For years, reposting on Instagram meant screenshots, screen recordings, or shady third-party apps. Not anymore. Instagram’s native Reposts feature lets you share any public reel or post directly to your followers’ feeds — with automatic credit to the original creator. It’s one of the most useful growth tools Instagram has added in years, and most people still aren’t using it properly.
Here’s how Reposts work in 2026, where they show up, and how to use them to grow — without annoying your audience or stealing anyone’s content.
What Instagram Reposts actually are
A Repost shares someone else’s public reel or feed post with your followers, appearing in their home feed as a repost from you with the original creator clearly credited. Think of it as retweeting, but for Instagram. The original creator gets notified, keeps all the attribution, and can see how their content performs through your repost.
Key rules: you can only repost public content — private accounts’ posts can’t be reposted. And reposts are distinct from sharing to Stories; they land in the main feed, where they have real reach.
How to repost a reel or post: the steps
On the Instagram app
- Find a public reel or post you want to share.
- Tap the repost icon (the two-arrow loop symbol) below the content — it sits alongside like, comment, and share.
- Optionally add your own note or comment on top, giving your take or context.
- Tap Repost to confirm. Done — it’s now visible to your followers with the creator credited.
How to undo a repost
Changed your mind? Go to your profile, open the Reposts tab, find the repost, tap the menu, and remove it. The original post is untouched — you’re only removing your share.
Control who can repost YOU
Don’t want your content reposted? Go to Settings → Sharing → Reposts and turn off “Allow reposts.” You can also make your account private, which blocks reposting entirely. For the official current instructions, check the Instagram Help Center, since menu paths occasionally shift with updates.
Where your reposts appear
Reposted content shows in three places: your followers’ home feeds (marked as reposted by you, with the original creator’s name), a dedicated Reposts tab on your profile (so visitors can browse everything you’ve shared), and in Instagram’s recommendations — reposts can surface your curation to non-followers too, which is where the growth angle lives.
Your note appears above the repost, so your commentary travels with the content. That’s the difference between mindless resharing and actual curation.
How to use reposts for growth (the right way)
- Curate like an editor. Repost the best content in your niche with a sharp one-line take. A profile that consistently surfaces great stuff becomes a follow-worthy destination itself.
- Repost testimonials and UGC. Customer reviews, unboxings, and fan content reposted to your feed are social proof that converts — with the creator credited automatically.
- Pair with original content. Reposts should season your feed, not replace it. A good ratio is roughly one repost for every three to four original posts. Creators who want more reach should also understand the Instagram Reels algorithm — reposts play by the same ranking rules.
- Use reposts to start relationships. Thoughtful reposts with genuine commentary get noticed by the original creators — it’s a natural, non-spammy way to get on bigger accounts’ radar.
- Keep a consistent posting rhythm. Reposts count as activity; combine them with scheduled Instagram posts so your profile stays alive even on busy weeks.
Repost etiquette: don’t be that account
The feature gives automatic credit, but etiquette still matters. Always add value — a repost with no comment is just clutter; one line of your own insight makes it curation. Don’t repost competitors’ sales posts as your own content strategy. Respect creator wishes — if someone asks you to remove a repost, do it immediately. And never repost content and imply you made it; the credit line is there for a reason.
Honest caveats about reposts
- Reposts don’t guarantee reach. They compete in the same feed ranking as everything else — low-effort resharing without commentary tends to flop.
- You can’t repost Stories or private posts. The feature covers public feed posts and reels only.
- Spammy reposting looks bad. A profile that’s 90% reposts signals “no original thoughts.” Worse, aggressive resharing patterns can look like inauthentic behavior — and you don’t want to flirt with an Instagram shadowban.
- Reposted content can be deleted upstream. If the original creator deletes their post, your repost disappears too.
The bottom line
Instagram Reposts finally give you a native, credited way to share great content with your followers — no screenshots, no sketchy apps. Use them as a curator: repost the best of your niche, add your own take, keep original content in the majority, and watch your profile become a hub people check daily.
Have you tried Reposts yet — and what’s the best thing you’ve reposted? Tell us in the comments, and keep following AppTricko.
