You need a business account and at least 10,000 followers to use the link sticker
Instagram lets you embed clickable links directly into your Stories, but only if your account meets two conditions: 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 followers, Instagram will not show you the link sticker option, no matter what you do. If you have a personal account, you can switch to a business account in your settings without losing your followers or posts.
The link sticker is the most direct way to send viewers to a website, product page, or external content. When someone taps the sticker, they leave Instagram and land on whatever URL you chose. This is different from putting a link in your bio, which stays the same for all your Stories — each Story can have its own link.
If you do not yet have 10,000 followers, you can still direct people to external links by writing the URL in text on your Story and asking them to copy it, or by putting a single link in your Instagram bio and mentioning it in your Stories. Neither method is as seamless as the link sticker, but both work.
Key Takeaways
- You must have a business or creator account with at least 10,000 followers to access the link sticker feature.
- The link sticker appears in the sticker menu after you take or upload a photo or video to your Story.
- You can paste any URL into the link sticker — a website, product page, blog post, or external app link.
- Viewers tap the sticker to open the link; if they do not see a sticker, swipe up to reveal it.
- You can move, resize, and rotate the sticker just like any other Story element before you post.
Switch to a business account if you have a personal account
Open Instagram and tap your profile icon in the bottom right. Tap the three horizontal lines (the menu) in the top right, then tap Settings and privacy. Scroll down and tap Account type and tools. Tap Switch to professional account, then choose Business or Creator (both can use the link sticker). Instagram will ask you to choose a category that describes what you do — this is for your profile, not a requirement to use links.
Your followers, posts, and messages stay exactly as they are. The only visible change is that your profile now shows a Contact button and a Message button, and you gain access to analytics and promotional tools. You can switch back to a personal account anytime, though you will lose access to the link sticker and other business features.
Add the link sticker to your Story
Open Instagram and tap your profile picture in the bottom left to start a new Story, or tap the camera icon and swipe left to the Stories camera. Take a photo or video, or tap the gallery icon to upload one you already have. Once you have your image or video, you will see a row of sticker icons at the top of the screen.
Tap the sticker icon that looks like a square with a corner folded (it is usually near the left side of the sticker row). A menu will open showing all available stickers. Scroll down until you see the Link sticker — it looks like a chain link or a link symbol. Tap it.
A text box will appear asking you to paste a URL. Tap the text field and paste the link you want to use. You can link to your website, a product page, a blog post, a sign-up form, a YouTube video, or any other URL. Once you paste the link, tap Done or tap outside the box to confirm.
Position and customize the sticker before posting
After you add the link, the sticker will appear on your Story as a small preview or icon. You can move it by tapping and dragging it to any position on the image. You can resize it by pinching in or out with two fingers. You can rotate it by using two fingers to twist. Position it somewhere viewers will notice but where it does not cover important parts of your image.
The sticker itself does not have color or style options — Instagram shows it in a standard format. However, you can add text, emojis, or other stickers around it to draw attention to the link. Many people add text like "Tap the link" or "Swipe up" above the link sticker so viewers know what to do.
Once you are happy with the position, tap Your Story at the bottom to post it. The link is now live, and anyone who taps the sticker will be taken to the URL you provided.
What happens when someone taps the link
When a viewer taps the link sticker, Instagram opens the URL in a browser window without closing the Instagram app. They see a small Instagram header at the top of the page so they can easily return to Instagram by tapping the back arrow. The link opens in whatever browser is set as their default on their phone.
If the link is broken or the page no longer exists, the viewer will see an error message. Make sure you test the link before posting your Story — copy the URL, paste it into your phone's browser, and confirm it works and goes where you intended.
Troubleshooting: Why you might not see the link sticker
If you tap the sticker menu and do not see a link option, check two things first. Confirm that your account is a business or creator account by going to Settings and privacy > Account type and tools. If it still says "Personal account", switch it to business or creator. Then check your follower count on your profile — if you have fewer than 10,000 followers, the link sticker will not appear, and you will have to wait until you reach that threshold.
If you have a business account and 10,000 followers but still do not see the link sticker, try closing and reopening the Instagram app. Sometimes the feature takes a few hours to appear after you switch account types or reach 10,000 followers. If it still does not show up after a day, the feature may not yet be available in your region — Instagram rolls out features gradually.
Another reason the link sticker might not appear is if you are using an older version of the Instagram app. Open your phone's app store (Apple App Store or Google Play Store), search for Instagram, and tap Update if an update is available. Restart the app after updating.
Alternatives if you do not have 10,000 followers yet
If you have a business account but fewer than 10,000 followers, you can still direct people to external links, just not with the sticker. Add a single link to your Instagram bio — tap your profile, tap Edit profile, and paste a URL into the Website field. Then in your Stories, add text that says "Link in bio" or "Check the link in our bio" to point people there.
You can also type or paste the full URL directly onto your Story as text. Tap the text tool (the "A" icon in the sticker row), type the URL, and position it on your image. Viewers can screenshot it or manually type it into their browser, though this is less convenient than a clickable link.
Some businesses use a link-shortening service like Linktree or Beacons to put multiple links behind a single URL in their bio. This way, viewers tap the link in your bio and see a menu of options — your website, your shop, your latest video, and so on. This is a workaround for the 10,000-follower limit, though it still requires people to leave Instagram.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I see how many people clicked my link sticker?
Yes. Go to your profile, tap the menu icon, and tap Insights. Find the Story you posted and tap it to see how many people tapped the link sticker. You can also see this data in your Instagram analytics dashboard if you have a business account.
What if I want to change the link after I post the Story?
You cannot edit a link sticker after the Story is live. You have to delete the Story and repost it with the correct link. Stories disappear after 24 hours anyway, so if the link is wrong, delete it, fix it, and repost it before the 24 hours are up.
Can I use a link sticker on a Reel or a regular post?
No. The link sticker only works on Stories. On Reels and regular posts, you can only put a link in your bio or in the caption text (though links in captions are not clickable — people have to copy and paste them).
Does the link sticker work on Instagram Direct Messages?
No. You can only use the link sticker in Stories. In Direct Messages, you can paste a URL as text, and it will appear as a clickable link.
What happens if I link to a page that requires a login?
The link will open normally, and viewers will see the login screen. If it is your own site or service, they can log in from there. If it is someone else's site, they will need their own account to proceed.