How to Repost Instagram Reels: The Right Way (With Permission)
To repost an Instagram Reel, share it to your story or use Remix — both credit the original creator automatically. A standalone feed repost needs the creator's explicit permission first, because you'r...
To repost an Instagram Reel, share it to your story or use Remix — both credit the original creator automatically. A standalone feed repost needs the creator's explicit permission first, because you're re-uploading their work as your own post.
Reposting is the lifeblood of a lot of Instagram strategies — sharing a customer's Reel, amplifying a creator you love or building a curated feed. But reposting is also where well-meaning accounts walk straight into copyright trouble, because how to repost Instagram Reels is really two questions: how mechanically, and whether you're allowed.
Let's lead with the part most guides bury: reposting someone else's Reel means using their work, so permission and credit aren't optional niceties — they're the line between sharing and taking. Reposting a creator's Reel without permission can violate Instagram's terms and copyright law, even if you tag them. The methods below assume you've got the green light, whether that's your own Reel, an explicit "feel free to share," or a brand-creator agreement.
With that clear, here are the three ways to repost — and how to do each respectfully.
First: Get Permission
Before any method, this step does the most to keep you safe.
What "permission" looks like
- Your own Reel: no permission needed — repost freely.
- A creator said yes: a DM reply, a "repost welcome" in their bio or a brand agreement.
- User-generated content you encouraged: e.g., a branded hashtag campaign where sharing is the expected deal — though confirming is still smart.
Always credit
Even with permission, tag the original creator clearly — in the caption and, where possible, on the Reel itself. Credit is expected, builds goodwill, and is the difference between amplifying someone and appropriating them.
Method 1: Share to Your Story (Easiest, Safest)
The simplest repost keeps the original creator's attribution built in.
Step by step
- Open the Reel and tap the share (paper plane) icon.
- Choose Add to story.
- The Reel appears as a sticker linking back to the creator — credit is automatic.
- Post your story.
This is the safest repost because Instagram preserves the link to the original. It's perfect for amplifying public Reels you admire without claiming them.
Method 2: Use Remix (Built-In Collaboration)
If a creator has Remix enabled, Instagram lets you create a new Reel alongside theirs.
How it works
- Open the Reel and tap the three dots.
- Choose Remix (if the creator allowed it).
- Record your reaction or addition; the original plays beside yours.
- Post — the original creator is credited automatically.
Remix is collaboration by design, with attribution baked in. If the option isn't there, the creator turned it off — respect that and don't work around it.
Method 3: How to Repost an Instagram Reel to Your Feed (Needs the File + Permission)
Reposting a Reel to your own feed as a standalone post is the method that needs the most care, because you're uploading their content as your own post.
The honest steps
- Get explicit permission — this method has no built-in attribution safety net.
- Save the public Reel for reference using a public Instagram Reels downloader — paste the link, save the file, no Instagram login required.
- Re-upload it as a Reel with clear credit in the caption and, ideally, on-screen.
- Tag the creator and, if relevant, note "Reposted with permission."
This is also where the audio catch matters: trending sounds on a Reel are often separately licensed, so re-uploading the full clip can carry rights issues beyond the visuals. When in doubt, the share-to-story method (Method 1) avoids all of this.
Reposting at Scale (Brands and Curators)
If you run a curation account or a brand that reposts user content regularly, the manual loop — find, ask, save, credit, post — adds up fast.
Automated public-data tools help with the discovery side. Clarvio works externally on public Instagram content — surfacing and organizing what's already visible — without ever requiring your Instagram password or touching your account directly. It helps you find public Reels worth reaching out about; the permission and credit still happen the human way, because that's the part that keeps you compliant. The save stays a simple, no-login step.
Common Questions and Snags
Remix isn't available
The creator disabled it.
- Fix: don't work around it — use share-to-story instead, or ask permission for a feed repost.
My repost lost the audio
Re-uploading a saved Reel can strip or flag the sound, especially licensed tracks.
- Fix: for trending audio, add it fresh from Instagram's audio library after uploading — but remember that doesn't grant commercial rights to the original.
Quick reference
| Method | Permission needed? | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| Share to story | Light (amplifying) | Automatic |
| Remix | Creator enabled it | Automatic |
| Repost to feed | Explicit, required | Manual — you must add it |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it legal to repost someone's Instagram Reel?
Only with the creator's permission. Reposting a Reel without permission can violate copyright and Instagram's terms even if you tag them. Your own Reels are fine; sharing to story (which auto-credits) is the safest way to amplify others.
Do I need to download a Reel to repost it?
For sharing to story or Remix, no — Instagram handles it natively with built-in credit. Only a standalone feed repost needs the file, and that method requires explicit permission first.
Does tagging the creator count as permission?
No. Crediting is necessary but not sufficient — you still need the creator's permission to repost their work. Credit without permission is still reuse.
What about the trending audio in a Reel?
Trending sounds are often separately licensed. Re-uploading a full Reel can carry audio rights issues beyond the visuals, so feed reposts of others' Reels need extra care.
Do I need to log in to save a Reel for reposting?
No. When you have permission for a feed repost, a public Reels downloader saves the file from its link with no Instagram password. You can grab an approved public Reel with the Instagram Reels downloader without an account.
Repost Generously, Credit Always
Knowing how to repost Instagram Reels is half mechanics, half ethics. Share-to-story and Remix have credit built in and are the safest ways to amplify others; feed reposts need explicit permission and manual credit. Across all three, the rule holds: your own Reels are free game, and everyone else's need a yes plus a tag.
When a feed repost is approved, save the public Reel with Clarvio's Instagram Reels downloader — no login required — then re-upload with clear credit.
Sources:
Clarvio