How to Post a Whole TikTok on an Instagram Story

You've created an amazing TikTok that's too good not to share, but hit a wall trying to get the entire thing onto your Instagram Story. You're not alone - Instagram's 60-second Story limit chops off any video that runs longer. This guide will show you exactly how to post your whole TikTok on your Instagram Story, seamlessly and without losing a second of your hard work.

Why Can't I Just Upload My 3-Minute TikTok?

This is the most common point of confusion, so let's clear it up. Instagram Stories are designed for short, snappy content. While the platform automatically slices videos into 15-second segments, it imposes a hard cap of 60 seconds for a single video upload. If you try to upload a video that's, say, 90 seconds long, Instagram will only use the first 60 seconds and discard the rest. It won't automatically create a second Story post to continue the video.

This means if you want your audience on Instagram to see your full multi-minute TikTok masterpiece, you have to take matters into your own hands. Don't worry, the process is straightforward once you know the steps.

Step 1: Save Your TikTok Video to Your Phone

First things first, you need a copy of the video file on your device. You have two main options here, each with its own pros and cons.

Method 1: Save Directly From TikTok (With Watermark)

This is the quickest way to get your video. It's simple and doesn't require any outside apps.

• Open the TikTok app and navigate to the video on your profile.
• Tap the three-dot icon (...) on the right side of the screen.
• Select "Save video" from the options that appear at the bottom.

The video will download to your phone's camera roll. The main drawback is that it will include the TikTok watermark, which floats around the video and displays your username. While it's great branding, Instagram's algorithm is known to sometimes reduce the reach of content that clearly originates from a competing platform.

Method 2: Use a Third-Party App (Without Watermark)

For a cleaner, more native look on Instagram, you can remove the watermark before downloading. This requires an extra step but results in a more professional appearance.

1. On your TikTok video, tap the "Share" icon (the arrow).
2. Select "Copy link."
3. Open your web browser and go to a TikTok downloader website like SnapTik or SSSTikTok. These services are generally free to use.
4. Paste the video link into the provided field and hit the download button.
5. Choose the option to download without a watermark. The video file will save to your phone, looking clean and ready for Instagram.

Step 2: Split Your Video into 60-Second Clips

This is the most important step in the process. Since Instagram won't handle a video longer than one minute, you need to manually split your TikTok into 60-second (or shorter) segments. For example, if your TikTok is 2 minutes and 30 seconds long, you will create three separate clips:

• Clip 1: 0:00 - 1:00
• Clip 2: 1:00 - 2:00
• Clip 3: 2:00 - 2:30

Here are a few ways to slice up your video easily.

Using Your Phone's Built-In Editor

You can do this right from your phone's photo library without needing to download another app.

For iPhone Users:

1. Go to the Photos app and open the downloaded TikTok video.
2. Tap "Edit" in the top-right corner.
3. At the bottom, you'll see the video timeline. Drag the handles at the beginning and end to trim the video. For your first clip, drag the right handle to the 1:00 mark.
4. Tap "Done" in the bottom-right and select "Save Video as New Clip." This is very important - you want to save a new file, not overwrite your original.
5. Repeat the process for the next segment. Open the original, full-length video again, tap "Edit," and this time, drag the left handle to the 1:00 mark and the right handle to the 2:00 mark. Save it as a new clip.
6. Continue until you've sliced up the entire video.

For Android Users:

1. Open your video in an app like Google Photos or your phone's default Gallery app.
2. Find and tap the "Edit" button.
3. You'll see a timeline where you can drag the start and end points of the video. Trim your first clip to be from the beginning to the 1:00 mark.
4. Tap "Save copy." This ensures your original video file remains untouched.
5. Go back to the original video and repeat, this time trimming from the 1:00 to the 2:00 mark.
6. Keep doing this for each one-minute segment of your video.

Using a Free Video Editing App

If you prefer more precision or find your phone's native editor a bit clunky, apps like CapCut or InShot are great alternatives. The process is similar: import your full video, trim it down to the first 60 seconds, export that clip, and then repeat for the subsequent parts. These apps often offer more precise timeline controls, which can make it easier to get the perfect cut.

Step 3: Upload the Clips to Your Instagram Story

Once you have your neatly organized clips, it's time to post them. Instagram has a handy feature that makes this part painless and ensures your Story flows as a single, continuous video.

1. Open Instagram and swipe right to create a new Story.
2. Tap the preview of your photo gallery in the bottom-left corner to open your camera roll.
3. Look for the "Select Multiple" icon. It usually looks like a square layered on top of another square and is located in the top-right of your screen. Tap it.
4. Now, select your video clips in the correct order. Tap the clip for the first 60 seconds, then the clip for the second 60 seconds, and so on. This is where naming your files or just remembering the order helps.
5. Once all your clips are selected in sequence, tap "Next" in the bottom-right corner.

Instagram will now load each clip as a separate Story slide, ready for you to edit. You can add stickers, captions, polls, or GIFs to each 60-second segment just like you would with any other Story. When you're happy with your edits, simply post it to your Story. Your followers will be able to tap through and watch your entire TikTok from start to finish without interruption.

Tips For a Better Cross-Platform Post

Going the extra mile can make your repurposed content perform even better. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Customize Your Captions: After uploading, consider adding a text overlay on the first segment like, "Full TikTok video ahead!" or "Tap for the whole story." This lets people know there's more to watch and encourages them to stick around.
• Engage with Interactive Elements: Don't just post the video. Use Instagram's native features. Add a poll sticker on the first clip or a question box on the last one to drive engagement and make it feel like an Instagram-first experience.
• Add a Call-to-Action: On the very last segment of your Story, add a "Link" sticker that directs people to your TikTok profile with a prompt like, "Follow me on TikTok for more!" This turns your shared content into a tool for audience growth on another platform.
• Keep Your Branding Consistent: If you removed the TikTok watermark, make sure your content is still recognizable as yours. Use a similar font style or color palette that you use across your social media profiles.

Final Thoughts

Sharing your longer TikTok videos on your Instagram Story is completely doable once you get the hang of it. By saving the source video, slicing it into one-minute clips, and uploading them together in the right order, you can give your Instagram audience the full experience without being limited by the platform's constraints.

Doing this manual work of cross-posting content for every video can definitely add up, especially when you're managing multiple social profiles. That's precisely why we built Postbase with short-form video as a priority. You can visually plan your content across TikTok, Instagram Reels, and Stories in one beautiful calendar, schedule it to post reliably, and finally get your time back from the constant cycle of downloading and re-uploading.