You can repost another person's Instagram story, but Instagram doesn't give you a built-in button to do it
When you see a story you want to share with your followers, Instagram's official option is to send it to someone as a direct message, or to reply to it. If you want the story to appear on your own story feed, you have three real paths: use Instagram's "Add Yours" sticker (if the original poster set one up), take a screenshot and repost it manually, or use a third-party reposting app that saves the story file to your phone.
Each method has different privacy and permission implications. The "Add Yours" sticker is designed for this exact purpose and the original poster chose to allow it. Screenshots and manual reposts put you in control but may violate the original poster's wishes. Third-party apps require you to give them access to your Instagram account, which carries its own risks.
Key Takeaways
- Instagram's "Add Yours" sticker is the only method the platform officially designed for reposting, and it only works if the original poster added that sticker to their story.
- Taking a screenshot and manually reposting the image is free and doesn't require app permissions, but the original poster may not want their content shared this way.
- Third-party reposting apps can read stories directly, but they require you to log in with your Instagram password or authorization token, which gives them access to your account data.
- Instagram does not notify the original poster when you repost their story using any method except the "Add Yours" sticker, which is why permission matters more than detection.
- Stories disappear after 24 hours, so reposting is often how content spreads beyond the original poster's followers — which may or may not be what they intended.
Using the "Add Yours" sticker — the method Instagram designed for this
When someone posts a story with the "Add Yours" sticker, they are explicitly inviting followers to add their own version to their own story. This sticker appears as a button or prompt on the original story. Tap it, and Instagram opens your story editor with the original post already attached as a template or background.
This is the only reposting method that Instagram officially supports, because the original poster chose to enable it. When you use "Add Yours", the original poster can see your response in a collection of all responses to that sticker. Your version appears on your own story, not theirs.
The limitation: the original poster has to have added the sticker in the first place. Many people don't use it, so this option won't always be available.
Taking a screenshot and reposting manually
Open the story you want to repost, take a screenshot with your phone's standard screenshot button, then open your own story and upload the image. This is the simplest method and requires no apps or account permissions.
The trade-off is that you are reposting someone else's content without their explicit consent. Instagram does not notify them that you took a screenshot or reposted their story. Many content creators consider this a violation of their wishes, even though it is technically possible. If the original poster has a large following or is a public figure, reposting without permission can feel like theft of their work.
If you want to be respectful, tag the original poster in your repost or mention them in your caption. This gives them credit and lets their followers know where the content came from.
Using a third-party reposting app
Apps like Repost for Instagram, Story Saver, or Story Reposter let you read another person's story directly to your phone, then upload it to your own story. You search for the account or paste a link to the story, and the app saves the video or image file.
The security cost is significant: these apps require you to log in with your Instagram username and password, or to authorize them through Instagram's login system. When you do, you are giving the app access to your account data — your follower list, your direct messages, your story history, and sometimes your email address. The app can see what you follow, who follows you, and in some cases, your activity patterns.
Instagram's terms of service prohibit third-party apps from accessing your account this way, so using one violates Instagram's rules. If Instagram detects the login, it may disable your account temporarily or require you to change your password. More importantly, if the app is poorly made or run by someone with bad intentions, they could use your login credentials to impersonate you, send messages from your account, or sell your data.
Third-party apps also do not notify the original poster, so you have the same permission problem as screenshots — you are reposting without their knowledge.
What happens to your data when you use these methods
If you use "Add Yours" or take a screenshot, your data stays within Instagram. Instagram sees that you posted a story, but nothing unusual happens to your account.
If you use a third-party app, the app collects your login information and can access your account data for as long as you keep the authorization active. Even after you stop using the app, it may retain the data it collected. If the app is sold to another company or shut down, your data could be transferred or lost. You have no way to know what happens to it after that point.
Before using any third-party app, check its privacy policy and look for reviews from other users. Search for the app name plus "data breach" or "account hacked" to see if there is a history of problems. If the app requires your password rather than using Instagram's official login system, that is a red flag — legitimate apps use Instagram's authorization, not your password.
The difference between reposting and sharing to your story directly
Instagram has a "Share" button on stories, but it only lets you send the story to a specific person as a direct message or to a group chat. It does not post to your own story. This is by design — Instagram wants to limit how widely stories spread without the original poster's active permission.
Reposting (putting someone else's story on your own story) is different from sharing (sending it to someone privately). Reposting makes the content visible to all your followers, which is a much wider audience. The original poster may not want that level of distribution.
When reposting is expected and when it is not
Some accounts — news outlets, meme pages, public figures — expect and want their stories reposted. They often add captions that invite sharing or use the "Add Yours" sticker. If someone posts a story with "Repost this" or "Share this", they are giving you permission.
Personal accounts, small businesses, and creators who do not explicitly invite sharing usually prefer that you do not repost. If you are unsure, the safest approach is to ask them directly through a direct message before reposting.
Stories from private accounts are a special case. If someone has a private account and you follow them, they have chosen to share their stories only with people they know. Reposting a private account's story to your public story violates that boundary, because you are showing their content to people they did not invite.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Instagram notify someone when I repost their story?
No, unless you use the "Add Yours" sticker. Instagram does not send a notification when you screenshot, manually repost, or use a third-party app. The original poster will only know if they see your story or if someone tells them.
Can I get in trouble for reposting someone's story?
Instagram does not punish reposting itself, but the original poster could report your story for copyright infringement if they own the content and did not give permission. If you repost repeatedly without credit, they could also report you for harassment. The legal risk depends on whether the content is their original work and whether they have registered it for copyright protection.
Is it safe to use a reposting app?
Reposting apps require access to your Instagram account, which violates Instagram's terms of service and puts your data at risk. If the app is hacked or run by someone with bad intentions, they could access your messages, followers, and personal information. Using Instagram's built-in methods (screenshots or "Add Yours") is safer.
What if I want to repost but give credit to the original poster?
Tag them in your repost or mention their username in your caption. This tells your followers where the content came from and gives the original poster visibility to your audience. It does not require their permission, but it is the respectful way to repost.
Can I repost a story from a private account?
Technically yes, but it violates the original poster's privacy choice. Private accounts share stories only with approved followers. Reposting their story to your public story shows their content to people they did not invite. If you want to share it, ask them first.