How to Share a Post to Your Instagram Story
How to share a post to your Instagram story: tap the paper plane, choose Add to story, then Share. Plus reels, and why the option is missing.
Published October 18, 2026
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To share a post to your Instagram story, tap the Share (paper plane) icon under it, choose Add to story, then tap Your Story. It works only if the original account is public and has allowed resharing.
Resharing is one small habit in a wider Instagram growth strategy.
How to share a post to your Instagram story
Open the post in the Instagram app, tap Share below it, tap Add to story, adjust the sticker if you like, and post it to your story. Instagram's Help Center lists these steps for the iPhone and Android apps.
- Open the Instagram app and find the public post you want to share.
- Tap Share, the paper plane below the photo or video.
- Tap Add to story.
- Move, resize or rotate the post and add text or stickers if you want.
- Tap Next in the bottom right.
- Tap Share.
Anyone who views the story can see who originally posted it and can open that account, per Instagram. Step 4 is optional; Buffer's guide describes the same editing options.
Share a reel to your Instagram story
Buffer says a reel, carousel or photo from a public account can be shared the same way, with the paper plane and Add to story. Whether it is allowed depends on one setting: the original creator's "Posts and reels to stories" switch, which Instagram describes on the same help page.
If someone shares your reel to their story, you cannot see who did or where, whether your account is public or private, per that page.
Reels are not the only thing to share, either. Instagram's repost feature is a different action: it puts a public reel or post in the Reposts tab of your profile, not in your story.
Why you can't share a post to your Instagram story
If Add to story is missing, the post is almost always from a private account, or the creator has switched off resharing. Instagram also says the feature isn't available to everyone, so a missing button can be a rollout gap.
| What you see | Likely cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| No Add to story under someone's post | Their account is private | Nothing. Only public posts can be shared |
| No Add to story under a public post | They turned off Posts and reels to stories | Ask them to turn it on |
| Option gone for everyone | Feature not available on your account yet | Update the app, then try again later |
The setting to check sits in the app at Profile, Menu, Sharing and reuse, then the toggle next to Posts and reels to stories. Turn it off and your public posts can no longer be reshared to stories.
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Share someone's story to your own story
You can share someone else's story to yours only if their account is public, whatever your own privacy setting is. Open the story, tap Share in the bottom right, tap Add to story, then Next and Share. Instagram lists these steps.
You control who can reshare your own stories at Settings, Sharing and reuse, Stories to stories. The choices are Everyone, Followers you follow back, or Off. Instagram says public accounts allow everyone by default, and teen accounts have story-to-story sharing off by default.
Make a shared post worth a tap
A shared post sits in your story as a card that you can move, resize and rotate. Add a line of text saying what is inside, or a poll or question sticker, so people have a reason to open it; Instagram's story tips page lists the text, sticker and drawing tools. To plan stories ahead, see how to schedule Instagram stories.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I share my own post to my story?
Yes. Buffer's guide says the steps work for your own posts as well as other people's. Open your post, tap the paper plane, choose Add to story and share it. Like any story share, it has to be done in the app, not on instagram.com.
Is sharing to my story the same as Instagram's Repost?
No. Add to story puts the post in your story, where it disappears after 24 hours. Repost puts a public reel or post in the Reposts tab on your profile, and your followers may see it in their feeds. You cannot repost a repost, and the creator must allow reposts.
Can I share a post to my story from a computer?
No. Instagram says sharing a photo or video to your story isn't available on computers, only in the app. Buffer reports the same limit for sharing posts to stories. Save the post's link, open the Instagram app on your phone, and share it from there.
How long does a shared post stay in my story?
A shared post stays for 24 hours like any story item. Instagram says story photos and videos disappear from Feed, your profile and Direct after 24 hours, unless you add them to a highlight. They are also saved to your Stories Archive unless you turn the archive off.
Sources
- Instagram Help Center, Share someone's post from feed to your Instagram story
- Instagram Help Center, Share someone's Instagram story to your own story
- Instagram Help Center, Repost a reel or a post on Instagram
- Instagram Help Center, How long Instagram stories remain visible
- Instagram Help Center, Share a photo or video to your Instagram story
- Instagram Help Center, Tips for uploading, recording and editing your Instagram story
- Buffer, How to Add a Post to Your Story on Instagram
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