How to Delete a Repost on Instagram

Accidentally reposted something that doesn’t quite fit your feed or just want to tidy up your profile? Removing a repost on Instagram is simple, but the exact steps depend on how you reposted it in the first place. This guide will walk you through deleting reposts from your Feed and Stories, handling collaboration posts, and managing what happens when others share your content.

Understanding "Reposts" on Instagram

Unlike platforms like X (formerly Twitter) or Facebook, Instagram doesn't have a single, native "repost" or "share" button for the main feed. Because of this, users have found clever ways to share content, and the term "repost" can refer to a few different actions. For this guide, we'll cover the most common ones:

• Posting a Screenshot or Using a Repost App: This is when you manually capture an image of someone's post and upload it to your own feed, often crediting the original creator in the caption.
• Sharing a Post or Reel to Your Story: This is a built-in Instagram feature that lets you temporarily share someone else's (or your own) content on your Story for 24 hours. The Story links directly back to the original post.
• Accepting a Collaboration Request: This is when another user invites you to be a co-creator on a post. Once you accept, the same post appears on both of your profile grids and shares the same likes and comments.

Figuring out which type of repost you're dealing with is the first step. From there, the solution is just a few taps away.

How to Delete a Repost from Your Instagram Feed

If the reposted content appears on your permanent profile grid, it's likely either a screenshot you uploaded or a collaboration post you joined. The deletion process is slightly different for each.

Scenario 1: You Used a Screenshot or a Repost App

When you take a screenshot of another user’s post and upload it to your feed, Instagram treats it just like any other photo or video you've published yourself. You have full control over it and can delete it permanently at any time.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Go to your profile. Tap your profile picture in the bottom-right corner of the Instagram app.
2. Find the post. Scroll through your grid to locate the reposted image or video you want to remove.
3. Open the post. Tap on the thumbnail to view it full-screen.
4. Access the menu. Tap the three-dot icon (…) in the top-right corner of the post.
5. Select "Delete." A menu will pop up from the bottom. Choose the red Delete option.
6. Confirm the deletion. Instagram will ask you to confirm. Tap Delete again to finish the process.

A helpful tip: If you change your mind, you haven't lost the post forever just yet. Instagram keeps deleted content in a "Recently Deleted" folder for 30 days. You can access this through Settings and Privacy >,, Your Activity >,, Recently Deleted to restore the post if needed.

Scenario 2: Removing Yourself from a Collaboration Post

Collaboration posts are a fantastic tool for reach, but sometimes partnerships change or the content no longer aligns with your brand. Unlike a regular post, you don't "delete" a collab post. Instead, you "stop sharing" it. This removes the post from your profile grid but allows it to remain on the original creator's profile.

Here are the steps to remove yourself as a collaborator:

1. Find the Collab post on your grid. Navigate to your profile and find the collaborative post.
2. Open the post and its menu. Tap on the post to open it, then tap the three-dot icon (…) at the top right.
3. Choose "Stop Sharing." You'll see this option in the pop-up menu. Tap on it.
4. Confirm. A confirmation message will appear, explaining that this will remove the post from your profile. Tap Stop Sharing to confirm.

The post will immediately disappear from your profile grid and your name will be removed from the post's header. The likes and comments will remain attached to the post on the original creator's account.

How to Delete a Repost from Your Instagram Story

Sharing posts and Reels to your Story is an incredibly common way to show support or share interesting content. Because Stories are temporary by nature, sometimes you just want to remove one before its 24-hour cycle is complete. Luckily, this is very easy to do, and the process is the same whether you shared a feed post, a Reel, or an image you took yourself.

Follow these quick steps:

1. Open Your Story. From the Instagram home feed, tap on your profile picture at the top-left of the screen (it will have a colored ring around it if your Story is active).
2. Find the correct slide. If you have multiple slides in your Story, tap on the right side of the screen to cycle through them until you land on the repost you want to delete.
3. Open the "More" menu. While viewing the Story, tap the three-dot icon labeled "More" in the bottom-right corner.
4. Select "Delete." Tap the Delete option from the menu.
5. Confirm your choice. A pop-up will ask if you're sure. Tap Delete to remove the slide from your Story immediately.

That's it! The shared post will no longer be visible to your followers.

What to Do if You Can't Delete a Repost

Sometimes, the repost you want removed isn't on your own account. This situation requires a different approach, as you don't have direct control. Here's a breakdown of your options.

When Someone Else Reposts Your Content

Seeing your photo or video on someone else's feed without your permission can be frustrating. You can't just delete it yourself, but you're not out of options.

1. The Direct and Friendly Approach

The best first step is always to send a polite direct message. Often, people share content with good intentions and don't realize they've crossed a boundary. Just reach out and kindly ask them to take it down.

You could say something like: “Hey! Thanks for sharing my photo on your feed. I appreciate the love, but I’d prefer to keep my content on my own profile. Would you mind deleting it? Thanks so much for understanding!”

In most cases, this is enough to resolve the issue without any conflict.

2. File a Copyright Report

If the person refuses to remove your content or simply doesn't respond, your next option is to report the post for copyright infringement. When you post an original photo or video, you own the copyright to it. Reposting it without your permission is a violation of Instagram's terms of service.

You can find the option to report a post by tapping the three-dot icon and selecting Report. Follow the on-screen prompts for "Intellectual property violation." Instagram has a dedicated form to handle these claims. While it's a more serious step, it's an effective tool for protecting your work.

Controlling Who Can Reshare Your Content in the Future

Want to prevent your content from being reposted to other people's Stories in the first place? Instagram provides privacy settings that give you more control.

How to Turn Off Story Resharing for Your Posts

1. Navigate to your profile and tap the three-line menu (☰) in the top-right corner.
2. Tap on Settings and Privacy.
3. Scroll down to the "How others can interact with you" section and select Sharing and Remixes.
4. Here you will see several toggles. To stop people from sharing your feed posts to their Stories, turn off the toggle for Allow post sharing to stories.

This setting change won't affect older posts that have already been shared, but it will prevent anyone from sharing your future feed posts into their own Stories.

Branding and Curation: Why You Might Delete a Repost

Knowing how to delete a repost is one thing, but knowing why is just as important for building a strong brand on social media. Your Instagram feed is your digital storefront, and every piece of content contributes to your overall message and aesthetic.

Here are a few strategic reasons why content creators and marketers remove reposted content:

• Maintaining a Cohesive Aesthetic: A repost might clash with your carefully curated color palette, filter style, or overall visual theme. Removing it helps keep your feed looking professional and consistent.
• Outdated Information: If you reposted about a limited-time sale, event, or promotion, deleting it after the fact prevents confusion and ensures your profile remains current.
• Brand Evolution: Brands and creators grow over time. A post you shared a year ago might not align with your current brand voice, values, or target audience. Curating your feed to reflect who you are now is a smart move.
• Poor Performance: Sometimes a post just doesn't resonate with your audience. While not essential, some creators prefer to remove low-performing posts to ensure their grid highlights their most engaging content.

Final Thoughts

Deleting a reposted piece of content on Instagram is straightforward once you identify how it was shared. Whether you're decluttering your feed, removing a temporary Story, or ending a collaboration, the options are simple and give you total control over what appears on your profile and represents your brand.

Thinking carefully about what appears on your profile is just as important as knowing how to remove it after the fact. At Postbase, we designed our platform with a visual calendar that lets you see a bird’s-eye view of your content strategy before anything ever goes live. Planning your feed, Reels, and Stories together in Postbase helps you schedule with confidence, spot potential content gaps, and maintain a consistent brand look from the very start, which saves you countless hours in the long run.