By Gavan Corry | Updated November 2026
Want to repost someone else’s Instagram Story but can’t find the right button? You can usually do it in a few taps. However, the method depends on whether the person tagged you, whether their account is public and whether they allow other people to share their Stories.
Instagram also changed how Story sharing works in December 2025. You no longer need to be tagged to repost a public Story, provided its owner permits resharing. That means some older tutorials are now out of date.
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This guide explains how to repost an Instagram Story on iPhone and Android, what the sharing buttons look like and how to solve the most common problems.
How to repost someone else’s Instagram Story
If the original Story comes from a public account that permits sharing, follow these steps:
- Open Instagram and view the Story you want to repost.
- Tap the Share icon, which looks like a paper aeroplane, near the bottom-right corner.
- Select Add to story from the sharing menu.
- Add text, stickers or other edits if you wish.
- Tap Next, then Share to publish it to your own Instagram Story.
Your repost will show the original creator’s account, allowing people to find the source. The exact buttons may look slightly different between iPhone and Android.
How to repost an Instagram Story without being tagged
One of the biggest changes to Instagram Stories is that you can now repost eligible public Stories without the original creator mentioning your username.
Previously, the built-in Story sharing option generally depended on being tagged. That restriction changed in December 2025.
For example, suppose a restaurant posts a Story about a new menu. You want to share it with your followers, but the restaurant hasn’t mentioned you. If its account is public and sharing is allowed, you can open the Story, tap Share and select Add to story.
You don’t need to ask the restaurant to tag you first.
However, public accounts can limit who shares their content. If the button isn’t available, that could explain why.
How to repost an Instagram Story you’re tagged in
When someone mentions your Instagram username in their Story, Instagram normally sends you a direct message containing a preview.
This gives you another way to repost the content without searching for it on the person’s profile.
To use it:
- Open Instagram and go to your direct messages.
- Find the conversation with the person who mentioned you.
- Look for the Story preview and the Add to your story button.
- Tap the button to open the Story editor.
- Edit the Story if you want, then share it.
Screenshot 2: A tagged Story received in direct messages, followed by the Instagram Story editor and sharing screen. Source: Instagram Story.
What if you were tagged but received no message?
First, check your Instagram message requests. If someone you don’t follow mentions you in a public Story, the notification may appear there rather than in your main inbox.
Next, check whether the original Story is still active. Stories normally expire after 24 hours, and the sharing option may disappear once that happens.
Finally, the original creator may have disabled resharing for people they mention. Being tagged doesn’t automatically guarantee that you can repost the Story.
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Why can’t I repost someone’s Instagram Story?
If the Add to story button has disappeared, there are several possible explanations.
The first thing to check is whether the problem affects one particular Story or every Story you try to share.
If you can repost Stories from other public accounts, your Instagram app is probably working. The problem is more likely to involve the original account’s privacy or sharing settings.
However, if the option is missing everywhere, your app version or a temporary account issue may be responsible.
Common Instagram Story reposting problems
| Problem | Possible reason | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| No Add to story button | Creator has restricted sharing | Ask whether Story resharing is enabled |
| Account is private | Public Story sharing doesn’t apply | Ask the creator about sharing permissions |
| You were tagged but can’t repost | Resharing for mentions is disabled | Ask the creator to check their settings |
| Story has disappeared | The 24-hour period has ended | Ask the creator to publish it again |
| Button missing on every Story | App or account problem | Update Instagram and restart the app |
| You can’t find the mention | Message is in requests | Check your message requests |
How to fix a missing Add to story button
Before reinstalling Instagram, try these checks in order.
First, test another public Story. Find a Story from another public account and look for Add to story in the Share menu. This helps establish whether the problem is specific to one account.
Second, update Instagram. Open the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, search for Instagram and install any available update. Restart the app afterwards.
Third, check the original account’s settings. If you know the person, ask whether they permit other people to repost their Stories.
Fourth, check whether the Story is still live. The standard reposting process works with active Stories. A Story that has expired may no longer offer the same sharing controls.
If the problem affects every eligible Story after these checks, try restarting your phone. Reinstalling Instagram may also help with a persistent app problem, but make sure you can sign back into your account first.
How to allow other people to repost your Instagram Stories
If you want friends, customers or followers to repost your content, you can manage your sharing permissions.
Instagram offers three settings for Story-to-Story sharing on public accounts.
Open Instagram and follow this path:
Profile → Menu (☰) → Settings and activity → Sharing and reuse → Stories to stories
You should see these options:
- Everyone: Allows other users to reshare your public Stories.
- Followers you follow back: Restricts sharing to accounts you follow in return.
- Off: Prevents other people from using the normal Story-to-Story sharing feature.
Public accounts normally allow Story resharing by default, although Instagram applies stricter defaults to teen accounts.
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You can also see Instagram’s instructions in its official Story sharing Help Centre guide.
Can you repost a Story from a private Instagram account?
A private account’s Story cannot normally be reposted using the public sharing method.
There is an exception when the account mentions you in the Story and permits you to reshare it. Instagram provides separate sharing controls for mentions, so availability depends on those permissions.
If you cannot repost the Story, ask the creator to share the content directly with you or confirm whether they are comfortable with you publishing it.
Avoid using screenshot or download tools to get around someone else’s privacy settings.
How to repost an Instagram Story using a screenshot
Taking a screenshot is an alternative when Instagram’s built-in sharing option isn’t available, but you should obtain the creator’s permission first.
For a photo Story, open the original and capture the screen using your phone’s normal screenshot controls.
On most recent iPhones, press the side button and volume-up button together. On many Android phones, press the power button and volume-down button together.
Once you have permission, open Instagram’s Story editor, select the screenshot from your photo library, add an @mention crediting the original creator and publish it.
For a video Story, a screen recording may be possible with the creator’s agreement.
However, there are disadvantages to this method. Screenshots remove Instagram’s direct link to the original Story, may reduce image quality and do not provide automatic attribution. They also create a separate copy of someone else’s material.
For businesses sharing customer photos, reposting through Instagram’s built-in feature is usually the better option.
How to repost your own Instagram Story
You can also share a Story that you published previously.
If the Story is still live, open it and use Instagram’s sharing options.
For an older Story saved to your archive:
- Open Instagram and visit your profile.
- Tap the three-line menu.
- Select Archive and make sure you’re viewing the Stories archive.
- Open the Story you want to share again.
- Tap Share, make any changes and publish it to Your Story.
This only works for Stories Instagram has saved in your archive. If archive saving was disabled when you originally posted the content, it may not be available.
Reposting an old Story can be useful when you want to remind followers about a previous event, product announcement or personal update.
What’s the difference between reposting a Story and reposting an Instagram post?
Instagram uses similar wording for several different sharing features. However, they don’t all do the same thing.
| Feature | Where the content appears | How long it stays |
|---|---|---|
| Repost someone’s Story | Your Instagram Story | Normally 24 hours |
| Share a feed post to your Story | Your Instagram Story | Normally 24 hours |
| Repost a public Reel or feed post | Reposts section of your profile and potentially followers’ feeds | Until removed or otherwise unavailable |
| Add a Story to Highlights | Your profile Highlights | Until removed |
Instagram introduced its separate Reposts feature for public Reels and feed posts in August 2025. It isn’t the same as the Add to story option used for Stories.
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If you want to save or reuse Instagram videos rather than share them inside the app, read our related guide to Instagram video downloading. Remember that downloading content doesn’t automatically give you permission to republish it.
Why Instagram Story reposting matters for businesses
For businesses, one of the more useful applications is sharing customer content.
Imagine a customer visiting a restaurant, photographing their meal and publishing an Instagram Story. If the account is public and allows reposts, the restaurant can share the customer’s Story with its own followers, even without a tag.
The customer’s account receives attribution, while the restaurant can highlight a real customer experience rather than create another promotional image.
There is still a distinction between having the technical ability to repost and having someone’s agreement to use their content commercially. For a customer testimonial or promotional campaign, asking permission is sensible.
Brands can also invite customers to mention their Instagram account when posting about a product or visit. This makes it easier to find relevant Stories and respond promptly.
Frequently asked questions about reposting Instagram Stories
Can you repost someone’s Instagram Story if they haven’t tagged you?
Yes. Since December 2025, Instagram has supported reposting eligible public Stories without being tagged. The original account must allow Story resharing.
Why doesn’t my Instagram have the Add to story option?
The creator may have disabled resharing, restricted it to followers they follow back, or posted from a private account. The Story may also have expired. If the option is missing across multiple eligible public accounts, check your Instagram app version.
Does Instagram notify someone when you repost their Story?
Instagram’s Help Centre does not clearly confirm whether every Story repost generates a notification to the original creator. However, reposted Stories identify the original account, so you should not assume your repost will go unnoticed.
Can I repost someone’s Instagram Story on iPhone and Android?
Yes. Both platforms support Story sharing. The position and wording of some controls may differ slightly, but the process involves opening the Story, selecting Share and choosing Add to story.
Can I repost an Instagram Story to Close Friends?
Where Instagram offers the Close Friends destination in the Story editor, you can select that audience instead of sharing with all your followers. This controls the audience of your repost, not the permissions on the original Story.
How long does a reposted Instagram Story last?
Normally, 24 hours. You can keep your own Story visible on your profile by adding it to a Highlight, subject to Instagram’s available controls.
Do I need an Instagram reposting app?
No. Instagram has built-in sharing features for eligible Stories, posts and Reels. Avoid third-party services that request your Instagram password to repost content.
Reposting an Instagram Story is now easier than it was before December 2025. You can share eligible public Stories even when the original creator hasn’t tagged you.
For most users, the process is straightforward: open the Story, tap Share, choose Add to story and publish.
If the button is missing, check the original account’s sharing permissions before assuming something is wrong with your phone.
And whenever you share someone else’s content, keep the original creator’s credit visible and respect their preferences.