What is Repost in Instagram?
Instagram’s repost feature is exactly what it sounds like: it lets you take someone else's public post or Reel and instantly share it with your followers. Think of it like a “retweet” on X (formerly Twitter), except, finally, it’s built right into the Instagram app. Until now, you had to either screenshot posts or use third-party apps (annoying, insecure, copyright-messy), or you’d just share stuff to Stories—which always felt temporary and a bit of a cop-out.
With the new repost, whatever you share shows up in your followers’ feeds and lands neatly into a dedicated “Reposts” tab on your profile. If you love championing other creators, sharing campaign messages, or signal-boosting memes, this tool is a gift. If you worry about credit, good news: reposts preserve the original handle and captions, so you keep attribution front and center. That’s a major boost for creators who want their stuff seen, not stolen. Official Instagram gives the updates about the new features:
How to Repost in Instagram?
First, update your Instagram app—this is a new feature, and if you’re clinging to last month’s version, you’ll miss out. Once you’re up to speed, here’s how it works:
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Scroll your feed or Reels tab.
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Spot something worth sharing? Tap the repost icon (it sits among the Like and Comment buttons).
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You can add an optional note or comment before sharing—a bit like a quote tweet. That note floats over the post when your followers see it.
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Done. The post lands in your followers’ home feeds and the “Reposts” tab on your profile.
If you regret sharing (we all make impulse taps), it’s not the end of the world. Just hold down the thumbnail in your profile’s Repost tab and tap “Delete Repost.” No shame, no evidence.
Some things can’t be reposted: private accounts, ads, or when creators disable sharing. And respect—always—matters. Seeking permission for reposting, especially for art, photography, or sensitive topics, is more than etiquette—it's the law and community spirit. Don’t play fast and loose with credit.
Instagram Repost Feature
For years, Instagram dragged its feet on proper sharing. Every other platform embraced frictionless resharing, while Insta users were left with clunky workarounds. Why did they cave now? In a word: engagement. Internal data showed only about 7% of interactions happen between friends now; most people just scroll past algorithm junk. Instagram’s desperate to feel “social” again rather than broadcast-only. And, let’s be honest, they’re copying TikTok (and, before that, Snapchat and X)—because that’s apparently how the modern product roadmap is written.
Instagram users might have spotted a subtle yet significant change recently. As noted by Dinesh Kudache (@dineshkudache) on X, the platform now allows users to repost any Instagram post directly to their profile.
From a creator or brand’s perspective, this is a big deal. Now, fans, partners, or employees can juice a campaign with one tap. Reposts don’t expire in 24 hours like Stories—they build a longer-lasting, public viral chain. Attribution is preserved, meaning you can confidently let your brand-loyalists share your best content without watering down your links, captions, or logo.