How to See Shares on Instagram

Ever posted something on Instagram you were really proud of, only to watch the likes and comments trickle in slower than you expected? Before you get discouraged, you might be missing the most powerful metric of all: shares. A share is a direct endorsement, telling the algorithm your content is so good, it’s worth passing along. In this guide, we'll walk you through exactly where to find your share data for posts, Reels, and Stories, and more importantly, how to use that information to supercharge your Instagram growth.

Why Shares are the Ultimate Engagement Metric

For years, everyone obsessed over likes. But in today's crowded social media landscape, likes are often a passive, low-effort interaction - a simple double-tap as someone scrolls. A comment is better, showing that someone took a moment to engage. But a share? That’s the gold standard.

When someone shares your content, they are actively vouching for it. They're either sending it to a friend via Direct Message (a highly personal recommendation) or broadcasting it to their own audience by adding it to their Story. Both actions are a huge vote of confidence.

Here’s why shares matter so much:

• Organic Reach: Shares are the engine of organic reach. They push your content in front of eyeballs that aren't following you yet, acting as a personal referral from a trusted source.
• Algorithm Approval: The Instagram algorithm pays close attention to shares. A high number of shares signals that your content is valuable, resonant, and hitting the mark, prompting the algorithm to show it to even more people.
• Audience Insight: Content that gets shared tells you exactly what resonates most deeply with your audience. It helps you understand what's not just "liked" but truly valued.

In short, while likes are nice for the ego, shares are what build your brand and community.

Finding Share Data Across Instagram

Before we go any further, there’s one non-negotiable step: you need an Instagram Business or Creator account to access detailed insights, including shares. If you’re still using a Personal account, switch it over now in your settings. It’s free, takes seconds, and unlocks a world of valuable data.

Once you’re set up, here’s how to find the numbers on your different content formats.

How to See Shares on Feed Posts (Images, Carousels &, Videos)

Finding the share count on your in-feed content is straightforward. This is your starting point for seeing which of your core posts are performing best.

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Navigate to the post on your profile that you want to check.
2. Just below the image or video and above the caption, tap the View Insights button.
3. A screen will pop up with a performance overview. Look for the paper airplane icon. The number next to it represents the total number of times your post has been shared.

This "Shares" number is a combination of two things: people who shared your post to their Story and people who sent it to someone directly via DM.

But Can You See *Who* Shared Your Feed Post?

This is the million-dollar question, and the answer is, unfortunately, no - not directly. Instagram does not provide a list of every single person who shared your feed post. Privacy reasons prevent a master list of who sent it in a DM or posted it to a Story without tagging you.

However, there's a valuable workaround: you can see the public Story reshares where people have tagged your account.

When someone shares your post to their Story and adds a mention sticker (@yourusername), you get a notification in your DMs. This is your best window into seeing *who* is publicly sharing your work. That's why it's so important to monitor your mentions and engage with those accounts to encourage this behavior.

Tracking Shares on Your Instagram Reels

Given the massive reach of Reels, tracking their share count is essential for understanding what kind of short-form video content is working for you.

Step-by-Step Guide for Reels:

1. Open the Reel you want to analyze from your profile's Reels tab.
2. Tap the three dots (...) in the bottom-right corner of the screen.
3. From the menu that appears, select View Insights.
4. Just like with a feed post, you'll see a breakdown of the Reel's performance. The paper airplane icon shows you the total share count.

The same limitation applies to Reels as feed posts: you can’t get a neat list of every single user who shared it. Your best bet is to keep an eye on your Story mention notifications to catch the public reshares.

Instagram Stories: The One Place You *Can* See The "Who"

While feed posts and Reels keep the sharers' identities mostly private, Instagram Stories offer more transparency. Because Stories are ephemeral and more personal, the sharing mechanisms are different and often involve a direct mention.

If someone shares your feed post or Reel to their Story and tags you, you see it. This is your most reliable way to monitor specific users sharing your permanent content. Engage with these people! A simple thank you message or a reshare of their share on your own Story can go a long way in building community loyalty.

You can also check the viewers of your own Story to see who is interacting. When you let people share your story, these interactions provide direct feedback on who within your existing audience is boosting your content.

Turning Share Insights into an Actionable Content Strategy

Finding your share numbers is just step one. The real value comes from understanding *why* certain pieces of content get shared and using that knowledge to create more of it. Don't let your share count just be a vanity metric, let it be your guide.

Anatomy of a Highly-Shareable Post

Content that gets shared usually falls into one of these categories. As you look through your top-shared posts, see which of these boxes they tick:

• Educational &, Useful: Content that teaches something, solves a problem, or provides a handy tip is prime share-bait. Think checklists, "how-to" carousels, quick tutorials, myth-busting information, or templates. People share these to appear helpful to their own network or save them for later.
• Relatable &, Humorous: If you can make someone say, "That is SO me," you've won. Memes, funny observations about your industry, and all-too-real anecdotes create an instant connection. People share this type of content to express their own personality and connect with friends over a shared laugh.
• Inspirational &, Aspirational: Uplifting quotes, incredible success stories, or stunning visuals can make people feel good. They share this content to motivate their own followers or to align themselves with a positive message.
• Controversial or Opinionated: Taking a stance on a relevant topic can drive a lot of conversation and shares. People share this to show they agree (or disagree) and to spark debate within their own circles. Handle with care, but it can be very effective.

Simple Ways to Encourage More Shares

Your audience might need a little nudge. You can actively prompt them to share your content with a few simple strategies.

1. Add a Clear Call-to-Action (CTA): Don't be afraid to ask! End your captions with a simple line like, "Share this to your Story if you agree!" or "Tag a friend who needs to see this." It's surprisingly effective.
2. Create "Saveable" Content: Think of content that people would want to reference later. Infographics, lists of resources, detailed checklists, or step-by-step guides get tons of saves, which often leads to shares. Prompt them with "Save this post for your next project!"
3. Engage With Community Members Who Share: Whenever you see someone share your post in their Stories (from your DM notifications), engage with them. Reply to their Story, send a thank you message, or even reshare their share to your own Story. This positive reinforcement makes people more likely to do it again.
4. Run Contests or Giveaways: A classic for a reason. Make sharing the post a condition of entry. For example, "For a chance to win, follow us, like this post, and share it to your Story (don't forget to tag us!)." This can give a huge, short-term boost to your reach.

By understanding what motivates your audience to hit that paper airplane icon, you can move from creating content you *hope* people will like to creating content you *know* they will find valuable enough to share.

Final Thoughts

Tracking your Instagram shares is a crucial step towards understanding what truly captivates your audience. While you can easily find the total share count in your Post and Reel Insights, the nuanced process of seeing *who* shared your content is mostly limited to public Story reshares where your account is tagged. Use these insights not just as numbers, but as a roadmap for creating more impactful, valuable content that your community can't help but pass along.

After putting in the hard work to create all that awesome, shareable content, trying to analyze its performance across different posts, Reels, and profiles manually is incredibly time-consuming. In creating our own social presence, we found it frustrating to click into a dozen different "View Insights" screens just to get a clear picture. So, we designed Postbase with a clean analytics dashboard that puts all your key metrics in one place. It helps us spend less time hunting for data and more time focusing on what the numbers are telling us about what to create next.