How to Enable Add to Story on Instagram

Struggling to find the Add post to story button when you want to share something on Instagram? It's a common problem, and thankfully, there's usually a simple reason behind it. This guide will walk you through exactly why you might not be seeing the share option, how to fix it when you can, and provide some clever workarounds when you can't.

First Things First: Understanding Why You Can't Add to Story

Before diving into a million settings, know that the most common reason you can't share someone's post to your Story is because of their settings, not yours. The platform gives users full control over whether their content can be reshared this way. Here are the three main barriers you'll run into.

1. Their Account is Private

This one is the most straightforward. If an Instagram account is set to "Private," you cannot share any of their posts or Reels to your Story. It doesn't matter if you follow them or if they follow you back, private content is designed to stay within its approved audience and cannot be broadcast publicly via re-shares. There’s no setting to change and no trick to bypass this - it's a core privacy feature of the platform.

2. They Have Manually Disabled Re-Sharing

For public accounts, this is the most likely culprit. Instagram users can choose to block others from sharing their feed posts to Stories. When this setting is turned off, the "Add post to story" button simply disappears for everyone who tries to share their content. It’s a deliberate choice by the creator, and you just have to respect it.

Want to make sure your own posts are shareable? Here’s how to check and enable the setting for your account:

• Step 1: Go to your Instagram profile and tap the three horizontal lines (hamburger menu) in the top-right corner.
• Step 2: Tap on Settings and privacy.
• Step 3: Scroll down to the “How others can interact with you” section and select Sharing and remixes.
• Step 4: Look for the "Allow others to share your posts to their stories" toggle. Make sure this is switched on (blue).

When this setting is on, anyone on Instagram will be able to add your public feed posts to their Story. Remember, this only applies to your feed posts - your Stories are handled a bit differently.

3. You Were Mentioned in Their Story (And You're Looking in the Wrong Place)

If someone tags you in their Story, you get a notification and the chance to repost it to your *own* Story. This creates a powerful, collaborative moment. However, the option to reshare doesn't appear under the original Story itself. Instead, it gets delivered directly to your DMs.

Here’s how to find it and share it:

1. When someone tags you in their Story, you’ll receive a DM notification from them that says "Mentioned you in their story."
2. Open the message. You'll see a preview of their Story with a prominent button that says Add to your story.
3. Tap that button, and it will take you to the Story editor, where their post appears embedded. You can resize it, move it around, and add your own text, GIFs, or stickers before publishing.

Keep in mind, you only have 24 hours to reshare a Story you're mentioned in before their original one expires.

How to Share Your Own Feed Posts to Your Story

One of the most valuable uses of the "Add to story" feature is promoting your own content. It’s an effective way to let your followers know you have a new post up, revive an old one, or simply drive more eyeballs to your grid. The process is simple and reliable.

• Go to your profile and tap on the feed post you want to feature.
• Tap the paper airplane icon (the send/share button) directly below the post.
• A menu will slide up from the bottom. The first option should be a button with your profile picture that says Add to your story.
• Tap this to open the Instagram Story editor. Your post will appear as a sticker.
• Customize your Story! You can resize the post, tap it to switch between simple and detailed views, and add text like "New Post!" or an engagement sticker to draw people in.

Creative Workarounds: How to Share When the Button Is Missing

So what do you do when the original account is public, but sharing is disabled? While you can't officially reshare the post, there are ways to showcase it - as long as you give proper credit. The golden rule is always, always tag the original creator. It’s about etiquette and respect.

Method 1: The Screenshot Method (For Photos)

This is the classic workaround. It's quick, simple, and gets the job done.

1. Navigate to the Instagram post you want to share.
2. Take a clean screenshot of the post. It's good practice to crop out any distracting elements like your phone’s status bar or the app’s navigation icons at the bottom.
3. Open your Instagram Story creator and choose the screenshot from your camera roll.
4. This is the most important step: Use the "Mention" sticker (or just the regular text tool) to prominently tag the original creator's username (e.g., @creatorname). This makes it easy for your viewers to check out the original account and ensures you’re crediting them for their work.
5. Add your own commentary. Explain why you're sharing the post - what you like in it, how it inspired you, or why your audience would love it too.

The only downside is that a screenshot doesn't link directly back to the original post, but a clear tag is the next best thing.

Method 2: The Screen Recording Method (For Videos &, Reels)

If you want to share a Reel or video post that has sharing disabled, you can use your phone’s built-in screen recording feature.

1. Start your phone's screen recording (you can usually find this in your quick settings or control center).
2. Open the Instagram app and play the video you want to share. Make sure it plays clearly from start to finish.
3. Stop the recording. It will save as a video file in your phone’s gallery.
4. Use your phone's photo editor to trim the beginning and end of the clip, so it only shows the actual video content.
5. Upload the trimmed video to your Instagram Story.
6. Just like with screenshots, you must give credit. Add a large, visible "Mention" sticker with the creator's username so it’s easy to find and doesn’t get hidden by the Instagram user interface.

Best Practices for Re-Sharing Content to Your Story

Sharing content to your Story is a great community-building activity. Doing it thoughtfully will make your efforts much more effective.

• Add Your Own Perspective: Don't just mindlessly reshare. Tell your audience why you’re showing them this. Add a text overlay with your takeaways, use the Poll sticker to ask a question about it, or run a Quiz. Turn the reshare into an interactive moment.
• Tag Generously and Clearly: We’ve said it before, but it bears repeating. Always tag the creator! Don't make the tag tiny or hide it under a GIF. It should be obvious that you’re amplifying someone else’s work.
• Showcase Your Community (UGC): One of the best ways to build a strong brand is to share user-generated content (UGC). If a customer posts a photo of your product, ask for permission and share it to your Story! It shows you’re listening and turns loyal customers into enthusiastic advocates.
• Switch Up the Design: In the Story editor, tap the reshared post sticker to toggle its appearance. You can also press and hold on the background to select a solid color that matches your brand or the post itself for a cleaner, more professional look.

Using the "Add to Story" feature - whether for your own posts or others' - is about more than just filling your content calendar. It's about connection, curation, and community.

Final Thoughts

Ultimately, your ability to share a post to your Instagram Story usually depends on the original user's account and sharing settings. If an account is public and has resharing enabled, you're good to go, otherwise, you'll need to use a respectful workaround like a screenshot with a clear creator tag. And never forget that sharing your own posts is a simple but powerful tactic for boosting their reach.

Balancing original Stories, collaborative content, and resharing your own posts can feel like a lot to manage. To help bring all of those pieces together into a cohesive strategy, we created Postbase. Our visual content calendar shows you everything at a glance - from Reels and feed posts to Stories - making it easy to see where your reshared content fits and where you might have gaps. Since it’s built specifically for modern social media, planning for video-first content feels natural, saving you from the headache of juggling a complex schedule of what to post and when.