You need a business account and at least 10,000 followers to add clickable links
Instagram limits the link sticker — the tool that lets people tap through to a website — to accounts with a business or creator profile and a minimum of 10,000 followers. If you have fewer followers or a personal account, you cannot add a clickable link directly into a story. You can mention a URL in text, but people will have to copy and paste it manually.
If you meet both requirements, the link sticker appears in your story creation tools. The process takes about 30 seconds once you open the sticker menu.
Key Takeaways
- Only business and creator accounts with 10,000 or more followers can use the link sticker in stories.
- The link sticker is found in the sticker menu while you are creating or editing a story.
- You can link to any URL — your website, a product page, a blog post, or an external site.
- People see a "See More" or "Swipe Up" prompt at the bottom of your story when a link is attached.
How to add a link sticker to your story
Open Instagram and tap your profile picture in the bottom right to go to your story camera. Take a photo or video, or select one from your camera roll. Once you have your image or video ready, tap the sticker icon — it looks like a square smiley face — in the top toolbar.
Scroll through the sticker options until you find the link sticker. It shows a chain link icon. Tap it, then paste or type the URL you want to link to. The sticker will appear on your story as a small preview or button. You can move it around, resize it, or change its appearance depending on your Instagram version. Tap "Done" or outside the sticker to confirm, then post your story.
What happens when someone taps the link
When you add a link sticker, Instagram displays a prompt at the bottom of your story — usually "See More" or "Swipe Up," depending on your app version. When someone taps that area, Instagram opens the link in a browser window within the app. They stay in Instagram while the page loads, and they can swipe back to your story without closing the browser.
The link does not appear as clickable text in the story itself. Instead, the sticker acts as a button or hotspot. You can style it with different colors, text, or emoji to make it stand out, but the actual link is hidden until someone taps the prompt.
Where you can link to
You can link to any URL — your website, an online store, a blog post, a YouTube video, a landing page, or another Instagram profile. There is no restriction on the domain or the type of content. Many people use the link sticker to direct followers to a product page, a sign-up form, a portfolio, or a special offer.
Make sure the URL is correct before you post. If you link to a page that no longer exists or a broken URL, people will see an error when they tap through. You can edit the story after posting to fix the link if needed — tap the three dots on your posted story, select "Edit," and tap the sticker to change the URL.
Switching from a personal to a business account
If you have a personal account and want to use the link sticker, you need to switch to a business or creator profile. Open your Instagram settings, go to "Account," and tap "Switch to professional account." Choose either "Business" or "Creator" — both allow the link sticker once you reach 10,000 followers.
Switching to a business account does not change how your profile looks to other people, but it gives you access to insights, promotional tools, and additional stickers. Your follower count stays the same, and your posts remain visible to the same audience.
If you have fewer than 10,000 followers
The link sticker is not available until you reach 10,000 followers, even on a business account. Until then, you can mention a URL in your story text — for example, "Link in bio" or "Visit example.com" — but people will have to type it in or copy it manually.
Some accounts use the "Link in Bio" strategy instead, where they put a single URL in their Instagram bio and direct all story traffic there. That URL can point to a landing page with multiple links, so you can change where people go without editing your bio every time. This approach works for any account size.
Troubleshooting link sticker problems
If the link sticker does not appear in your sticker menu, check that your account is a business or creator profile with at least 10,000 followers. Personal accounts and accounts under 10,000 followers will not see the option. You can verify your account type and follower count in your profile settings.
If the sticker appears but the link does not work, make sure the URL is complete and correct — it should start with "https://" or "http://". If you pasted the link and it looks wrong, delete it and type it again. If the page you are linking to is down or has moved, the link will fail even if the URL is correct.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I see how many people tapped my link sticker?
Yes. Go to your story insights by tapping the eye icon on a posted story, then scroll down to see "Taps Forward" — that is how many people tapped your link. You can also see this data in your overall story analytics if you have a business account.
Can I add multiple links in one story?
Yes. You can add as many link stickers as you want to a single story. Each sticker is separate, so you can link to different URLs. However, too many links can clutter your story and make it harder for people to know which one to tap.
What if someone says they cannot see the link prompt?
They may be using an older version of Instagram or a device that does not fully support the feature. Ask them to update their app. If they still cannot see it, the link sticker may not be working on their device — this is rare but can happen with very old phones or certain Android versions.
Does the link sticker work on stories I repost from other accounts?
No. If you repost someone else's story using the "Repost" feature, the original link sticker is removed. You would need to add your own link sticker if you want one on the reposted story.