You can add a Reel directly to your Story in a few taps
Instagram lets you share a Reel to your Story without posting it to your main feed. The process is straightforward: open the Reel you want to share, tap the paper airplane icon (the share button), select "Add Reel to Story," and then post it. Your Story will show the Reel as a sticker or full-screen element depending on which option you choose during posting.
This is different from sharing a Reel to your feed. When you add a Reel to your Story, it appears only in your Story for 24 hours and doesn't clutter your main profile grid. People who view your Story can tap through to watch the full Reel if they want, or they can skip it and move to the next Story item.
Key Takeaways
- Open any Reel, tap the share button (paper airplane icon), and select "Add Reel to Story" to post it to your Story instead of your feed.
- You can choose how the Reel appears in your Story — as a sticker, full screen, or with text and other Story elements layered on top.
- Reels added to your Story disappear after 24 hours, just like regular Story posts.
- You can add Reels from your own account or from other creators you follow, as long as the original creator allows sharing.
Step-by-step: Adding a Reel to your Story
Start by finding the Reel you want to share. This can be a Reel you created yourself, one from a creator you follow, or one from the Explore page. Tap and hold on the Reel, or look for the three-dot menu icon in the bottom right corner of the Reel video.
Tap the paper airplane icon (the share button) when you see it. A menu will appear with several options. Look for "Add Reel to Story" and tap it. Instagram will then open your Story camera with the Reel already attached as an element.
At this point, you can post the Reel as-is, or you can customize how it appears. You can add text, stickers, drawings, or other Story elements on top of the Reel. When you're ready, tap "Your Story" at the bottom to post it. The Reel will now appear in your Story feed.
Customizing how the Reel appears in your Story
Once the Reel is in your Story editor, you have control over its size and placement. By default, it may appear as a full-screen element or as a smaller sticker. You can pinch to resize it, drag it around the screen, or rotate it if you want a different layout.
You can also layer other Story elements on top of the Reel — add text captions, emoji stickers, location tags, or hashtags. This is useful if you want to add context or draw attention to a specific part of the Reel. Keep in mind that too many overlays can make the Reel harder to watch, so use them sparingly.
If you want the Reel to take up the full screen without any additions, simply post it without adding extra elements. This keeps the focus on the video itself.
When a creator doesn't allow Reel sharing
Some creators turn off the ability for others to share their Reels. If you try to share a Reel and don't see the "Add Reel to Story" option, the creator has disabled sharing on that video. In this case, you can still watch the Reel, but you cannot add it to your Story.
If you want to share that Reel anyway, you can take a screenshot or screen recording of it and post that to your Story instead. However, this is a lower-quality option and doesn't give credit to the original creator in the same way that sharing does.
The difference between adding a Reel to your Story and sharing it to your feed
When you add a Reel to your Story, it disappears after 24 hours and doesn't appear on your profile grid. When you share a Reel to your feed, it stays on your profile permanently (unless you delete it) and appears in your main feed and on your profile page.
Adding to your Story is better if you want to share something quickly without cluttering your main profile. Sharing to your feed is better if you want the Reel to be a permanent part of your content and more discoverable to people visiting your profile.
You can do both at the same time. When you're posting a Reel, you'll see an option to "Also add to Story" before you finish posting to your feed. This lets you share the Reel in both places with one action.
Troubleshooting: Why you might not see the option
If you don't see "Add Reel to Story" when you tap the share button, a few things could be happening. First, make sure you're on the latest version of Instagram — older versions may not have this feature. Go to your app store and check for updates.
Second, check whether the creator has disabled sharing on that specific Reel. As mentioned above, some creators turn this off intentionally. Third, make sure you're tapping the correct share button — it's the paper airplane icon, not the bookmark or other icons nearby.
If none of these solve the problem, try closing and reopening the Instagram app. Sometimes a refresh fixes temporary glitches.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can people see who added a Reel to their Story?
Yes. When you add a Reel to your Story, people who view your Story can see it came from that Reel. If they tap on the Reel element, they'll be taken to the original Reel on the creator's profile. The original creator can see that you shared it if they check their Reel's shares.
What happens if I add a Reel to my Story and then delete the original Reel?
If you delete the original Reel from your feed, the version in your Story will remain for the full 24 hours. However, if someone taps on it to view the full Reel, they'll get an error because the original is gone. It's best to leave the original Reel up if you've added it to your Story.
Can I add someone else's Reel to my Story?
Yes, as long as the creator hasn't disabled sharing. Find the Reel on their profile or in your feed, tap the share button, and select "Add Reel to Story." This gives credit to the original creator and is a good way to share content you enjoy.
Does adding a Reel to my Story count as a view for the creator?
Yes. When someone watches the Reel in your Story, it counts as a view for the original creator. This is one reason why sharing Reels to your Story is helpful if you want to support a creator you like.