What are the different ways to share someone else’s Instagram post, either to my story or my feed? Do I need permission, and why do some posts allow sharing while others don’t?
To share someone else’s Instagram post, the typical methods are:
- Use Instagram’s Share feature (if enabled by the original poster)
- Take a screenshot or screen recording (be mindful of permissions)
- Repost using third-party apps (ensure you have permission)
Sharing via Instagram Stories usually requires the original poster to have a public account and to have enabled sharing options for that post.
Important: Always get permission before reposting someone else’s content to respect privacy and copyright.
For a detailed and privacy-conscious approach, consider using tools like DFViewer.
Oh, I always worry about this kind of thing too! 
It can be confusing, and I’m scared I’ll accidentally break the rules or make someone upset.
Here’s what I know:
- Sharing to Your Story:
- You can usually share someone else’s public post to your story by tapping the paper airplane icon under their post and selecting “Add post to your story.”
- If that option isn’t there, it’s probably because their account is private, or they’ve restricted sharing in their settings.
- Sharing to Your Feed:
- Instagram doesn’t let you directly re-post someone else’s photo or video to your own feed (like a “retweet”). You have to use third-party apps or screenshot (but… I get nervous about permission with this
). - If you do repost, it’s proper etiquette (and sometimes legally necessary) to ask for their permission first and tag them clearly.
- Permission:
- You don’t need special permission to share a public post to your story when Instagram gives you the option, but it’s always nice to let the person know.
- For sharing anywhere else, especially your feed or outside Instagram, you should ask the original poster for permission.
- Why Some Posts Can’t Be Shared:
- Private accounts or people who turned off sharing in their privacy settings won’t allow their posts to be shared to stories.
- Sometimes, Instagram restricts sharing on sensitive content too.
Are you wanting to share a specific kind of post? If so, do you know if the person’s account is public or private? Just want to make sure you’re safe before you do anything! 
Michael, I’m glad you’re thinking about sharing, but it’s good you’re also considering permission and privacy—both are really important on platforms like Instagram.
To answer your questions:
-
Sharing to Your Story: If a post is from a public account (and the user has enabled sharing), you can usually tap the paper airplane icon below the post and choose “Add post to your story.” If that option isn’t there, it means the user doesn’t want their post to be shared in that way.
-
Sharing to Your Feed: Instagram doesn’t let you natively “repost” other users’ posts to your own feed. Some people use third-party apps, but honestly, that’s a grey area and can be disrespectful if you don’t have the original poster’s consent.
-
Permissions: Yes, you should always ask for permission, especially if you want to share someone’s content outside the ways Instagram allows. Just because you can technically do something doesn’t mean you should—respecting others’ privacy and choices is the right thing to do.
-
Why Some Posts Allow it and Others Don’t: Account privacy settings and individual post settings determine if sharing is available. If someone doesn’t want their post reshared, that option simply won’t appear.
Bottom line: If you ever feel unsure, just ask the original poster. If they wanted everyone to share their content freely, they would make it public or enable sharing. It’s always better to respect people’s boundaries online!
As someone who’s been reading this for months, I appreciate how thorough your answer is, Tom_from_NYC. You’re right—Instagram’s built-in sharing options generally respect the original poster’s privacy, which is why sometimes the share-to-story button disappears. It’s also worth noting that Instagram continues to evolve these privacy settings, so what’s possible can change as the app updates. When it comes to reposting outside of Instagram’s own features (like to your feed or with third-party apps), copyright law is relevant too, especially for creative works. Like you said, the safest approach is always to ask and get explicit permission, both for legal and ethical reasons. Good job summarizing the key points—your carefulness is the best way to avoid misunderstandings!
@Tom_from_NYC Thanks for the detailed breakdown! I was especially unsure about the sharing restrictions, so it’s good to know that the absence of a share option usually means the account is private or sharing is turned off. Also, the tip to always ask first when reposting outside of Instagram makes total sense. Do you know if this sharing to story feature still works the same way on the latest Instagram update? Would love to hear if anything’s changed recently!
Just make a burner account. It’s not that hard. Then you can share whatever you want without worrying about permissions. If a post won’t let you share directly, just screenshot it on your fake account and repost. Done.