You need a business account and 10,000 followers to use the link sticker

Instagram lets you add clickable links to your stories, but only if you meet two requirements: you must have a business or creator account (not a personal account), and you must have at least 10,000 followers. If you have fewer than 10,000 followers, you can still add links through the swipe-up feature if you have a creator account, though this is less visible than the link sticker.

If you have a personal account, you will need to switch to a business or creator account first. Go to your profile, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines), select Settings and Privacy, then Account Type and Tools. Choose either Business or Creator — both give you access to link features, though creator accounts are designed for public figures and influencers while business accounts are for companies and brands.

Once you have the right account type and follower count, adding a link takes about 30 seconds. The link sticker appears as a clickable box in your story that takes viewers directly to a website, product page, or other URL when they tap it.

Key Takeaways

  • You must have a business or creator account with at least 10,000 followers to use the link sticker in stories.
  • The link sticker is added while creating a story, after you have taken or uploaded your photo or video.
  • You can customize how the link sticker looks by choosing from preset designs or typing custom text.
  • Links in stories expire after 24 hours when the story disappears, so you can change them daily without affecting old posts.

How to add a link sticker to a new story

Open Instagram and tap the camera icon or swipe left from your feed to start creating a story. Take a photo, record a video, or upload an existing image from your phone. Once you have your content, you will see a row of sticker icons at the top of the editing screen — these include options like text, emoji, location, and music.

Tap the sticker icon that looks like a chain link or search for "link" in the sticker menu. A box will appear asking you to enter the URL you want to link to. Paste or type the full web address, including the https:// part. Instagram will show you a preview of what the link will look like — usually a thumbnail image from the website plus the site name.

You can move the link sticker anywhere on your story by dragging it, resize it by pinching, and rotate it by using two fingers. When you are happy with the placement, tap outside the sticker to finish editing, then tap Your Story to post it.

Customizing the appearance of your link sticker

Instagram offers several preset designs for how your link sticker appears. After you paste the URL, you will see different style options — some show just the website name, others display a thumbnail image, and some include text like "Learn More" or "Shop Now." Swipe through the options to see which one matches your story's look.

If none of the presets fit what you want, you can add your own text. Tap the sticker again and look for an option to edit the label or call-to-action text. You can change "Learn More" to something like "See Details" or "Check It Out" to match your message. Keep the text short — long labels get cut off on mobile screens.

Linking to different types of pages

The link sticker works with most URLs, but what you can link to depends on your account type and Instagram's policies. Business accounts can link to their own website, product pages, blog posts, or other external sites. Creator accounts have the same flexibility. You cannot link directly to another Instagram profile or post using the link sticker — for that, you would use the mention sticker or tag feature instead.

If you are promoting a product, you can link directly to a shopping page or product listing. If you are sharing news or information, link to the article or source. If you want to drive traffic to your website, use your homepage or a specific landing page. Make sure the URL actually works before you post — test it on your phone to confirm it opens the right page.

What happens to links after your story expires

Stories disappear after 24 hours by default, and so do the links in them. This means you can add different links to your story every day without worrying about old links staying active. If you want a link to stay available longer, you can add it to your Highlights — a permanent section on your profile that holds selected stories even after they expire.

To add a story with a link to your Highlights, tap the heart icon on the story before it expires, then select which Highlight to save it to. The link will remain clickable as long as the Highlight exists. This is useful if you are running a promotion, selling something, or directing people to important information that you want available for weeks or months.

Troubleshooting links that do not appear or work

If you do not see the link sticker option in your story, check that you have a business or creator account with at least 10,000 followers. Personal accounts and accounts under 10,000 followers will not see this sticker. If you recently switched to a business account, wait a few hours for Instagram to update your permissions.

If the link sticker appears but the link does not work when you tap it, the URL may be broken or the website may be down. Test the link on your computer or phone before posting. If the link worked when you posted but stopped working later, the website itself may have gone offline or moved. You can edit the story to remove or replace the link — tap the three dots on your posted story and select Edit, then tap the link sticker to change the URL.

Using swipe-up links if you have fewer followers

If you have a creator account but fewer than 10,000 followers, you can still add links using the swipe-up feature instead of the link sticker. Swipe-up links are less visible — viewers have to swipe up from the bottom of the story to see them — but they work the same way. To add a swipe-up link, create your story, tap the link icon at the top, paste your URL, and post.

Once you reach 10,000 followers, the link sticker becomes available and is more prominent. Many creators find that the link sticker gets more clicks because it is visible on the story itself rather than hidden behind a swipe-up action. If growing your follower count is a goal, focus on consistent posting and engagement — these are the main factors Instagram uses to determine when you hit the threshold.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add multiple links to one story?

You can add multiple link stickers to a single story by repeating the sticker process — add one link sticker, then tap the sticker icon again and add another. Each sticker can point to a different URL. However, too many links can make your story look cluttered, so most people stick to one or two per story.

What if the website I want to link to is not showing a preview?

Some websites do not provide preview images to Instagram. The link will still work, but it may show as a plain text sticker instead of a thumbnail. You can still customize the text label to make it clear what the link is for. Test the link before posting to make sure it goes to the right place.

Can I see how many people clicked my story link?

Yes, if you have a business account. Go to your story after it expires, tap the three dots, and select Insights. You will see how many people viewed your story and how many tapped the link. Creator accounts also have access to these metrics. Personal accounts do not show link click data.

Do I need to use a link shortener like Bitly?

No, you can paste the full URL directly into the link sticker. Instagram handles the link without requiring a shortener. However, some people use shorteners to track clicks separately or to make long URLs easier to read if they are displayed as text. It is optional, not required.

Can I add a link to a story I already posted?

You can edit a story you posted within 24 hours by tapping the three dots and selecting Edit. You can then add, remove, or change link stickers before reposting. After 24 hours, the story expires and you cannot edit it, but you can save it to a Highlight with the link still active.