You can add someone’s post or Reel to your Story only when their account is public and they allow resharing. Instagram also says sharing feed posts to Stories “isn’t available to everyone” (Instagram). If the Add to story option is missing, start with the other account: it has to be public and allow resharing.
Why the Add to story option is missing
- The account is private. Posts from private accounts can’t be shared to your Story, and neither can ads (Buffer).
- The owner turned resharing off. Public accounts can stop others from resharing their posts (Instagram).
- It’s a teen account. Teen accounts are private by default, and teens can only be tagged or mentioned by people they follow (Meta).
- Your app is out of date. An old version can hide sharing options (Sprout Social).
Making your own account public doesn’t help: what counts is whether the person who posted is public and allows resharing.
How to add a post or Reel to your Story
- Open the post or Reel and tap the paper airplane.
- Tap Add to story.
- Edit if you want, then share to Your story or Close Friends (Sprout Social).
Sharing a video? See how to repost a video on your Instagram Story and have it play automatically.
Resharing a Story you’re mentioned in
When someone mentions you in their Story, Instagram sends you a direct message. Tap Add to your story in that message or on the Story, edit it and share (Buffer).
No button? The owner may have turned off sharing of their Stories even for people they mention, or their account may be private (Sprout Social).
Public Stories you weren’t tagged in
Since December 2025, Instagram lets people reshare any public Story with credit to the creator. Before that, you could only reshare Stories you were tagged in (Social Media Today). The report doesn’t describe the exact buttons, and some guides still say resharing only works when you’re tagged, so what you see may differ.
Repost is not the same as Add to story
The Repost button, launched in August 2025, shares public Reels and feed posts to your profile, credited to the original poster. It doesn’t put anything in your Story (Meta). Creators can choose who can repost their Reels (Instagram), and the button may still be rolling out in some regions (Buffer). Our guide on how to repost an Instagram Reel covers Repost, Stories, DMs and Remix side by side.
If you’d like more reposts on your own posts or Reels, see our Instagram reposts service.
Fixes to try
- Update Instagram from the App Store or Google Play.
- Close the app and open it again, or restart your phone.
- Clear the app’s cache (see how to clear Instagram’s cache).
- Ask the person who posted whether they allow resharing.
Skip third-party repost apps that ask for your Instagram password, login code or session details (iTechGuides). If the Story itself won’t post, see why your Instagram Story is not uploading.
If others can’t share your posts
Check that your account is public, then look for the sharing setting. Recent versions list it under Settings and privacy, Sharing and reuse, Posts and reels to stories (Kopyst). Older guides describe Privacy, Story, Allow sharing to story (Buffer). The labels depend on your app version.
FAQ
Can I add a private account’s post to my Story?
No. Only posts from public accounts that allow resharing can be added.
Does the Repost button share to my Story?
No. Repost adds the post or Reel to your profile. To put it in your Story, use the paper airplane and Add to story.
Why can I share some posts but not others?
Each account decides. Some owners turn resharing off, and posts from private accounts and ads can’t be shared.
Can I see who reshared my post?
Only in some cases. See how to view Story reshares on Instagram.