How To Share a Reel on Instagram: A Complete Guide

Instagram reels are taking over the social media app as the hottest way to share content. From your close friends to your favorite local businesses, this feature has quickly become a part of daily posting. You have probably already created and shared one yourself. But what if you see a reel from another user that you would like to post on your account? Have you ever wondered how to share a reel on Instagram?

We are here to tell you that it is possible – and easy. Instagram constantly adds new features and marketing tools, allowing you to try something new. Instagram reels are a great way to highlight yourself or your brand and grab people’s attention. Reels often get more reach than other posting formats on the platform. But with new ways of sharing content can often come confusion.

That is where we come in. Read on below as we break down the basics of Instagram reels. We cover everything, from making one to sharing a reel on Instagram. We will also answer a few common questions and problems regarding reels. With our help, you can share all your favorite content quickly.

How To Share a Reel on Instagram: What Is This Feature?

First, let’s cover what an Instagram reel is. This will be helpful to understand when learning how to share a reel on Instagram further below. They are short, 15-90 second multi-clip videos that let you add on audio and other effects. 

You create reels in a short series of separate clips or one continuous video stream. By focusing on content creation, they let users post engaging videos to share with a broad audience.

After you create your reel, you can post and share it with your friends and followers. Your Instagram profile features a separate tab to hold your reels, making it easy for followers to locate them. 

If your Instagram account is public, your reel can reach a broader audience by being featured on the Explore page. This means that you can gain new viewers outside of your direct followers. Prefer to keep your Instagram account private? No problem. Once you share a reel to your private account, only your approved followers can view it. 

Any reel you post will be available to view until you physically delete it, like a classic Instagram feed post. This sets it apart from Instagram Stories, which expire after 24 hours. You can quickly look back and revisit your reels at any time.

How Do You Make a Reel on Instagram?

Now that you know what it is, it’s time to learn how to make a reel. This is crucial in understanding how to share a reel on Instagram. It is more straightforward than it may sound. Essentially, you are building a slideshow. This can be from pictures and videos saved in your camera roll or content you record on the spot. Here are the steps:

1. Open the Instagram app and head to your profile page. Click the plus sign button on the top right-hand side of the screen. Select reel from the bottom row of options.
2. Alternatively, you can access the reels editor by swiping left to open the Instagram camera from your home screen. Next, select the reel option at the bottom of the screen.
3. Click the camera roll icon in the bottom left corner. You can also swipe up from the live camera view for quick access.
4. Tap on the photo or video you wish to your reel. You can film live videos directly through the reel creator if you are more of an in-the-moment person. 
5. Next, you can adjust when you want this photo or video to appear in your reel. Drag the slider to choose your preferred time under the default and maximum length of 5 seconds.
6. Click add. This will take you back to the live camera view of your reel creator.
7. Want to add more pictures or videos to the same reel? Repeat steps 3 through 6.

Have all your photos lined up and timed up to your liking? It is time to move on to the editing stage, where you can get creative with design tools and special effects. You will want to ensure your reel is enticing to keep your viewers attention.

How To Share a Reel on Instagram: The Easy Steps

It’s time to start learning how to share a reel on Instagram through your stories. We are here to assure you that it is easy. It only takes a few easy steps. Follow the instructions below, and you will share content in no time. Let’s begin.

1. Open your Instagram app and locate the reel you wish to share. This can be from a friend, family member, or a new account you discovered through the Explore page.
2. Next, tap on the paper plane icon located on the right-hand side of the screen,
3. From here, select add reel to your story.
4. You can edit the content by adding text, doodles, or other design features. You can also add music to your Instagram story. 
5. Finally, you can select to share the reel to your story or your Instagram close friends list.

Another way to learn how to share a reel is through Instagram direct messenger. This built-in message system allows you to connect with other users. To do this, follow steps 1 and 2 above. However, instead of selecting add reel to your story, you will click on the username to which you wish to send the reel. 

You can copy the link from this pop-up screen, send it in WhatsApp, or share the reel on another social media platform. This makes having the same content across all your online profiles accessible. 

Congratulations, you have successfully learned how to share a reel on Instagram. It is that simple. Now, let’s move on and address some common questions people have when sharing reels.

How To Share a Reel on Instagram: 4 Common Questions

By now, you understand how to share a reel on Instagram and what a reel is. Of course, many people have more specific questions on this topic. This is understandable, as there is much to understand regarding Instagram and its available features. They are constantly adding, changing, and updating methods of sharing. Luckily, we are here to help. 

There are some instances when you might run into a problem or two when sharing a reel on Instagram. These problems could be related to the content you are trying to repost or the account from which the content originated. Either way, it can be frustrating when you run into issues. 

Below, we will cover four common questions many people have when sharing Instagram reels. These include reels that did not tag your username, reels longer than story length, and reels from private accounts. Keep reading as we address the hot topics.   

1. How To Share a Reel on Instagram That You Are Not Tagged In

You can tag or mention people in your reels, like Instagram feed posts and stories. This lets you quickly notify other people in your content that you have posted something that includes them. Group photos and family videos are popular options to tag other users in.

If someone has tagged your username in their reel, sharing this content with your story is straightforward. When this happens, you will receive a notification in your direct messages. Click on the message to view the reel. A pop-up button at the bottom of the screen will allow you to share the reel to your story.

However, are you interested in learning how to share a reel on Instagram that the creator did not tag you in? Luckily, you already know how. It will be the same process we covered above when learning about sharing reels. Need a quick refresher? Check out the steps below. 

6. Open your Instagram app and locate the reel you wish to share.
7. Next, tap on the paper plane icon located on the right-hand side of the screen,
8. From here, select add reel to your story.
9. Finally, edit the content and select your story.

2. How To Share a Long Reel on Instagram Story

As mentioned above, reels can be 15-90 seconds long. This gives the creator reasonable time to express their thoughts and feelings. A new Instagram story can be a maximum of 60 seconds. 

However, the maximum length for sharing a reel to your Instagram story is 15 seconds. As you can see, some content will get cut off. This is because Instagram wants you to watch reels from the dedicated tab.

This means that, in some cases, the entire reel will not play on your Instagram story. Have you ever wondered how to share a long reel on Instagram story? We are here to share one trick for doing this.

First, you will want to save your reel to your device. This is done either during the editing process or after you’ve posted it to your profile. Now, the video clip will be available in your camera roll. You can create a fresh Instagram story post using the reel content from here. This will allow you to share up to 60 seconds. 

You may wonder why you need to learn how to share a reel on Instagram stories when you’ve already posted it on your profile. Many people like to do this to help maximize their exposure. Sharing content in two different areas ensures everyone sees your content and can create more active engagement. 

3. How To Share a Private Reel on Instagram

Regarding Instagram profiles, you have two options – public or private. And these choices can impact when learning how to share a reel on Instagram. First, let’s address what each type means. If your account is public, anyone can view your content, not just your followers. People can access all public profile features, including feed posts, reels, and stories. 

We suggest setting your Instagram account to private if you prefer more privacy. This means that only people that you approve can view your profile and shared content. If you have a private profile, only your followers can view any reel you share to your story.

But what if you share a reel from a user with a private profile? Have you ever wondered how to share a private reel on Instagram? First, you will have to be a follower of the user who is posting the reel. This is the only way you will be able to see it. When you share their reel, only their followers can see it through your profile. 

Knowing who can see your Instagram reel is essential. This can keep yourself and your content safe and ensure you are still reaching your intended audience. If you need more clarification, consider double-checking your account settings to ensure you understand your control options.

4. How To Share a Reel on an Instagram Story Without Posting to Your Feed

Finally, the last popular question we will cover is how to share a reel on an Instagram story without posting to your feed. Some prefer to share content solely through the reels function rather than their profile feed. 

If this is true for you, you may wonder how to share a reel on Instagram so it does not also share to your feed. Luckily, the answer to this is quite simple. This will be an option during the final step of creating a reel. Let’s take a quick look at the steps below.

1. Create your Instagram reel using content snippets from your device or captured directly through Instagram. 
2. Click next and add any editing features that you wish.
3. Select next one more time. On this screen, you will see an option also share to feed. Toggle this on or off, depending on your preference.
4. Tap share, and your reel is now live, being shared only through the Instagram reels feature.  

How To Share a Reel on Instagram and Save It

You now know how to share a reel on Instagram. But what if you like the content so much that you want to save it to your device? From cooking recipes to family moments, it would be nice to have these easily accessible for reference later. Can this be done? You are in luck because the answer is yes. 

Downloading Instagram reels and video posts on your phone or computer is possible. But you will need a little outside help. There is no in-app way to save another user’s video content. Remember that Instagram does not sponsor or endorse third-party apps and websites. We recommend taking the time to do your research on any app or social media service before signing up. 

Did you know you can quickly and easily save Instagram reels and videos quickly and easily with Path Social? That’s right. In addition to their social media growth services, Path Social saves your favorite content. 

This feature is free to access on their website. All you need to do is provide your email address. Rest assured that this downloader tool is safe and secure. Path Social does notify users when you download their video using their service.

To get going, copy and paste the link or source code of the Instagram video you wish to download. To do this:

1. Tap the three dots icon in the top right-hand corner of the video.
2. From the pop-up menu, select copy.
3. Paste the link into Path Social’s Instagram downloader tool.

That’s all it takes! Once the video downloads, you can save it directly to your phone or computer. You can access it whenever possible or re-post the video to your Instagram story.

How To Share a Reel on Instagram and Profit From It

If you are a business or influencer, Instagram reels can quickly and monetarily grow your brand. Reels are a great way to turn your Instagram account into a profitable marketing campaign. Use a few tips and tricks to ensure your content gets the recognition it deserves. After all, your engagement rate will increase with the more people you reach.

So, ready to learn how to share a reel on Instagram and profit from it? It’s all about focusing on social media trends and making them your own. This can be anything, from a popular song making virtual rounds to the week’s dance. Use these as inspiration and put your unique twist to stand out. Consistent posting is another trick you will want to keep in mind. This ensures your name or brand will always be front of mind for your audience. 

Brand sponsorship is one of the most popular ways to monetize an Instagram reel. You collaborate with a brand or businesses and share their reels or other content. You can earn a flat fee or a small percentage for every post. Another profitable option is Instagram affiliate marketing. This is when you share a reel with a direct website link or promotional code. When your viewers use this to purchase an item, you receive a cut of the sales. 

At Path Social, we’ve built up an in-house platform of Instagram influencers and an AI-targeting algorithm over the past decade. That’s how we organically target and reach users that engage in your content. And that’s why no one can replicate our results, which means you’ll build an Instagram community that lasts! Start growing and gaining Instagram followers today.