So, you’ve just come across an amazing reel on Instagram. Maybe it’s a funny clip, a cool dance, or a useful tutorial. You’re excited to share it with your followers through your story, but there’s a problem. When you try to add it, you notice that only part of the reel shows up. Frustrating, right?
This is happening because Instagram stories have a 15-second limit, but many reels are longer than that. You want to share the whole reel, not just a snippet. After all, what’s the point of sharing if your friends can’t see the entire thing?
You’re not alone in this. Many Instagram users face the same issue and are looking for a way to share full reels in their stories. It’s a common problem, especially when you find content that’s too good to cut short.
Don’t worry, though. There’s a simple solution to this, and you’re in the right place to learn it. In this article, you’ll discover how to share those longer reels in your story without losing any part of them.
How can you share full reels on your Instagram story?
Have you ever tried to share someone else’s amazing reel on your story, only to find it cuts off after 15 seconds?
You can’t share someone elses full reel on your story. If it is shorter than 15 secs, good, it will play on your story. But if it is longer than 15 secs, it will play only for 15 secs and then will go away.
But don’t worry, you’re not alone. Let’s break down what’s happening and how you can share full reels, no matter their length.
When you share a reel directly to your story, Instagram has some restrictions:
- If the reel is 15 seconds or shorter, it will play in full on your story.
- If it’s longer than 15 seconds, only the first 15 seconds will play.
- Your followers will see a “Watch full reel” option at the top right, below your profile link, to view the entire reel.
But what if you want your followers to see the full reel right in your story, which is longer than 15 seconds? Here’s how you can make it happen.
1. Download the reel to your phone
You have two options here.
Option A: Using Instagram’s built-in download feature
- Go to the reel you want to share.
- Tap the share button (paper airplane icon).
- Select “Download”.
Note: This method will add a watermark with the original creator’s username to the reel.
Option B: Using a third-party website (for watermark-free download)
- Copy the link to the reel you want to share.
- Visit a reel download website like https://instavideosave.net/.
- Paste the reel link and download the video.
- Upload the downloaded reel to your story
2. Upload the reel as a story to your Instagram profile
Now that you have the reel saved on your phone:
- Open Instagram and tap your profile picture to create a new story.
- Swipe up or tap the gallery icon to access your phone’s media.
- Select the downloaded reel.
- Add any stickers, text, or drawings if you like.
- Tap “Send To” and then “Your Story” next to “Share“.
That’s it! Your followers can now watch the full reel directly in your story, regardless of its length.
By following these steps, you can share those awesome reels you find in their full glory, giving your followers the complete experience right in your story.
How to share someone’s story to your own Instagram story?
Instagram allows you to reshare stories you’re mentioned in or public stories from accounts you follow. Here’s how you can do it:
1. Sharing a story, you’re mentioned in
- When someone mentions you in their story, you’ll get a notification.
- Open the notification or go to your Direct Messages.
- You’ll see an option to “Add This to Your Story”.
- Tap it, and the story will open in edit mode.
- You can resize it and add stickers, text, or drawings if you like.
- Tap “Send To” and then “Your Story” next to “Share”.
2. Sharing a public story from an account you follow
- While viewing a story from an account you follow, look for the paper airplane icon.
- If you see it, tap on it.
- Select “Add post to your story”.
- The story will open in edit mode, allowing you to customize it.
- Tap “Send To” and then “Share” next to “Your Story”.
Important things to remember
- You can only share stories from public accounts you follow.
- If you don’t see the share option, the account might be private or have disabled resharing.
- The original poster’s username will always be visible when you reshare their story.
- Respect others’ content. If someone asks you to remove their reshared story, it’s best to do so.
- Stories you reshare will disappear from your story after 24 hours, just like regular stories.
The takeaway
Sharing full reels and stories on Instagram can be tricky, but you now have the tools to do it effectively. Remember, the platform’s 15-second limit for stories doesn’t have to hold you back from sharing longer content you love.
For reels, the key is to download them first and then upload them to your story manually. This method allows you to share full reels, regardless of their length.
When it comes to resharing others’ stories, look for the share icon or the “Add to Your Story” option when you’re mentioned. These simple tricks can greatly enhance your Instagram sharing experience.
We’d love to hear about your experiences with sharing reels and stories. Have you tried these methods? Did they work for you? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
