How to Repost a Reel on Instagram

Curating and reposting an Instagram Reel is a smart way to share user-generated content, highlight a collaborator, or give one of your older videos a second chance to shine. This guide breaks down the different ways you can share a Reel to your Story or your Feed, including Instagram’s official method and a few clever workarounds for posting it to your permanent profile.

Why Repost an Instagram Reel?

Before getting into the "how," let's touch on the "why." Reposting isn't just about filling your content calendar (though it's great for that). It's a strategic move that can:

• Showcase User-Generated Content (UGC): Sharing Reels from happy customers or fans is one of the most powerful forms of social proof. It builds community and shows potential followers that your brand is loved and trusted.
• Cross-Promote with Partners: Reposting a Reel from a brand partner or influencer collaborator gets more eyes on your campaign and strengthens your professional relationships.
• Resurface Your Best-Performing Content: Did a Reel go viral months ago? Reposting it introduces that winning content to your new followers who might have missed it the first time around.
• Fill Content Gaps: Let's be real - sometimes you need a great post without having to shoot and edit a whole new video. Curating a high-quality Reel from another creator (with permission and credit, of course) keeps your feed active and your audience engaged.

How to Repost a Reel to Your Instagram Story (The Easiest Method)

Sharing a Reel to your Instagram Story is the only built-in, official reposting feature Instagram offers. It’s quick, simple, and perfect for temporary shares and shoutouts. It's a non-permanent way to highlight something cool without committing it to your curated grid.

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

1. Find the Reel: Navigate to the Reel you want to share, whether it's your own or someone else's.
2. Tap the Share Icon: Look for the paper airplane icon underneath the comments and likes. Tap on it.
3. Select "Add to story": This will open the Instagram Story editor with the Reel embedded. By default, it will show the first frame of the Reel with the original creator's username.
4. Customize Your Story: This is where you can add your own touch. You can:
   • Resize and Reposition: Pinch to zoom in or out on the Reel. You can make it full-screen or shrink it to make room for other elements.
   • Add Text and Stickers: Tap the "Aa" icon to add text explaining why you're sharing the Reel, or use the sticker icon to add GIFs, polls, quizzes, or location tags.
   • Mention the Creator: While Instagram automatically adds a small credit, it's always good practice to add your own BIG mention. Use the "@mention" sticker to tag the original creator. This sends them a notification and makes it clear you're giving them props for their work.
5. Publish Your Story: Once you're happy with how it looks, tap "Your story" to post it live. Viewers will be able to tap on the Reel within your story to watch the full video and visit the original creator's profile.

Keep in mind: If an account is private, or if the user has disabled resharing in their settings, you won't see the "Add to story" option.

How to Repost a Reel to Your Instagram Feed (The Workarounds)

This is where things get a bit more creative. Instagram does not have a native "repost to feed" button for Reels. To get a Reel onto your main profile grid, you have to save the video file first and then upload it as a brand new Reel. Here are the three most common methods to do this, each with its own benefits and drawbacks.

Method 1: The Screen Recording Method

This is a quick and dirty way to capture a video directly from your screen. It doesn't require any third-party apps, but be warned: the quality might not be as crisp as the original.

How It Works:

1. Open the Reel: Go to the Reel you want to repost and tap to make it full screen. This minimizes the on-screen UI elements.
2. Start Your Screen Recording:
   • On an iPhone, swipe down from the top-right corner to open the Control Center and tap the record icon (a circle within a circle).
   • On an Android phone, swipe down from the top to open the Quick Settings panel and find the "Screen recorder" option.
3. Record the Reel: Let the entire Reel play through from beginning to end.
4. Stop the Recording: Once the Reel is done, stop the recording using the same Control Center or Quick Settings panel. The video will be saved to your phone's photo library.
5. Trim the Video: Open the video in your phone's editing app and trim the beginning and end to clip out the parts where you were starting and stopping the recording.
6. Upload as a New Reel: Now, go to your Instagram profile, tap the '+' icon, select 'Reel,' and choose your newly trimmed video.

• Pros: Completely free and doesn't require downloading any extra apps. You have full control.
• Cons: The video and audio quality can often be lower than the original. It can be tricky to trim perfectly, and sometimes faint UI elements might appear in the recording.

Method 2: The Reposting App Method

Several third-party applications are designed specifically for reposting Instagram content. They handle the task of downloading the video and often simplify copying the caption for you.

How It Works:

1. Download a Repost App: Search your phone's app store for "repost for Instagram" and choose a well-reviewed app. Be cautious of apps with poor reviews or those that ask for too many permissions.
2. Copy the Reel's Link: On the Instagram Reel you want to share, tap the three-dots (...) icon and select "Link."
3. Paste the Link in the App: Open the reposting app. Most will automatically detect the link you've copied, but if not, paste it into the search bar.
4. Download and Prepare to Post: The app will process the link, download the video, and give you an option to copy the original caption to your clipboard. Many of these apps will also add a small watermark giving credit to the original poster.
5. Post to Instagram: The app will have a share button that directs you to Instagram to post it as a new Reel. Upload the watermarked video and paste the original caption. Always take a moment to add your own commentary and a clear credit tag at the top of the caption.

• Pros: Very fast and straightforward. They automate the downloading and caption-copying process.
• Cons: A watermark is usually applied, which can mess with the aesthetic of your feed. These apps often contain lots of ads or require a paid subscription for the best features. The final video quality can also vary.

Method 3: The Download & Re-Upload Method (Best Quality)

For the best possible video quality, your goal is to get the original video file. This method is the most professional and respectful, especially since it encourages you to connect with the original creator.

How It Works:

1. Ask for the Original File (The Gold Standard): If you want to repost someone else’s video, the best first step is to simply ask! Send the creator a polite DM. Say something like, "I absolutely love this Reel! Would you mind if I shared it on my feed with full credit? If so, would you be able to send me the video file?" Most creators are happy to share their work in exchange for the exposure.
2. Recycle Your Own Reels: If you're reposting one of your *own* old Reels, this is simple. Just find the original, edited video file on your computer or phone and re-upload it. Done.
3. Use an Online Downloader (With Caution): For cases where you can't get the file from the creator, you can use a third-party website to download the Reel. Copy the Reel's link (three dots > Link) and paste it into one of these web-based tools. A word of warning: be careful with these sites. Many are filled with pop-up ads and can be a bit sketchy.
4. Upload as a New Reel: Once you have the video file saved to your phone, it’s time to post it.
   • Open Instagram, tap the '+' icon, select 'Reel,' and find the video in your library.
   • Write a thoughtful new caption. *Do not* just copy and paste the old one. Add your own perspective.
   • Give prominent credit (more on this below).
   • Select a clean cover photo that matches your profile's aesthetic, and post it to your feed.

• Pros: Yields the highest possible video and audio quality. No distracting watermarks.
• Cons: Can take a bit more time and effort, especially if you're waiting for a creator to reply.

The Golden Rule of Reposting: Always Give Credit!

No matter which method you use to repost a Reel to your feed, this part is non-negotiable. Proper credit isn't just polite, it's essential for building a good reputation and avoiding any issues with creators or Instagram itself.

How to Give Proper Credit:

• Mention in the Caption (At the Top): Your very first line of the caption should be a credit. Don't bury it under a "see more" button or at the bottom of a block of hashtags. Use a video camera emoji to make it clear. For example: "Incredible tutorial from @username! Here’s why we loved it..."
• Tag Them in the Post: When you're on the final screen before publishing, tap "Tag people" and tag the creator’s account in the Reel itself. This way, the post will also show up in the "Tagged" section of their profile.
• Bonus - Ask for Permission Beforehand: As mentioned in Method 3, sending a quick DM to ask for permission is the ultimate sign of respect. It turns a simple repost into a positive networking opportunity.

Final Thoughts

Reposting Instagram Reels is an excellent strategy when done thoughtfully. You can use a quick share to your Story for timed events or user shoutouts, or save the high-quality video for a more permanent place on your grid - just remember the golden rule is always to give credit where it's due.

Keeping your content calendar organized with a mix of original creations and curated content is a challenge many creators and brands face. When we built Postbase, one of our main goals was to simplify that entire planning process. Our visual calendar lets you see your entire content schedule at a glance, making it easy to spot gaps where a great reposted Reel could fit in perfectly. You can schedule everything in advance - your own videos and your curated content - all in one clean, modern tool that was designed for today's video-first social media landscape.