You can repost a story on Instagram in two honest, built-in ways: reshare a story you were tagged or @-mentioned in by tapping the paper-plane and choosing Add to your story, or reshare a public feed post to your own story. You cannot natively repost someone else’s story if they did not tag you, and re-uploading their content without permission is not okay.
Reposting a story you were tagged in
This is the cleanest, fully supported method. When another account mentions you in their story, Instagram sends you a direct message that says someone “mentioned you in their story”. From there:
- Open the DM notification (in your inbox, the paper-plane icon top-right).
- Tap the story preview inside that message.
- Tap Add to your story underneath it.
- Add stickers, text or music if you like, then share it to Your Story.
Your reshare automatically credits the original account with a link back to their profile, so the person who tagged you is notified. This is the intended way to amplify a shout-out, a repost of your product, or a friend tagging you.
Why the option sometimes disappears
As of 2026, “Add to your story” only shows when a few conditions line up: you were actually @-mentioned (not just visible in the photo), and the original poster has resharing enabled. If either account is private and you are not connected, or the poster switched resharing off in their settings, the button will not appear. That is by design, not a bug.
Reposting a feed post to your story
You can push a public feed post into your own story:
- Open the post you want to share.
- Tap the paper-plane (share) icon beneath it.
- Choose Add to story.
- Resize the post bubble, add a comment or sticker, and share.
The reshared post keeps the original creator’s handle and links back to them. If you do not see “Add to story”, the account is private, the post owner has resharing turned off, or the post is from a region where the feature is limited. All of those are legitimate reasons the option is hidden.
Reposting your own old story
Want to bring back a story you posted before? If you have Save to Archive switched on, open your archive (profile menu → Archive), find the old story frame, and use the share options to post it again as a fresh story. It will not go back into the original 24-hour window; it becomes a new story. Our guide on unarchiving a story walks through this in detail.
What about reposting someone else’s story without a tag?
Here is the honest part. Instagram does not give you a button to reshare a normal story that did not mention you. People get around this by screenshotting or screen-recording, then re-uploading. Two things to keep in mind:
- Consent and copyright. The person made that content. Re-posting it as your own, or without asking, can breach their rights and Instagram’s terms. Ask first, or link to them instead.
- Screenshots are not notified. As of 2026, Instagram does not tell anyone when you screenshot a normal story or post. It only notifies screenshots of disappearing photos and videos sent inside a private DM. So the “will they know?” worry is usually misplaced, but that does not make re-uploading their work fair.
Repost methods compared
| Method | Works when | Credits original? | Native? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reshare a tagged story | You were @-mentioned | Yes, auto link-back | Yes |
| Reshare a feed post to story | Public account, sharing on | Yes, auto link-back | Yes |
| Repost your own archived story | Archive is enabled | N/A (it’s yours) | Yes |
| Screenshot & re-upload someone’s story | Only with their permission | Only if you add credit | No |
| Third-party “repost” app | Never recommended | Depends | No (risky) |
Skip the risky “repost” apps
Search the app stores and you will find dozens of “Repost for Instagram” tools. Many ask you to log in with your Instagram username and password. Do not. There is no safe reason to hand your credentials to a third party just to reshare content you could reshare natively or with a simple screenshot-and-credit. Apps that demand your login are a classic data-harvesting pattern. StealthGram’s free tools are all client-side and never ask for your password, which is exactly the standard you should hold any tool to.
Getting the size right
When you reshare, Instagram handles cropping for you. But if you rebuild a repost from scratch, for example laying it out in a design app first, use the full Stories canvas of 1080 x 1920 pixels at a 9:16 ratio so nothing important gets cut off. Our Instagram sizes guide lists every current dimension for stories, posts and reels.
Quick summary
Reposting on Instagram is easy and honest when you stick to the built-in tools: reshare tagged stories, reshare public feed posts, and re-share your own archived stories. When it comes to other people’s content, ask permission and credit them. Avoid any app that wants your login, and if you want to double-check what others can actually see about you, our Instagram privacy hub has the full picture.
Frequently asked questions
Can you repost someone's story if they didn't tag you?
Not with a built-in button. Instagram only gives you a "Add to your story" option when someone mentions or tags your account in their story. If they did not tag you, there is no native reshare, and screenshotting or re-uploading their content without permission can breach their rights and Instagram's rules.
Why is the "Add to your story" option missing?
It usually appears only when you were @-mentioned, both accounts are public (or you follow each other), and the original poster has resharing enabled. If any of those is not true, the option will not show up.
Does reposting a story notify the original poster?
When you reshare a story you were tagged in, the original poster is notified because your reshare credits and links back to them. Screenshotting a normal story, however, is not something Instagram notifies anyone about, as of 2026.
Can I repost a feed post to my story?
Yes, if the original account is public and has sharing enabled. Tap the paper-plane icon under the post and choose "Add to story". Private accounts and posts with resharing turned off cannot be reshared this way.
Are third-party "repost" apps safe?
Be careful. Apps that ask for your Instagram login to repost content can harvest your password. You do not need one to reshare tagged stories or public posts, and re-uploading other people's content without consent can breach copyright.
What size should a reposted story be?
Instagram Stories are 1080 x 1920 pixels (9:16). When you reshare, Instagram handles the sizing, but if you rebuild a story from scratch keep to that ratio so nothing is cropped.