a third-party recorder.
To screenshot:
- View the Story → Press the side + volume button (iOS) or power + volume down (Android).
Once captured, you can:
- Post the image or video to your Story.
- Add stickers, text, or hashtags to customize.
- Credit the user in text (e.g., “@username”).
This method is also handy if you’re trying to share a reel on Instagram as part of your Story and want to clip or screen record a moment before sharing it creatively.
While not officially endorsed by Instagram, these alternatives offer a way to keep up with content when standard sharing isn’t available.
How to Share a Story via Direct Message (DM)
Instagram allows you to privately share Stories with individuals or groups using Direct Message (DM). This is useful for content that’s time-sensitive or specifically relevant to someone.
Steps to share via DM:
- Tap on the Story you want to share.
- Tap the paper plane (send icon) at the bottom.
- Select the friend(s) or group chat.
- Hit Send.
The Story will appear in their inbox as a preview, clickable for the full view (if it’s still active). Note that private account Stories can only be viewed by mutual followers.
How to Make Your Stories Shareable
If you want others to easily reshare your content, you’ll need to ensure your account settings allow it. This not only boosts visibility but encourages engagement organically.
Enable Resharing in Settings
To allow people to reshare your Stories:
- Go to Settings > Privacy > Story
- Toggle on Allow sharing to Story and Allow sharing via message
This gives viewers the option to repost your Story to theirs or send it through DMs.
Tagging Others to Encourage Reshares
Tagging someone in your Story gives them the “Add to Your Story” button. This is the most reliable way to have your content reshared by others.
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Tips for tagging effectively:
- Use the “@” symbol followed by the username.
- Position the tag visibly but aesthetically.
- Combine with stickers or call-to-action text (e.g., “Tap to share!”)
How to Share Instagram Stories Outside the App
Want to spread your Story to a wider audience beyond Instagram?
You can share the link to your Story outside the app:
- Open your Story while it’s active.
- Tap the three dots (•••) in the corner.
- Select Copy Link.
- Paste it in emails, texts, or other apps like WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger.
This is also a good opportunity to cross-promote other parts of your profile for example, when you share your latest Story, you can also remind people to share Instagram profile links for more content.
Just be aware that Story links only work while the Story is still live (within 24 hours of posting).
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