To tag people on an Instagram post, pick your photo, go to the last screen before sharing, tap "Tag people", tap the place on the photo, then search for the account and select it. Already posted? Tap the three dots on the post, choose Edit, and tap "Tag people" at the bottom left of the photo.
You can tag up to 20 people in one post, according to Instagram's Help Center. Each person you tag gets a notification, and the post shows up in the Tagged tab on their profile, unless they've set their account to approve tags first. That last part is why a tag sometimes seems to "disappear": it's waiting for their okay.
How to tag people while you're posting
- Tap the + button and choose Post.
- Pick your photo, or several photos for a carousel, and tap Next.
- Add any filters or edits you want and tap Next again.
- On the final screen, where you write the caption, tap Tag people.
- Tap the part of the photo where you want the tag to sit, for example on the person's face.
- Type their name or username in the search box and tap the right account.
- Repeat for anyone else in the photo, then tap Done and share the post.
For a carousel, swipe to each photo in the tagging screen and tag it on its own. A tag on the first photo doesn't carry over to the others, so if your friend appears in photo three, tag them on photo three.
Menus move around between app updates. If a label looks different on your phone, look for the word "Tag" on the screen where you write your caption.
How to tag people after you've already posted
- Open the post on your profile.
- Tap the three dots in the top right corner.
- Tap Edit.
- Tap Tag people at the bottom left of the photo.
- Tap the photo where you want the tag, search for the account and select it.
- Tap Done, then tap the tick or Done at the top to save your changes.
You can remove a tag the same way. Open Edit, tap Tag people, tap the tag you want to delete and remove it, then save. It only takes a few seconds, so a wrong tag is easy to fix.
Tag, mention or collab: what each one does
These three get mixed up all the time, and they don't do the same job. Here's the difference side by side.
| Photo tag | Mention (@name) | Collab | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Where it shows | On the photo itself, when someone taps it | In your caption or a comment | At the top of the post, with both usernames |
| Do they get notified? | Yes | Yes | Yes, as an invite they can accept or decline |
| Does it land in their Tagged tab? | Yes, unless they need to approve tags first | No | No, it shows on their main grid instead, once they accept |
| Best for | Showing who's in the photo | Giving someone a shout-out | Sharing one post between two accounts, likes and comments together |
The catch: typing @name isn't the same as tagging
This is the one people miss. If you type @theirname in your caption, that's a mention, not a tag. They'll get a notification, and the name becomes tappable, but the post won't appear in their Tagged tab. Only photo tags put your post there.
So if you're a business posting a photo of a client, a venue or a supplier and you want the post to live on their profile too, use the Tag people button, not just an @ in the caption. Doing both is fine, and it's what I'd do for anything important.
A Collab is a third thing again. When you invite someone as a collaborator and they accept, the post shows on both profiles, and it shares one set of likes and comments. If you've already shared a post and want to turn it into a joint one, my guide on making an Instagram collab post after posting walks you through it.
How to control who can tag you
Tagging works both ways, so it's worth checking your own settings.
- Go to your profile and tap the menu (three lines) in the top right.
- Open Settings and find Tags and mentions.
- Choose who can tag you: everyone, only people you follow, or no one.
- Turn on Manually approve tags if you want to check each tag before it shows on your profile.
With manual approval on, tagged posts wait in a pending list until you add them. You can still be tagged, but nothing lands on your Tagged tab without your say-so.
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Tagged in something you'd rather not be linked to? Open the post, tap your name tag on the photo and choose Remove me from post. The post stays up, but your tag goes, and it disappears from your Tagged tab. If the post itself breaks Instagram's rules, report it as well.
Tagging in Stories and comments
Posts aren't the only place you can tag people. In Stories, you add a mention sticker or type @ in a text box, and the person can reshare your story to their own. My guide on how to tag people in an Instagram story shows each route. In comments, you type @ and pick the account, which works like a mention: they're notified, but it doesn't touch their profile. Here's how to tag someone in a comment on Instagram if you need the steps.
A few tagging habits worth keeping
- Tag the right account. Many brands and people have look-alike usernames. Check the profile photo and follower list before you tap.
- Ask before tagging in personal photos. Some people don't want their profile linked to a party picture or a family event. A quick message first saves an awkward conversation.
- Don't tag people to get attention. Tagging big accounts that aren't in the photo looks like spam, and they'll often just remove the tag.
- Tag where the person is. Putting the tag on the person, product or place makes it clear who's who when someone taps the photo.
If it were my account, I'd use the Tag people button for anyone who's in the photo, add an @ mention in the caption for a thank-you, and save Collab for real joint posts with a partner. That way every post shows up in the right places without anyone feeling spammed.
Frequently asked questions
How many people can you tag in one Instagram post?
You can tag up to 20 people in one post, according to Instagram's Help Center. In a carousel, you tag each photo separately.
Why doesn't my tag show on their profile?
They may have turned on Manually approve tags, so your post waits until they accept it. If you only typed @name in the caption, that's a mention, and mentions don't appear in the Tagged tab.
Can you tag someone after posting on Instagram?
Yes. Tap the three dots on your post, choose Edit, tap Tag people at the bottom left of the photo, add the person and save.
What's the difference between a tag and a collab?
A tag links someone to the photo and puts the post in their Tagged tab. A collab, once they accept, shows the post on both main profiles with one shared set of likes and comments.
How do I stop people tagging me on Instagram?
Go to Settings, then Tags and mentions, and choose who can tag you. You can also turn on Manually approve tags so nothing appears on your profile without your okay.
