Learning how to repost on Instagram used to mean juggling screenshots, paper-airplane icons and a graveyard of clunky third-party apps. In 2026 it is far simpler: Instagram has a built-in repost button, native Story sharing, and a handful of edge-case methods for everything the button does not cover. This guide walks through every way to repost on Instagram — to Stories, Feed and Reels — with numbered steps, a comparison table, credit and copyright etiquette, the best repost apps, and how brands turn reposting into a user-generated-content engine.
How do you repost on Instagram?
To repost on Instagram, tap the Repost icon (two circular arrows) below any public Reel or feed post, add an optional comment, then tap Repost. The content appears in your feed, your followers' feeds and a dedicated Reposts tab on your profile, with the original creator credited automatically. For Stories and feed-to-grid reposts, use Instagram's Share-to-Story icon or a repost app instead.
That one-line answer covers roughly 80% of cases since Instagram rolled out its native repost button globally. The rest of this guide explains the other methods, when to use each, and how to avoid the credit and copyright mistakes that get accounts reported or shadowbanned.
The 5 ways to repost on Instagram (quick comparison)
There is no single "repost on IG" button that does everything. Instead, you choose a method based on what you are sharing (post, Reel or Story) and where you want it to land (feed, Reels tab or Story). Here is how the five methods compare.
| Method | Best for | Where it lands | Auto-credit? | Permanent? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Native Repost button | Public posts & Reels | Your feed + Reposts tab | Yes | Yes |
| Share to Story | Amplifying any post/Reel | Your Story (24 hrs) | Yes (tappable sticker) | No |
| Third-party repost app | Feed post → your grid | Your feed | Manual caption credit | Yes |
| Screenshot / save-and-repost | Edge cases, no app | Feed or Story | Manual @mention | Yes |
| Repost your own content | Recycling evergreen posts | Feed, Reels or Story | You are the creator | Yes |
Method 1: The native Repost button (the 2026 way)
Instagram's native repost feature is the cleanest method and the one to reach for first. It works on public feed posts and Reels, keeps full attribution to the original creator, and files your reposts in a separate tab so they do not clutter your main grid.
How to use the native repost button
- Open the public Reel or feed post you want to share.
- Tap the Repost icon — two arrows forming a loop — located between the Comment and Send (paper-plane) icons.
- (Optional) Tap the comment bubble by your profile picture to add your own commentary or context, then tap Save.
- Tap Repost to confirm.
- The post now appears in your followers' feeds labelled "Reposted by [you]," and lives in the dedicated Reposts tab on your profile.
The original creator is notified and credited automatically — you do not need to add a manual @mention. To remove a repost, open it, tap the three-dot menu and choose Remove repost (Instagram's version of "unrepost").
When the native button is missing
The repost icon only shows on public accounts that have left reposting enabled. You will not see it on private profiles, on content from creators who switched reposting off, or on some music-licensed Reels. In those cases, use Share to Story (Method 2) or a repost app (Method 3) instead.
Method 2: Reposting to Stories (Share to Story)
Sharing to your Story is the fastest way to amplify someone's content for 24 hours. It is native, automatically adds a tappable creator sticker, and works for posts and Reels — though it is temporary rather than a permanent repost.
How to repost a feed post or Reel to your Story
- Open the post or Reel you want to share.
- Tap the paper-plane (Share) icon below the content.
- Select Add to story.
- Customise: drag the post sticker, add text, stickers, music or a poll.
- Tap Your story (or Close friends) to publish.
How to repost a Story you are tagged in
- When someone mentions you in their Story, you receive a DM notification: "[user] mentioned you in their story."
- Open the DM and tap Add this to your story.
- Customise as needed, then tap Your story to share. The original account is credited via a tappable sticker.
How to repost a Story you are NOT tagged in
Instagram has no native way to reshare a Story you were not mentioned in. Your options: (1) ask the creator to tag you so you get the DM prompt, or (2) screenshot/screen-record the Story and repost it manually with a clear @credit (only if you have permission). Never reshare a Story from a private account without consent.
Method 3: Reposting Reels and posts to your feed (grid)
The native button files reposts in a separate tab, not your main grid. If you specifically want someone's Reel or post on your permanent feed — common for curator, meme and brand accounts — you still need a repost app or manual upload.
How to repost a Reel to your feed with a repost app
- On the Reel, tap the paper-plane icon and choose Copy link.
- Open your chosen repost app (see the table below) and paste the link.
- The app downloads the Reel with an attribution watermark; save it to your camera roll.
- In Instagram, tap + → Reel, select the saved clip, trim if needed.
- Write a caption that credits the creator (e.g. "📹 via @creator"), then Share.
For a static feed post, the flow is the same except you choose + → Post. Always crop carefully so you do not cut off the creator's username if it appears on-image.
Method 4: Manual screenshot / save-and-repost
When no app and no native button is available — or you simply want full control over the crop — the manual method always works. It is the original way people reposted on Instagram, and it is still useful for edge cases.
How to screenshot and repost a photo to your feed
- Open the post and take a screenshot (or use the screen-record button for video).
- Crop the screenshot to remove the Instagram UI (header, like/comment bar), keeping the image clean.
- Tap + → Post and select the cropped image.
- Apply minimal editing — do not alter the creator's content.
- Tag the creator in the photo and @mention them in your caption, with their permission.
- Tap Share.
Because the manual method strips automatic attribution, crediting is on you. Tag the original account in both the image and the caption to stay ethical and avoid copyright complaints.
Method 5: Reposting your own content
Reposting is not only for other people's content. Recycling your own evergreen posts, Reels and Stories is a smart, low-effort way to reach followers who missed them the first time — a core tactic in any social media marketing calendar.
- Re-share to Story: open your old post, tap the paper-plane icon → Add to story to resurface it for current followers.
- Repurpose a feed post into a Reel: save the original, add motion or trending audio, and re-upload as a Reel for the algorithm's preferred format.
- Re-post top performers: after a few months, re-upload a high-performing post as fresh content with an updated caption — new context, same proven creative.
- Cross-post: share the same asset to Stories, feed and Reels to maximise the reach of one piece of content.
How to repost to Stories vs Feed vs Reels (at a glance)
Each placement has a different native path. Use this quick map so you never tap the wrong icon again.
- To a Story: paper-plane icon → Add to story (temporary, auto-credited).
- To your feed/grid: repost app or manual upload (permanent, manual credit) — the native button sends posts to the Reposts tab, not the grid.
- To Reels: native Repost button for sharing as-is, or download & re-upload for a permanent grid Reel; use Remix when you want to respond rather than just share.
How to give credit when reposting on Instagram
Credit is the difference between flattering reposting and content theft. The native button handles attribution for you, but every manual method requires you to credit the source clearly. Best practice:
- Tag in the image: tap the photo when uploading and tag the original @account.
- @mention in the caption: open the caption with "Repost from @creator" or "📸 via @creator."
- Keep watermarks intact: never crop out an existing username or logo on the content.
- Add the creator sticker on Stories so viewers can tap straight to their profile.
- Ask first: a quick DM requesting permission protects you legally and builds goodwill.
Reposting etiquette, copyright and permissions
Under copyright law, the person who created a photo, video or Reel owns it — even after they post it publicly. Instagram's own guidance on reposting stresses that reposting does not transfer ownership, and the platform's Terms require you to respect others' rights. Follow these rules to repost safely:
- Get permission for anything beyond a native repost or a tagged-Story reshare, especially for commercial use.
- Respect "reposting off": if a creator disabled reposts, do not work around it with apps or screenshots.
- Never repost private accounts without explicit consent.
- Do not pass content as your own — missing or buried credit can trigger a copyright report and an account strike.
- Avoid high-volume manual reposting, which Instagram's systems can flag as spam and shadowban.
Best Instagram repost apps in 2026
Since the native button launched, third-party repost apps are mostly for edge cases — feed-to-grid reposts, Story-to-feed conversions and bulk curation. These remain the most reliable options.
| App | Platform | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Repost for Instagram | iOS & Android | One-tap reposts with auto-attribution | Free / Pro |
| Regrann | Android | Repost with scheduling & bulk | Free / Pro |
| Repost: For Instagram (Reposta) | iOS | Clean watermark placement | Free / Pro |
| Later | Web & mobile | UGC curation + scheduling for brands | Paid |
| Buffer / Hootsuite | Web & mobile | Team workflows, multi-account reposting | Paid |
For business accounts, a scheduling tool like Later or Buffer is often better than a single-purpose repost app because it folds reposting into a wider content marketing workflow with approvals and analytics.
How brands use reposting and user-generated content (UGC)
For brands, reposting is a UGC growth engine. Resharing customer photos, reviews and tagged Reels gives you a steady stream of authentic content while making fans feel seen — and UGC reliably converts better than polished brand ads. A few proven plays:
- Branded hashtag campaigns: invite customers to post with #YourBrand, then repost the best entries (with permission).
- Story highlights of UGC: repost tagged Stories into a "Loved by customers" highlight for social proof.
- Reels remixes: respond to fan Reels with a Remix to boost reach and community.
- Pair with paid: turn your best-performing UGC reposts into Instagram ads for higher trust and lower cost-per-click.
Reposting also pairs naturally with a strong profile — if you are refreshing your account, our guide to writing Instagram bios helps the new followers a viral repost sends you actually convert. And because timing affects reach, the same scheduling discipline behind the best time to post on TikTok applies to Instagram reposts too.
Troubleshooting: why can't I repost on Instagram?
- No repost icon? The account is private, the creator disabled reposts, or your app is out of date — update Instagram from the App Store / Play Store.
- "Add to story" missing? The original account has restricted resharing, or the post is from a private profile.
- Repost has no sound? Some licensed audio cannot be reshared in certain regions; share the original link instead.
- Repost app not working? Re-copy the link directly from the paper-plane menu, not the browser URL bar.
- Worried about reach? Reposts can earn slightly less reach than originals, so add your own commentary and do not let reposts crowd out original content.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you repost on Instagram natively?
Yes. Instagram has a native repost button (two circular arrows) on public feed posts and Reels. Tap it, add optional commentary and confirm — the post appears in your followers' feeds and a Reposts tab with the creator credited automatically.
How do you repost someone's post to your Instagram feed?
The native button sends reposts to a separate Reposts tab, not your main grid. To put a post on your permanent feed, use a repost app or manually save and re-upload the content, always crediting the original creator with a tag and caption @mention.
How do you repost an Instagram Story?
If you are tagged, open the DM notification and tap "Add this to your story." If you are not tagged, ask the creator to tag you, or screenshot it and repost manually with credit and permission.
Does reposting notify the original creator?
Yes for the native repost button and for tagged-Story reshares — Instagram notifies and credits the creator automatically. Manual screenshot or app-based reposts do not notify them, so you must add credit yourself.
Is it legal to repost on Instagram?
Reposting public content with credit is generally accepted etiquette, but the creator still owns the copyright. For anything beyond a native or tagged-Story repost — especially commercial use — get explicit permission to stay on the right side of copyright law.
How do I stop others from reposting my content?
In Settings → Sharing and reposts, turn off "Allow reposts," or set your account to private. This removes the repost button from your public posts and Reels.
Turn reposting into real Instagram growth
Reposting on Instagram is easy once you know which method fits each format — native button for posts and Reels, Share to Story for amplification, apps for the grid, and good credit throughout. Turning those reposts into followers and sales is the harder part. At D'Marketing Agency, our team builds UGC-driven Instagram strategies, content calendars and paid campaigns that compound. Explore our social media marketing services or request a free quote using the form on this page to get started.
