Threads Adds In-App Sharing to Instagram Stories

Meta Adds In-App Sharing From Threads to Instagram Stories

Threads has already grown fast — surpassing 400 million monthly users — and Meta is pushing to expand that reach. This week the company launched a new in-app sharing feature that makes it easier to send Threads posts directly to Instagram Stories.

What's new

Previously, users who wanted to share a Threads post to their Instagram Story had to leave the Threads app or perform multiple steps. Now, Threads previews how a post will look on an Instagram Story inside the Threads app, so you can share with a single tap.

Sharing a Threads post to Instagram Stories now happens without leaving Threads — you can preview and post in one place.

How it works

• Open a Threads post you want to share.
• Tap the share option and choose Instagram Story.
• See an in-app preview of the Story and adjust before posting.

The app already supported sharing Threads posts to Instagram Feed and direct messages, as well as resharing other users' Threads posts to Stories in a manner similar to Instagram's own resharing tools.

Why this matters

This change leverages Instagram's larger user base to drive more attention and traffic to Threads. Meta has repeatedly used cross-platform features to grow Threads since its July 2023 launch. Requiring Instagram authentication at signup let Threads import usernames, bios, photos, verification status and followers, and enabled users to follow the same accounts with one tap.

Other growth tactics have included:

• Displaying popular Threads posts on Facebook.
• Adding a Threads carousel inside Instagram.
• Making cross-posting from Instagram and Facebook to Threads simple.

Growth so far

Those tactics have paid off. Similarweb data showed that Threads now sees more daily mobile usage than Elon Musk's X (formerly Twitter), although X still leads on the web. Threads grew from 200 million monthly active users in August 2024 to 400 million by August 2025. Meta also announced in October that Threads reached 150 million daily active users.

Context and examples

For creators and brands, the new in-app sharing reduces friction when promoting Threads content to Instagram followers. For example, a gaming news account can post short commentary on Threads and instantly highlight it in Stories to drive followers back to the longer conversation thread. Publishers, influencers and gaming studios can all benefit from the streamlined cross-post workflow.

Streamlined sharing also encourages spontaneous, cross-platform engagement: users who see a Threads post on Instagram Stories may tap through to follow the creator on Threads, increasing discovery and retention.

Looking ahead

Meta's cross-platform approach indicates it will continue integrating Instagram, Facebook and Threads features to boost growth. Expect further small tweaks that reduce steps between platforms and prioritize content discovery. For audiences who follow gaming news or other niche verticals, these changes make it easier to surface timely posts across Meta's ecosystem.

Sarah Perez has worked at TechCrunch since August 2011 and previously wrote for ReadWriteWeb. She has an I.T. background spanning banking, retail and software. Contact: [email protected] or on Signal at sarahperez.01.