Instagram Stories are a great way to share photos and videos that you want your followers to see, but that you don’t want to preserve permanently on your profile’s main timeline.

Stories are visible for 24 hours before expiring, though you can always add them to your highlights if you wish for them to be preserved longer. You can even share your Stories with people not on your friends list. You can also share other users’ Stories with your followers, though there are some limitations.

Assuming your Instagram account is public, you can share your Stories with anyone in a few simple clicks – and the same goes for sharing friends’ Stories on your own feed. Here’s how to do both within the Instagram app.

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How to share your Instagram Story using a link

1. Open the Instagram app by tapping on the icon on your iPhone or Android’s homescreen.

2. Assuming you've recently uploaded an Instagram Story, tap on your profile photo in the upper left-hand corner of your screen, which should be surrounded by a pink circle.

3. When the Story you want to share appears on your screen, tap the three dots in the lower right-hand corner of your screen.

How to share Instagram story

Foto: Tap the three dots.sourceIsabella Paoletto/Business Insider

4. From the pop-up menu, click "Copy link" to copy a distinct URL to your device's clipboard. Your Story can now be shared via email, text, or another messaging app by simply pasting the copied link directly in the text box and sending it to the recipient.

How to share Instagram story

Foto: Click "Copy Link."sourceJennifer Still/Business Insider

5. Note that you can also share Stories by sending them directly to other Instagram users. To do so, click the three dots on the Story in question and instead of choosing "Copy link," choose "Send to…" and then select the chosen recipients.

How to share someone else's Instagram story

If someone has a public Instagram account and has enabled sharing, you should be able to share their stories to your profile.

1. Tap the person's profile picture to see their Story. Once the Story that you'd like to share shows up on your screen, tap the three dots in the lower-right corner.

2. Tap "Copy Link" or the paper airplane icon to share the story with friends.

How to share Instagram story

Foto: Tap "Copy Link" from the pop-up menu.sourceIsabella Paoletto/Business Insider

4. On the other hand if sharing is not enabled, you will need to be tagged in your friend's Instagram Story to be able to share it. Assuming that's the case, click on the notification you received upon being mentioned in their Story.

5. In your Instagram Messages, tap the "Add This to your Story" option.

How to share Instagram Story

Foto: Tap the blue "Add This to your Story" link.sourceJennifer Still/Business Insider

6. Add any embellishments you want to the Story in question, such as gifs, music, etc, then click either "Your story" or "Close Friends" to share the Story.

How to share Instagram Story

Foto: Customize your story, and then choose how you'd like to share it.sourceJennifer Still/Business Insider

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