Instagram Stories are a popular way to share photos, videos, updates, and memorable moments with your followers. Whether you want to share a friend’s Story, repost a customer’s review, or promote content that mentions your brand, reposting Stories can help you stay active and engage with your audience.
However, reposting Instagram Stories on a PC or laptop can be a little confusing, especially if you’re used to using Instagram on your phone. Instagram’s desktop website has fewer Story-sharing options than its mobile app, and some features depend on whether the original creator has mentioned you in their Story.
In this guide, you’ll learn how to repost Stories on Instagram on a PC.
How to Repost Instagram Stories on PC
If you want to repost an Instagram Story on your computer, choose the method that matches your situation. Instagram does not provide a universal repost button for every Story, so the available options may vary.
- To repost a Story you’re mentioned in, open Instagram in your PC browser, sign in, and check your direct messages for the Story mention notification.
- To share a Story with someone, open Instagram, find the Story, and use the available sharing option to send it through a direct message.
- To repost content manually, obtain permission from the original creator, prepare the photo or video, and upload it to your own Story if the desktop interface supports the required option.
- To repost a Story when desktop features are limited, use the official Instagram mobile app or a supported mobile device to complete the sharing process.
- To avoid sharing problems, check your account’s privacy settings, the original Story’s availability, and whether the creator has allowed the content to be reshared.
Step 1: Open Instagram on Your PC
The first step is to access Instagram through your computer’s web browser. You can use Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Firefox, or another supported browser. Open the official Instagram website and sign in using your username, email address, or phone number and password.
Once you’re logged in, you’ll see Instagram’s desktop interface. Depending on your account and the current version of the website, you may have access to your feed, direct messages, notifications, and Stories from accounts you follow.
Navigate to the Stories area near the top of your feed to view available updates. If you don’t see a particular person’s Story, their content may have expired, been deleted, or been restricted by their privacy settings.
Navigation path: Browser > Instagram website > Log In > Home Feed > Stories.
Keep in mind that Instagram’s desktop interface can differ from its mobile app. Some sharing features may not appear on a PC, so don’t worry if your screen doesn’t match the steps you remember from your phone.
Step 2: Check Whether Someone Mentioned You in Their Story
One of the easiest ways to repost an Instagram Story is when the original creator mentions your Instagram account in it. For example, a friend might post a photo with you, or a business might mention your account in a customer appreciation Story.
On your PC, open Instagram and select the Messages section. Look for a conversation with the person who posted the Story. If they mentioned you, Instagram may have sent you a message indicating that you were mentioned in their Story.
Open the conversation and check whether the Story preview or sharing controls are available. Depending on the current desktop features, you may be able to view the mention but not complete the repost directly from your computer.
Navigation path: Instagram > Messages > Open the Sender’s Conversation > Find the Story Mention.
If you see an option to add the Story to your own Story, follow the on-screen instructions. If that option isn’t available, open the official Instagram app on your phone and check the same conversation there.
Remember that being mentioned in a Story doesn’t guarantee that every desktop account can repost it. The creator’s account settings, Story availability, and Instagram’s current feature support can affect what you can do.
If you’re trying to share a Story that you weren’t mentioned in, start by locating the original content. From your PC, open Instagram and select the profile picture of the person whose Story you want to view.
Watch the Story and look for any available sharing controls. Instagram may allow you to share the Story with another person through direct messages, depending on the account’s privacy settings and the content’s availability.
If your goal is to show the Story to a friend rather than publish it on your own profile, sharing it through a direct message is usually the simplest option.
Navigation path: Instagram > Home Feed > Select the Creator’s Story > Open Available Sharing Options.
If the creator has a private account, access to the Story may be limited to approved followers. If the Story has already expired or been removed, you won’t be able to share the original Story through Instagram’s normal sharing controls.
It’s also important to understand that sharing a Story privately is different from reposting it publicly. Sending someone a Story through a direct message does not automatically add that content to your own Story.
Instagram’s direct messaging feature is useful when you want to send a Story to a friend, coworker, or group without publishing it to your own audience.
Open the Story you want to share and look for the Share or paper-plane option, if available. Select the recipient or conversation, then send the Story using the available controls.
On a PC, the exact location of the sharing option may vary. Some Stories may have limited sharing options, especially when the original creator has a private account or restricted resharing.
Navigation path: Instagram > Open the Story > Share Option > Select a Conversation > Send.
Before sending the Story, check that you’ve selected the correct recipient. If the Story cannot be shared, you can ask the creator to send you the original photo or video or provide a link to the content, if one is available.
This method works best when your objective is to share a Story with specific people, rather than publish it as your own Instagram Story.
Step 5: Prepare the Content for Manual Reposting
If you want to publish someone else’s Story on your own profile, you may need to prepare the content separately. This method is useful when the creator has given you permission to share a photo or video, but Instagram doesn’t offer a direct repost option on your PC.
First, contact the original creator and ask whether you can repost the content. If they agree, ask them to send you the original media file whenever possible. This helps preserve image quality and avoids relying on screenshots of the Story.
Save the authorized file to a folder you can easily locate, such as your Downloads or Pictures folder. If necessary, edit the content to fit Instagram’s Story format, which typically uses a vertical 9:16 aspect ratio.
Navigation path: Creator’s Permission > Obtain the Original Media > Save the File on Your PC > Prepare the Image or Video.
Avoid removing the creator’s watermark, username, or attribution. If the content includes other people’s faces, private information, or sensitive details, make sure you have the necessary permission before sharing it publicly.
Also, remember that giving credit is not a substitute for permission. Ask before reposting, particularly when the content belongs to a photographer, business, artist, or another creator.
Step 6: Upload the Authorized Content to Your Instagram Story
After preparing the media, open Instagram on your PC and look for the available Story creation or upload option. Desktop publishing features can vary by account and platform updates, so the option to upload a Story may not be available to everyone.
If your desktop interface supports Story uploads, select the appropriate creation option, choose the authorized photo or video from your computer, and follow the on-screen instructions.
Navigation path: Instagram > Create or Available Upload Option > Select Media From Your PC > Review the Content > Share to Story.
Before publishing, review the content’s appearance. Check whether the text is readable, the image is correctly positioned, and important details aren’t cropped. If Instagram provides editing controls, use them to make any necessary adjustments.
If your PC doesn’t offer a Story upload option, you can transfer the authorized file to your phone and publish it using the Instagram app. This is often the most reliable alternative when desktop functionality is limited.
Do not assume that uploading a saved photo or video automatically counts as Instagram’s native Story repost feature. A manual upload is a separate action, and you should clearly credit the original creator.
Step 7: Troubleshoot Missing Repost Options
Sometimes, you may follow all the steps correctly and still be unable to repost a Story. This doesn’t necessarily mean something is wrong with your computer.
Start by refreshing Instagram in your browser. If the sharing option is still missing, sign out and sign back in. You can also try another supported browser or open Instagram in a private browsing window to determine whether a browser extension or cached data is interfering with the page.
Navigation path: Instagram > Refresh the Page > Reopen the Story > Check Sharing Options > Try Another Browser.
Next, check whether the Story is still active and whether the creator’s privacy settings restrict sharing. If the original Story has expired, you may need to ask the creator to share it again.
If the Story mentions your account but you can’t repost it, check your direct messages and look for the original mention notification. When desktop options are limited, the official Instagram app may provide the controls you need.
Avoid third-party websites or browser extensions that ask for your Instagram password to enable reposting. These services can expose your account to phishing, unauthorized access, or other security risks.
Step 8: Review Your Story After Sharing
Once you’ve successfully published an authorized Story, check your profile to confirm that the content appears as expected. Open your Story and review the image or video, text placement, tags, and any added links or stickers.
If the creator requested a specific caption or attribution, make sure you’ve included it. If you notice a mistake, use the available Story controls to remove the content and upload a corrected version.
Navigation path: Instagram > Your Profile or Story Preview > Open Your Story > Review the Published Content.
Keep in mind that Instagram Stories generally disappear after 24 hours, unless they’re added to Highlights or otherwise retained through Instagram’s available features.
Reviewing the final result helps ensure that your repost is clear, properly credited, and appropriate for your audience.
FAQs
Can I repost an Instagram Story directly from my PC?
Sometimes. Instagram’s desktop features vary, and the website may let you view or share certain Stories without providing a direct option to repost them to your own Story. If the option is missing, use the official Instagram app.
How do I repost someone’s Story if they didn’t tag me?
Instagram generally doesn’t provide a universal repost option for Stories that don’t mention you. Ask the creator for permission and request the original photo or video. You can then upload the authorized content if your account supports the required publishing method.
Why can’t I see the Add to Story option on my PC?
The option may be unavailable because of desktop feature limitations, the creator’s privacy settings, the Story’s expiration, or restrictions on resharing. Check your direct messages and try the official mobile app.
Can I repost a private Instagram account’s Story?
Only if you have appropriate access to the content, and you should obtain the creator’s permission before publishing it elsewhere. Private account content is intended for an approved audience, so don’t use workarounds to bypass those restrictions.
Can I use a third-party website to repost Instagram Stories?
Be cautious. Some third-party tools may request login credentials or permissions that put your account at risk. Avoid services that ask for your Instagram password, and prefer Instagram’s official sharing options.
Does Instagram notify someone when I repost their Story?
When you use Instagram’s native Story mention and resharing features, the original creator may receive notifications or see the associated mention, depending on the action and current Instagram behavior. Manually uploading a separate copy may not trigger the same notification. Don’t assume reposting is anonymous.