How to Share a Post on Instagram

Instagram is one of the biggest social media platforms, and knowing how to share a post on Instagram is key. 

But it’s not always easy especially if you’re new to the app. 

There are many ways to share your own or share someone’s posts but I’ll break it all down step by step so you can share your fave content. 

Along the way, I’ll throw in some tips, facts, and even a comparison table to help you follow along.

How to Share a Post on Instagram app

sharing instagram post

Sharing on the Instagram app is more complicated than other platforms like Facebook or Twitter so it’s worth learning the ways to do it.

Sharing posts whether your own or share someone’s post helps you connect with others. It’s a way to express yourself, build a brand, or keep up with friends and trends. 

Share Your Posts

Your own posts are the easiest to share but here are a few tips to make them better:

  • Use hashtags: Hashtags like #InstaDaily or #ThrowbackThursday help more people see your post.
  • Tag friends: If your post includes someone else, tag them. It makes the post more interactive.
  • Add a location: If you’re somewhere cool, tag your location. It gives context and could help to add post and get noticed by people in the same area.

Share to Feed

When you want to share your own photo or video on Instagram here’s how:

  1. Tap the “+” Icon: It’s at the top of your screen.
  2. Choose Your Photo/Video: Pick from your gallery or take a new one.
  3. Edit: Instagram lets you edit your photo with filters, adjust brightness, or add captions. Spend a minute here; good edits get noticed.
  4. Share: When you’re ready hit “Share” and your post will be in your feed.

That’s it! Easy peasy for your content.

Sharing Feed Post 

To share feed posts is the most common way to interact with Instagram. 

A feed post is permanent and visible to everyone who follows you and can show up in the Explore tab if your content gets enough traction. 

Share Instagram feed posts offer a lot of creative possibilities-photos, carousels, and even videos up to 10 minutes long. 

The big advantage of a share feed posts is its longevity-unlike Stories that disappear in 24 hours, a feed post stays on your profile and your followers can see it unless you choose to delete it.

When sharing feed posts think about aesthetics and timing. A well-edited photo with a good caption can get more engagement. 

The best time to post varies based on your audience but studies say engagement is highest in the evening or early morning​.

How to Share Instagram Post to Story

If you don’t want to post to your feed, you can share content on Instagram Stories

Stories only last 24 hours but are right at the top of the Instagram lite app so they’re hard to miss.

Here’s how you can share your Story:

  1. Open Instagram and swipe right to open the Stories camera.
  2. Take a photo or video or choose one from your gallery (it must be from the past 24 hours).
  3. Add some fun stuff like stickers, text, or music to it.
  4. Share to Your Story: Tap “Your Story” and it’ll go live for your followers to see.

How to Repost Someone Else’s Content to Your Feed 

Instagram doesn’t have a built-in option to repost someone’s content to your feed like Twitter’s retweet function. But with third-party apps, you can repost images and videos. 

Here’s how to do that:

  1. Get a Repost App: Download apps like Repost+ (iOS) or Regram (Android). These apps help you share someone else’s posts easily.
  2. Find the post you want to share: Go to Instagram, tap the three dots on the post, and select “Copy Link.”
  3. Open the repost Instagram app: Paste the link and the Instagram Lite app will load the content.
  4. Customize and Share: The reposting app lets you add filters, change captions, and more before sharing. Once you’re ready, post it back to your Instagram feed.

How to Share Someone’s Post on Instagram Story

Instagram recently added the ability to share someone’s post to your Story. 

Nice way to share someone else’s content but you have to be aware of the original poster’s privacy settings.

This is the way to do it:

  1. Find the post: Swipe through your Instagram feed posts until you find the post you want to share.
  2. Tap the Paper Airplane Icon: It’s below the photo, next to the comment and like buttons.
  3. Choose “Add Post to Your Story”: This will add the post and allow you to add to your Story.
  4. Customize it: Add stickers, text, or GIFs to make it your own.
  5. Share: Hit “Your Story” and it’ll be in your Story for 24 hours.

Note: You can only share public posts to your Story.

Sharing Instagram Posts via DM

share a post on insta

Sometimes you just want to share a post privately. Instagram app lets you do this via direct messages (DMs). 

Follow these steps:

  1. Find the post: Whether it’s in your feed or on someone’s profile, find the post you want to send.
  2. Tap the Paper Airplane Icon: Just like sharing to Stories, tap the icon.
  3. Choose a friend: Select the person or group you want to send to.
  4. Send: Tap “Send” and the post will be in their DMs.

Sharing via DMs is perfect for sending funny memes or important news privately.

Comparison Table: Sharing on Instagram vs. Other Platforms

PlatformEase of SharingTypes of SharingCustomizationPermanent Posts
InstagramMediumStories, Feed, DirectHighFeed Only
FacebookEasyFeed, Story, GroupsMediumFeed, Timeline
TwitterEasyRetweets, Quotes, FeedLowFeed Only
PinterestEasyPins, BoardsMediumBoards

As you can see, Instagram has more options but also some limitations compared to Facebook where sharing is way easier.

Why Instagram Sharing Etiquette Matters

It’s not just about how to share posts – it’s about how to share posts respectfully. Whether you’re resharing someone’s Story or reposting to your feed, always follow these etiquette rules:

  • Always ask for permission: It’s tempting to share a cool post you see but ask first.
  • Credit the creator: Tag them in the caption or use a repost Instagram lite app that adds credit automatically.
  • Don’t spam: Be selective about what you share. You don’t want to flood your followers with too much content.

Conclusion

Sharing on Instagram is way more fun when you know the rules of how to share a post on Instagram

Whether you’re posting to your feed or stories, or sending in a DM, Instagram has flexibility – but with some limitations like needing permission to repost. 

Just remember when you share someone else’s post, always give credit and follow Instagram etiquette.

Sharing can be so much more fun when you know the options. One thing people forget is the impact of buying Instagram comments on shared posts. 

If you’re sharing something important like a promo or collaboration, buying real Instagram comments can increase interaction and visibility, making your shared post stand out more in your followers’ feeds. 

Frequently Asked Questions

how to share a post

How do I share someone else’s post on Instagram?

To share someone else’s post to your Instagram Story, find the post you want to share and tap the paper airplane icon below the post. 

From the options that appear, select “Add Post to Your Story”. You can add stickers, text, or GIFs and then tap “Your Story” to share it.

Why can’t I share someone’s post on Instagram?

You can’t share someone’s post if their account is private or they’ve disabled the option for others to share their posts. Only a public account allows their posts to be shared and Instagram users can turn off this feature in their privacy settings.

How do I forward an Instagram post?

Tap the paper airplane icon below the post, select a friend or group from your DM list, and hit send.

How to do a collab post on Instagram?

For a collab post, Instagram allows you to co-author a post or reel sharing. When you create a post, you can tag another account as a collaborator. 

They’ll get an invite and once they accept, the post will show up on both profiles and their shared followers will see it. This way you will increase the number of followers who can see your content. 

Why can’t I share an Instagram post to a story?

If you can’t share a post to your story, it might be because the originally posted content is from a private account or the poster has disabled sharing posts in their settings. 

Only share posts from a public account with sharing enabled can be added to stories.

How do I share someone’s Instagram post to my story?

To share someone else’s post to your story, tap the paper airplane icon below the post. 

Select “Add Post to Your Story,” add text or stickers if you want, and tap “Your Story” to share.

How do I enable share posts on my Instagram stories?

To allow others to share your originally posted content to their stories, go to your Instagram profile, tap sharing the three lines at the top right to open Settings, then go to Privacy > Story and make sure the option “Allow Resharing to Stories” is turned on.

How do I share a photo to Instagram story?

Swipe right from your home screen or tap sharing your profile picture in the Stories section. You can take a new photo or select one from your camera roll. 

Then add text, stickers, or filters and tap “Your Story” to share.

Luka L.

Luka Lucheski is a digital marketing strategist and content creator with over 5 years of experience in social media growth and engagement. As a leading writer at SidesMedia, Luka has helped brands increase their online visibility through data-driven content strategies featured in top marketing publications. Committed to delivering accurate and relevant insights, Luka blends creativity with analytics to provide readers with actionable advice.

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