How to Add Threads to Instagram Bio

The Threads badge showing up on your Instagram profile isn't just a gimmick, it’s prime real estate for cross-promoting your new account and funneling your audience over to a different kind of conversation. Tapping into this connection is simple, whether you're trying to add the badge, remove it for a cleaner look, or set up a smarter, more permanent link. This guide will walk you through exactly how to manage the link between your Instagram bio and your Threads profile, step by step.

What Exactly is the Threads Badge on Instagram?

When Meta launched Threads, it introduced a clever integration to bootstrap its growth: a small, clickable badge that automatically appeared on the Instagram profiles of users who signed up. This badge, which looks like "@" followed by your user number (your unique number in the order of sign-ups), served as a direct link to your new Threads profile.

There are two key things to understand about this initial badge:

• It Was Automatic and Temporary: For early adopters, this badge (@123456) appeared automatically upon creating a Threads account. Meta designed it as a promotional tool for the launch period, meaning it was never intended to be a permanent feature. Over time, Instagram phased out the user number, replacing it with a simpler "threads.net" badge that still links to your profile.
• It's All About Integration: The badge was the first sign of Meta's vision for a tightly integrated ecosystem between its apps. It allowed users to leverage their established Instagram following to quickly build a presence on a new platform, reducing the friction of starting from scratch. For followers, it provided a one-tap way to discover and follow a creator's new text-based content.

While the initial numbered badge might be gone for most users, a simple Threads icon or badge may still be manageable from your settings depending on when you joined and your account's status. However, as we'll see, relying on this temporary feature isn't the best long-term strategy.

How to Show or Hide the Threads App Bio Link

If you previously hid the temporary Threads badge and want to see if you can reactivate it, or if you want to remove it permanently, the process is straightforward. Keep in mind that based on Instagram's updates, this option may no longer be available for all users, but it's the first place to check.

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Open Instagram and go to Your Profile: Tap your profile picture in the bottom-right corner to navigate to your main profile grid.
2. Tap "Edit Profile": This button is located directly under your bio and follower count.
3. Look for the "Show Threads Badge" Toggle: On the "Edit Profile" screen, scroll down. You should see a toggle switch labeled "Show Threads shortcut" or "Show Threads badge".
4. Turn the Toggle On or Off: If you want to display the badge, make sure the switch is toggled on (it will usually turn blue). If you want to hide it, toggle it off.

An Important heads up: Instagram has explicitly stated that once you remove the badge, you might not be able to get it back. The platform wants users to transition to more permanent linking methods. If you toggle it off and confirm, consider it gone for good. There's no harm in this, as the manual link method we'll cover next is far more effective and gives you complete control.

The Better, More Permanent Way: Adding a Threads Link to Your Bio

The temporary badge was great for the initial launch, but the best practice for social media marketing is to use the dedicated "Links" feature in your Instagram bio. This method is permanent, allows for custom text, and positions your Threads account as a core part of your online presence - not just a temporary add-on.

Here’s how to set it up for the long haul.

Step 1: Get Your Threads Profile URL

First, you need the direct link to your personal Threads profile. Don't try to guess it, copy it directly from the app to avoid any errors.

• Open the Threads app.
• Go to your profile by tapping the person icon in the bottom-right.
• Tap the "Share profile" button at the top of your screen.
• From the pop-up menu, select "Copy link". The URL is now saved to your clipboard.

Step 2: Add the URL to Your Instagram Links

Now that you have your unique URL, head back to Instagram to put it in your bio.

• Open Instagram and go to your profile page.
• Tap "Edit profile."
• Select the "Links" option. This is the central hub for all external links on your profile.
• Tap on "Add external link."
• In the "URL" field, paste the Threads link you copied from your clipboard.
• In the "Title" field, you can add custom text. This is your chance to get creative and drive action. Instead of a generic title like "Threads," try something more engaging like "Follow my Threads!" or "Join the conversation on Threads."
• Tap the checkmark in the top-right corner to save your changes.

Just like that, you now have a permanent, prominent link to your Threads profile that lives right in your bio. You can edit the title or remove the link whenever you want, giving you total flexibility.

Why You Should Strategically Link Your Social Profiles

Connecting your Instagram and Threads accounts is more than just a technical step, it’s a strategic move to build a more resilient and engaged brand online. Text-based platforms like Threads and X (formerly Twitter) serve a different purpose than visual-first platforms like Instagram and TikTok. By linking them, you're inviting your audience to connect with a different side of you or your brand.

Benefits of Cross-Platform Promotion

• Deepen Community Connection: Instagram is perfect for showcasing polished visuals, Reels, and Stories. Threads, on the other hand, is built for casual conversation, real-time thoughts, and direct engagement with your audience. Leading your followers there allows them to participate in discussions that don't fit into an Instagram caption.
• Own Your Audience: Relying on a single platform's algorithm is risky. By encouraging your Instagram followers to join you on Threads (and other platforms), you diversify where and how you can reach them. If Instagram’s engagement drops for you one week, you still have a direct line of communication on Threads.
• Show a Different Side of Your Brand: Use Threads to share behind-the-scenes content, ask open-ended questions, share industry news, or crack jokes that feel out of place on your main feed. This multi-dimensional approach makes your brand feel more human and relatable.
• Increase Your Content's Lifespan: A topic you cover in a 60-second Instagram Reel can be teased on Threads with a quick thought, sparking a conversation before the Reel even goes live. After it’s posted, you can pull quotes or user comments from the Reel to discuss further on Threads, extending the life and impact of your original content piece.

Ultimately, adding your Threads link to your Instagram bio is about building bridges. It tells your audience, "If you like what you see here, there's more to our story over there." Giving your followers more ways to engage with you on their own terms is a foundational principle of building a strong, organic brand on social media.

Final Thoughts

Linking your Threads profile in your Instagram bio isn't complicated, but doing it correctly matters. While the automatic badge was a nice touch for the launch, the most professional and lasting approach is to manually add your profile URL through the "Links" section. This gives you full control and signals to your audience that Threads is a valuable place to connect with you further.

Managing a strong presence on both Instagram and Threads takes time, and planning content for multiple platforms can feel chaotic. At Postbase, we designed our platform specifically to put an end to that chaos. With our visual calendar, you can plan, schedule, and see video-first content for Instagram alongside your text-based updates for Threads, all from a single dashboard. Seeing your entire strategy in one place means no more jumping between apps to figure out what to post next.