How to Share Instagram Videos

Ever scroll through your Instagram feed and find a video so perfect you just have to send it to everyone you know? Sharing videos is one of the best parts of the Instagram experience, connecting you with friends and helping great content find a bigger audience. This guide breaks down every way to share Instagram videos&mdash,whether you're sending a Reel to a friend in a DM, adding a post to your Story, or sharing it on a completely different platform.

Understanding The Main Ways to Share Instagram Videos

Before getting into the step-by-step instructions, it helps to know the three primary methods you can use to share video content on Instagram. Your options will sometimes depend on the original poster's privacy settings, but generally, here's what you can do:

• Share via Direct Message (DM): This is the most common method for sharing a video privately with one person or a small group of friends.
• Share to Your Instagram Story: This lets you temporarily feature someone else's video on your own profile for 24 hours. The video will appear as an interactive sticker that links back to the original post.
• Share via Another App: This action allows you to send a link to the video through text messages, WhatsApp, X, email, and other platforms outside of Instagram.

Now, let's walk through exactly how to use each of these options.

How to Share an Instagram Video to Your Story

Sharing a video to your Story is a fantastic way to co-sign content you love, react to a Reel, or show your audience what's inspiring you. It acts like a temporary, 24-hour spotlight on another creator's work, and it's incredibly simple to do.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Find the video, Reel, or feed post you want to share.
2. Tap the paper airplane icon located just below the post, next to the comment button.
3. From the pop-up menu, select the option that says "Add to story."
4. This will open the Instagram Story editor with the video embedded as a sticker. Now you can get creative!
   • Resize and move the video: Pinch to zoom in or out, and drag it anywhere on the screen.
   • Change the background: Tap anywhere on the empty screen a few times to cycle through different background versions if the creator set one. Or go to the pen tool, select a color, then press and hold the screen to create a new background color.
   • Add your own elements: Include your own commentary with the text tool, add a relevant GIF or sticker, or use the "Add Yours" sticker to get your audience involved. A "Tap here" sticker can also encourage viewers to click through to watch the full video.
5. Once you're happy with your design, tap "Your story" in the bottom-left corner to publish it.

What if I Can't Share a Video to My Story?

It can be a bit frustrating when you tap the paper airplane and the "Add to story" option is missing. This usually happens for one of two main reasons:

• The Account is Private: Instagram's privacy settings prevent anyone from publicly resharing content from a private account. If the account is locked, only their approved followers can see their content, and the option to share their posts to your Story will be disabled.
• The User Has Blocked Resharing: Any Instagram user can turn off the ability for others to reshare their feed posts to Stories. If they've disabled this feature in their settings, the "Add to story" option will be unavailable, even if their account is public.

In these cases, the best alternative is to send the video directly to your friends via DM or to take a screenshot and tell people to go check out that user’s profile.

How to Send an Instagram Video to Someone in a DM

This is sharing at its simplest. When you find a hilarious Reel or an informative video your friend would love, you can send it straight to their inbox in seconds.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Locate the video you want to send.
2. Tap the paper airplane icon below the video.
3. A list of your recent conversations will appear. Tap the profile picture of the person or group you want to send it to. You can also use the search bar at the top to find a specific person.
4. (Optional) In the message box at the bottom, you can type a quick note to go along with the video.
5. Tap "Send." The video will instantly appear in your DM conversation with that person.

How to Share an Instagram Video to Other Apps (WhatsApp, X, etc.)

Sometimes you need to share a video with people who aren't on Instagram or in a different environment, like a work chat or an email newsletter. Instagram makes it easy to share a direct link to the content.

Method 1: Using the Share Menu

This method pulls up your phone's native sharing capabilities, making it easy to seamlessly send the video to almost any app on your device.

Steps:

1. Tap the paper airplane icon on the post you want to share.
2. In the menu that appears, look below the list of your Instagram contacts. You’ll see icons for common apps like Messages, WhatsApp, and Facebook.
3. Tap the "Share" button or the icon of the app you want to use.
4. Your phone's share sheet will open. Select the app or contact to share the video with, and it will send a clickable link directly to the post.

Important Note: This method shares a link to the video, not the video file itself. The recipient will need an internet connection to open the link and view the content on Instagram's website or in the app.

Method 2: Copying the Link

If you just need the URL to paste somewhere specific&mdash,like a blog post, a Slack message, or your notes app&mdash,this is the way to go.

Steps:

1. Tap the paper airplane icon.
2. From the pop-up menu, tap "Copy link."
3. The link to the video is now copied to your clipboard.
4. Navigate to where you want to share it and simply paste the link.

Advanced Sharing: Remixing and Reposting for Growth

Sharing isn't just for fun&mdash,it's also a powerful tool for creators and brands to engage their audience and grow their following. Here are a few more advanced ways to leverage video content.

Use the "Remix" Feature on Reels

Instead of just sharing a Reel to your Story, you can add to it directly by creating a Remix. This feature allows you to record a video that plays alongside the original Reel, perfect for reaction videos, commentary, or duets. Plus, it automatically gives credit to the original creator, putting their work in front of your audience.

To create a Remix:

• Find a Reel you want to Remix. Tap the three-dot icon (...).
• Select "Remix." You can choose to film your video alongside the original or after the original clip has played.
• Record your video, add effects and text, and post it to your own feed. The original creator’s handle will be clearly visible on your Remix.

Reposting User-Generated Content (The Right Way)

For brands, user-generated content (UGC)&mdash,videos and photos from your customers&mdash,is marketing gold. But if you plan to download and repost someone else’s video to your own feed, you must do it ethically. Otherwise, you risk violating copyright laws and Instagram's terms of service.

1. Get Explicit Permission: ALWAYS ask the original creator for permission before downloading and reposting their video to your profile. Send them a DM asking if you can feature their content on your account. Document their "yes."
2. Give Abundant Credit: When you post, tag the original creator in the video itself and in the first line of your caption (e.g., “Amazing shot by @username!”). This isn't just a courtesy, it's a non-negotiable step to acknowledge their work.

While Instagram doesn't have a native "download" button for other users' content, third-party apps exist for this purpose. Just remember to use them responsibly and only after securing permission.

Final Thoughts

Sharing Instagram videos is a fundamental skill for anyone using the platform, from casual users connecting with friends to social media marketers building brand communities. Master a few simple methods like sharing to Stories or via DM, and you can greatly enhance a loyal audience that enjoys your content and recommendations as well.

Once you start incorporating shared video into your content plan, keeping everything organized across different platforms can feel like a heavy lift. As creators ourselves, we built Postbase to make modern social media management feel simple and intuitive. Our visual calendar lets you plan and schedule your own native videos&mdash,including Reels and Shorts&mdash,so you can see your entire strategy at a glance. We focused on rock-solid reliability for the content formats that matter today, helping you save time and get back to creating.