You need 10,000 followers or a verified account to add clickable links to stories

Instagram only lets you add a link that people can tap in your story if your account meets one of two conditions: you have at least 10,000 followers, or your account is verified (the blue checkmark next to your name). If you do not meet either requirement, you cannot add a clickable link to a story, though you can still mention a URL in text and ask people to copy it manually.

If you do have the access, the link tool appears in your story creation screen as a chain-link icon. The process takes about 30 seconds once you know where to find it.

Key Takeaways

  • Only accounts with 10,000+ followers or verification can add tappable links to stories; without either, you cannot use this feature.
  • The link tool is a chain-link icon in the story editing toolbar, located between the text and sticker options.
  • You paste the full URL (starting with https://) into the link field, and Instagram automatically creates a "See More" button at the bottom of the story.
  • Links in stories expire after 24 hours when the story disappears, so you need to re-add them if you post the same link again.
  • The link does not appear as clickable text in your story preview; viewers only see it when they swipe up on the finished story.

Step-by-step: adding a link to a story you are creating

Open Instagram and tap the camera icon at the top left, or swipe left from your feed. Take a photo or video, or select one from your camera roll. Tap the smiley-face icon at the top right to open the editing tools.

Look for the chain-link icon in the toolbar at the bottom. It sits between the text tool (the "A" icon) and the sticker tool (the square with a corner folded). Tap it. A field will appear asking you to paste a URL. Type or paste the full web address, starting with https:// or http://. Tap "Done" or the checkmark. Instagram automatically adds a "See More" button at the bottom of your story — you do not need to create this yourself.

Finish editing your story with text, stickers, or filters if you want. Tap "Your Story" at the bottom to post it. The link is now live. When someone views your story, they will see the "See More" button at the bottom and can tap it to open the link in their browser.

What happens if you do not see the link icon

If the chain-link icon is not in your toolbar, your account does not meet Instagram's requirements. You need either 10,000 followers or account verification. Check your follower count in your profile by tapping your profile picture at the bottom right, then tapping "Followers" to see the exact number.

If you are close to 10,000 followers, keep posting and engaging with your audience. If you believe your account should be verified, you can request verification through Instagram's settings. Go to Settings and Privacy, then Account, then Requests or Verification, and follow the prompts. Instagram reviews verification requests but does not may provide approval.

Until you meet one of these requirements, you can still mention a URL in your story text and ask viewers to copy it, but they cannot tap it directly.

Common mistakes when adding links to stories

The most frequent error is forgetting the https:// at the start of the URL. Instagram needs the full web address, not just "example.com". If you paste only the domain name, the link may not work or may direct to the wrong place. Always copy the complete URL from your browser's address bar.

Another mistake is assuming the link will stay in your story after 24 hours. Stories disappear after a day, and the link disappears with them. If you want to share the same link again, you need to create a new story and add the link again. You cannot edit a link in an existing story — you can only delete the story and repost it with a corrected URL.

Some people also try to add links to stories posted to their archive or highlights. Links do not work in archived stories or story highlights; they only function in live stories during the 24-hour window.

Using links to drive traffic to your website or landing page

Many businesses and creators use story links to send followers to a specific page — a product listing, a sign-up form, a blog post, or a landing page. The "See More" button makes it obvious to viewers that tapping will take them somewhere, so they are more likely to click than if you just mention a URL in text.

Keep the destination page relevant to what you showed in the story. If your story is about a new product, link to that product's page, not your homepage. If your story announces a blog post, link directly to the post. The faster someone reaches what they came for, the more likely they are to stay.

You can change the link URL each time you post a story, so you can test different destinations and track which ones get more clicks by checking your story insights. Tap your story after it posts, then tap the eye icon at the bottom to see how many people tapped "See More".

Checking if people are tapping your story links

After you post a story with a link, wait a few hours for people to view it. Then go to your profile, find the story (it will have a ring around your profile picture if it is still live), and tap it. At the bottom, tap the eye icon or the number of views. Scroll down to see "Taps Forward" — this shows how many people tapped the "See More" button and followed your link.

This information is only available while the story is live (within 24 hours). Once the story expires, you can no longer see tap data. If you want to keep track of link performance over time, you can use a link-tracking tool like Bitly or your own website analytics to see how many people arrived from Instagram.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add a link to a story if I have a business account?

A business account does not automatically give you link access. You still need either 10,000 followers or verification. The account type does not matter — only the follower count or verification status.

What if the link I added is broken or goes to the wrong page?

You cannot edit a link once the story is posted. Delete the story and create a new one with the correct URL. This is why it is worth testing the link before you post — copy it into your browser to make sure it works.

Can people see the actual URL in my story, or just the "See More" button?

They only see the "See More" button. The actual URL is hidden. When they tap the button, it opens in their browser. This is useful if you want to keep the link private or if the URL is long and ugly.

Do links work the same way on Instagram Reels?

No. Reels do not support clickable links the same way stories do. You can add a link sticker to a Reel if you have 10,000 followers, but the process is different. For stories, use the chain-link icon in the story editor.

What happens to my story link if I save it to my highlights?

The link stops working. Story highlights preserve the image and video, but not the interactive elements like links. If you want people to access a link, keep it in a live story or mention the URL in the highlight caption as text.