How to Share a Tagged Post on an Instagram Story

Being tagged in an Instagram post isn't just a notification - it's a golden content opportunity. When a customer, friend, or partner shares a post featuring you or your brand, it's the perfect chance to amplify that positive buzz on your own channel. This article will show you exactly how to share that tagged post to your own Instagram Story, customize it to match your vibe, and troubleshoot any issues that might pop up along the way.

Why Sharing Tagged Posts to Your Story is a Smart Move

Before jumping into the "how," let's quickly cover the "why." Sharing tagged posts, often called user-generated content (UGC), is one of the most effective and authentic marketing strategies on the platform. It’s more than just filling a slot in your content calendar, it's about building a genuine community around your brand or personal profile.

• It's Powerful Social Proof: When others post about you, they’re publicly endorsing your product, service, or brand. Resharing this is like showcasing a positive review. It tells your audience, "Look, other people just like you are enjoying what we do."
• It Builds Stronger Community Bonds: Acknowledging someone who took the time to tag you makes them feel seen and valued. This simple act of recognition can turn a casual customer into a loyal advocate for your brand.
• It's Effortless Content: Content creation can be a grind. UGC is a treasure trove of high-quality, authentic content that you don't have to create from scratch. It's a win-win that saves you time while also producing some of your most trusted and engaging content.
• It Fills Your Story Feed: Staying top-of-mind requires activity. Sharing tagged posts is an easy way to keep your Instagram Story fresh and active, providing constant value and connection points for your followers.

The First Step: Getting Tagged is a Must

Here’s the single most important rule to remember: you can only share a feed post to your Story if your account has been tagged in it. This means your @username was either physically tagged in the photo or video itself, or you were mentioned in the caption of the post.

If you see a post you love but weren’t tagged in, you can’t use Instagram’s built-in feature to share it directly to your Story. Your only option would be to take a screenshot and post that (always with credit!), but it won't have the clean, clickable link back to the original post that the official method provides. This single requirement is where most people get tripped up, so always check for the tag first!

How to Share a Tagged Feed Post to Your Story: A Step-by-Step Guide

So, you’ve received that awesome "tagged you in a post" notification. Now what? The process is refreshingly simple. Follow these steps to get that post proudly displayed in your Story.

1. Check Your Notifications or DMs: The easiest way to find the tagged post is to go directly to your notifications (the heart icon). You'll see an alert that says something like, "[Username] tagged you in a post." Alternatively, if you're mentioned in the caption, you may also get a notification in your Direct Messages.
2. Go to the Post: Tap on the notification to navigate directly to the feed post you've been tagged in.
3. Find the Share Icon: Just below the photo or video content, you'll see a row of icons: a heart (like), a speech bubble (comment), and a paper airplane (share). Tap the paper airplane icon.
4. Select "Add Post to Your Story": A menu will pop up from the bottom of your screen. The very first option you should see is a blue and white button that says, "Add post to your story." This option will only appear if you were properly tagged. Tap it.
5. Customize and Share: You're now inside the Instagram Story editor! The feed post will appear as a sticker in the middle of your screen. At this point, you can post it as-is or, better yet, get creative with customization (which we'll cover in the next section). When you're happy with it, just hit the "Your Story" button at the bottom left to publish.

That's it! The post is now shared. When viewers see it in your Story, they can tap on the post sticker to see the original content and who posted it, creating a seamless link back to the source.

Don't Just Reshare - Make It Your Own

Simply hitting publish on a shared post works, but taking an extra minute to add your own personality can make it much more engaging. Your followers want to see your reaction and perspective, not just a repost. The Instagram Story editor gives you plenty of tools to add flair.

Resizing and Positioning the Post Sticker

By default, Instagram shows the post as a clean sticker that displays the visual and the creator's username. But you have options:

• Tap It: Simply tapping on the post sticker will toggle between two views: the default view with a white border and the creator's name, and a zoomed-in, edge-to-edge view that fills more of the screen.
• Pinch and Zoom: Use two fingers to pinch inward to make the sticker smaller or outward to make it larger.
• Drag It: Press and hold the sticker to drag it anywhere you want on the screen. Maybe you want to leave room for text above or a poll sticker below.

Give it Some Context with Text Boxes

Never underestimate the power of a few words. Adding text gives your reshared post a voice and encourages viewer interaction.

Try these text ideas:

• A simple "Thank you so much!" to show appreciation.
• An emotive reaction like "Obsessed with this!" or "This made our day!"
• Pose a question to your audience, like "Who else loves this look?" to spark conversation.
• Add behind-the-scenes context, for example, "We remember this amazing project!"

You can layer multiple text boxes, change fonts, add colored backgrounds to your text, and experiment with different colors to match your brand style.

Level Up Engagement with Stickers

Instagram's sticker library is a playground for interaction. Instead of just showing the post, use stickers to ask your audience to participate. Tap the sticker icon (the smiley face in a square) at the top of the editor and explore:

• GIFs: Search for a flashing "Thank You," a dancing character, or a sparkling animation to draw more attention to the Story.
• Poll or Quiz Stickers: Engage your audience while highlighting the content. If you're a cafe tagged in a post showing your latte, you could add a poll: "Dream drink: Latte or Americano?"
• Question Stickers: Add a question sticker that says, "What's your favorite thing we make?" and let the tagged post serve as inspiration.
• Mention Sticker: While the original creator is already credited on the post sticker itself, it never hurts to add their @username again with a 'Mention' sticker to give them an extra shout-out.

Play with the Background

The default background for a shared post is a faded gradient based on the colors in the original image. But you can easily change this!

• Solid Colors: Tap the "Draw" tool (the squiggly line at the top), select a color from the bottom palette, and then long-press on the screen for a few seconds. This will flood the entire background with your chosen solid color. (Pro-tip: Do this before adding text or stickers so they sit on top). Remember to move the post sticker fully to the foreground after.

Troubleshooting: Why Can't I Share a Tagged Post?

Sometimes, even when you know you've been tagged, the "Add post to your story" option might not appear. Here are the most common reasons why this happens and what to do about it.

1. The Original Account Is Private: Security and privacy come first on Instagram. If you are tagged in a post by an account that is set to 'Private,' you will not be able to share their post to your Story. Only their approved followers can see their content, and resharing it would violate that privacy.
2. The User Has Disabled Resharing: Instagram users have control over whether their content can be reshared. It's possible the person who posted has this feature turned off in their settings. Good to know: You can check your own settings by going to Settings & Privacy >, Sharing and remixes. Here, you'll find an option for, "Allow sharing posts and Reels to stories," giving you control over your own content.
3. You're Trying to Share a Reel (Sometimes): While Instagram is largely merging Reels and feed posts, the functionality can still vary slightly. The "Add to Story" feature works reliably for standard image posts, carousels, and video posts. For Reels, the process is largely the same, but it's an area where users occasionally report issues, so be aware.
4. The App Has a Glitch: Sometimes, the problem is just a temporary bug. Before getting frustrated, try the classic tech-support combo: close the Instagram app completely and reopen it. If that doesn't work, ensure your app is updated to the latest version.

Final Thoughts

Sharing tagged posts to your Instagram Story is a simple yet incredibly effective way to amplify positive mentions, build a stronger community, and source amazing content. It transforms a simple tag from a notification into a powerful endorsement that you can share with your entire audience in just a few taps.

Of course, building a great brand on social media goes beyond resharing. It involves planning a consistent content strategy and engaging with every comment or DM that comes your way. At Postbase, we designed our platform to make this process easier. With a visual calendar to plan your entire content schedule and a unified inbox that brings all your conversations into one place, we help you manage the organized side of things so you have more time to focus on the creative community-building that truly matters.