How to Add a TikTok to Your Story: The Definitive Guide

Want to share that viral dance craze or hilarious skit you found on TikTok directly to your Instagram or Facebook story? It’s a powerful way to cross-promote your content or simply share something you enjoyed with your followers. Here’s the breakdown on how to do just that, turning you into a social media sharing maestro.

The Direct Route: Sharing TikToks Directly to Your Story

The easiest method is using the built-in sharing feature within the TikTok app itself. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

1. Find the TikTok you want to share. Browse through your “For You” page or visit the profile of the TikToker whose content you admire.

2. Tap the “Share” icon. This icon usually looks like a curved arrow pointing to the right, located on the right-hand side of the screen.

3. Select the destination platform. A menu will appear with various options, including Instagram Story, Facebook Story, WhatsApp, Messenger, and more. Choose the platform you desire.

4. Customize your story (optional). This is where the fun begins! You can add text, stickers, GIFs, polls, or drawings to your story to further engage your audience. Consider adding a call to action, like “Check out their profile!” or “What do you think of this trend?”.

5. Post your story! Once you’re happy with your edits, simply tap the “Share” button to publish it to your story. Boom! You’ve successfully shared a TikTok to your story.

Important Considerations for Direct Sharing

• Account Linking: Make sure your TikTok account is linked to your Instagram or Facebook account for seamless sharing. You’ll typically be prompted to do this the first time you attempt to share directly.
• TikToker’s Privacy Settings: If the TikTok creator has disabled sharing for their content, you won’t be able to share their video to your story. This is a creator’s right and should be respected. You’ll typically see a message indicating sharing is disabled.
• Platform-Specific Limitations: Sometimes, specific platforms might have temporary glitches or limitations that prevent sharing. This is usually resolved quickly, so try again later.

The “Save and Upload” Method: A Backup Plan

If direct sharing isn’t working (due to privacy settings or technical issues), there’s another reliable method. This involves saving the TikTok video to your device and then uploading it to your story.

1. Find the TikTok. Locate the video you intend to share.

2. Tap the “Share” icon. As before, this is the curved arrow on the right side of the screen.

3. Look for the “Save Video” option. This option may be represented by an arrow pointing downwards. Tap it to download the video to your device’s gallery or camera roll.

4. Open Instagram or Facebook. Launch the social media platform where you want to share the video.

5. Create a new story. Tap on your profile picture or the “+” icon to start a new story.

6. Upload the saved TikTok. Select the TikTok video from your gallery or camera roll.

7. Edit and customize. Add text, stickers, or other elements to enhance your story. Remember to give credit to the original TikTok creator!

8. Post your story. Share the TikTok video to your story.

Potential Downsides of Saving and Uploading

• Watermarks: Saved TikTok videos often include the TikTok watermark and the creator’s username. While this is a form of attribution, some users find it visually distracting.
• Video Quality: Saving and re-uploading can sometimes slightly degrade the video quality.
• Storage Space: Saving videos consumes storage space on your device.

Best Practices for Sharing TikToks to Stories

• Give Credit Where Credit is Due: Always tag the original TikTok creator in your story. This is ethical and helps them gain visibility. Use the “@” symbol followed by their username.
• Add Context and Commentary: Don’t just blindly share TikToks. Add your own thoughts, reactions, or questions to spark conversation.
• Use Relevant Stickers and GIFs: Make your story visually engaging by incorporating relevant stickers and GIFs that complement the TikTok.
• Consider the Audience: Ensure the TikTok you’re sharing is appropriate for your audience. Think about their interests and sensitivities.
• Promote Your Own TikTok Content: Sharing other people’s TikToks is great, but don’t forget to promote your own creations too!

Troubleshooting Common Issues

• “Sharing Unavailable” Error: This usually means the TikTok creator has disabled sharing for their video. Respect their decision and find another video to share.
• Video Won’t Upload: Check your internet connection and try again. If the problem persists, the video file might be corrupted. Try saving the video again.
• Instagram/Facebook App is Crashing: Ensure you have the latest version of the Instagram or Facebook app installed. Restarting your device can also help.

FAQs: All Your TikTok Sharing Questions Answered

Here are some frequently asked questions to further enhance your TikTok sharing knowledge:

1. Can I share a TikTok video to my story if I don’t have a TikTok account?

Technically, yes. You can view TikTok videos without an account and use the “Save Video” method. However, having a TikTok account makes it easier to discover and share content, and it also allows you to properly tag and credit the original creator.

2. How do I tag the original TikTok creator in my story?

When you’re editing your story, use the text tool and type “@” followed by the creator’s TikTok username. Instagram and Facebook will automatically recognize the username and allow you to tag them.

3. What happens if the TikTok creator deletes their video after I’ve shared it to my story?

If the TikTok is deleted, it will no longer be visible in your story. The link will break, and viewers will likely see an error message.

4. Can I share a private TikTok video to my story?

No. Private TikTok videos are only visible to the creator and their approved followers. You cannot share them to your story.

5. Is it legal to share TikTok videos to my story?

Sharing TikTok videos is generally acceptable as long as you give proper credit to the original creator and don’t violate any copyright laws. Avoid using TikTok videos for commercial purposes without permission.

6. Does sharing a TikTok to my story count as a “repost” on TikTok itself?

No, sharing to your Instagram or Facebook story is different from reposting on TikTok. Reposting on TikTok uses the platform’s own repost feature, which shares the video directly on your profile’s “For You” feed. Sharing to stories simply posts it on your ephemeral story.

7. How can I make my TikTok stories more engaging?

Use interactive stickers like polls, quizzes, and question boxes to encourage viewer participation. Add background music, text animations, and creative transitions to keep your audience entertained.

8. Why does the TikTok video look blurry when I share it to my story?

This can happen due to compression issues during the sharing process. Ensure your internet connection is stable and try re-saving and re-uploading the video in higher resolution, if available.

9. Can I share a TikTok live video to my story?

Once a TikTok live video has ended, the creator might choose to upload a replay. If they do, you can share that replay to your story using the methods described above.

10. What are the best apps for editing TikTok videos before sharing them to my story?

Many great video editing apps are available for both iOS and Android. CapCut (owned by TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance), InShot, and Adobe Premiere Rush are popular choices with a range of features.

11. How do I know if someone has shared my TikTok video to their story?

TikTok doesn’t currently offer a direct notification when someone shares your video to their story. However, you might see an increase in views, likes, and comments on your video, which could indicate that it’s being shared more widely.

12. Can I schedule TikTok posts to automatically share to my Instagram story later?

No, you cannot schedule TikToks to be directly shared to your Instagram story via TikTok itself. You can save the video and schedule its posting using third-party social media management tools, but direct integration for scheduled sharing isn’t currently available.