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How to Repost a Story on Instagram: The Definitive Guide

So, you’ve stumbled upon a stellar story on Instagram that deserves to be shared with your own audience. Excellent choice! Reposting Instagram stories is a fantastic way to boost engagement, amplify voices you admire, and even add a touch of curated content to your own profile. The process itself is remarkably simple, but knowing all the ins and outs will make you a story-reposting pro in no time. Here’s the breakdown:

The direct answer: You can repost an Instagram story if:

You are tagged in the story: If someone mentions your username in their story, you’ll receive a notification in your DMs. Within that message, you’ll find an “Add to your story” button. Tapping this button opens the story in the story editor, allowing you to customize it before sharing.
It is your own story (after 24 hours): If you want to share one of your previous stories, head to your archive. If the story is still visible (less than 24 hours since posting), you can view it from your profile and repost it.

That’s the core mechanic. However, there’s a bit more nuance to cover, including how to navigate situations where you aren’t tagged, and how to make the most of each repost.

Diving Deeper: Mastering the Reposting Process

Reposing is a powerful tool, but using it effectively requires understanding its limitations and creative possibilities.

The Tagged-In Triumph: The Standard Repost

This is the most straightforward method. When someone tags you in their story, Instagram hands you the keys to reposting on a silver platter.

Check your DMs: A direct message from the person who tagged you will appear.
Locate the “Add to your story” button: It’s usually prominently displayed within the message.
Customize (or don’t!): The story opens in the story editor. Here’s where you can add text, stickers, GIFs, polls, or even draw on the story. Feel free to maintain the original creator’s aesthetics or inject your own personal flair.
Post it: Tap the “Your Story” button at the bottom to share it with your followers.

The Untagged Enigma: Workarounds for When You’re Missed

What if someone posts something fantastic about your brand or your content, but forgets to tag you? Don’t despair; there are still avenues to explore.

Request a Tag: The most direct approach is to simply message the person who posted the story and politely request that they tag you. Most people are happy to oblige.
Screenshot and Credit: If a tag isn’t feasible, you can screenshot the story (make sure it’s high quality!), crop it to remove any unnecessary screen elements, and repost it to your story. Crucially, add a text overlay or sticker explicitly crediting the original creator. This is essential for ethical content sharing. A simple “@[username] via their story” is sufficient.
Third-Party Apps (Use with Caution): Several third-party apps claim to offer reposting functionality even without a tag. However, exercise extreme caution when using these apps. Many can be unreliable, violate Instagram’s terms of service, or even compromise your account security. Thoroughly research any app before granting it access to your Instagram account.

The Throwback Thursday (or Any Day!) Repost: Sharing Your Old Stories

Instagram archives your stories automatically after 24 hours, giving you a treasure trove of content to revisit.

Access your Archive: Go to your profile, tap the three horizontal lines in the top right corner (the hamburger menu), and select “Archive.”
Navigate to Story Archive: At the top of the Archive screen, ensure “Stories archive” is selected.
Choose your Story: Scroll through your archived stories and select the one you want to repost.
Tap “Share”: Tap the three dots (“…”) at the bottom right corner of the story, and then select “Share as Post” or “Share to Story.” “Share as Post” creates a regular Instagram post while “Share to Story” allows you to reshare to your stories.
Customize and Post: The story will open in the story editor, ready for any additions or modifications before you post it.

Pro Tips for Reposting Like a Boss

Add Context: Don’t just blindly repost. Add a caption, sticker, or GIF that explains why you’re sharing this story and what it means to you.
Maintain Brand Consistency: Ensure your reposts align with your overall brand aesthetic and messaging.
Tag Responsibly: If you’re crediting someone in a repost, double-check that you’ve tagged the correct account.
Be Mindful of Privacy: Don’t repost stories that contain sensitive or private information without the original poster’s consent.
Engage with the Original Poster: Send a DM to the person you reposted, letting them know you appreciated their content. It’s a great way to build relationships and foster community.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Why can’t I see the “Add to your story” button when someone tags me?

This can happen for a few reasons:

The account that tagged you is private: If the person who tagged you has a private account, you must be following them to see the “Add to your story” button.
The story has expired: Stories only last for 24 hours. If the story is older than that, the repost option disappears.
Instagram glitch: Occasionally, there might be a temporary glitch on Instagram’s end. Try closing and reopening the app, or restarting your device.

2. Can I repost a story that mentions multiple accounts?

Yes! When you tap “Add to your story,” the repost will include all accounts tagged in the original story.

3. Is there a limit to how many stories I can repost in a day?

Instagram doesn’t publicly state a specific limit. However, avoid excessively reposting stories in rapid succession, as this could be flagged as spammy behavior.

4. Can I repost a story that includes music?

Yes, the music will carry over when you repost the story.

5. How do I repost a story from a business account?

The process is the same as reposting from a personal account. If the business account tags you in their story, you’ll see the “Add to your story” button in your DMs.

6. What happens if the original story is deleted after I repost it?

Your repost will remain on your story for the duration of its 24-hour lifespan, even if the original story is deleted.

7. Can I edit the original poster’s text or images in a repost?

No, you cannot directly edit the original poster’s content. You can only add your own text, stickers, GIFs, or drawings on top of the reposted story.

8. How can I prevent others from reposting my stories?

If you have a public account, anyone who tags you in their story can repost it. If you want to prevent this, you can switch to a private account.

9. Can I repost a story to my feed as a regular post?

Yes, but only your own stories from your archive. When viewing an archived story, you can select “Share as Post” which will allow you to share it to your Instagram feed as a regular post.

10. Will the original poster be notified when I repost their story?

Yes, they will receive a notification that you’ve added their story to your own.

11. How do I give proper credit when reposting a screenshot of a story?

Always include the original poster’s username in your repost. You can use a text overlay like “@[username] via their story” or a sticker that clearly identifies them as the source.

12. Is it possible to repost a story to another platform like Facebook?

Yes, when posting a story (original or reposted) to your Instagram story, you can also simultaneously share it to your Facebook story by connecting your accounts in the settings. However, third-party apps might offer the functionality to save and share stories from other users, but they require caution and may violate the platform policies.

By mastering these techniques and understanding the nuances of reposting, you can leverage this powerful feature to enhance your Instagram presence, engage your audience, and build meaningful connections within the community. Happy reposting!