You Just Found the Perfect Instagram Video to Share
You’re scrolling through Instagram and you see it. A hilarious Reel from a friend, a stunning travel clip from a creator you follow, or a brilliant tutorial that your own audience would love. You tap the share arrow, ready to post it to your own Story or feed, but then you hit a wall.
The option to repost isn’t there, or it sends you to a confusing list of other apps. You might wonder if sharing someone else’s video is even allowed. This moment of friction is incredibly common, and it stops great content from flowing across the platform.
Sharing videos on Instagram isn’t as straightforward as hitting a “repost” button like on other social networks. The platform’s rules and features are designed to protect original creators while still enabling sharing in specific, sanctioned ways. Knowing these methods is the key to becoming a savvy, respectful, and effective Instagram user.
This guide will walk you through every legal and effective method for sharing videos on Instagram, from reposting to your Story to using dedicated repost apps and understanding the crucial rules of credit. We’ll cover how to share videos from Instagram to Instagram, which is the core intent behind your search.
Understanding Instagram’s Sharing Ecosystem
Before diving into the steps, it’s important to understand why Instagram makes you jump through a few hoops. The platform prioritizes the rights of the original content creator. When you share a video, Instagram wants to ensure that the original poster gets credit, their handle is visible, and the engagement (likes, comments) still ties back to their original post.
This is why there’s no native “repost to feed” button. The primary built-in methods are designed for ephemeral sharing (Stories) or sending content directly to individuals (Direct Messages). For sharing to your permanent grid, you’ll need to employ a third-party tool or use a manual method, always with proper attribution.
There are three main channels for sharing a video on Instagram: to your Story, to your feed via a repost app, and via Direct Message. Each serves a different purpose and follows a different set of social etiquette rules.
The Golden Rule: Always Give Credit
No matter which method you use, the single most important rule is to credit the original creator. Tag their Instagram handle in your post or Story sticker. This is not just good manners; it’s often a requirement under Instagram’s terms and community guidelines. Failing to credit can be seen as content theft and may lead to your post being reported or taken down.
When in doubt, you can also send a quick Direct Message to the creator asking for permission to share their video, especially if you plan to repost it to your feed. Most creators are happy to have their content shared as long as they are properly tagged and credited.
How to Share an Instagram Video to Your Story
This is the easiest and most common way to share a video. Sharing to your Story is perfect for when you want to highlight a video for your followers to see for 24 hours, adding your own commentary or reaction on top.
Find the video you want to share in your feed or on a profile page. It can be a feed post, a Reel, or even an IGTV video (now integrated into regular video posts).
Tap the paper airplane icon (the “Send” button) just below the video post. A menu will slide up from the bottom of your screen.
From the list of options, select “Add post to your story.” The Instagram app will immediately open the Story camera with the video embedded as a interactive sticker.
You can now customize this Story. You can move the video sticker around, resize it, and add text, drawings, GIFs, or polls. The original poster’s username will be automatically attached to the sticker; tapping it will take viewers to their profile.
Once you’re happy with it, tap “Your Story” or the “Send to” button to post it. The video will now be live in your Story for the next 24 hours, and your followers can watch it and tap through to the original post.
What If the “Add to Story” Option Is Missing?
Sometimes, you might not see the “Add post to your story” option. This usually happens for one of two reasons. First, the original poster has a private account. Instagram does not allow you to share posts from private accounts to your public Story, as that would violate their privacy.
Second, the creator may have disabled the sharing option for that specific post. In their advanced settings before posting, users can toggle off the ability for others to reshare their content to Stories. If this is the case, you will not see the option, and you should respect the creator’s choice.
How to Repost an Instagram Video to Your Feed
Sharing a video to your permanent grid requires a few more steps, as Instagram doesn’t provide a native tool for this. The most reliable method involves using a third-party repost app or a manual download-and-upload process.
First, you must get the video onto your device. Important: Only do this if you have the right to share the content and plan to give full credit. Tap the three dots (•••) in the top right corner of the video post.
From the menu, select “Copy link.” This copies the unique URL of that Instagram post to your device’s clipboard.
Now, open your preferred repost app. Popular free options include “Repost for Instagram,” “Regram,” and “Downloader for Instagram.” These apps are available on both iOS and Android app stores.
Paste the copied link into the app. The app will fetch the video and the associated caption and creator handle. Most of these apps will generate a new post for you within the app, complete with a watermark crediting the original creator. You then use the app’s share function to open Instagram and create a new post, with the video and attribution already loaded.
The Manual Method: Download and Upload with Credit
If you prefer not to use a repost app, you can do it manually. After copying the link, you can use a reputable online Instagram video downloader website from your mobile or desktop browser. Paste the link there to download the video file to your device.
Open the Instagram app and tap the “+” to create a new post. Select the downloaded video from your camera roll.
This is the critical step for credit. In your new post’s caption, you must explicitly credit the creator. A standard format is: “Video by @[originalcreatorhandle]”. You should also mention that you found it on their page. For example: “Loved this amazing tutorial! Video by @travelcreator 👏 Found on their page.”
It’s also considered best practice to tag the original creator in the actual photo/video tag section of the post (the “Tag people” option before you share). This creates a direct link from your post to their profile.
Sharing Instagram Reels and IGTV Videos
The methods for sharing Reels and longer IGTV videos (now simply “videos” over 60 seconds) are essentially the same as for regular feed videos. You can share them to your Story using the paper airplane icon.
For reposting to your feed, the process is identical: copy the link from the Reel or video page and use a repost app or the manual download method. Given that Reels are a major focus for Instagram’s algorithm, sharing great Reels to your own feed (with credit) can be a fantastic way to boost your content strategy and engage your audience with trending audio and formats.
When you share a Reel to your Story, it appears as a large, tappable sticker that plays the Reel in a special viewer. This is a highly engaging way to share content because it keeps viewers within an immersive, full-screen experience.
Using Direct Messages to Share Videos
Sometimes, you don’t want to share a video publicly, but with a specific person or group. This is where Direct Messages (DMs) come in. The process is simple.
Tap the paper airplane icon below the video. Instead of “Add to story,” you’ll see a list of your recent conversations and a search bar at the top. Select the person or group you want to send the video to. You can add an optional text message with it.
Tap “Send.” The video will appear in your direct conversation as a preview that the recipient can tap to view the full post. This is a great way to send a funny Reel to a friend or share a relevant tutorial with a colleague without broadcasting it to all your followers.
Common Troubleshooting and Etiquette FAQs
Why Can’t I Share a Video from a Private Account?
As mentioned, this is a privacy feature. If an account is private, you can only share their content via Direct Message to individuals who also follow that private account. You cannot add their posts to your public Story or repost them to your feed. Attempting to screenshot and repost content from a private account is a serious breach of trust and privacy.
Is Using a Repost App Safe?
Most popular repost apps are safe, but you should be cautious. Only download apps with high ratings and a large number of reviews from the official Apple App Store or Google Play Store. Read the privacy policy to understand what data the app accesses. The apps typically only need access to your Instagram to facilitate the final posting step; they do not need your login password. Avoid any app or website that asks for your Instagram password.
How Can I Make My Own Videos Easy for Others to Share?
If you’re a creator, you likely want your videos shared. Ensure your account is public (if you want maximum reach). In your post’s advanced settings before you share, verify that the “Allow sharing to stories” option is turned on. You can also encourage sharing in your caption by saying something like, “Feel free to share this to your Story if you found it helpful!”
What Should I Do If Someone Reposts My Video Without Credit?
If you find your video posted on another account without attribution, you have a few options. You can politely comment on the post asking them to tag you or add credit in the caption. If that doesn’t work, you can send them a Direct Message. As a last resort, you can report the post to Instagram for intellectual property infringement through the “Report” option on the post itself.
Mastering Video Sharing to Grow Your Presence
Knowing how to properly share videos on Instagram transforms you from a passive consumer into an active community participant. It allows you to curate content for your audience, support fellow creators by amplifying their work, and fill your own content calendar with engaging material—all while building a reputation as a respectful and connected user.
The key takeaways are simple. Use the built-in Story share for quick, ephemeral highlights. Employ a trusted repost app or the manual method for permanent feed posts, always double-checking that the original creator is prominently tagged and credited. And use Direct Messages for personal, targeted sharing.
Start by looking through your saved posts. Find one video that truly resonated with you or that you think would provide value to your followers. Use the appropriate method to share it today, taking care with your credit and caption. This single act is the first step in building a more dynamic and interconnected Instagram strategy, one shared video at a time.
