You can add a Reel to your Instagram Story in two ways: share it from the Reel itself, or upload it as a Story post and tag the Reel
The fastest method is to open the Reel you want to share, tap the paper airplane icon (the share button), and select "Add Reel to Story". Instagram will automatically resize the Reel to fit your Story format and open the Story editor so you can add text, stickers, or other effects before posting. The Reel appears as a playable video in your Story, and your followers see it as a regular Story post with a link back to the original Reel.
If that option does not appear or you want more control over how the Reel looks in your Story, you can record or upload a video to your Story directly, then use the sticker feature to tag the Reel. This method gives you more flexibility with editing and layout, though it takes a few extra steps.
Key Takeaways
- The share button on any Reel has an "Add Reel to Story" option that posts the Reel to your Story in one tap.
- When you add a Reel to your Story this way, followers can tap through to watch the full Reel on your profile.
- You can add text, stickers, and effects to your Story after adding the Reel, just as you would with any other Story post.
- If you want to upload a video to your Story and tag a Reel separately, use the Reel sticker from the Story editing menu.
How to share a Reel directly to your Story using the share button
Open Instagram and navigate to the Reel you want to share. This can be a Reel from your own profile, a Reel from another account, or a Reel from your Explore page. Tap the paper airplane icon in the bottom right corner of the Reel — this is the share button.
A menu will appear with several sharing options. Look for "Add Reel to Story" and tap it. Instagram will automatically prepare the Reel for your Story format and open your Story editor. The Reel appears as a video tile ready to post. You can now add text, draw, apply filters, or add stickers if you want to customize the Story before sharing it. When you are ready, tap "Your Story" at the bottom to post it.
Your followers will see this as a Story post with a preview of the Reel. They can tap the Story to watch the Reel, and tapping again will take them to the full Reel on your profile or the original creator's profile, depending on whose Reel you shared.
Adding a Reel sticker to a Story you already created
If you have already recorded or uploaded a video to your Story and want to tag a Reel to it, open the Story editor and tap the sticker icon (the square smiley face) at the top of the screen. Scroll through the sticker options until you find the Reel sticker, which shows a film strip icon.
Tap the Reel sticker and search for the Reel you want to tag by creator name or Reel title. Select the Reel from the search results, and a sticker will appear on your Story showing a thumbnail of that Reel. You can move it, resize it, or rotate it to fit your Story layout. Tap "Your Story" to post when you are done.
This method is useful when you want to feature a Reel alongside your own content or when you want to add multiple Reels to the same Story. Each Reel sticker acts as a link, so followers can tap it to view the Reel.
What happens when followers see your Story with a Reel
When you post a Reel to your Story, it appears in your Story feed like any other video post. Followers can watch it by tapping your Story. If you used the direct "Add Reel to Story" method, the video plays within the Story format. If you added a Reel sticker, followers see your Story content first, and tapping the sticker takes them to the Reel.
In both cases, followers can tap through to the full Reel on your profile or the original creator's profile. The Reel itself shows how many times it has been viewed, liked, and shared, but your Story post is separate — it has its own view count and engagement metrics. Sharing a Reel to your Story does not remove it from your Reels feed or change its visibility anywhere else.
Troubleshooting: "Add Reel to Story" option is not showing
If you tap the share button on a Reel and do not see the "Add Reel to Story" option, the most common reason is that your Instagram app is out of date. Go to your device's app store (Google Play for Android, App Store for iPhone), search for Instagram, and update it if an update is available. Close the app completely and reopen it, then try again.
Another reason the option might not appear is if the Reel is from a private account and you are not following that account, or if the Reel creator has restricted sharing. In these cases, you can still upload a video to your Story and use the Reel sticker method instead. If neither method works, try logging out of Instagram and logging back in, or uninstalling and reinstalling the app.
Adding multiple Reels to one Story
You can add more than one Reel to a single Story post by using the Reel sticker method. After you post your first Reel sticker, tap the sticker icon again and add another Reel sticker to the same Story. You can arrange them however you like — stack them, place them side by side, or layer them over your own video content.
If you want to share multiple Reels using the direct "Add Reel to Story" method, each Reel will create a separate Story post. You can post them one after another, and they will appear as consecutive Stories in your Story feed. Followers will see them as a series of posts they can swipe through.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I add a Reel to my Story if it is from another account?
Yes. You can share any Reel you can see on Instagram — whether it is from your own profile, another creator's profile, or the Explore page. Open the Reel, tap the share button, and select "Add Reel to Story". The only exception is if the creator has turned off sharing for that Reel.
Will the original creator know I shared their Reel to my Story?
No. Sharing a Reel to your Story does not notify the original creator. However, they may see it if they check your Story directly or if you mention them in the Story caption. The Reel itself will show increased view and share counts, but there is no way for the creator to know who shared it.
Does adding a Reel to my Story affect how many people see the Reel?
Sharing a Reel to your Story can increase its views, since your followers will see it in your Story. However, the Reel's reach is not tied to your Story — it continues to appear in your Reels feed and on the Explore page independently. Your Story post and the Reel are tracked separately by Instagram's metrics.
Can I edit or crop a Reel after I add it to my Story?
No. When you add a Reel to your Story using the direct share method, Instagram posts it as-is. You cannot trim, crop, or edit the Reel itself. You can add text, stickers, or effects on top of it in the Story editor, but the Reel video remains unchanged.
What is the difference between adding a Reel to my Story and reposting it?
Adding a Reel to your Story keeps the original creator's credit and links back to their profile. Reposting (downloading and re-uploading the video) removes that credit and makes it look like your own content. Always use the share button to add Reels to your Story instead of reposting.