How to Post a TikTok Video on an Instagram Story

Sharing your amazing TikTok video to your Instagram Story is a fantastic way to extend your content's reach, and it's simpler than you might think. This guide breaks down exactly how to do it - both the quick-and-easy way that includes the TikTok watermark and the cleaner, more professional method that removes it. You'll also learn the best practices for making your cross-posted content feel native and engaging, no matter where your audience sees it.

Why Share Your TikToks on Instagram Stories?

You spent time creating an amazing short-form video. Why limit its reach to just one platform? Cross-posting your TikToks to Instagram Stories isn't just about saving time, it's a strategic move that can significantly amplify your message and build your brand. By repurposing your best-performing videos, you get more mileage out of every piece of content you create.

Consider the audience overlap and differences. While many users are on both platforms, their consumption habits can vary. Someone might miss your video in the fast-scrolling "For You" page on TikTok but catch it while tapping through Stories on Instagram. This strategy allows you to capture attention across different environments, maximizing the chances of your content being seen.

Furthermore, it's an effective way to cross-promote your accounts. Sharing a successful TikTok to your Instagram Story can drive your Instagram followers over to your TikTok profile, and vice versa. It creates a cohesive brand presence across platforms and helps you build a community that follows you wherever you create content. Essentially, you're building a content ecosystem where each platform supports the other, creating a stronger, more resilient online presence without having to reinvent the wheel for every single post.

Understanding the TikTok Watermark

Before we get into the methods, let's talk about the watermark. When you download a video directly from TikTok after it's been published, a small, animated watermark appears, featuring the TikTok logo and the original creator's username. This is TikTok's way of ensuring that content creators get credit for their work as it travels across the internet.

However, from a marketing perspective, this can have a few downsides. First, it can look a little unprofessional and clearly signals that the content was made for another platform. More importantly, social media platforms tend to prefer native content. Instagram's algorithm, for example, is rumored to deprioritize videos in Reels that have a visible watermark from a competing app like TikTok. While Instagram hasn't explicitly said the same for Stories, it's a best practice to upload clean, un-watermarked content whenever possible. It makes your brand look more polished and ensures your content is treated as native to the platform it's on, potentially giving it a better shot at performing well.

Method 1: The Fast and Easy Way (With Watermark)

If you're in a hurry and don't mind the TikTok watermark, sharing directly from the TikTok app is incredibly straightforward. This is the perfect method for quick, in-the-moment shares where polish isn't the top priority.

Here's how to do it step-by-step:

• Step 1: Open TikTok and Find Your Video. Navigate to your profile and select the video you want to share to your Instagram Story.
• Step 2: Tap the 'Share' Icon. Look for the arrow icon, usually on the right-hand side of the screen. Tap on it to open the sharing menu.
• Step 3: Select 'Instagram Stories'. In the row of sharing options, you should see an icon for 'Stories' or 'Instagram Stories.' Tapping this will automatically prepare the video to be sent to your Instagram app.
• Step 4: Customize and Post. Your video will appear in the Instagram Story editor. You can now use all of Instagram's native Story editing tools to add custom text, stickers, GIFs, polls, or a link sticker. This is a great way to make the content feel more at home on Instagram.
• Step 5: Share to Your Story. Once you're happy with your additions, hit the "Your Story" button at the bottom, and you're all set.

Pro-Tip: Even when using this quick method, adding an interactive Instagram sticker, like a poll or a question box, can significantly boost engagement and make the shared content feel less like a simple hand-me-down from another app.

Method 2: Remove the Watermark for a Professional Look

For a sleeker, more professional appearance that feels completely native to Instagram, you'll want to post the video without the TikTok watermark. This requires an extra step, but the result is cleaner and generally considered the best practice for brand accounts and creators who prioritize a polished aesthetic. You have two main options here.

Option A: Save the Video BEFORE You Post It on TikTok

This is the simplest and safest way to get a watermark-free version of your video. The trick is to save it to your device during the posting process on TikTok.

1. Create and Edit Your Video in TikTok: Go through your entire creative process within the TikTok editor - add your sounds, effects, and text.
2. Proceed to the Publishing Screen: After editing, tap "Next." This takes you to the final screen where you write your caption and adjust settings.
3. Enable 'Save to Device': Before you hit "Post," look for "More options" or similar settings. Make sure the toggle for "Save to device" is turned ON.
4. Post Your Video to TikTok: Go ahead and publish your video. Because you enabled "Save to device," a clean version of the final video without the watermark will be automatically saved to your phone's camera roll or gallery.
5. Upload to Your Instagram Story: Now, open Instagram, swipe over to create a new Story, and swipe up to access your camera roll. Select the video you just saved, add any Instagram-specific edits, and share it. Voila - a clean, watermark-free version of your TikTok is now on your Story.

Option B: Use a Third-Party Tool to Download an Existing Video

What if you've already posted the video to TikTok and forgot to save it? In this case, you can use a third-party website or app to download the video without the watermark. Exercise caution here - stick to well-known, reputable services to avoid spam or security risks.

1. Copy the TikTok Video Link: Open TikTok and navigate to the video you want to download. Tap the "Share" icon and then select "Copy Link."
2. Find a TikTok Downloader Tool: Open your web browser and search for something like "TikTok video downloader without watermark." You'll find several websites that offer this service for free.
3. Paste the Link and Download: On one of these sites, you'll see a field where you can paste the video link you copied. Paste it in, hit the download button, and a watermark-free version of the video will be saved to your device.
4. Upload to Your Instagram Story: Just like with the previous method, open Instagram, start a new Story, and upload the video file you just downloaded from your camera roll.

Best Practices for Cross-Posting Effectively

Simply throwing your TikTok onto your Instagram Story isn't enough. To make your content truly effective, you need to optimize it for the platform and the audience. Here are some key best practices to follow:

• Customize in Instagram: Don't just post the raw video file. Use Instagram's rich set of features to add a native touch. A simple poll, a question sticker, or a relevant GIF can make all the difference in making the content feel a part of the Instagram experience.
• Check for UI Obstructions: Both TikTok and Instagram Stories use a 9:16 vertical format, which is perfect. However, be mindful of where Instagram places its user interface elements - like the reply bar at the bottom or your profile icon at the top. Before posting, make sure no important text or key visuals from your original TikTok are covered up.
• Drive Action with a CTA: What do you want your viewers to do after watching? Add a clear call-to-action (CTA). If you have access to the link sticker, you can direct viewers to your website, a product page, or even back to your TikTok profile with a prompt like "See more on TikTok!"
• Optimize Your Audio: Sound is critical to the TikTok experience, but many people watch Instagram Stories with the sound off. If your video relies on audio or a specific trending sound, consider adding on-screen text or captions to convey the message. You can do this in the TikTok editor or add them using Instagram's "Captions" sticker.
• Be Consistent: Create a content workflow. Instead of randomly sharing an old TikTok here and there, make it a regular part of your content strategy. For instance, you could share your best-performing TikTok of the week every Friday, creating a consistent piece of content that your audience can look forward to.

Final Thoughts

Sharing your TikToks to Instagram Stories is a powerful tactic for squeezing every drop of value from your content, allowing you to reach more people and build a stronger presence across platforms. By following the steps to remove the watermark and applying a few platform-specific tweaks, you can make your repurposed content look professional and feel perfectly at home on Instagram.

Of course, keeping up with a consistent posting schedule across multiple platforms can be a challenge. We built Postbase from the ground up to handle today's content formats, so you can upload a short-form video once and plan its release across TikTok, Reels, and Stories without constantly switching between apps or wrestling with tools built for a different era of social media. This turns a chaotic, manual process into a smooth, organized workflow, giving you your time back to focus on what matters most: creating great content.