⚡ Quick Answer

Can You Repost an Instagram Story?

If you are tagged: Yes, instantly. Tap the "Add to your story" button in the direct message notification sent by Instagram.

If you are NOT tagged: Instagram does not offer a native one-tap reshare button. You can screenshot or screen record the story and share it to your story while tagging the creator with an @mention sticker.

Method 1: Reposting When You Are Tagged (Native Button)

When another user tags your @handle in their story, Instagram’s automated bot handles the heavy lifting:

1
Open your Direct Messages (the Messenger / Paper Airplane icon in the top-right corner).
2
Open the chat with the person who tagged you. You will see a notification: "[User] mentioned you in their story".
3
Tap the blue or pink button labeled Add to your story.
4
The story will load in your story editor. You can scale it, rotate it, write a thank-you note, add a sticker, and tap Your story to post.

Method 2: How to Repost When You Are NOT Tagged

Want to share a customer testimonial, inspirational quote, or breaking news story from a public account that didn’t tag you?

The 3-Step Creator Workaround:

  1. Capture the Story: Take a clean screenshot (for photos) or use your phone's native screen recorder (for videos) while viewing the story.
  2. Crop & Polish: Crop any black borders or status bars in your gallery or photo editor.
  3. Upload with a Mention Sticker: Open Instagram > swipe right to create a new Story > select the media > tap the Sticker icon > choose @MENTION and type the creator’s handle so they get full credit.

The Close Friends Story Catch: Why You Can’t Reshare

Green Ring = No Native Reshares

If someone mentions you in a story published to their Close Friends (marked with a bright green ring), Instagram will never show an "Add to your story" button. Meta disables reshares for Close Friends content because broadcasting it to your wider follower base violates the original creator’s restricted audience preference.

Why is the "Add to Story" Button Missing?

  • 1. The 24-Hour Expiration: Stories vanish after 24 hours. If the original post has reached 24 hours and 1 minute, the reshare button disappears.
  • 2. Account Set to Private: If the person who tagged you has a private account, only their approved followers could see it anyway, so Instagram blocks public reshares.
  • 3. Resharing Disabled in Settings: The user might have navigated to Settings > Sharing and remixes and toggled off "Allow others to share your story".
Simple Steps

How to Use the Repost an Instagram Story

01Native Tag Alert

Check Your DMs for Tag Alert

When someone mentions your @handle in their story, Instagram sends an automated DM with an "Add to your story" button.

02Instant Composer

Tap "Add to your story"

Tap the button inside the DM or on the story screen itself. This opens the story composer with the original clip framed.

0324h Broadcast

Customize & Publish

Pinch to change background framing, add reaction stickers or text, and tap "Your story" to broadcast.

FAQ

Instagram Story Reposting FAQ

Can you repost an Instagram story if you were not tagged?+
Instagram does not provide a native "Add to story" button for stories you are not tagged in. To repost an untagged story, you must save the video or photo using a tool like our free Story Downloader, then upload it to your story while tagging the original creator with a @mention sticker.
Why didn't I receive an "Add to Story" button even though I was tagged?+
This usually occurs if the creator has a Private Account and you do not share mutual followers, if the story was posted to their "Close Friends" list, or if the original creator toggled off "Allow resharing to stories" in their privacy settings.
How long do I have to repost a story I was tagged in?+
You have 24 hours from the exact moment the original creator published the story. Once their story expires (or if they delete it), the "Add to your story" link in your DMs becomes inactive and displays "Story Unavailable".
Can I repost a story from someone’s Close Friends list?+
No. Instagram strictly blocks reposting of Close Friends stories to protect the creator’s selective privacy. You will not see the "Add to story" button on any green-ringed story.