Sharing stories is one of the most frequently used features on Instagram. Whether you want to let others know that a friend’s post caught your attention, or you want to add content where someone tagged you to your Storytelling, resharing is just a few clicks away. It sounds simple, but many people run into the issue of the button being missing or only being able to reshare certain posts.
In this article, we’ll show you step by step how to reshare a story on IG, how to share someone else’s story on Instagram, and how to add your own post to your Stories. You’ll find out why the share button sometimes doesn’t work, what the privacy rules are, and how to cleverly use resharing to increase your account’s reach and engagement.
What does it mean to reshare a story on Instagram
Resharing a story means that you publish someone else’s content (or your own post) in your Storytelling – that is, in stories that appear to others at the top of the app and disappear after 24 hours. In practice, you’ll encounter two basic situations on Instagram:
- Resharing a post from the feed to your story – you take someone else’s or your own photo/video from the main profile and add it as a sticker to your Stories.
- Resharing a story in which someone tagged you – when a user mentions you in their story, you can add it to yours with a single click.
It’s important to know that not all content can be reshared. It depends on the privacy settings of the original account and whether the user has allowed sharing at all. That’s exactly why the share button is sometimes missing – we’ll get to that further on.
How to reshare someone else’s post to your story
The most common situation: you see an interesting post in your feed and want to show it to your followers. The process is simple and you can do it in a few seconds:
- Open the post you want to reshare.
- Below the photo or video, tap the paper airplane icon (the share arrow).
- From the menu, select the option “Add post to story”.
- The post will appear as a sticker in the story editor. You can resize it, move it, and add text, GIFs, or music.
- Tap “Your story” and you’re done.
Instagram automatically displays the original author’s name on the reshared post and their profile will be accessible when tapped. The author also receives a notification that you reshared their post – they take it as a form of recognition and it often leads to mutual support. If you’re interested in learning more about how Stories work and how to use them to their full potential, read our complete guide to Instagram stories.
How to share someone else’s story on Instagram in which someone tagged you
The second common situation occurs when someone mentions you in their story – for example, they share a photo from an event and tag your account. In that case, you’ll receive a message in your Direct inbox with the notification “Mentioned you in their story.” Resharing then works as follows:
- Open the message in Direct or tap the notification.
- You’ll see the button “Add this to your story.”
- Tap it and the story will open in the editor, where you can edit it.
- Publish it as your story – the original author will again be credited.
This way, you can only reshare stories in which you are directly tagged. You cannot simply reshare any random story you find interesting – this is an intentional restriction for privacy protection. If you want to share someone else’s story further, you can send it to specific people via Direct using the airplane icon below the story, but this isn’t always possible – it depends on the author’s settings.
Why you can’t reshare a story and how to fix it
Sometimes you’ll find that the reshare button isn’t visible at all. The most common reasons are:
- The author’s account is private – content from private profiles generally cannot be reshared outside the circle of followers.
- The author has disabled sharing to stories – this feature can be turned off in privacy settings. In that case, you won’t find the button anywhere.
- Copyrighted music or content – for some posts with licensed music, sharing may be restricted due to copyright.
- Outdated version of the app – if you have an old version of Instagram, some features may not be available. Update the app in the store.
If you want others to be able to share your posts, check your own settings: go to Settings → Privacy → Stories and enable the option “Allow sharing to story.” This increases the chance that your content will reach further and gain new followers.
How to reshare your own post to your story
Resharing doesn’t have to be just about someone else’s content. When you publish a new post to your feed, it’s smart to also remind people about it in your Stories – not all followers browse the feed regularly, but most users do open their stories. The process is the same as with someone else’s post:
- Open your post.
- Tap the paper plane icon below the photo.
- Select “Add post to story”.
- Add a call to action – for example, “New post, check it out!” or a link sticker.
This simple trick significantly increases the number of views and interactions on your posts. It’s one of the proven tactics for making better use of your account’s reach. You can find more ideas on how to work with content in the article about the best tactics for Instagram growth.
How to smartly use resharing for account growth
Resharing stories isn’t just a technical feature – it’s a great tool for building a community and growing your reach. When you actively share content in which people tag you, you show that you value your followers. This motivates others to tag you more, creating a natural chain of interactions.
A few tips on how to make the most of resharing:
- Share customer reviews and photos. If you run a business, resharing stories from satisfied customers works as social proof.
- Support colleagues and friends. Mutual resharing between accounts from similar fields brings new audiences to both sides.
- Add value. Add your own comment, question, or poll to reshared content – this will increase engagement.
- Be consistent. Regular activity in Stories helps the algorithm show your content to more people.
Resharing is just one of many tools. If you want to take your account further, check out our overview of 11 ways to increase your Instagram followers, where you’ll find more practical strategies for long-term growth.
Frequently asked questions
How do I reshare a story on IG in which someone tagged me?
When someone mentions you in their story, you’ll receive a notification in your Direct inbox. Open the message and tap the “Add this to your story” button. The story will open in the editor, where you can edit it and then publish it as your own.
Why can’t I reshare someone else’s story on Instagram?
Most often because the author didn’t tag you in the story – you can only reshare stories in which you are directly mentioned. Other reasons may include the author’s private account, disabled sharing feature, or an outdated version of the app.
Will the author find out that I reshared their post?
Yes, Instagram automatically notifies the original author that you added their post to your story. The reshared content also displays their name and a link to their profile, so they have an overview of the sharing.
How do I allow others to share my posts to their story?
Go to Settings → Privacy → Stories and enable the “Allow sharing to story” option. This allows your followers to add your content to their Stories, which increases your reach.
Can I reshare a post with licensed music?
Not always. For some posts with licensed music, sharing to a story may be restricted due to copyright. In such cases, the reshare button may not be available.
How do I reshare my own post to my story?
Open your post, tap the paper plane icon, and select “Add post to story”. We recommend adding a call to action or a sticker to attract more followers to the new content.
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Conclusion
Resharing stories on Instagram is a simple yet incredibly useful feature. Whether you want to showcase an interesting post from your feed, say thank you for a mention, or remind people about your latest update, you can do it in just a few clicks. The key is knowing the difference between resharing a post and a story, and understanding when the share button works and when it doesn’t.
Use resharing wisely — as a tool for building community, supporting others, and increasing your own reach. Combined with regular activity and quality content, it will help you grow organically. If you want to take your account even further, explore our social media growth services and give your profile a head start.
If you want results right away, you can get an Instagram followers and likes package right now.
Michal Záruba je specialista na digitální marketing a konzultant v oblasti sociálních médií a SEO. Více než 8 let pomáhá značkám růst online prostřednictvím strategického obsahu, optimalizace pro vyhledávače a efektivní komunikace na platformách jako LinkedIn, Instagram a YouTube.
Na svém blogu sdílí praktické tipy o tom, jak propojit SEO, sociální sítě a brand building do jedné funkční strategie. Zaměřuje se na to, jak firmy mohou využít moderní nástroje a algoritmy k tomu, aby jejich značka nezískala jen dosah, ale i důvěru.
Když zrovna netvoří obsah, přednáší o digitálním marketingu, školí týmy a sleduje nové trendy v AI a vyhledávání.