To tag someone in a comment on Instagram, open the post, tap the comment box, type @ and start typing their username, then tap their account in the list that pops up and post your comment. The username turns into a link, and the person gets a notification if their settings allow mentions from you.
A tag in a comment is called a mention. It's the quickest way to show a friend a post, answer someone in a busy thread or give credit to the person who made something. It works the same way on Android and iPhone, and almost the same on a computer. If the name doesn't turn into a link, the mention didn't work, and the section on why tags fail below will tell you why.
How to tag someone in a comment on your phone
These steps work in the Instagram app on Android and iPhone.
- Open the post or reel you want to comment on.
- Tap the speech bubble icon under the post to open the comments.
- Tap the comment box at the bottom of the screen.
- Type @ and then the first few letters of the person's username. A list of matching accounts appears above the keyboard.
- Tap the right account in the list. Instagram fills in the full username for you.
- Add the rest of your comment if you want, then tap Post (it may show as an arrow or a send icon).
To reply to someone who's already commented, tap Reply under their comment. Instagram adds their username to the box for you, so they get a notification when you post.
You can mention more than one person in the same comment. Just type @ again for each account. Keep it to a few, because Instagram limits how many accounts you can mention in a single comment, and stuffing in lots of names can look like spam.
How to tag someone in a comment on a desktop browser
You can also leave mentions from a computer.
- Open Instagram's website in your browser and log in.
- Find the post, either in your feed or by visiting the account that shared it, and click it to open it.
- Click the comment box that says Add a comment.
- Type @ and start typing the username. A drop-down list of accounts appears.
- Click the right account, finish your comment, then click Post.
The desktop version doesn't always show the suggestion list as quickly as the app. If it doesn't appear, type the full username exactly, with no spaces, and check it turns into a link after posting.
Why the tag won't work
If you've typed someone's name and nothing happens, or they say they never got a notification, it's usually one of these reasons.
- They've limited mentions. Everyone can choose who's allowed to @mention them: everyone, only people they follow, or no one. If they've picked people they follow and they don't follow you, your mention won't work and they won't be notified.
- Wrong username. Usernames change, and many look alike. A missing dot or underscore means you've tagged the wrong person, or nobody at all. Check their profile and copy the exact handle.
- The post is on a private account. If you comment on a private account's post, only that account's approved followers can see it. If the person you tag doesn't follow that account, they can't open the post, even if they get the notification.
- Too many mentions in one comment. Instagram limits how many accounts you can mention at once. If you go over, the comment may not post or may be flagged. Split it into a few comments or tag fewer people.
- Blocking. If either of you has blocked the other, the mention won't work. That's by design, and there's no way round it.
- Comments are limited or turned off. Some accounts turn off comments on a post, or only allow comments from certain people.
- Your comment is hidden. Sometimes comments are held back or filtered. My guide on why your Instagram comments aren't showing covers the common causes.
If a tag goes wrong, you can delete the comment and post it again with the right username. On a phone, swipe left on your comment or press and hold it, then tap the bin icon.
How to control who can tag you
You decide who can tag and mention you. Here's how to check your own settings in the app:
- Go to your profile and tap the menu icon (three lines) in the top corner.
- Open Settings and activity.
- Scroll to the section about how others can interact with you, and tap Tags and mentions.
- Choose who can tag you in posts: everyone, people you follow, or nobody.
- Choose who can @mention you: everyone, people you follow, or no one.
- Turn on Manually approve tags if you want to check tags before they appear on your profile.
Instagram moves its menus around from time to time. If a menu name looks different on your phone, search Settings for the word tags or mentions and it'll take you straight there.
Want AI doing the heavy lifting in your marketing?
I build the systems that handle the boring 80 percent, so you get your week back. Done properly, with the human kept in.
If someone keeps tagging you in comments you don't want, you can restrict or block them, or report the comment. My guide on how to report a comment on Instagram walks through it step by step.
Tagging in a post vs a comment vs a story
People mix these up, but they work differently.
| Where | How you do it | What the person sees |
|---|---|---|
| Post | While sharing, tap Tag people and tap the photo where they are | A notification, and the post appears in the tagged section of their profile |
| Comment | Type @ and their username in a comment | A notification that you mentioned them, with a link to the comment |
| Story | Add a mention sticker or type @ and their username in text | A notification, and the option to reshare your story to theirs |
For stories, there are a few extra tricks, like using the mention sticker so the tag looks neat. My guide on how to tag people in an Instagram story has the full steps.
Frequently asked questions
Does the person get notified when you tag them in a comment?
Yes, if their settings allow mentions from you. If they've limited mentions to people they follow, or turned mentions off, they won't get a notification.
Why can't I tag someone in an Instagram comment?
The most common reasons are that they've limited who can mention them, you've typed the wrong username, one of you has blocked the other, or you've tried to mention too many people in one comment.
Can I tag someone who doesn't follow me?
Yes, as long as their settings allow mentions from everyone. If they only allow mentions from people they follow, you can't tag them unless they follow you.
Can I tag someone in a reply to a comment?
Yes. Tap Reply under the comment and Instagram adds that person's username for you. To tag someone else as well, type @ and their username in the same reply.
How do I stop people tagging me in comments?
Go to Settings and activity, then Tags and mentions, and set who can @mention you to people you follow or no one.
