How to Add a Link to an Instagram Story
Quick answer
Add a link to a Story by opening the sticker tray, tapping the Link sticker, and pasting your URL. You can customize the sticker text so it reads as a call to action instead of a raw URL. The Link sticker is available to all accounts, no follower minimum required.
Step by step
- 1
Create your Story
Add your photo or video in the Story editor as usual.
- 2
Open the sticker tray
Tap the sticker icon at the top of the editor, or swipe up on the screen.
- 3
Tap the Link sticker
Paste or type the full URL, including https://.
- 4
Customize the sticker text
Tap Customize sticker text and replace the raw URL with a short call to action such as Shop the drop or Read the post.
- 5
Place it and share
Drag the sticker somewhere thumb-friendly, tap it to cycle styles, and share the Story.
Worth knowing
- Viewers tap the sticker to open the link. There is no swipe-up gesture anymore; it was replaced by the Link sticker in 2021.
- One Link sticker per Story frame. Use multiple frames if you need multiple links.
Doing this for a brand, not just an account?
Story links are the most direct route from Instagram to your site, and pre-planning them with UTM tags is what turns Stories into measurable traffic.
Common questions
Do I need 10,000 followers to add a link?
No. That requirement ended in 2021 when the Link sticker replaced swipe-up. Every account, including new ones, can use it.
Why is the Link sticker missing from my sticker tray?
Update the app first; old versions hide newer stickers. Repeated policy violations can also temporarily remove linking. New accounts occasionally see a short delay before stickers appear.
Can I track clicks on a Story link?
Instagram Insights shows sticker taps on business and creator accounts. For finer tracking, append UTM parameters to the URL before pasting it.