How to Share Someone’s Story to Your Instagram Story
Learn how to repost someone’s Instagram Story, navigate privacy settings, customize with stickers, and credit the creator for proper sharing.
How to Share Someone’s Story to Your Instagram Story
Want to learn how to share story on your story on Instagram like a pro? Whether you’re amplifying a friend’s celebration, co-promoting brand content, or curating a series of memorable moments, understanding the correct method — and Instagram’s built‑in privacy limitations — is key. This guide covers permission rules, step‑by‑step instructions for resharing, customization tips, troubleshooting, and creative tactics to make reposted stories more engaging for your followers.
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Understanding Instagram Story Sharing Rules and Privacy Settings
Instagram Stories auto‑expire after 24 hours, but within that window they can be reshared if privacy settings allow it. The ability to repost another user’s story is influenced by:
- Account Type — Public vs. Private
- Tagging — You must be tagged in the story to share directly to yours
- Settings — The poster must enable “Allow Sharing” in their Story settings
Key Points:
- Private Accounts — If an account is private, only their followers will be able to view a reposted story; non‑followers will get a blank placeholder.
- Story Mentions — The poster must mention you using `@username` for the repost option to appear.
- Limitations — Some creators and business accounts disable sharing to protect their content.
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Confirm the Original Poster Tagged You or Enabled Sharing
Before resharing:
- Verify you were tagged in the story.
- Ensure the original poster has enabled resharing from their privacy settings.
If not tagged, Instagram will not show the "Add to Your Story" feature. In such cases, always request permission first. If approved, you can manually reshare via screenshot or other methods — but always respect copyright and content ownership.
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Locate the Story with Your Mention
Once you’ve been tagged, Instagram sends both a notification and a DM containing the mention.
Steps:
- Tap the paper plane icon (DMs) in the top right.
- Locate the chat saying “Mentioned you in their story.”
- Tap to view the story directly.
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Tap “Add to Your Story” Button for Tagged Stories
Within the viewed story, tap the “Add to Your Story” button located at the bottom right.
Quick Process:
- Tap Add to Your Story
- Instagram opens the story editor with the original story as the background
- From here, edit and customize before publishing
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Customize Your Repost with Stickers, Text, and GIFs
Give your share personality with creative tools:
- Stickers — Location tags, polls, quizzes, hashtags
- Text — Add personal commentary or context
- GIFs & Animations — Eye-catching motion graphics
- Drawing Tool — Highlight specific elements
Pro Tip: The Tag Sticker is a simple way to ensure the original creator stays credited, even if they’re visible in the base story.
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Credit the Original Poster
Crediting maintains etiquette and complies with Instagram’s Terms of Use.
Ways to credit:
- Add an @mention using text overlay
- Use the Mention Sticker
- Include a “Shared from” note in captions
Acknowledgement builds goodwill and keeps creator–follower relationships healthy.
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Share to "Your Story" or "Close Friends"
At the bottom of the edit screen, you’ll see:
Your Story
Publishes to all followers (and is publicly viewable if your account is public).
Close Friends
Restricts viewing to a curated friend list.
| Option | Visibility | Best Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| Your Story | All followers (public if your account is public) | Promotions, event recaps, collaborations |
| Close Friends | Only selected users | Personal updates, inside jokes, exclusive drops |
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Troubleshooting: “Add to Your Story” Option Isn’t Visible
If you don’t see the repost button, likely causes include:
- You’re not tagged in the story
- Story sharing is disabled by the poster
- Outdated app version
- Temporary server issues
Fixes:
- Ask the story creator to tag you and enable sharing.
- Update Instagram in the App Store or Google Play.
- Restart the app or log back in.
- Share a screenshot (only with creator’s permission).
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Device-Specific Steps for iOS and Android
The process is the same, but UI differs slightly:
iOS:
- Mentions show up in notifications and DMs.
- Swipe gestures in Stories use Apple’s native smooth animations.
Android:
- Mentions often display with a preview thumbnail in DMs.
- Pressing the device’s back button may exit directly; re‑enter the story via DMs.
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Respectful Sharing Etiquette and DM Permissions
Remember, resharing is optional for the originator:
- Secure permission for sensitive content.
- Don’t misrepresent the content when editing.
- Respect personal boundaries — avoid excessive requests.
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Tips for Engaging Storytelling When Reposting Content
Make your reposts add value:
- Add Context — Explain background for audience clarity.
- Share Your Perspective — Tell why it matters to you.
- Interactive Stickers — Use polls, sliders for engagement.
- Sequence Stories — Fit repost into a larger content arc.
Example: Resharing a concert snippet? Add your reactions and related photos to create a richer viewer experience.
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Relevant Hashtags to Boost Reach for Shared Stories
Hashtags improve discoverability of your Stories:
Popular Hashtags:
- #SharedStory
- #InstaRepost
- #StoryShare
- #InstaStory
- #SharingMoments
- #DailyStoryShare
Place hashtags as text or stickers; aim for 3–5 quality hashtags to avoid clutter.
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Summary & Next Steps
Learning how to share story on your story is a mix of knowing the rules, following the right steps, and adding your personal touch. Always check tagging and privacy permissions, use the Add to Your Story shortcut from DMs, customize with creative tools, and properly credit creators. Choose the right audience for your repost, and troubleshoot if the option is unavailable.
Ready to upgrade your Instagram presence? Start resharing content with respect, creativity, and strategy today — and keep your followers engaged with stories that truly connect.
