How to Edit Tags on Instagram

Posted an Instagram photo and realized you tagged the wrong person or missed someone important? It happens to everyone. Thankfully, fixing it is straightforward for photos and carousel posts. This guide provides a clear walkthrough on how to edit, add, or remove tags from your existing Instagram posts, and what to do when you can't.

Why are Instagram Tags So Important Anyway?

Tagging on Instagram is more than just a casual shout-out, it’s a powerful tool for connection and visibility. When you tag someone in a photo, that post appears in the "Tagged Photos" section of their profile, exposing your content to their audience. For creators and brands, it's a fundamental way to credit collaborators, feature customers, and build community. Product tags take this a step further, allowing businesses to link directly to their shop, turning inspiration into a potential sale. A mistag, or a forgotten tag, is a missed opportunity to connect, so getting it right is worth the effort.

How to Edit People Tags on an Existing Instagram Post (Photos & Carousels)

Editing tags on a standard photo post or a multi-image carousel is a quick fix you can do in under a minute. Just follow these steps.

Step 1: Open the Instagram App and Navigate to Your Post

Find the post you want to edit on your profile grid and tap on it to view it in full.

Step 2: Tap the Three-Dot Menu

Look for the three dots (…) in the top-right corner of your post, directly above the image. Tap it to open a menu of options.

Step 3: Select "Edit" from the Pop-Up Menu

From the list that appears, choose Edit. This will open the post in editing mode, a familiar screen where you can also change your caption, location, and alt text.

Step 4: Tap the "Tag People" Icon

In the bottom-left corner of your image, you'll see a small icon of a person in a tag. It will say "Tag People." Tap this icon to open the tagging interface.

Step 5: Add, Remove, or Adjust Your Tags

This is where you make your changes. The process is slightly different depending on what you need to do:

• To add a new tag: Simply tap anywhere on the photo. A search bar will appear asking "Who's this?". Start typing the username of the person or brand you want to tag, select their account from the list that appears, and the tag will be added to the spot you tapped. You can drag the tag around if you need to reposition it.
• To remove a tag: All existing tags will be visible on the photo. To remove one, just tap on it once. The tag will turn black and a small "x" will appear next to the username. Tap the prompt again to confirm its removal. It's that simple.

Step 6: Save Your Changes

Once you’ve finished adding and removing your tags, tap Done (on iOS) or the blue checkmark icon (on Android) in the top-right corner of the screen. Then, tap it one more time to save all your edits to the post. Your changes will be live immediately.

Can You Edit Tags on Instagram Reels and Stories?

This is where things get a bit tricky, and it’s a common point of frustration for many users. The short answer for both Reels and Stories is, unfortunately, no.

Instagram Reels

Once a Reel has been published, you cannot go back and add or edit people tags that are physically on the video. While you can edit the caption to add an @mention, this won't cause the Reel to appear on that person's "Tagged" tab. The only way to properly fix a tag on a Reel is to delete the video and re-upload it with the correct tags applied before publishing. This isn't ideal, as you will lose any engagement (likes, comments, views) the original post received. It's a good reason to double-check everything carefully before hitting "Share."

Instagram Stories

Similarly, Instagram Stories are immutable once posted. The content of the Story - whether it’s a video or a static image - cannot be altered after it goes live. This includes any tags you added using the "@Mention" sticker. If you made a mistake, your only option is to delete the Story slide and create a new one with the correct mention.

What About Editing *Product* Tags?

For those running a business or a Creator account with Instagram Shopping enabled, editing product tags works almost exactly like editing people tags. If you tagged the wrong item or want to add a product tag after the fact, you can.

Follow the same initial steps: navigate to your post, tap the three-dot menu, and select Edit. Instead of "Tag People," you will see an option for Tag Products. From there, you can tap on the photo to add a new product tag by searching your catalog or tap on an existing product tag to remove it. When you're done, save your changes, and your shop will be updated accordingly.

Editing Hashtags vs. People Tags: What's the Difference?

It’s important to distinguish between people tags and hashtags, as they serve different functions and are edited in different places.

• People tags (using the @ symbol) directly link to another Instagram profile. They make the post appear on that user’s profile and send them a notification. They are edited via the "Tag People" interface on the image itself.
• Hashtags (using the # symbol) categorize your content and make it discoverable to users searching for that topic. They don’t link to a specific person's profile - they link to a gallery of all public posts using that same hashtag.

To edit hashtags, you don’t need the tagging interface. Simply follow the steps to edit a post and make changes directly in the caption text box. You can add more hashtags, remove irrelevant ones, or fix typos just like you would with any other text in the caption.

A Checklist: Best Practices for Tagging on Instagram

Editing tags on photos is easy, but getting them right the first time saves you the trouble and is essential for video content. Here are a few best practices to keep in mind.

• Tag relevant accounts only. Never spam-tag large, unrelated accounts in hopes of getting discovered. Tag people who are actually in the photo, collaborators who worked on the content, or brands featured. Authentic tagging creates genuine connections.
• Double-check usernames before posting. Many accounts have very similar usernames. Take a second to confirm you have the right one - especially for brands, as there can be many imitator or fan accounts.
• Get permission when appropriate. If you’re reposting user-generated content or featuring a partner in a big way, make sure they have given you the go-ahead to tag them. It’s a simple courtesy that builds strong relationships.
• Don’t clutter the image. You can tag up to 20 people per post, but that doesn't mean you should. A bunch of tags stacked on top of each other can look messy. If you need to tag many people, try to spread them out logically on the image.

Final Thoughts

Fixing tags on your Instagram photos is a quick and painless process using the "Edit" function, allowing you to connect with the right people even after you've posted. Just remember that this flexibility doesn't yet extend to Reels or Stories, where getting your tags right during the creation process is the only way to avoid the dreaded delete-and-repost cycle.

A well-planned content strategy is your best defense against posting errors. Having a clear and organized workflow before your content goes live gives you the space to check every detail - from captions and locations to, yes, tags. To streamline this process, we designed Postbase with a visual calendar that lets you see all your scheduled posts at a glance. It helps you catch those small potential mistakes before they become public, so you can post with confidence every time.