The quickest way to add someone else's post to your story
You can add any Instagram post to your story in two taps. Open the post you want to share, tap the paper airplane icon at the bottom, then tap "Add post to your story." Instagram will place the post in your story with a link back to the original. Your followers will see it for 24 hours unless you delete it sooner.
This works for posts from accounts you follow, accounts you don't follow, and even your own old posts. The original poster gets a notification that you shared their post, but they can't see who viewed your story version of it.
If the post doesn't have a paper airplane icon, the account owner has turned off sharing to stories. In that case, you can take a screenshot instead, but the original poster will be notified that you took a screenshot.
Key Takeaways
- Tap the paper airplane icon on any post, then select "Add post to your story" to share it directly to your story.
- The original post appears in your story with a link back to the source, and stays visible for 24 hours.
- The original poster gets notified that you shared their post, but they cannot see your story viewers.
- If sharing is disabled, you will see no paper airplane icon, and taking a screenshot will trigger a notification to the poster instead.
Finding the share button on the post
Open Instagram and find the post you want to add to your story. Look at the bottom of the post, where you see the heart icon (for liking), the comment bubble, and the bookmark. The paper airplane icon sits to the right of the bookmark. Tap it once.
On some phones, the icons might be arranged slightly differently depending on your Instagram version, but the paper airplane is always among these four icons at the bottom. If you don't see it, swipe left on the row of icons to reveal more options.
Selecting "Add post to your story" from the menu
After you tap the paper airplane, a menu appears with several options. The first option is usually "Send as Message" (to share it in a direct message). Below that, you will see "Add post to your story." Tap that option.
Instagram will then show you a preview of how the post will look in your story. The original post appears in a box, and Instagram adds a sticker at the top that says the account name and links back to the original post. You can move this sticker around or resize it if you want, but most people leave it as is.
Posting it to your story
Once you see the preview, tap "Your Story" at the bottom of the screen (or the button that says "Share"). The post is now added to your story and will be visible to your followers for the next 24 hours. You will see it appear at the top of your story reel on your profile.
If you change your mind before posting, tap the back arrow or X to cancel. The post won't be added, and nothing will be sent to your followers.
What happens after you share a post to your story
The original poster receives a notification that you shared their post to your story. They can tap the notification to see your story, but they won't know who else viewed it — Instagram doesn't show story viewers to the original poster.
Your followers will see the shared post in your story just like any other story post. They can tap the sticker at the top to jump directly to the original post on the original account's profile. If they like the original post, they can go there and interact with it directly.
When you can't share a post to your story
Some accounts turn off the ability to share their posts to stories. If this is the case, the paper airplane icon will not appear on their posts at all. You will only see the heart, comment, and bookmark icons.
If you really want to share that post, you can take a screenshot of it instead. However, Instagram will notify the original poster that you took a screenshot, which some people find intrusive. The screenshot also won't include the link back to the original post, so your followers won't be able to tap through to it easily.
Sharing your own old posts to your story
You can use this same method to share your own posts from weeks or months ago. Go to your profile, find the post you want to reshare, and tap the paper airplane icon. Select "Add post to your story," and it will appear in your story with a link back to the original post on your profile.
This is useful if you want to remind your followers of something you posted before, or if you want to draw attention to a post that didn't get much engagement the first time around. Your followers will see it as a new story post, even though the original post is older.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the original poster see who viewed my story version of their post?
No. Instagram notifies the original poster that you shared their post, but they cannot see your story viewers. Only you can see who viewed your story.
What if I delete the post from my story?
The original post stays on the original account's profile. Deleting it from your story only removes it from your story. The original poster won't be notified that you deleted it.
Can I edit the post after I add it to my story?
You can move or resize the sticker that links back to the original post, but you cannot edit the post itself. If you want to add text or drawings, you can do that after posting, just like with any other story post.
Does the original poster know if I screenshot their post?
Yes. Instagram sends a notification to the poster when you take a screenshot of their post. This is different from sharing to your story, which does not trigger a screenshot notification.
Can I share a post to my story if the account is private?
Yes, as long as you follow the private account or they have shared the post with you. If you don't follow them, you won't see their posts in your feed, so you won't be able to share them.