Step-by-Step Guide: How to Add a Post to Your Story on Instagram
Want to boost your post visibility, engage followers, or just shout out your favorite creators? Here’s how to do it right.
Sharing a post to your Instagram story isn’t just quick—it’s one of the easiest ways to get more eyes on content you care about. Whether it's your own post or someone else’s, stories help highlight moments, spark interaction, and keep your audience in the loop without overwhelming their feed. Plus, with simple tools like stickers and text, you can add your own twist. Let’s break down exactly how to share posts that stand out.
Key Takeaways
Sharing a post to your story is quick and simple—just tap the share icon, customize if you want, and post it for 24 hours of visibility.
If sharing isn’t working, it’s usually due to privacy settings or restrictions—check if the account is private or resharing is turned off.
Creative touches make your stories stand out—use text, filters, and stickers to grab attention and keep your followers engaged.
How to Share a Post to Your Story (Regular Feed Post or Carousel)
Sharing a post to your story is super simple once you know where to tap. Whether it's a photo, video, or carousel post, the steps are nearly the same.
First, open the Instagram app and find the Instagram post you want to share. This can be your own post or someone else's (as long as their account is public and they’ve allowed resharing). Once you're on the post, iPhone tap share by hitting the little paper airplane icon right below it.
From there, you'll see an option that says “Add Post to Your Story.” Tap that. Now you're in story mode, where you can move the post around, add text, throw in a sticker, or just leave it as is. Customize as much or as little as you like.
When you're happy with how it looks, tap “Your Story” at the bottom, and boom—it’s live for the next 24 hours.
One quick note: if the post is part of a carousel (a multi-photo post), Instagram only lets you share only posts one at a time—not the full set. So pick the one you want to highlight.
Ready to share like a pro? Let’s move on to Reels next.
How to Share an Instagram Reel to Your Story
Sharing a Reel to your story is just as easy as sharing a regular post. Start by opening the Reel you want to share—this could be yours or someone else’s, as long as the account is public and sharing is allowed. Tap the paper airplane icon below the Reel, then choose “Add Reel to Your Story.”
From there, you can resize it, add some stickers, text, or leave it clean and simple. Once you're done customizing, hit “Your Story” to post. Like everything else on your story, it’ll stay up for 24 hours.
The cool part? Anyone who views your story can tap the Reel and go straight to the original, where they can like, comment, or follow the creator.
Quick tip: Reels with trending audio tend to perform better—even in stories—so if you're looking for more views, that’s something to keep in mind.
Why the “Add to Story” Option Might Not Appear
Can’t find the “Add to Story” button? Don’t worry—it’s not you, it’s Instagram’s settings (or the person who made the post).
First, check if the post comes from a private account. Instagram doesn’t allow you to share posts from private profiles to your story—no exceptions there.
Even if the account is public, the original poster might have turned off resharing in their settings. In that case, the share option won’t show up at all.
Some posts are also blocked from sharing because of copyright rules or location-based restrictions, especially if they contain music or licensed content.
If you're using an older version or a simplified version like the Instagram Lite app, that could also cause features to behave differently or disappear entirely.
If you really want to share the post, the easiest workaround is to message the original poster and ask if they’re cool with turning resharing back on. Most people won’t mind—especially if you’re giving them a nice shoutout.
No button, no problem—there’s usually a reason behind it.
Creative Ways to Customize Shared Posts in Stories
Once you’ve got the post in your story, don’t just hit share—make it pop.
Instagram gives you a bunch of easy tools to add personality and keep your viewers engaged. Whether you’re sharing your own content or reposting someone else’s, a little customization goes a long way.
Add Stickers and GIFs
Want more interaction? Try engagement stickers. You can add polls, emoji sliders, quizzes, or question boxes to get your followers involved. Ask for opinions, reactions, or just have fun with it. You can even save great posts to your story highlights so they last longer than 24 hours.
GIFs are perfect for adding mood or humor. Just tap the sticker icon and search for whatever fits—like “LOL,” “mood,” or “vibes.” A well-placed dancing cat or blinking text can make your story way more fun to watch.
Add Text and Captions
Tap the ‘Aa’ icon to add text. You can change the font style, size, and color to match the vibe of your story. This is great for giving context, reactions, or tagging someone for a shoutout.
Keep your text short and snappy so it doesn’t clutter the screen. And if you want it to stand out, use contrast—light text on a dark background, or vice versa.
Play with Filters and Background Colors
Swipe left or right to add a filter that changes the tone of your story. Filters can make it feel brighter, moodier, or more polished depending on what you’re going for.
You can also tap add music, hashtags, or animated text to boost the visual appeal. Instagram usually matches the background to the post automatically, but switching it up can make your story look more intentional or match your personal style. Just tap toggle between color options until you find one that fits your vibe.
When and Why to Share Other People’s Posts
Sharing other people’s posts to your story isn’t just easy—it’s actually a great way to build connection on Instagram.
When you repost something helpful, funny, or relatable, you're not only giving your followers something they’ll enjoy, but you’re also supporting the original creator. Whether it’s a useful tip or something originally posted by a creator you admire, passing it along shows you’re tuned in and thoughtful.
Just make sure to credit the original poster. Tag their handle directly on the story so your followers can find them—and so the creator knows you’re giving proper credit.
If it’s a smaller account or a personal post, it’s a nice move to send a direct message and ask for permission before you re share. Most people will appreciate the heads-up, and it shows respect for their content.
Bottom line: When you share with care, you’re adding value—not just content.
Sharing Stories from Public Accounts (Not Posts)
There’s a difference between sharing someone’s post and resharing their story. If someone tags you in their story or has sharing turned on, you’ll see an option to “Add to Your Story” directly from their story screen.
This feature usually works with public Instagram accounts that allow story resharing. If that option doesn’t show up, it means resharing isn’t allowed. In that case, the only workaround is taking a screenshot or screen recording, but make sure to credit the original creator.
And one important reminder: don’t repost anything that’s personal, sensitive, or wasn’t meant to be shared publicly. Respecting boundaries keeps Instagram fun for everyone.
Best Practices for Sharing Posts in Stories
Sharing posts to your story might seem simple, but doing it well makes all the difference. A few small choices can help your stories feel more polished, engaging, and worth watching.
Do’s
Tag the original account when reposting someone else’s content. It gives credit where it’s due and might even earn you a reshare.
Add your own take—a comment, reaction, or quick explanation helps your audience understand why you’re sharing it. It turns a simple repost into something personal. Use Instagram’s built-in tools like stickers, polls, or music to boost interaction and keep your stories interesting.
Whether you’re posting from someone's post from feed or your own, adding your reaction makes it more meaningful.
Don’ts
Avoid over-posting. Most users stick around for 1 to 7 stories max before tapping out. Flooding your story can lead to skips.
Don’t just repost something without context. If it doesn’t add value, your audience might ignore it.
And definitely skip low-quality content—blurry, stretched, or cropped images won’t do you or the original post any favors.
Keep it thoughtful, fun, and easy to follow, and your stories will do exactly what they’re meant to—connect with people.
Troubleshooting: What to Do If It’s Not Working
Trying to share a post to your story and nothing’s happening? Here are a few quick fixes to try before pulling your hair out.
First, log out and log back in, or try switching accounts if you’re managing more than one. Still stuck? Check for app updates—older versions of Instagram sometimes glitch or leave out features.
If it’s still acting weird, clear your app cache (if you’re on Android) or restart your device. Sometimes a simple refresh is all it takes.
Next, double-check the post itself. If it’s from a private account or has resharing turned off, you won’t be able to add it to your story—no matter what you do.
Still no luck? As a last resort, head to your iPhone, tap Profile, then go to Settings to report the issue to Instagram support through the app. It’s not instant, but they usually respond.
Tech hiccups happen—but most of the time, they’re fixable in a few taps.
Final Thoughts on Sharing Posts to Your Instagram Story
Sharing posts to your story is one of the easiest ways to boost engagement, connect with others, and keep your audience in the loop. When done right, it’s more than just a repost—it’s a way to add your voice, spotlight creators you admire, and start conversations.
Keep it creative, stay respectful, and make sure every story you share brings something to the table—whether it’s fun, useful, or just plain interesting.
So next time you see a post worth sharing—don’t just like it, story it. That’s how you keep things moving on Instagram.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I share posts from private accounts?
Nope. If the account is private, the share option won’t be available—even if you follow them.
What about business accounts?
Yes, as long as they’re public and allow resharing.
Can I hide my shared story from certain people?
Yes. Go to your story settings and add them to your “Hide Story From” list before posting.
Will the original poster know I shared their post?
Yes, they’ll get a notification if you tag them or share their content to your story.
Can I share IG stories if I’m not tagged?
Only if they’ve enabled sharing for their stories.