How to Repost on Instagram (Stories, Reels, Feed)

Instagram does not have a native repost button. To repost on Instagram you use one of four methods depending on the content type — and each carries different rules around credit, copyright, and what shows up in your feed. We get asked this constantly. Here is every working method, ranked by how much friction it adds.

Method 1: Repost a Story you've been tagged in

The easiest case. When another user tags you in their Story, you get a DM offering to add their Story to your own. One tap to share:

1. Open the DM from Instagram (the alert saying "X mentioned you in their Story").
2. Tap "Add to your story."
3. Edit if you want — add a sticker, text, or background.
4. Post.

This is the only fully native repost on Instagram. The original creator gets automatic credit because their handle appears on your Story.

Method 2: Repost a feed post to your own feed

This is the most common ask and the most complicated. There is no native one-tap solution. Two working approaches:

Screenshot + post (no third-party app)

1. Take a screenshot of the original post.
2. Open the screenshot in your photo editor and crop out the username bar so the photo looks clean.
3. Re-upload as a single image or as the first slide of a carousel.
4. Credit the creator in the caption: "Original by @creator. Sharing because…"
5. Tag the original creator in the photo so they get a DM notification.

Best for sharing creator content with intent. Always get the creator's permission first via DM — taking content without consent strains relationships and risks an Instagram report.

Repost app method (faster but adds branding)

1. Install a repost app — Repost for Instagram, InSta-Repost, or DownloadGram are widely used.
2. Copy the link to the original post (tap the three dots → Copy Link).
3. Open the repost app — it auto-detects the clipboard URL.
4. Tap "Repost." The app saves the photo with a small credit watermark.
5. Open Instagram, upload the saved image, edit the caption.

Faster than screenshot-and-crop but watermarks the image with the original handle.

Method 3: Repost a Reel

Instagram added native Reel reposting in 2024. Tap the share icon (paper airplane) below the Reel, then "Add Reel to your feed." The Reel appears on your profile in a dedicated "Reposted" tab — separated from your own content, with full credit to the original creator.

Reposted Reels do not appear in your followers' main feeds with the same priority as your own posts. Treat reposts as a curation signal, not a growth lever.

Method 4: Repost an Instagram Story you weren't tagged in

This requires more work because Stories disappear after 24 hours:

1. Screenshot the Story while it is still live.
2. DM the original creator: "Loved your Story — okay if I share it on mine and credit you?"
3. After permission, post the screenshot to your Story.
4. Add an @ mention sticker pointing to the original creator's handle.

The @ mention sends them a notification and is the polite way to credit.

Legal and etiquette rules

Three rules to internalise:

1. Always get permission. Reposting without consent is the fastest way to be reported. Even if the creator says yes verbally, screenshot the DM confirmation.
2. Always credit. Tag the original creator in the photo AND mention them in the caption. Two layers of credit so credit isn't missed.
3. Don't crop out watermarks. Removing a creator's watermark or signature is a copyright issue. If the original has a watermark, leave it.

Should you repost at all?

Reposting is a legitimate content strategy — community pages, brand accounts, and curators build huge followings primarily through curation. The pros and cons:

• Pros: Lower content burden, faster posting cadence, builds relationships with the creators you repost.
• Cons: Reach is lower than original content because Instagram's algorithm favours fresh creator content. Reposts don't earn the same first-hour engagement signal.

Best blend: 60-70% original content, 20-30% reposts from creators in your niche, 10% repurposed user-generated content (where users tagged you).

Repost vs. share vs. feature — definitions

• Repost: Take a creator's content and republish it on your account with credit.
• Share to Story: Tap the share icon and add another user's post to your Story. Native to Instagram, requires no app.
• Feature: Repost as part of a series — "Creator of the Week," "Community Spotlight." Implies editorial selection.

Repost best practices that compound

• Build a relationship before reposting. DM the creator, like a few of their posts, leave a thoughtful comment. The repost goes from "they took my work" to "they featured me."
• Add value in the caption. Don't just copy-paste the original. Add your take, your context, why you're sharing.
• Tag liberally. The creator, anyone in the photo, the location. More tags = more notifications = more chance the original creator shares your repost to their Story (free reach).
• Repost consistently. One curated post per week beats 10 sporadic ones. Audiences come to expect your curation.

Will Instagram add a native repost button?

They added native Reel reposting in 2024 (the dedicated "Reposted" tab on profiles). Feed-post reposting is harder to ship because Instagram has a stated preference for fresh creator content. Don't hold your breath for a one-tap feed repost.

FAQ

Does Instagram have a native repost button?

For Reels, yes — share icon → "Add Reel to your feed." For Stories where you're tagged, yes — a DM lets you add the Story to your own. For regular feed posts, no native option exists. You'll need a screenshot or a repost app.

Do I need permission to repost someone's post?

Legally, the safest answer is yes. Practically, most creators are happy if you ask and credit clearly. Reposting without permission risks an Instagram report and damages relationships.

How do I credit a creator when reposting?

Two layers: tag them in the photo using Instagram's tag feature, and mention their @handle in the caption. Belt and suspenders.

How do I repost a Reel on Instagram?

Tap the paper-airplane share icon below the Reel, then "Add Reel to your feed." The Reel appears in a dedicated "Reposted" tab on your profile.

Which repost app is best?

Repost for Instagram and DownloadGram are the most widely used. Both watermark the image with the original handle, which counts as visible credit but limits design flexibility.

Next steps

Pick three creators in your niche. DM them this week, ask permission to repost one of their posts, and credit clearly. Reposting becomes a relationship-building tool, not just a content shortcut.

For more on Instagram content, see our pieces on how the Instagram algorithm works, carousel posts explained, and growing followers on Instagram. To organise reposts alongside your own content in one calendar, use the So-me Studio scheduler.