After posting a photo or reel on Instagram, it’s natural to wonder how far your content is spreading. Shares are one of the strongest indicators of engagement — they show that people find your content valuable enough to pass along. But can you actually see who shared your Instagram post or reel?
The answer is yes, but with important limitations. Instagram only reveals certain types of shares, and only under specific conditions. This guide breaks down everything you need to know, including how to view reshares, how to switch to a professional account, and how to prevent others from sharing your content.
Key Things to Know Before Checking Who Shared Your Instagram Post
Instagram does allow you to see who shared your post or reel, but only in specific scenarios. Here’s what you should know:
- You can only see who shared your post to their public Story.
- If their Story expires after 24 hours or they delete it, you can no longer view the reshare.
- You cannot see who shared your post via DMs.
- Instagram does not notify you when someone shares your post unless they tag you.
- You can always view the total number of shares through Insights.
Instagram’s privacy rules are strict, so the platform limits how much information it reveals about user activity. For more details on Instagram’s privacy policies, you can check:
How to See Who Shared Your Instagram Post or Reel
You can only see who shared your post if they added it to their public Story. To access this information, you must switch to a Professional Account, which unlocks Instagram Insights.
Step 1: Switch to a Professional Account
A personal account only shows basic engagement metrics like likes and comments. To see share data, you need a Creator or Business account.
Here’s how to switch:
- Open Instagram and tap the three horizontal lines in the top-right corner.
- Go to Settings.
- Scroll to Account type and tools.
- Tap Switch to professional account.
- Follow the on-screen setup instructions.
Switching is free and reversible, and it does not affect your followers or content.
Step 2: View Who Shared Your Post or Reel
Once your account is professional, you can check who reshared your content:
- Open your Instagram profile.
- Select the post or reel you want to check.
- Tap the three dots in the top-right corner.
- Choose View Story Reshares.
If this option appears, you’ll see a list of public accounts that shared your post to their Stories.
If the option is missing, it means:
- No one reshared your post in the last 24 hours, or
- The reshare expired or was deleted.
You can also view the total number of shares under the post’s Insights, which includes shares to Stories, DMs, and external platforms.
How to Stop Others from Sharing Your Instagram Posts
If you prefer more control over your content, Instagram offers several built‑in privacy settings to limit sharing.
1. Disable Story Resharing
If your account is public, others can add your posts to their Stories. You can turn this off:
- Open Instagram and go to your profile.
- Tap the menu icon → Settings and privacy.
- Scroll to Sharing and reuse.
- Turn off Posts and reels to stories.
This prevents others from resharing your posts to their Stories, but they can still send them via DMs if your account is public.
2. Limit Your Audience Before Posting
Instagram allows you to choose who can see your post before publishing:
- Everyone
- Approved followers (private accounts)
- Close friends
This doesn’t fully prevent sharing, but it reduces who can access the original post.
3. Make Your Account Private
A private account gives you the highest level of control. Only approved followers can view and share your content.
To switch to private:
- Go to Settings.
- Select Account privacy under “Who can see your content.”
- Toggle on Private account.
This prevents strangers from sharing your posts and limits visibility to your chosen audience.
Additional FAQs About Instagram Shares
1. Why can’t I see who shared my post?
Only professional accounts can view Story reshares. If you’re using a personal account, you won’t see this option.
2. Can I see who shared my post to DMs?
No. Instagram does not reveal who shared your content privately.
3. Can I see who shared my Instagram Story?
Yes. While your Story is active, you can view the list of viewers — including those who shared it.
4. Do third‑party apps show who shared my posts?
No. External apps cannot access share data. Apps claiming to do so are unreliable and may violate Instagram’s policies.
5. Can I see who shared my reel?
Yes — reels follow the same rules as posts. You can only see public Story reshares.
6. Why does “View Story Reshares” disappear?
Because Story reshares only remain visible for 24 hours. Once the Story expires, the reshare list disappears.
7. Does Instagram notify me when someone shares my post?
Only if they tag you in the Story. Otherwise, you won’t receive a notification.
Conclusion
Instagram doesn’t reveal every detail about who shares your content, but a professional account gives you access to valuable insights — including Story reshares and total share counts. If privacy is your priority, you can disable resharing, limit your audience, or switch to a private account.
Understanding how your content spreads helps you measure engagement, protect your privacy, and make smarter decisions about what you share online.