How to Share a Reel to Your Instagram Story
Learn step-by-step how to share Instagram Reels to your Story, customize content, tag creators, and boost reach and engagement effectively.
How to Share a Reel to Your Instagram Story: A Step-by-Step Guide
Instagram is one of the most popular platforms for short-form video content, and knowing how to share a reel to your story on Instagram can significantly boost your reach, engagement, and visibility. Reels give you the opportunity to create discoverable content, while Stories let you connect more intimately with your followers. Combining the two features allows you to creatively repurpose and promote posts without requiring your audience to leave their feed.
In this guide, you will learn every step of the process, from finding the right Reel to customizing your Story, plus tips, best practices, and troubleshooting solutions to ensure optimal results.
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Understanding What Reels and Stories Are
Before diving into the technical steps, it’s important to clearly understand these two Instagram formats and how they differ.
Instagram Reels
- Short-form videos lasting between 15–90 seconds.
- Visible on the Reels tab, Explore page, and in user feeds depending on the algorithm.
- Excellent for discoverability and potential viral reach.
Instagram Stories
- Temporary vertical images or videos that disappear after 24 hours unless archived in highlights.
- Appear at the top of the feed in a tappable slideshow format.
- Ideal for timely updates, showcasing behind-the-scenes content, polls, and promoting main feed posts or Reels.
| Feature | Reels | Stories |
|---|---|---|
| Duration | 15–90 seconds | Up to 15 seconds per segment |
| Visibility period | Permanent unless deleted | 24 hours |
| Discovery | Reels tab, Explore, hashtags | Followers and highlights only |
| Purpose | Reach wider audiences | Engage current audience quickly |
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Ensure Your Instagram App is Updated
If you do not see the “Add reel to your story” option, the app may be outdated.
To update Instagram:
- Open the App Store (iOS) or Google Play Store (Android).
- Search for “Instagram”.
- Tap Update if available.
Latest versions include new features, performance improvements, and bug fixes, which may influence sharing options.
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Locate the Reel You Want to Share
You can share:
- Your own Reels — Promotes recent uploads to followers.
- Other users’ Reels — Possible when accounts are public and sharing is enabled.
Steps to find a Reel:
- Visit your profile and tap the Reels tab to view your uploads.
- Explore the main feed, search hashtags, or scroll through Explore for public Reels.
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Tap the Paper Airplane / Share Icon
Once on the desired Reel:
- Tap the paper airplane icon beneath the video.
- This will bring up the share menu with options for direct messaging and “Add reel to your story”.
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Select “Add Reel to Your Story”
From the share menu:
- Choose Add reel to your story to open the Story editor preloaded with the Reel.
This step embeds the Reel directly into a Story format, allowing aesthetic and contextual enhancement.
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Customize Your Story Before Posting
Instagram’s Story editor enables personalization that can spark follower interest.
Available customization tools:
- Stickers: GIFs, polls, questions, countdowns.
- Text overlays: For commentary or calls-to-action.
- GIF animations: Adds movement and fun.
- Drawing tools: Highlight or emphasize key parts.
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Tag the Original Creator
When sharing another user’s Reel, proper credit is vital.
How to tag:
- Tap the text tool (Aa) and type `@username`.
- Select their profile from the dropdown so it becomes clickable.
Benefits of tagging:
- Respects intellectual property.
- Increases community goodwill.
- Could encourage collaborations or mutual sharing.
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Adjust Your Story Privacy Settings
Control your audience for shared Reels:
Privacy options:
- Close Friends: Limited, private audience.
- Followers: Visible to all followers.
- Public: Accessible to anyone if your account is public.
To set privacy:
- Before posting, tap the gear icon (Settings) in the Story editor.
- Configure under Story Controls.
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Tips to Boost Reach of a Reel in Your Story
Maximize visibility and engagement with strategic actions:
- Post at peak times — Use Instagram Insights to see when followers are most active.
- Add hashtags — Story hashtags increase discoverability.
- Include a call-to-action — Encourage viewers to watch the full Reel.
- Add interactive stickers — Polls and sliders prompt replies.
- Use trending music — Audio trends attract attention.
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Troubleshooting Common Sharing Issues
Technical or permission-based problems can occur.
| Issue | Possible Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| “Add reel to story” option missing | Outdated app or Reel owner disabled sharing | Update app; ensure account is public |
| Cannot tag creator | Incorrect username or restricted settings | Verify spelling; check tagging permissions |
| Story fails to upload | Poor connection | Switch to reliable Wi-Fi or data |
| No sound on shared Reel | Muted Reel or app glitch | Unmute in Reel; reinstall app if needed |
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Best Practices for On-Brand Shared Reels
Align shared content with your brand identity:
- Maintain consistent fonts and colors in overlays.
- Share within niche-relevant topics.
- Identify and share content that provides value.
- Tease upcoming Reels or events to build excitement.
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Monitor Story Insights and Engagement
Measuring performance helps refine your approach.
Key metrics:
- Views — Story reach.
- Replies — Engagement quality.
- Forward/Backward taps — Interest levels.
- Sticker taps — Interaction rates.
To view insights:
- Open your Story.
- Swipe up for analytics.
Consistent high engagement from certain Reels indicates optimal content matching with your audience.
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Summary and Next Steps
Mastering how to share a reel to story on Instagram empowers you to amplify both your own content and valuable posts from others. By updating your app, locating the right Reel, customizing your Story, tagging creators appropriately, setting privacy controls, and monitoring performance, you can create a repeatable, impactful sharing strategy.
Start applying these steps to strengthen your presence and foster deeper connections with your followers — and don’t forget to experiment with creative overlays and interactive elements to keep your audience engaged.
