How to Post a YouTube Video on Instagram Without Copyright

Thinking about posting a great YouTube video to your Instagram feed is easy, actually doing it without running into copyright issues is much harder. We’ve all been there: you find the perfect clip and want to share it, but the fear of a takedown notice or a shadowbanned account holds you back. This guide walks you through exactly how to share YouTube content on Instagram safely and effectively, so you can leverage great videos without putting your account at risk.

Why Is Sharing Videos So Complicated? Understanding the Copyright Basics

Both YouTube and Instagram have sophisticated, automated systems designed to find and flag copyrighted content. YouTube’s system is called Content ID, and Instagram has its own equivalent. These systems scan every upload, comparing video and audio against a massive database of registered copyrighted works.

If the system finds a match - whether it's a song, a movie clip, or another creator's video - it can trigger an automatic action:

• Your post could be taken down (the most common result).
• Your audio could be muted.
• The original copyright holder could monetize your video by placing ads on it (less common on Instagram).
• Your account could receive a copyright "strike," which, after a few violations, can lead to your account being permanently disabled.

The goal isn’t to find loopholes to "steal" content. It's about learning the rules so you can ethically and legally incorporate valuable video into your content strategy, whether it's your own or someone else's.

The Easiest and 100% Safest Method: The Link Sticker in Instagram Stories

If you're looking for a zero-risk way to share a YouTube video, this is it. By using a Link Sticker, you're not uploading the content to Instagram’s servers, you're simply directing your followers to the original video on YouTube. Both the platform and the original creator are happy with this arrangement.

How to Do It Step-by-Step:

1. Find the video on YouTube. Open the YouTube app or website and navigate to the video you want to share.
2. Copy the link. Tap the "Share" button beneath the video player and then select "Copy link."
3. Create an Instagram Story. Open Instagram and swipe right or tap the plus icon to start a new Story. Create your background - it can be a solid color, a relevant image, or even a short video of you talking about the link.
4. Use the Link Sticker. Tap the sticker icon (the smiley face in a square) at the top of the screen and select the "Link" sticker.
5. Paste your link. Paste the YouTube URL you copied earlier and customize the sticker text to make it more enticing. Instead of just the URL, try something like "Watch the Full Tutorial Here!" or "Click to See This Amazing Clip!"
6. Post it. Position the sticker on your Story and share it with your followers.

Pros: This method is completely safe from copyright infringement. It's also a great way to support other creators by driving traffic directly to their channels.

Cons: The engagement happens on YouTube, not your Instagram profile. Since users have to leave the app to view the content, they're less likely to return and engage further with your account.

Repurposing *Your Own* YouTube Content: The Gold Standard

Without a doubt, the best way to leverage YouTube videos on Instagram is to repurpose your own recordings. You own the copyright to your own work, so you can slice, dice, and repost it however you like. A single 15-minute YouTube video is a goldmine for Instagram content - it could be turned into multiple Reels, a carousel post, and several Stories.

This is how top creators build a multi-platform presence without creating brand-new content for every channel.

An Actionable Strategy for Repurposing Your Videos

1. Film with Repurposing in Mind When you're recording your next YouTube video, start thinking about potential Instagram moments. Film a few segments with your camera turned vertically, or make sure your main subject is centered in the frame. This makes it much easier to crop the widescreen 16:9 footage into a vertical 9:16 Reel without awkwardly cutting things off.
2. Edit for Instagram's Formats Once your YouTube video is done, it's time to create custom clips for Instagram. Your widescreen video needs to be adapted:
   • For Reels &, Stories: The ideal format is a vertical 9:16 aspect ratio. You can't just post a wide video with black bars on the top and bottom, it looks lazy and performs poorly. Use a video editor to create a vertical-first project.
   • For Feed Posts: A square 1:1 or portrait 4:5 aspect ratio works best. This gives you more room than a Reel but still requires you to crop your original footage.
   You can use simple mobile apps like CapCut or professional desktop software like Adobe Premiere Pro to easily reframe your video. Identify the most valuable 30-60 second highlights and turn them into standalone clips.
3. Add Instagram-Native Elements Don't just upload the trimmed clip. To make it feel native to Instagram, add a few extra touches:
   • On-Screen Captions: Most users scroll with their sound off. Adding bold, dynamic text captions is essential. Use Instagram’s built-in text feature or burn them directly into your video file with an editor.
   • Trending Audio: Here’s a popular trick: add a trending song from Instagram’s music library and turn its volume down to 1%. Keep your original audio at 100%. The algorithm may see your post as using trending audio and give it a slight visibility boost, but viewers will only hear your voice.
   • A Clear Call-to-Action (CTA): End your clip by telling people what you want them to do next. For example, add text that says, "Watch the full breakdown on my YouTube channel (link in bio)!"

Sharing Someone Else's Video: Approach with Caution

This is where things get tricky. Posting another person's content without their permission is copyright infringement, plain and simple. But what if you have a legitimate, value-driven reason to share a clip? There are responsible ways to approach this.

Option 1: Get Written Permission (The Golden Rule)

The safest and most respectful way to use another creator’s content is to ask them first. It's that simple. Find their contact information - usually in their YouTube channel’s "About" section or their Instagram bio - and send a clear, polite message.

Here’s a template you can adapt:

“Hi [Creator’s Name],

I’m a huge fan of your content - your latest video on [Topic] was brilliant! I think my Instagram audience (@yourhandle) would get a ton of value from the segment where you talk about [Specific Point]. Would you be okay with me creating a Reel with that specific 30-second clip? I’d give you full credit in the caption, tag your account in the post, and link to your full video in my Stories. Thanks!”

Most creators appreciate the exposure and will happily say yes. If they do, save a screenshot of their permission. If a copyright issue ever arises, you’ll have proof that you did your due diligence.

Option 2: Creating Truly Transformative Content and "Fair Use"

You may have heard of "Fair Use," a legal doctrine that allows the limited use of copyrighted material without permission for purposes like commentary, criticism, news reporting, and parody. However, do not assume your post qualifies as Fair Use. It's a highly subjective legal argument, not a free-for-all rule. Using a clip for your brand’s commercial Instagram account is very unlikely to be considered Fair Use.

A better way to think about it is through the lens of transformative content. Are you adding something new, original, and valuable to the clip, or are you just re-uploading it? To be transformative, your content has to be the main event.

Strategies for Creating Transformative Content:

• Stitch or Remix It: Create a Reel that responds to the YouTube clip. Record yourself offering a counter-argument, adding your own perspective, or expanding on their point. The clip you use should only be long enough to establish context.
• Create Commentary/Analysis: Use short sections of the video as evidence to support a larger point you're making. For example, if you're a financial advisor, you could analyze a 15-second clip of a famous investor giving advice, breaking down what they said for your audience.
• Always Give Full, Annoying Credit: If you venture into transformative content, "giving credit" is not enough. You must over-communicate where the original content came from. Mention their name and channel in your video, tag their account in the caption and the post itself, and direct people to their original work.

Technical How-To: Downloading and Crediting Properly

Once you’ve secured permission or have a solid transformative strategy, you need to actually get the video and post it.

Disclaimer: Downloading videos from YouTube is against their Terms of Service unless you have explicit permission from the copyright owner. The following is meant for users who have already obtained that permission.

1. Getting the Video Clip: The easiest way to do this is with a reputable web-based tool. Search for an "online YouTube video downloader," and you can typically just paste the URL to save the file. Screen recording is another option, though the quality can suffer.
2. Editing and Formatting: Use an editor (like CapCut) to trim the exact clip you have permission to use. Resize it to 9:16 for a Reel, add subtitles, and include any of your own commentary or branding.
3. Uploading with Flawless Crediting: Credit should be clear, obvious, and generous. Don’t hide it at the bottom of a long caption.
   • Good Caption: "Such an insightful breakdown on Reels performance from @[OriginalCreator]. We loved this point about captions! Watch their brilliant full video, titled ["Full Video Title"], on YouTube for a deeper look. #MarketingTips #[RelevantHashtag]"
   • Even Better: In addition to the caption, tag the creator's username in the photo/video itself so it appears on their "tagged in" tab.

By following these steps, you not only protect yourself but also build good relationships with other creators in your niche.

Final Thoughts

Posting YouTube videos on Instagram doesn't have to be a copyright minefield. The best and safest route is always to post your own rebranded content. For everything else, the key is respect: respect the original creator by getting permission, and respect the platforms by providing new, transformative value instead of just re-uploading someone else's hard work.

Building a consistent content strategy across YouTube and Instagram takes a lot of effort, especially when you're manually reformatting clips and managing different schedules for each. At Postbase, we designed a social media platform that makes this process feel effortless. You can schedule your repurposed YouTube clips as Reels, TikToks, and Shorts all at once, customizing the captions for each network from one simple view. We help you plan it all on one visual calendar, so you can stop juggling apps and finally get your time back. Check out what a modern, hassle-free scheduling tool looks like at Postbase.