To get a deleted story back on Instagram, you don't "post" it again in the traditional sense. Instead, you can restore it from the "Recently Deleted" section within your account settings, provided it hasn't been permanently deleted yet.
Instagram temporarily stores deleted content, including stories, in a "Recently Deleted" folder for a limited time. For stories, this is typically 24 hours after they expire from your profile or 30 days if they were active when deleted.
Restoring a Deleted Instagram Story
The process involves navigating to your account activity settings and accessing the "Recently Deleted" section. From there, you can choose which item you want to restore.
Here are the steps:
- Access Your Profile: Open the Instagram app and go to your profile page.
- Open Settings: Tap the three horizontal lines in the top right corner to open the menu, then select Settings and privacy.
- Find Account: Scroll down and tap on Account.
- Locate Recently Deleted: Within the Account settings, find and tap Recently Deleted.
- Select the Story: Here you will see a list of your recently deleted content (photos, videos, Reels, and Stories). Stories appear at the top. Tap the specific story you wish to restore.
- Restore the Story: Once you have selected the story, look for options. According to Instagram's process, you will need to: Tap the photo, video, or story you'd like to restore or permanently delete. In the top right, then tap Restore to profile or Restore to restore content or Delete it. For stories, tapping "Restore" will typically bring it back to your profile as if it was never deleted, or potentially add it to your Story Archive if it had already expired.
Summary Table: Restoring a Story
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1. Go to Profile | Open Instagram app, tap profile icon |
| 2. Open Settings | Tap menu (top right) > Settings and privacy |
| 3. Go to Account | Tap Account |
| 4. Find Recently Deleted | Tap Recently Deleted |
| 5. Select Story | Tap the story you want to restore |
| 6. Restore | Tap the three dots (top right) > Tap Restore |
Important Considerations
- Time Limit: Content remains in "Recently Deleted" for a specific duration (24 hours for expired stories, 30 days for active stories or other posts). After this period, it is permanently deleted and cannot be recovered.
- Account Verification: You might need to verify that it's you via SMS or email before you can restore content from this section.
- Where it Restores: Restoring a story might add it back to your current story if the 24-hour window hasn't passed, or it may simply add it back to your story archive or profile feed depending on its original status.
By following these steps, you can recover a story you've deleted from Instagram, effectively getting it back onto your account.
