How to Add Someone to an Instagram Post

Looking for a simple way to tag a friend, credit a photographer, or share the spotlight with a brand on Instagram? Adding someone to your post is a fundamental social media skill that boosts engagement, expands your reach, and properly credits creators. This guide walks you through every method, from simple photo tags to powerful collaboration invites, so you can connect with confidence.

Understanding the Basics: Tagging vs. Mentioning vs. Collaborating

Before we get into the step-by-step instructions, it helps to understand the different ways you can "add someone" to a post. Instagram offers three distinct methods, each with a specific purpose:

• Tagging: This attaches a user's profile directly to your photo or video. Tapping the image reveals the tag, and the post appears in the "Tagged Photos" section of their profile. This is the most common way to show who is in a photo or credit a creator directly.
• Mentioning: This involves typing @username in a caption or comment. The username becomes a clickable link to their profile. A mention is a great way to give a shoutout or draw another user's attention to your post in the text, but it doesn’t add the content to their tagged photos tab.
• Collaborating: This is a powerful feature that invites another user to become a co-author of your post. If they accept, the post appears on both of your profiles simultaneously, sharing the likes, comments, and engagement. It's perfect for brand partnerships, creator collaborations, and joint announcements.

Knowing which method to use is the first step. Now, let’s get into how to execute each one.

Method 1: How to Tag Someone in a New Instagram Post

Tagging is the original and most straightforward way to add someone to your content. This is a must-do for crediting people in your photos, from friends and family to professional partners like photographers, stylists, or brands.

Here’s how to do it step-by-step when creating a new post:

1. Start Your Post: Open Instagram and tap the + icon at the bottom of the screen to create a new post. Select the photo or video you want to share from your gallery and tap "Next."
2. Apply Edits: Make any edits or apply any filters you'd like, then tap "Next" again.
3. Access the Tagging Feature: You've now arrived at the final screen where you write your caption. Just below the caption box, you'll see an option for "Tag People." Tap it.
4. Select Person to Tag: Your photo or video will appear. Tap anywhere on the image and a prompt will appear for you to search for the person you want to tag.
5. Search and Select the User: Start typing the username of the person or brand you'd like to tag. A list of matching profiles will appear. Tap the correct one to add the tag.
6. Position the Tag (Optional): You can drag the tag around the photo to position it exactly where you want. To save space, you can drag multiple tags into the corners.
7. Finish Tagging: Repeat the process for anyone else you need to credit (Instagram allows up to 20 tags per post). Once you're finished, tap "Done" in the top right corner.
8. Share Your Post: You’ll be returned to the caption screen. You can now finish writing your caption, add a location, and hit the "Share" button. The users you tagged will receive a notification.

Method 2: How to Tag Someone in an Existing Instagram Post (After Posting)

Did you forget to tag someone? It happens. Luckily, Instagram makes it incredibly easy to add or edit tags even after your post has gone live. You don’t need to delete and re-upload anything.

Follow these steps to edit tags on a published post:

1. Navigate to Your Post: Go to your Instagram profile and find the post you want to edit.
2. Open the Edit Menu: Tap the three dots (...) in the top-right corner of the post.
3. Select "Edit": A menu will pop up from the bottom. Choose the "Edit" option.
4. Find the "Tag People" Icon: Your photo will now appear in an editing interface. In the bottom-left corner of the image, you'll see a small icon with a person inside it that says "Tag People." Tap this.
5. Add Your Tags: From here, the process is the same as creating a new post. Tap anywhere on the photo, search for the user you'd like to tag, and select their profile.
6. Confirm Your Changes: After adding or adjusting the tags, tap "Done." You'll then tap "Done" one more time to save all your edits. The newly tagged person will get a notification, and the post will appear in their tagged section.

This same "Edit" function also allows you to remove tags. Just tap the tag you want to remove and then tap the little "x" on it before saving your changes.

Method 3: The Game-Changer - Inviting a Collaborator

The "Invite Collaborator" feature unlocked a completely new way for accounts to work together. Instead of two separate posts about the same event or partnership, a collaboration post exists on two profiles at once, pooling its social proof and reach. It’s an ideal tool for creators, entrepreneurs, and brands.

Why Use the Collab Feature?

• Shared Reach: The post is shown to a portion of both your followers and your collaborator's followers, dramatically increasing potential visibility.
• Combined Engagement: All likes and comments are consolidated into one shared count, creating stronger social proof.
• Authentic Partnership: It clearly and officially links both accounts to the content, making the partnership look seamless and authentic.
• Appears on Both Grids: The post lives on both profile grids, giving it equal prominence for both audiences. Note: If the original publisher deletes the post, it's gone for the collaborator, too.

Here’s how to invite someone to collaborate on your post (remember, this must be done before you publish):

1. Create Your Post: Follow the first two steps from Method 1 to select your media and make your edits.
2. Go to "Tag People": On the final caption screen, tap the "Tag People" option.
3. Choose "Invite Collaborator": You'll see two options at the top: "Add Tag" and "Invite Collaborator." Tap on "Invite Collaborator."
4. Search and Select Your Partner: Search for the username of the account you want to co-author the post with and select them from the list. The collaborator you invited will appear under the invite tab - but keep in mind that a photo or video can have either tags or a collaborator, not both.
5. Share Your Post: Once you've selected your collaborator, tap "Done," write your caption, and hit "Share."

What Happens Next? The Acceptance Process

After you publish, your invited collaborator will receive a notification and a request in their DMs. The post won't appear on their profile until they accept the invitation. As soon as they hit "Accept," they will officially become a co-author, and the post will show up on their profile grid, visible to all their followers.

Common Collaboration Issues & Questions

Why Can't I Invite Someone to Collaborate?

If you don't see the "Invite Collaborator" option or can't find a specific user, there are a few possible reasons:

• Private Accounts: The collaboration feature is only available for public accounts. You cannot invite a private account to be a collaborator, nor can you initiate a collab post if your own account is private.
• Account Restrictions: Some users have settings that may limit who can tag or collaborate with them.
• Only One Collaborator: Instagram currently allows only one collaborator per post.

Can I Add a Collaborator *After* Posting?

Unfortunately, no. Unlike a simple tag, a collaborator must be added at the time of creation, before you hit "Share." This is one of the most common reasons people have trouble with the feature, so it's a good habit to plan your collaborations ahead of time.

Beyond the Feed: Mentioning on Stories and in Comments

Tagging isn't just for your main feed. Two other common ways to loop someone into your content are through Instagram Stories and comments.

How to Mention Someone in an Instagram Story

Mentioning a user in your Story is a powerful way to get their attention and encourage them to re-share your content to their own Story.

1. Swipe right from your feed or tap your profile picture to open the Stories camera.
2. Take a photo, record a video, or select one from your gallery.
3. Tap the Sticker icon (the smiley face square) at the top of the editing screen.
4. Select the @MENTION sticker.
5. Start typing the username and select the correct account from the list.
6. You can tap the sticker to change its color style and use two fingers to resize or rotate it before placing it on your Story.

Alternatively, you can just use the Text tool and type "@" followed by the username. It will automatically become a clickable link.

How to Mention Someone in a Comment

Want to bring a friend into a conversation on another person's post? Or perhaps follow up in the comments of your own post? Just type the "@" symbol followed by their username in the comment field. This tags them in the conversation, and they'll receive a notification.

Final Thoughts

Tagging, mentioning, and collaborating are essential tools for building community and credibility on Instagram. Each method serves a unique purpose, from giving a simple credit with a photo tag to joining forces for massive reach with a collaboration post. Mastering these options helps you create more engaging, connected, and strategic content.

For brands and social media managers who plan content featuring partners, influencers, and collaborators every day, keeping track of every post can get complicated fast. At Postbase, we designed our visual calendar to make this simple. You can see your entire content strategy at a glance, making it easy to schedule posts, note upcoming collaborations, and ensure everything goes out correctly and on time, without the chaos of spreadsheets or messy notes.