- Always ask the creator before you repost.
- Credit is polite, but it is not the same as permission.
- Say where you will post, how you will credit and that you will remove it on request.
- Instagram’s share, Remix and Collab tools need no download.
Someone makes a Reel you love and you want to show it to your followers. It feels harmless, but a video belongs to the person who made it. The good news is that asking is easy, and most creators say yes when you do it politely. This guide shows you how.
Why permission matters
Creators spend hours filming and editing. When someone reposts their work without asking, the creator loses views, credit and sometimes income. Instagram also lets owners report copied content, which can lead to a removed post or a warning on your account. A short message avoids all of that.
Step 1: Find the right way to ask
Send a direct message from your account, or comment on the Reel if the creator has no messages open. If they have a business account, look for an email address on their profile. A message is better than a public comment, because it feels personal and less like a demand.
Step 2: Use a message like this
Keep it short, friendly and specific. You can copy and adjust this template:
Hi! I really enjoyed your Reel about [topic]. Would it be okay if I shared it on my page with full credit and a link to your profile? I would tag you and use your caption. Happy to remove it if you ever change your mind. Thanks for making it!
Say where you will post it, how you will credit them and that you will take it down on request. Those three things answer the questions most creators have.
Step 3: Wait for a clear yes
Silence is not permission. If you do not get a reply, do not post it. Keep the message so you have a record of what was agreed. If the creator says no, thank them and move on.
Step 4: Credit properly
- Tag the creator in the video and in the caption.
- Mention their username in plain text too, in case the tag is removed.
- Do not crop out their name, logo or watermark.
- Do not claim the idea as your own or change the meaning of the video.
Safer alternatives that need no download
Often you do not need to save the file at all. Instagram has features built for sharing someone else's content while keeping their name attached:
- Send in a message. Share the Reel with friends privately.
- Add it to your story. The Reel appears with the creator's username on it.
- Remix. If the creator allows it, you can make a new Reel that responds to theirs.
- Collab. Invite the creator to post together so you share the credit and the audience.
When you do need the file
Sometimes you have the creator's permission and want the original video for an edit, a presentation or a slideshow for a class. In that case, you can save a public Reel with our Reels downloader. We never add a watermark. Use the file only in the way the creator agreed to, and read our plain explanation in is it legal to download Instagram videos.
What counts as permission?
A clear, written yes is the gold standard. A direct message saying “Sure, go ahead, just tag me” is enough for a casual share. A reply that only says “maybe” is not. Be specific about what you will do with the video, where you will post it and for how long. If the creator agrees only to a story, do not later use the same video in an advert. Permission covers exactly what was agreed and nothing more.
Two follow-up messages that help
When they say yes:
Thank you so much! I'll post it today with your name in the caption and a tag. I'll send you the link so you can see it. If you'd like it taken down at any point, just tell me.
When they say no or do not answer:
No problem at all, thanks for letting me know. I'll leave it and keep following your work.
Handling a refusal kindly protects your reputation and often leads to a better chance later.
Reposting for a business or brand
Using someone's video to promote a product is a different matter from sharing it with friends. For anything commercial, ask for explicit written permission that mentions the use, the platforms and the time period. Many brands have a simple agreement for user-generated content. If you are in doubt, speak to a legal professional before you publish. A downloaded video does not become yours because it is easy to save.
If someone reposts your content without asking
Creators run into this too. A calm approach usually works best:
- Send a polite message and ask for the post to be removed or for proper credit.
- If there is no reply, use Instagram's reporting tools to report the post for copyright.
- Keep screenshots and links as evidence.
Site owners like us also respond to takedown requests. See our copyright page for how to contact us.
“Fair use” is not a magic phrase
Writing “no copyright intended” or “fair use” in a caption does not change the law. Whether something counts as fair use depends on the specific facts, such as the purpose, the amount used and the effect on the creator, and it varies by country. The simplest and safest approach is the one this article describes: ask first.
Things to avoid
- Reposting to promote your own product without asking.
- Re-uploading to another platform and presenting it as yours.
- Reposting a video of a private moment or of someone who has not agreed to be shown.
- Using music from a Reel in ways its licence does not allow.
Being polite costs one message and builds a relationship. Creators remember the people who asked.
