How to Add a Link to an Instagram Story (Link Sticker)
How to add a link to an Instagram story with the Link sticker: steps, who can use it, why it's missing, and what to do when it isn't there.
Published October 18, 2026
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To add a link to an Instagram story, tap Stickers at the top of your story, choose Link, paste your URL and tap Done. Every account can use the Link sticker, apart from new accounts and accounts that repeatedly break the Community Guidelines. It replaced swipe up.
The sticker works in organic stories on the app. It is one tactic in a wider Instagram growth strategy.
How to add a link to your Instagram story
Create your story, open the sticker tray, tap Link, enter the URL and place the sticker. These are the steps in Instagram's announcement of links for everyone.
- Open Instagram, tap the plus icon and choose Story.
- Take a photo or video, or pick one from your gallery.
- Tap Stickers at the top of the screen.
- Tap Link, then type or paste the URL.
- Tap Done.
- Drag the sticker where you want it, and tap it to cycle through its colors.
- Share the story.
Instagram's Stories guide says you can change the sticker text to something like "shop the look" or "read the recipe". Anyone watching your story can tap the sticker, so tell people to tap it; a bare sticker is easy to miss.
Who can add a link to an Instagram story?
Every account can add a Link sticker, whatever its size. Instagram opened story links to all accounts in October 2021; before that they were limited to verified accounts or those with a certain number of followers.
New accounts, and accounts that repeatedly share hate speech, misinformation or other content that breaks the Community Guidelines, do not get the sticker. Instagram's announcement points to your account status page for the reason and for appealing a decision.
Why the Link sticker is missing
If you cannot find the Link sticker, update the app first. Instagram's stickers page says that if you are not seeing certain stickers you should update to the latest version, and that not all stickers are available to everyone or in reels.
- Update Instagram from the App Store or Google Play.
- Tap Stickers at the top of the screen and look for Link in the tray.
- Use the phone app. In the story creator on instagram.com, some stickers are mobile-only.
- Check whether your account is new or has had content removed, since both block the sticker.
What happened to swipe up?
Swipe up is gone. Instagram's product sticker page says you can no longer add swipe up to stories and to add a link sticker instead. Old guides that require a follower count are out of date.
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Link sticker limits in ads
Link stickers only work in organic stories. Instagram's link sticker page says story ads use a default call-to-action sticker at the bottom instead, and that you cannot make a partnership ad from a story with an organic link sticker.
For story ads, leave roughly 14% of the top and 20% of the bottom of the creative free of text and logos so the sticker does not cover them. The Reels safe zone checker shows similar overlay areas for vertical video.
Other ways to send people a link
If the Link sticker is not available, three things work instead.
- Product sticker. Businesses, partners and qualified public accounts can add one sticker with up to 5 products per story, per Instagram's product sticker help.
- Your bio. You can add a website to your profile on the phone app, so a "link in bio" line works as a fallback.
- A DM. SociaHive can reply to a comment keyword or a story reply with a DM that contains your link, and the DM link generator builds a chat link.
Stories you want to post later are a separate matter; see how to schedule Instagram Stories.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you add a link to a story on a private account?
Yes. A private account can add the Link sticker, and anyone who can see the story can tap it. On a private account that means your approved followers. Instagram's announcement says the sticker is open to all accounts, with no exception for private ones.
Can I add a link to a story ad?
Not with the Link sticker, which only works in organic stories. Story ads use a default call-to-action sticker placed automatically at the bottom of the ad. You set its link in Ads Manager when you create or boost the ad, according to Instagram's partnership ads guidance.
Can I add a link to a reel?
Maybe. Instagram's stickers page lists Link among the stickers you can add when you share a story or record a reel, but warns that not every sticker is available for reels. Check the sticker tray while you record. If Link is missing, use your bio link or a DM.
Can I change the text on the Link sticker?
Yes. Instagram's Stories guide says you can customize the sticker text so the link feels inviting, with examples such as "shop the look", "read the recipe" or "watch the trailer". Short, specific wording tells people what they get when they tap.
Sources
- Instagram, Expanding Sharing Links in Stories to Everyone
- Instagram, How to Use Instagram Stories
- Instagram Help Center, Using stickers on Instagram
- Instagram Help Center, About link sticker on Instagram Stories
- Instagram Help Center, How to add product stickers to Instagram stories
- Instagram Help Center, Add a website to your Instagram profile
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