How to Put a Twitter Video on an Instagram Story

You've stumbled upon the perfect video on Twitter - it's hilarious, relevant, and you know your Instagram followers would love it. But then you hit a wall: there's no Share to Instagram Story button. This guide breaks down exactly how to get any video from Twitter onto your Instagram Story, so you can share that amazing find without any technical headaches.

Why Sharing Twitter Videos on Instagram is a Smart Move

In social media marketing, content is currency, and not all of it has to originate on the platform where you post it. Repurposing a great video from Twitter onto your Instagram Story is more than just filling a content gap, it's a strategic play. It allows you to tap into conversations, memes, and viral moments happening elsewhere on the internet, keeping your content feed fresh and timely. Think of it as being the cool friend who's always in the know.

This strategy also helps with cross-pollination. When you credit a creator from Twitter, you're bridging audiences and showing that your brand is connected to a wider cultural conversation. For marketers and creators pressed for time, curating excellent content is just as valuable as creating it from scratch. It positions you as a trusted source of entertaining or informative content, which builds audience loyalty and trust. It's an efficient way to provide value without having to fire up your camera and editing software every single time.

The Challenge: Why You Can't Directly Share from Twitter to Instagram

The main reason you can't seamlessly share content between these two platforms is simple: they're competitors. Social media giants like Meta (owner of Instagram) and X (formerly Twitter) build "walled gardens." They want to keep users engaged within their own ecosystem for as long as possible, so they don't make it easy to send people - or their content - elsewhere.

Beyond the business reasons, there are technical differences. Instagram Stories are designed for a full-screen, vertical 9:16 aspect ratio. Twitter videos, on the other hand, are often square (1:1), landscape (16:9), or a mix of other dimensions. Simply crossposting wouldn't look good without some adjustments. To make that Twitter video look like it belongs on your Story, you first need to get the video file itself, and that requires an indirect approach.

Method 1: The Quick & Easy Way with Screen Recording

The fastest way to grab a Twitter video is to simply record your screen while it plays. It's built right into your phone, requires no third-party apps, and gets the job done in seconds. The quality won't be perfect, but for quick, timely posts, it's often more than enough.

Step-by-Step Guide for iPhone

If you're using an iPhone, the process is streamlined thanks to the built-in Screen Recording tool.

1. Activate Screen Recording: First, make sure the feature is accessible. Go to Settings >, Control Center and tap the green "+" icon next to "Screen Recording." This adds the record button to your Control Center.
2. Open the Video on Twitter (X): Launch the X app and find the video you want to share. Tap on it to make it full-screen so you don't capture other parts of the Twitter feed in your recording.
3. Start Recording: Swipe down from the top-right corner of your screen to open the Control Center. Tap the Screen Recording icon (a solid circle inside another circle). A three-second countdown will start before the recording begins. Quickly swipe up to hide the Control Center and let the video play.
4. Play the Video: Make sure the video plays from start to finish with the sound on. Your phone will capture everything on the screen, including the audio.
5. Stop Recording: Once the video is finished, tap the red timer in the top-left corner of your screen (or on the Dynamic Island for newer iPhones) and hit "Stop." The video will be automatically saved to your Photos app.
6. Trim the Clip: Open the video in your Photos app. Tap "Edit" in the top-right corner. You'll see a timeline at the bottom - drag the yellow handles at the beginning and end to trim out the parts where you're starting and stopping the recording. Tap "Done" and "Save Video." Your clean clip is now ready for Instagram.

Step-by-Step Guide for Android

Most modern Android phones also have a native screen recorder, typically found in the Quick Settings panel.

1. Find the Screen Recorder: Swipe down from the top of your screen to reveal the Quick Settings panel. Look for the "Screen Recorder" icon. If you don't see it, you may need to swipe left or tap the edit button to add it to your panel.
2. Open the Video on Twitter (X): Navigate to the video in the X app that you want to share. Get it ready to play.
3. Start Recording: Swipe down to open your Quick Settings and tap "Screen Recorder." A small recording toolbar or a countdown will likely appear. Choose to record with media sounds.
4. Play the Video: Hit play and let the video run its course. Try to get it in full-screen mode to avoid capturing unnecessary UI elements.
5. Stop Recording: When the video ends, tap the stop button on the floating recorder toolbar or access it again through your notification shade. The recording will be saved to your phone's gallery (often in a "Screen recordings" album).
6. Trim the Video: Open the video in your gallery or Google Photos app. Tap the "Edit" button and look for the trim or crop function. Adjust the sliders to cut out the beginning and end, then save the copy.

Pros and Cons of Screen Recording

• Pros: Insanely fast and convenient. It requires no additional apps or websites and is perfect for capturing time-sensitive content.
• Cons: The video quality is often lower than the original due to screen compression. You might accidentally capture on-screen notifications or UI elements, and it always requires extra trimming after you're done.

Method 2: The High-Quality Way with a Video Downloader

If you want the best possible quality for your Instagram Story, a video downloader is the way to go. This method involves copying the link to the tweet and using a third-party website or app to download the source video file directly. The result is a crisp, clean video with no UI elements or quality loss.

Step-by-Step Guide to Downloading

The process is generally the same across different downloader tools.

1. Copy the Video Link from X: Open the X app and find the tweet containing the video. Tap the Share icon (the little arrow pointing up) below the tweet. From the menu that appears, select "Copy Link."
2. Find a Twitter Video Downloader: Open your mobile web browser and search for a term like "Twitter video downloader" or "Save Twitter video." You'll find several free, web-based tools. A quick tip: Choose a site with a clean interface. Sketchy sites are often loaded with aggressive pop-up ads.
3. Paste the Link and Download: On the downloader website, you'll see a field to paste the URL. Paste the link you copied from X and hit the "Download" or Go button.
4. Choose Your Video Quality: The site will likely present you with a few download options, typically in different resolutions (e.g., 360p, 720p). Always choose the highest quality available (usually 720p HD or higher) for the best results on Instagram.
5. Save the Video: Tapping the download button for your chosen quality will either start the download immediately or open the video in a new tab. If it opens in a new tab, press and hold on the video and select "Download video" or "Save video to Photos." The file will save to your phone's camera roll (iPhone) or Downloads folder (Android).

Pros and Cons of Using a Downloader

• Pros: You get the original video file at its highest possible quality. The video is perfectly clean, with no on-screen distraction and clear audio, making it look much more professional.
• Cons: It takes a few extra steps and relies on third-party websites, which can sometimes be unreliable or covered in ads. You have to be a bit careful about the sites you use.

Pro-Level Tips for Posting the Video to Your Instagram Story

Once you have the video file, you're almost there. But to make it truly effective, a few final touches will make all the difference. This final step is what separates a lazy repost from thoughtful, engaging content curation.

Cropping and Resizing for a Vertical World

Your downloaded video is probably square or wide. To make it look native to Instagram Stories, you need to fill the vertical screen.

• The Easy Method (Pinch-to-Zoom): Open Instagram, swipe to create a Story, and select your video from the gallery. Once it's on the screen, use two fingers to pinch and zoom the video until it fills the screen attractively. You might lose the sides of the video, so reposition it to keep the main action centered.
• The Polished Method (Blurred Background): For a more professional look, use a video editing app like CapCut or InShot before uploading to Instagram. Import your video, set the canvas format to 9:16 (the Story dimension), and add a blurred background using the original video itself. This fills the empty space without awkwardly cropping the action.

The Golden Rule: Always Give Credit

This is non-negotiable. Repurposing content without attribution is stealing. Giving credit is not only ethical but also great for building community. When you credit the original creator, you show respect for their work and potentially introduce your audience to another great account. Here's how to do it right:

• Use the text tool on your Instagram Story to type "via @[TwitterHandle] on X" or "Credit: @[TwitterHandle]".
• Even better, if the creator has an Instagram account, tag them directly using the sticker or by typing "@[InstagramHandle]". This sends them a notification and gives them the option to reshare your story to their own.

Add Your Own Value and Context

Don't just post the video. Add your perspective! Your audience follows you for your voice, not just for random clips. You can:

• Add Your Opinion: Use the text tool to add a caption with your reaction or thoughts. Why did you find it funny? What makes it important?
• Engage with Stickers: Use a Poll, Quiz, or Slider sticker to ask your audience a question related to the video. This turns passive viewing into active participation.
• Closed Captions: Since many people watch Stories without sound, add some key captions or a summary of what's said in the video. This makes your content way more accessible and effective.

Final Thoughts

Mastering how to put a Twitter video on an Instagram Story is about more than just a technical workaround. It's about leveraging great content from across the web, adding your unique spin, and delivering fresh value to your audience. Whether you go with a quick screen recording or a high-quality download, the key is to always resize for a vertical format and give clear credit where it's due.

As you get better at finding and repurposing engaging videos, managing your schedule to keep content flowing can feel like a full-time job. That's why we designed Postbase, to solve exactly that problem. Our simple, visual calendar lets you plan and see all your content across every platform at a glance. You can schedule that Twitter video you just downloaded for your Instagram Story, then queue up your Reels, TikToks, and YouTube Shorts all in one seamless workflow - without pulled hair and spreadsheets.