How to Copy an Instagram Reel Link (Step-by-Step Guide)
A clear, practical guide on how to copy Instagram links for Reels, feed videos, photo posts, and user profiles across iPhone, Android, and desktop browsers.
Quick Answer
To copy any Instagram link, open the post or Reel, tap the Share icon (paper airplane), and choose "Copy Link". Alternatively, tap the three dots (•••) and select "Link". On a computer web browser, simply copy the URL from your address bar. Once copied to your clipboard, you can paste the URL into our Instagram Reels Downloader to preview and download supported public Reels directly from your browser.
To copy an Instagram link, open the Reel or post in your mobile app, tap the paper airplane Share icon, and select "Copy Link". If you do not see the share airplane, tap the three dots (•••) on the post and tap "Link". On a desktop browser, click the browser address bar at the top and press Ctrl+C (Windows) or Cmd+C (Mac).
Copying a link is the most reliable way to share Instagram media with friends outside the app, bookmark memorable posts for later, or paste public URLs into an online utility to download a public Instagram Reel or feed post for offline viewing.
Because Instagram frequently tests new user interface layouts, the exact location of the "Copy Link" option can shift between app updates. Below, you will find clear, up-to-date instructions for copying links from Reels, standard feed videos, photo posts, active Stories, and creator profiles on both iOS and Android.
How Do I Copy an Instagram Reel Link?
Fastest methods on iPhone and Android apps
Instagram Reels display action buttons in a vertical column along the right side of the screen. Because the interface is designed for full-screen scrolling, grabbing a Reel link takes just two taps:
Step 1: Tap the Share Icon (Paper Airplane)
While viewing the Reel, tap the paper airplane Share icon on the right side of your screen (directly below the comment icon).
Step 2: Tap "Copy Link" in the Sharing Tray
A sharing tray will pop up displaying suggested contacts and action buttons along the bottom row. Tap the "Copy Link" button. You will see a brief notification saying "Link copied to clipboard".
Step 3: Alternative: Tap the Three Dots (•••) Menu
On some app versions, tap the three dots (•••) icon in the lower-right corner and select "Link" or "We've moved things around → Copy link".
Once you have copied the Reel link, you can paste it into our Instagram Reels Downloader to preview and download supported public Reels directly from your browser.
If you want to download Instagram Reels with synchronized audio, SaveKia fetches the high-definition MP4 stream without requiring an account login or separate app.
How Do I Copy an Instagram Video or Feed Post Link?
Standard posts, carousels, and long videos
Standard Instagram feed posts, photo carousels, and square or landscape videos have a slightly different layout than full-screen Reels.
Whether you want to save an educational tutorial, recipe, or multi-photo album, copying the link allows you to fetch the source media through dedicated browser tools.
Step 1: Find the Post in Your Feed
Scroll to the post you want to copy. Underneath the photo or video, locate the standard interaction bar containing the heart, comment bubble, and paper airplane icons.
Step 2: Tap Share or the Three-Dots Icon
Tap the paper airplane icon underneath the media, or tap the three dots (•••) located at the top-right corner of the post card.
Step 3: Choose "Copy Link"
Select "Copy Link" from the menu options. The complete URL is instantly stored in your phone's clipboard.
For standard feed videos and IGTV clips, paste your URL into our Instagram Video Downloader to preview and download clean MP4 video files.
If you copied a photo post or multi-image album, use our Instagram Photo Downloader to save individual high-resolution JPEG images.
How Do I Copy an Instagram Story Link?
Saving active 24-hour temporary photos and video clips
Instagram Stories are ephemeral and disappear after 24 hours, but you can easily copy their URL while they remain active on public profiles:
Step 1: Open the Active Public Story
Navigate to the active Story slide you want to copy. Verify the account is public, as private Stories cannot be retrieved by web tools.
Step 2: Tap Share or the Three-Dots Icon
Tap the paper airplane Share icon in the bottom-right corner of the Story viewer, or tap the three dots (•••) in the top-right corner.
Step 3: Select "Copy Link"
Tap "Copy Link" from the drawer. The direct slide link is immediately copied to your clipboard.
Because Stories expire after 24 hours, paste the copied link into our Instagram Story Downloader promptly to preview and save available media before it is deleted from Instagram servers.
How Do I Copy Someone's Instagram Profile Link?
Sharing an entire account or creator profile
Whether you want to share a creator's profile with a colleague or inspect their public display picture, copying an account link is quick:
Step 1: Open the Creator's Profile Page
Tap the username or profile picture of any user to view their main profile grid.
Step 2: Tap the Three Dots Menu in the Top Corner
In the top-right corner of the profile header, tap the three dots (horizontal dots on iPhone, vertical dots on Android).
Step 3: Select "Copy Profile URL"
Tap "Copy Profile URL" from the popover menu. The clean handle link (such as instagram.com/username) is copied to your clipboard.
To download a public profile picture, paste the profile URL into our Instagram Profile Downloader. To copy your own profile link, tap your profile tab, select "Share Profile", and choose "Copy Link".
How to Copy an Instagram Link on a Computer (Desktop Web)
Using Chrome, Safari, Edge, or Firefox on PC and Mac
If you are browsing Instagram on a computer, copying links is even simpler because URLs are directly visible in your web browser:
1. Open the post or Reel in your browser window.
2. Click on the browser address bar at the top of your screen to highlight the full URL (e.g., https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cxxxxxx/ or /p/Cxxxxxx/).
3. Press Ctrl + C on Windows or Cmd + C on Mac to copy the address. You can also click the three dots (•••) next to the post and choose "Copy Link". Once copied, you can paste the link into SaveKia to download public media without installing any desktop software.
Can I Copy an Instagram Link Without Opening the Post?
Copying directly from feeds and explore grids
Yes, you do not always need to open a post in full-screen mode to copy its link.
In your mobile feed, every post card displays a paper airplane icon and a three-dots menu right beneath the media, so you can copy the link without tapping into the post details.
On desktop, you can right-click any post thumbnail on a creator's profile or the Explore grid and choose "Copy Link Address" (in Chrome and Edge) or "Copy Link" (in Safari and Firefox). This makes gathering multiple links fast and seamless.
Understanding Clean vs. Cluttered Instagram URLs
What does ?igsh= mean and should you remove it?
When you copy an Instagram link from the mobile app, you will often notice extra characters at the end of the URL, such as:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cxxxxxx/?igsh=MWxxxx==&utm_source=qr
The parameters starting with ?igsh= or ?utm_source= are analytics tags Instagram attaches to track referral channels. The actual post identifier is just the primary path: https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cxxxxxx/.
You do not need to clean these parameters manually when using SaveKia; our system automatically strips tracking parameters and resolves the clean canonical URL.
SaveKia Instagram Reels Downloader
Paste your copied Instagram Reel link into SaveKia to preview and download public Reels in standard MP4 format.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I copy an Instagram link on my phone?
Open the Instagram app, navigate to any Reel or post, tap the paper airplane Share icon, and select "Copy Link" from the bottom row of options. You can also tap the three dots (•••) on the post and choose "Link".
Where is the copied Instagram link stored on my device?
The link is saved to your phone or computer clipboard. You can paste it into any text field, messaging app, notes, or browser bar by long-pressing and selecting "Paste" (or pressing Ctrl+V / Cmd+V).
Why does my copied Instagram link have "?igsh=" at the end?
Instagram appends "?igsh=" and tracking parameters to analyze how links are shared. You can safely remove everything from the question mark onward, or paste the entire link into SaveKia which cleans it automatically.
Can I copy a link to a private Instagram Reel or post?
You can copy the link if you follow the private account, but anyone who does not follow that account will see a "Post unavailable" error. Web downloaders cannot access private or password-protected content.
How do I copy a link to an Instagram Story?
While watching an active public Story, tap the paper airplane icon in the bottom-right corner and select "Copy Link", or tap the top three dots and select "Copy Link". You can then paste the URL into our Instagram Story Downloader to save active Story photos and videos before they expire after 24 hours.
What can I do after copying an Instagram link?
You can send it to friends in chat, save it for research, or paste it into our Instagram Reels Downloader or Instagram Video Downloader to preview and save the original HD MP4 video or high-res photo for offline access.
Copying an Instagram link is quick once you know where the Share and three-dots menus are located. Once you have copied the URL, you can share it across your favorite apps or paste it into our Instagram Reels Downloader to save public Reels directly to your device.