How to Post Someone Else’s Story on Instagram: A Comprehensive Guide

Want to share the love on Instagram by reposting someone else’s stellar story? It’s a fantastic way to engage with your audience and give a shout-out to content you admire. Here’s the skinny: you can only repost a story if you’ve been tagged in it. If you are tagged, you’ll receive a notification via Direct Message (DM) allowing you to add the story to your own. If you’re not tagged, things get a little trickier, requiring workarounds we’ll dive into shortly.

The Tagged Triumph: Reposting When You’re Mentioned

This is the Instagram gods’ preferred method, and it’s delightfully straightforward.

Step 1: The DM Notification

Keep an eye on your Direct Message (DM) inbox. When someone tags you in their story, you’ll receive a notification in the form of a message from that person. This message will typically say something like, “[Username] mentioned you in their story.”

Step 2: The “Add to Your Story” Button

Open the message. Below the story preview, you should see a button that says “Add to Your Story”. This is your golden ticket!

Step 3: Customization is Key

Tap the “Add to Your Story” button. This will open the story in the Instagram story editor, allowing you to customize it. You can:

• Resize and reposition the original story.
• Add text, stickers, GIFs, and drawings to personalize your repost.
• Tag other users to bring more people into the conversation.
• Change the background color for added visual flair.

Step 4: Share the Love

Once you’re happy with your edits, tap “Your Story” at the bottom of the screen to publish the repost to your own story. You can also choose to send it to specific close friends.

The Untagged Terrain: Navigating Reposting Workarounds

What if you weren’t tagged but still desperately want to share a fantastic story? Don’t despair; there are (slightly less elegant) solutions.

Method 1: The Screenshot Savior (with Permission!)

This is the classic, albeit less ideal, approach.

1. Ask for Permission: Always, always, always ask the original poster for permission before taking a screenshot of their story. It’s good etiquette and respects their content. A simple DM saying, “Hey! Love your story about [topic]. Would you mind if I shared a screenshot on my story?” goes a long way.
2. Take a Screenshot: Once you have permission, take a screenshot of the story.
3. Crop Strategically: Open the screenshot in your phone’s photo editor and carefully crop out any unnecessary elements, like the username and the options at the top and bottom of the screen. Aim for a clean, visually appealing image.
4. Add to Your Story: Upload the cropped screenshot to your Instagram story.
5. Give Credit (Crucially Important!): Manually tag the original poster by using the @ symbol and their username in your story text. This is essential! You can also add text like “Via @[username]” to make it clear you’re sharing someone else’s content.

Method 2: The Screen Recording Revelation (Again, with Permission!)

If the story contains a video or moving element, a screen recording might be a better option than a screenshot.

1. Request the Green Light: As with screenshots, obtain explicit permission from the original creator before recording their story.
2. Start Recording: Use your phone’s built-in screen recording feature to capture the story.
3. Trim the Fat: Edit the screen recording to remove any unnecessary parts, such as the start and end of the recording process.
4. Upload and Attribute: Upload the trimmed screen recording to your story and prominently tag the original creator.

Important Considerations for Workarounds:

• Quality Degradation: Screenshots and screen recordings often result in lower image or video quality compared to reposting directly through the “Add to Your Story” feature.
• Authenticity: Workarounds can sometimes feel less authentic than tagged reposts. Be upfront about the fact that you’re sharing the content with permission.
• Respecting Boundaries: If someone declines your request to share their story, respect their decision.

Beyond the Basics: Pro Tips for Reposting Like a Pro

• Add Context: Don’t just repost a story without adding your own thoughts or commentary. Explain why you found it interesting or relevant to your audience.
• Use Story Templates: Instagram offers a variety of story templates that you can use to make your reposts more engaging.
• Run Polls and Quizzes: Add interactive elements to your reposts to encourage your followers to participate.
• Leverage Hashtags: Use relevant hashtags to increase the visibility of your reposts.
• Consider Story Highlights: If you frequently repost stories, create a story highlight to showcase your favorite content.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Why can’t I see the “Add to Your Story” button?

The most common reason is that you haven’t been tagged in the story. The “Add to Your Story” button only appears when you’re directly mentioned. Also, ensure the account that posted the story is a public account. If it’s a private account and you don’t follow them, you cannot repost their content.

2. Can I repost a story if the account is private?

No, you can only repost stories from public accounts if you are tagged. If you follow a private account and they tag you, you can repost their story. If not, the screenshot/screen recording method is your only option, with permission.

3. What if the story disappears before I can repost it?

Instagram stories are only visible for 24 hours. If the story has expired, you won’t be able to repost it. You could try contacting the original poster and asking if they can reshare it and tag you again.

4. Is it okay to repost a story without asking for permission?

Absolutely not! It’s crucial to always ask for permission before reposting someone else’s content, especially if you’re using screenshots or screen recordings. It’s a matter of respecting their intellectual property and online etiquette.

5. How do I tag someone in my story after reposting?

When you’re in the story editor (after tapping “Add to Your Story” or uploading a screenshot), tap the “Aa” text tool. Type the @ symbol followed by the username you want to tag. Position the tag appropriately on the screen.

6. Can I repost a story to my feed instead of my story?

No, Instagram doesn’t offer a direct feature to repost stories to your feed. The “Add to Your Story” button only allows you to repost to your own story. You could potentially use a screenshot or screen recording and post it to your feed, but again, ask for permission and give proper credit.

7. What are the best apps for downloading Instagram stories?

While numerous apps claim to download Instagram stories, using them violates Instagram’s terms of service and can pose security risks. It’s strongly recommended to avoid using third-party apps for downloading stories. Stick to the official features and ethical workarounds.

8. How can I make my reposted stories more engaging?

Add your own personal touch. Include your thoughts, opinions, or relevant experiences. Use stickers, GIFs, polls, and quizzes to interact with your audience. Tailor the repost to align with your brand or personality.

9. Can I repost multiple stories at once?

No, Instagram doesn’t allow you to repost multiple stories simultaneously. You need to repost each story individually.

10. Why does the reposted story look blurry?

This is often due to the quality degradation that occurs when using screenshots or screen recordings. The original story might have been high-resolution, but the screenshot or recording compresses the image or video, resulting in a blurry appearance. Try to get a direct share via tagging if possible.

11. How do I know if someone has reposted my story?

You’ll receive a Direct Message (DM) notification when someone adds your story to their story. The notification will indicate that they mentioned you.

12. What happens if the original poster deletes their story?

If the original poster deletes their story after you’ve reposted it, your repost will still remain visible on your story for the remaining duration of its 24-hour lifespan. However, clicking on the tag of the original poster might lead to a “Story Unavailable” message.