- Where the repost arrows sit on posts and reels
- The other places the two arrow symbol shows up
- What happens after you tap the arrows
- How to repost with a note
- Undoing a repost you didn't mean to make
- Finding reposts on your profile and other people's
- My advice for business accounts using reposts
- Frequently asked questions
The two arrows on Instagram are the repost button: tap them under a public post or reel and it's shared with your followers, with credit to the original creator. Reposts show up in your followers' feeds and in a separate Reposts tab on your profile, not on your main grid. The catch is that one tap reposts straight away, so it's easy to do by accident.
Instagram launched reposts in August 2025, and the little looped arrows confused plenty of people because they look so much like the share or refresh symbols on other apps. Here's what the icon does, where else you'll see it, how to add a note and how to take a repost back.
Where the repost arrows sit on posts and reels
On a feed post, the button is a two arrow symbol that sits between the message and share buttons. iGeeksBlog calls it two arrows in a square shape and says it appears on public reels as well as posts. On reels, look in the column of icons down the right side of the screen.
If you can't see it, there are a few likely reasons. Instagram's announcement says you can repost public reels and feed posts, so a private account's content won't show it. It's also missing when the original creator has turned off sharing. Instagram's Help Center also says the feature isn't available on computers, so you'll need the app on your phone.
The other places the two arrow symbol shows up
The same looped arrows appear in more than one spot, which is why people get muddled. According to iGeeksBlog:
| Where you see the two arrows | What it means |
|---|---|
| Under a post or reel | The repost button. Tap it to share with your followers. |
| On your profile, next to the grid and tagged tabs | Your Reposts tab, where everything you've reposted lives. |
| On someone else's profile | Their Reposts tab. Anyone can open it and see what they've shared. |
| On a story | A sign that the story was reposted from another account's original story. |
Don't confuse the two arrows with the paper plane. The paper plane is the share button: it sends a post privately in a DM, adds it to your story or copies the link. The two arrows are public. Anything you repost with them can be seen by your followers and sits on your profile for anyone to browse, so it's worth a second's thought before you tap.
What happens after you tap the arrows
Instagram's own announcement sets out the rules. Your repost is recommended to your friends' and followers' feeds, it's kept in a separate tab on your profile and it's credited to the original poster. For creators, that's the interesting bit: Instagram says a repost may be recommended to the reposter's followers even if they don't follow the creator, which gives the original content a fresh audience.
Instagram head Adam Mosseri told reporters, as PetaPixel covered, that reposts were also a way to give credit back to creators, because people were already downloading and reuploading content. Instagram's Help Center page on original content backs this up: if you want to share reels or posts from other accounts without making real edits, it recommends reposting or sharing to your story rather than posting a copy.
That's a useful point if you've ever been tempted to download someone's reel and post it again. A repost keeps the creator's name attached and doesn't count as your own upload, while a reupload can be flagged as unoriginal content and may reach fewer people.
How to repost with a note
- Open the public post or reel you want to share in the Instagram app.
- Tap the two arrows. Instagram reposts it immediately.
- A small thought bubble appears on screen. Tap it if you want to add a note.
- Type your comment, then tap Save.
- Go to your profile and open the Reposts tab to check it's there.
Instagram's announcement describes that thought bubble step, and the note can include a hashtag, a mention or an emoji. The note is optional. If you want a wider walkthrough, my guide on reposting a post on Instagram covers stories and older workarounds too.
Undoing a repost you didn't mean to make
Because there's no confirmation step, accidental reposts happen all the time. Technobezz tested it on an iPhone and found that Instagram shows a sheet saying "You reposted this post" with OK and Undo buttons straight after the tap. Pressing Undo takes it back.
If that sheet has already gone, Technobezz says many people report that tapping the highlighted repost icon on the post again removes it. You can find the post through your Reposts tab if you've lost it. Check the tab afterwards to make sure it's gone. The original creator's post isn't touched either way, so undoing a repost doesn't affect their likes or comments.
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Another confusing label in the app is covered in the explainer on null in Instagram, with the reasons it appears.
Finding reposts on your profile and other people's
Every account now has a Reposts tab marked with the same two arrows. Tap it on your own profile to see everything you've shared, and tap it on anyone else's to see theirs, along with any notes they added. If you're curious who has reposted your own content, my guide to seeing reposts on Instagram walks through what you can and can't check.
My advice for business accounts using reposts
I like reposts for brands, with one condition: repost things your audience would thank you for, not everything you happen to enjoy. Customer content, a partner's launch or a glowing review reel all fit. Because the creator is credited automatically, it's a cleaner option than screenshotting someone's post. I'd still send the creator a quick message first for anything that features a customer's face or home. Just remember your Reposts tab is public, so it's part of how people judge your brand.
This guide is part of my Instagram Help: 81 Guides to Followers, Hashtags, Money, Accounts and Fixes.
Frequently asked questions
What do the two arrows mean on Instagram?
They're the repost button. Tapping them shares a public post or reel with your followers and adds it to your Reposts tab.
Does the original creator know if I repost?
Reposts are credited to the original poster, so their name stays on it. Instagram says reposts can show their content to your followers.
How do I undo a repost on Instagram?
Tap Undo on the sheet that appears straight after reposting. Later on, people report that tapping the highlighted repost icon again removes it.
Why can't I see the two arrows on a post?
You can only repost public posts and reels, and the button disappears if the creator has turned off sharing.
Where do my reposts go?
They go to a separate Reposts tab on your profile and may be recommended in your followers' feeds, not added to your main grid.
