Most social media feeds are almost distractingly busy -- full of photos, videos, and text updates from friends and brands you follow. Instagram is different -- you can only look at one post at a time.
And while Instagram's simple, clean interface makes to easy to focus on users' beautiful photography and interesting videos, it also leaves something to be desired: the ability to easily repost other users' content.
But fear not: for every problem, the internet has afforded a solution. We tested out four different ways to repost content on Instagram in a few simple steps. All of these methods are free, but some require you to download an app from the iOS App Store or Google Play first.
Disclaimer: Pursuant to Instagram's Terms of Use, you must first reach out to the Instagram user whose content you want to reproduce and obtain written permission to do so. You can do this by commenting on the image and asking, or by sending them an Instagram Direct Message, which can be accessed by tapping the paper airplane icon in the upper right-hand corner of the app.
How to Repost on Instagram
To repost someone else's Instagram post, you first have to obtain that person's permission to re-use their content. Then, you can use an external app such as Repost for Instagram, Instarepost, or DownloadGram. You can also take a screenshot of the photo with your mobile device.
Using Repost for Instagram
1. Download Repost for Instagram.
Download Repost for Instagram for either iOS or Android. Both devices are compatible with this app, which integrates directly with Instagram so you can share content from other Instagram users from your mobile device.
2. Identify a photo or video to repost.
Open your Instagram app and find a photo or video you'd like to repost from your own Instagram account. Tap your chosen photo from the original poster's photo gallery to see its full view, as shown below.
(Psst -- do you follow HubSpot on Instagram?)
3. Copy the post's share URL to your clipboard.
Once you're on the photo's or video's landing page, tap the "..." icon in the upper-righthand corner of the post. Then, tap "Copy Share URL" (the button will look the same on Android devices).
4. Open Repost for Instagram.
Once the photo is copied to your phone's clipboard, open Repost for Instagram. The post you copied will automatically be on the app's homepage, as shown below.
Tap the arrow on the righthand side of the post. There, you can edit how you want the repost icon to appear on Instagram.
Tap "Repost." Then, tap "Copy to Instagram," where you can add a filter and edit the post.
5. Edit the post's caption and share your repost.
Tap "Next." If you want to include the original post's caption, tap the caption field and press "Paste," where the original caption will appear with a citation that credits the original poster with your reposted photo.
When you're ready to share the post, tap "Share" as you would a regular Instagram post. Here's how the post appears on your Instagram profile:
Using InstaRepost
1. Download InstaRepost.
Download InstaRepost for iOS or Android devices to share content from other Instagram users from your own Instagram account via your mobile device.
2. Give InstaRepost access to your Instagram account.
Open InstaRepost, log in using your Instagram credentials, and authorize it to access photos, friends, and similar content associated with your Instagram account.
3. Use InstaRepost to look up the original poster's username.
InstaRepost will only show you a small selection from your Instagram feed. If you know what post you're looking for, tap the magnifying glass icon on the bottom toolbar of the InstaRepost app to access the Explore tab. Enter the username of the person whose photo you want to repost.
4. Save the photo to your phone's camera roll.
Once you've found a post you want to reshare, tap the arrow in the lower righthand corner. Then, tap "Repost," then "Repost" again. This will first save the photo your mobile device's native camera roll, where you can retrieve it in the Instagram app.
Navigate to your Instagram app and tap "Library." You'll see the post saved to your phone's camera roll. Tap the photo to pull it into Instagram.
5. Add a filter and a citation, and share your repost.
Add a filter and edit the post as you would any other. Then, select "Next" and tap the caption field to paste the original caption. The repost won't automatically include a citation, so we suggest adding one by typing "@ + [username]" to credit the content's original poster. Then, press "Share."
Here's how the post appears on your Instagram profile:
Using DownloadGram
DownloadGram lets Instagram users download high-resolution copies of Instagram photos and videos to repost from their own accounts. Luckily, there isn't an app you need to download to repost using this process. Here's how to do it:
1. Open Instagram and find a photo or video to repost.
Open your Instagram app and find the post you want to repost. Tap the "..." icon in the upper righthand corner of the post and click "Copy Share URL" (this button will be the same for both iOS and Android mobile devices).
2. Paste the post's share URL into DownloadGram.
Open your mobile internet browser and navigate to DownloadGram -- or simply, downloadgram.com. Paste the URL into the text box that appears on the website's homepage. Then, tap "Download."
Tap the green "Download Image" button that appears further down DownloadGram's homepage.
3. Download the post.
You'll be directed to a new webpage with the content ready to download. Tap the download icon -- the box with an upward-facing arrow, as shown below -- then tap "Save image."
4. Open Instagram and find the photo or video in your camera roll.
Return to your Instagram app. The image will be saved to your phone's native camera roll, so edit it as you would any other Instagram post.
5. Add a caption and share your repost.
The repost won't include a citation, so we suggest adding one by typing "@ + [username]" to credit the original poster with the photo or video. Then, press "Share." Here's how the post appears on your Instagram profile:
Taking a Screenshot
This method doesn't require any or other websites to repost on Instagram. It's worth nothing that this method only works for reposting photos, not videos. Here's how to do it:
Find a photo on Instagram you'd like to repost, and take a screenshot with your phone.
- For iOS: Press down on the home and lock buttons simultaneously until your screen flashes.
- For Android: Press down on the sleep/wake and volume down buttons simultaneously until your screen flashes.
Tap the new post button in the bottom-center of your Instagram screen. Resize the photo so it's properly cropped in the Instagram photo editor.
Edit and filter the post like you would any other Instagram post. Keep in mind that your phone will take a screenshot of everything on your screen, not just the photo you want to repost. So, be prepared to crop the sides of the screenshot to capture just the image you want to share with your followers.
The repost won't include a citation, so we suggest adding one by typing "@ + [username]" to credit the original poster with the photo you're reposting. Then, press "Share." Here's how the post appears on your Instagram profile:
Now that you've learned how to repost on Instagram, you can diversify your profile with content sourced from friends, family, and brands. Use the methods above -- being sure to cite the source of the original post -- to quickly and easily reshare your favorite content.
Looking for more ideas for sourcing and creating Instagram content for your brand? Download our free guide to using Instagram for business here.
