How to Repost an Instagram Story: A Comprehensive Guide with Detailed Steps

Instagram Stories have become a cornerstone of the platform, offering a dynamic and engaging way to share moments with your followers. But what happens when you see a story you absolutely love and want to share with your own audience? That’s where the repost feature comes in. While Instagram doesn’t offer a direct ‘repost’ button for stories like it does for feed posts, there are several clever ways to share content you find compelling. This comprehensive guide will walk you through each method, providing detailed steps and important considerations along the way.

Understanding Instagram Story Reposting

Before diving into the ‘how,’ it’s essential to grasp the nuances of reposting Instagram Stories. Unlike feed posts, stories are designed to be ephemeral, disappearing after 24 hours. This temporality influences how reposting works. Here are the key points to keep in mind:

• No Direct Repost Button: There isn’t a straightforward button or option to simply ‘repost’ another user’s story to your own directly.
• Tagging is Crucial: The primary method of reposting involves being tagged in the original story. When you are tagged, Instagram provides a ‘Add to Your Story’ option.
• Privacy Matters: You can only repost stories from public accounts or from accounts that have specifically tagged you. Stories from private accounts that have not tagged you cannot be shared using these methods.
• Content Ownership: Always be mindful of respecting the original creator’s work. Reposting content without proper attribution or permission can lead to ethical and legal issues.

Method 1: Reposting Stories Where You’re Tagged

This is the most common and straightforward way to repost an Instagram story. When someone tags you in their story, you’ll receive a notification and the option to easily add it to your own story. Here’s how it works:

Step 1: Check Your Notifications

When someone tags you in their story, you’ll receive a notification in your activity feed (the heart icon at the bottom of the Instagram app). Look for a notification that indicates you’ve been tagged in a story.

Step 2: Open the Notification

Tap on the notification to view the story where you were tagged. The story will open, and you should see the content the person posted.

Step 3: Look for the ‘Add to Your Story’ Option

At the bottom of the story, you should see an option that says ‘Add to Your Story’ (sometimes the text may vary slightly like “Add This to Your Story”). This is the button you need to tap to repost it.

Step 4: Customize and Share

Once you tap ‘Add to Your Story,’ the story will open in the story editor. Here, you can customize the repost as you like. This may include:

• Moving and Resizing: You can move the original story around your canvas by dragging and adjust its size by pinching.
• Adding Text, Stickers, or GIFs: Enhance the repost by adding your own text, stickers, GIFs, and other creative elements to make it unique.
• Drawing Tools: Use the drawing tools to add doodles, arrows, or other annotations to the repost.
• Music or Audio: If the original story has music, you have the option to keep it, replace it, or remove it. You can also add new music.
• Polls or Questions: Add a poll or question sticker to the repost to engage your audience.
• Other Tags and Mentions: You can tag additional users or mention specific people in the repost.

Step 5: Share the Reposted Story

After you’ve finished customizing, tap the ‘Your Story’ button at the bottom left of the screen to share it with your followers. The original creator will be clearly tagged in the story, ensuring they get the appropriate credit for the content. Alternatively, you can use the “Close Friends” feature to share it only with specific followers.

Key Points to Note:

• Original Creator Attribution: When reposting using this method, Instagram automatically tags the original creator of the story. This is a crucial aspect of giving credit where it’s due.
• Story Duration: Like all Instagram stories, reposted stories will also disappear after 24 hours.
• User Settings: If a user has disabled story tagging, you won’t see the ‘Add to Your Story’ option.

Method 2: Reposting Stories Using Third-Party Apps or Screen Recording (Less Ideal)

While the tagged method is the most recommended and straightforward, there are other methods you might encounter. These methods typically involve using third-party apps or screen recording the story. These are less ideal because they often come with downsides and might not be as user-friendly or ethical. Here’s an overview:

Screen Recording

Step 1: Enable Screen Recording

Most modern smartphones have a built-in screen recording feature. Before you begin, ensure that the screen recording feature is enabled on your device. The method to turn this feature on may vary from phone to phone.

Step 2: Navigate to the Story

Open the Instagram app and navigate to the story you want to share.

Step 3: Start Screen Recording

Start the screen recording feature on your phone and then play the story you wish to share on Instagram. Make sure that the content of the story is fully recorded.

Step 4: Stop Recording

Once the story has been fully recorded, stop screen recording on your phone.

Step 5: Crop and Edit

Navigate to your device’s gallery or photo editing app. From here, you can crop the recorded video, adjusting the start and end times. You can further crop it to size as needed to focus on the story part.

Step 6: Upload to Your Story

Open Instagram, and navigate to the story creation mode. You can upload the video from your gallery and share it with your followers. You have options to add captions, music or sticker on this new story.

Pros:

• No Tagging Required: You don’t need to be tagged in the story to use this method.
• Share From Any Account: You can record and share stories from public accounts even if you’re not tagged.

Cons:

• Lower Quality: Screen recordings might result in lower video quality compared to the original.
• No Direct Attribution: It does not provide a direct link back to the original story creator. It is your responsibility to provide credit in this case.
• Ethical Considerations: Recording and sharing without permission or attribution can raise ethical issues and potentially violate copyright laws.
• Potentially Less Engaging: Often times, your followers may already see the original story and might not find the repost as engaging.

Third-Party Apps

There are various third-party apps that claim to repost Instagram stories. These apps usually require you to login using your Instagram credentials, which is usually not advisable because of security reasons. The reliability and security of these apps can vary greatly, and it’s essential to exercise caution before using them.

Pros:

• No Tagging Required: Similar to screen recording, you don’t necessarily need to be tagged to repost.

Cons:

• Security Risks: Giving your login credentials to third-party apps poses a significant security risk.
• Reliability Issues: These apps may not work consistently, or they might contain malware or viruses.
• Potential Account Bans: Instagram can flag your account for using unauthorized third-party apps, potentially leading to account restrictions or bans.
• Often Less Efficient: They can be cumbersome and might not always produce the results you expect.
• Questionable Ethics: These apps do not guarantee any attribution to the original creator.

Recommendation: Due to the potential risks and limitations, it is best to avoid third-party apps for reposting Instagram stories. The ‘Add to Your Story’ method, when tagged, is a more secure, ethical, and straightforward approach.

Best Practices for Reposting Instagram Stories

Regardless of the method you use (although we strongly recommend the tagged method), there are some best practices to keep in mind to repost Instagram stories effectively and ethically:

• Always Credit the Original Creator: When reposting using screen recording, make sure to explicitly credit the original creator. You can do this by tagging them in your story, adding a text overlay, or any other appropriate method. Give credit where it is due.
• Ask for Permission: If possible, reach out to the original creator and ask for their permission before reposting. This shows respect for their content and fosters a positive relationship.
• Add Value: Don’t just blindly repost the content. Add your own touch of creativity, perspective, or context to the story. This can be in the form of comments, stickers, polls, or by adding other relevant details.
• Keep it Relevant: Only repost stories that align with your brand, personal brand, or content strategy. Sharing content that feels out of place can confuse your audience.
• Engage With Your Followers: Encourage interaction by adding interactive elements such as polls, questions, or quizzes to your reposted stories. This helps your audience engage more with your content.
• Avoid Over-Reposting: Don’t bombard your followers with too many reposted stories. Strike a balance between creating original content and sharing content from others. Be mindful of frequency and purpose.
• Stay Informed on Updates: Instagram is constantly evolving, so stay up-to-date on new features and guidelines related to stories and reposting.
• Be Respectful: Even if reposting seems harmless, be mindful of the content you are sharing. Always be respectful of other creators and their work.

Conclusion

Reposting Instagram stories is a powerful way to share engaging content you find interesting with your own followers. However, it’s essential to do so ethically and effectively. The ‘Add to Your Story’ method, when tagged in the original story, is the recommended and most straightforward approach. While screen recording and third-party apps may offer alternative ways to repost, they come with risks and should be used with caution or avoided altogether. By following best practices, you can create a positive and engaging experience for your followers and demonstrate respect for content creators. Always strive to be ethical, creative, and authentic in how you share content on Instagram.

Understanding the nuances of Instagram Stories and reposting methods is key to maintaining a positive and engaging presence on the platform. Always prioritize the original creators, seek their permission if possible, and create content that adds value for your followers. With these guidelines, you can make the most of this ephemeral but powerful feature on Instagram.