The most reliable way to repost on Instagram is to reshare a public feed post to your own story: tap the paper-plane (share) icon under the post and choose "Add post to your story." That method works on almost any public account. Instagram is also rolling out a native cross-account "Repost" feature, and there are older workarounds like screenshots and third-party apps. Below is each method, when it works, and how to credit the original creator.
Method 1: Reshare a feed post to your story
This is the method that works for nearly everyone, so start here. It puts someone else's post into your story as a small preview that links back to the original.
- Open the feed post you want to share.
- Tap the paper-plane (share) icon below the photo or video.
- Choose "Add post to your story."
- The post appears as a sticker on your story canvas. Drag it, resize it, and add text, a mention, or a comment of your own.
- Tap "Your story" to publish, or add it to Close Friends instead.
Two things to know. First, this only works on public accounts by default; posts from private accounts cannot be reshared this way. Second, some creators turn resharing off in their settings, so if you do not see "Add post to your story," that option has been disabled for that post and you should respect it. The reshared sticker already credits the author by showing their username, and tapping it takes viewers to the original, which is exactly the behavior you want.
Method 2: Reshare your own posts and stories
You can reshare your own content the same way. Resurfacing an older feed post to your story is a good way to give it a second life without reposting it as a brand-new feed entry, which can look repetitive to followers.
- Your own feed post to your story: open it, tap the paper-plane, and choose "Add post to your story."
- An old story to a new one: stories you saved to Highlights or your Archive can be opened and shared again, though the cleanest option is usually to save the original file and post it fresh.
Resharing your own material costs nothing and keeps a consistent thread between your feed and your story, which many followers only check one of.
Method 3: The native "Repost" feature (rolling out)
Instagram has been rolling out a built-in Repost feature that lets you share another account's Reel or feed post to your own feed, where your followers can see it. This is different from the story reshare in Method 1: a story reshare disappears after 24 hours and lives in your story, while a native repost sits in your feed (often under a separate "Reposts" tab on your profile) and is attributed to the original creator.
Because it is being rolled out gradually, it may not appear on every account yet. If you have it, you will find a "Repost" control in the post's share menu, near the paper-plane icon, usually shown as a repost or recycle-style symbol. Tap it, optionally add a note, and confirm. The repost keeps the original creator's username and links back to their post.
If you do not see a Repost option, you are not doing anything wrong; the feature simply has not reached your account. Do not trust any app or site claiming to "unlock" it early. Use Method 1 in the meantime, since it produces almost the same result with clear attribution.
Method 4: Repost a story you're mentioned or tagged in
When someone mentions your account in their story, Instagram sends you a direct message notification that says they mentioned you. You can add that story to your own in a couple of taps, which is the standard way brands and creators amplify posts about them.
- Open the DM notification that says someone mentioned you in their story.
- Tap "Add to your story" (or the "Add this to your story" button on the story itself).
- Adjust the placement and any text, then publish.
This only appears when you were actually mentioned with an @ tag in the story. If a creator posted about you without tagging your handle, you will not get the reshare prompt, and you would need to ask them to tag you or fall back to another method.
Method 5: Screenshots and third-party repost apps
Before the built-in options existed, people relied on screenshots and standalone "Repost" apps. These still exist, but they come with real trade-offs, so treat them as a last resort.
- Screenshots and screen recordings: quick, but you lose image quality, you often capture interface clutter, and video becomes a re-recorded, lower-quality copy. You also have to add credit manually.
- Third-party repost apps: these download a post and let you re-upload it. Many stamp a watermark with their own branding onto your repost, degrade the file quality, and clutter your feed with their attribution instead of the creator's.
One firm rule: never use any app or website that asks for your Instagram username and password. Handing your login to a third party risks your account being locked, hijacked, or used for spam, and it violates Instagram's terms. Legitimate tools never need your password. If a "repost" service asks for it, close the tab.
Always credit the original creator
Whichever method you use, attribution is both good etiquette and, for photos and videos, a matter of the creator's rights. The native reshare and repost tools credit the author automatically, which is one more reason to prefer them over screenshots. When you repost manually, tag the creator's handle in your caption or directly on the image, and ask permission before reposting someone's original work to your own feed, especially if your account is commercial. Creators are far more willing to let you share their work, and to reshare yours in return, when you make the credit obvious.
Getting your reposts seen
Reposting is only useful if people actually see it. Reshared stories and reposts follow the same reach patterns as the rest of your account: consistent posting, replies, and engagement in the first hour matter most. If you are trying to build baseline momentum on a newer account so your reposts land in front of more people, that is a separate growth problem from the mechanics above, and worth solving on its own terms rather than leaning on volume of reposts. Some businesses supplement organic effort with paid Instagram views to give a Reel early traction, but the durable wins come from posting things worth resharing.
Quick recap
- Story reshare (Method 1) works almost everywhere; start there.
- The native Repost feature is real but still rolling out; it may not be on your account yet.
- Mentioned-in-a-story resharing needs an @ tag from the other person.
- Screenshots and third-party apps cost you quality and credit; never surrender your password.
- Credit the creator every time.
Frequently asked
How do you repost on Instagram?
The reliable method is resharing a public post to your story: tap the paper-plane (share) icon under the post and choose “Add post to your story.”
Does Instagram have a native repost button?
Instagram has been rolling out a native Repost feature for Reels and feed posts, but it is not available on every account yet. Until you have it, use the story reshare.
Are third-party Instagram repost apps safe?
Never use a repost app that asks for your Instagram password. They also tend to add watermarks and lower quality; the built-in story reshare is the safer option.