Why cant I add a link to my Instagram story?

(Pocket-lint) - Instagram for a long time limited who could use hyperlinks in Instagram Stories. But, in late 2021, it lifted all requirements, allowing anyone to add them to their stories. You no longer need a business or creator account, you don't need to be verified, and you don't need over 10,000 followers.

Instagram originally offered a swipe-up link tool that allowed select users to add hyperlinks to their stories. When used, viewers could swipe up on your story or tap an arrow at the bottom of their screen to open any page you linked - all without leaving the Instagram app. But to add a link to your story, you needed to be verified or have a business or creator account with over 10,000 followers.

In mid-2021, Instagram tested a link sticker that worked like the swipe-up link - only, viewers would tap instead of swipe. By end of 2021, it officially introduced the "Link" sticker for all users, opening up the ability for everyone to include hyperlinks in their stories. The link sticker is useful whether you're a business linking to products for sale or an influencer linking out to an external blog.

Instagram said accounts sharing misinformation or hate speech will lose access.

How to add a link to your Instagram Story

Instagram's "Link" sticker feature completely replaces the swipe-up tool, which was how users previously linked to external webpages from stories.

A link can be added anywhere to a story.

  1. Open the latest version of the Instagram mobile app.
  2. Tap the Stories camera at the top of your screen.
  3. Take a photo or video in the app or choose from your camera roll.
  4. Head to the Instagram Stories sticker tray icon.
  5. Scroll until you see the "Link" sticker. Select it.
  6. You’ll be given the option to either enter or paste a URL.
  7. You'll be able to reposition your link sticker by dragging or resizing it with a pinch.
  8. You can also choose different colours.
  9. Done? If you’re on an iOS device, tap Done. If you’re using an Android, tap the check.

And that’s it!

Instagram has said its link sticker is only meant for Stories. It has no plans to bring it to the main Instagram feed or elsewhere.

Want to know more?

For more handy Instagram hacks, see our guides:

Why cant I add a link to my Instagram story?

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  • Add an Instagram Story Link with Link Sticker
  • To Conclude Adding Links to Instagram Story

After achieving some success on Instagram, you have seen fit to take advantage of the popularity you have earned on this social network to promote your website. For this reason, you would like to add a link in your Instagram Story: a type of content that is followed with particular interest from your followers, but you still don’t have clear ideas on how to proceed. Did we guess right? Well, then know that you’ve come to just the right place at the right time!

In the next paragraphs, we’ll show you what the requirements to be met to use the sharing of links in Instagram Stories are, and we will show you, in a practical way, how to use the feature in question (which unfortunately is not yet within everyone’s reach). Finally, should any problems arise, we will also explain what you can do to solve them.

Add an Instagram Story Link with Link Sticker

You can add links to Instagram Stories in an extremely simple and intuitive way. You don’t have to have at least 10.000 followers as it used to be. Instagram now encourages its users to use the stickers on Instagram. That’s why you will need to use the Link Sticker. You only need to create a new Story, then you will need to use the Instagram Link Sticker.

Time needed: 1 minute.

Here is how to add a Link Sticker to your Instagram story:

  1. Start the Instagram app on your device.

    Log in if it is necessary.

  2. Swipe left to get to the Stories page or tap on your Story icon.

    Why cant I add a link to my Instagram story?

  3. Record your story.

    You can edit your Story on this step if you want to.

  4. After you are done with the editing or captions, you will have to tap on the Sticker tag.

    Why cant I add a link to my Instagram story?

  5. Select the Link Sticker from the tags menu and enter your website link in the box.

    Why cant I add a link to my Instagram story?

To Conclude Adding Links to Instagram Story

This Instagram Stories Link feature was anticipated by many marketers who have been looking for more ways to attract traffic from Instagram.

When used effectively, marketers who have access to this feature will certainly increase website traffic.

How to Add Links to Your Stories.
Capture or upload content to your story..
Select the sticker tool from the top navigation bar..
Tap the “Link” sticker to add your desired link and tap “Done”.
Place the sticker on your story — like our other stickers — and tap on the sticker to see color variations..

Can anyone add a link to Instagram story?

Previously, the Instagram swipe-up feature could only be used by accounts with over 10K Instagram followers. But now, any Instagram account, regardless of its size, can add a link to Instagram Stories! So you don't have to be an influencer or have a verified account to take advantage of the sticker feature.