How to Enable Tagging on Instagram

Getting tagged on Instagram connects your profile to a whole new web of posts and Stories, but managing who can bring you into their content is just as important for building your brand. If you want full control over your online presence, you need to master your tagging settings. This guide breaks down exactly how to manage who can tag and mention you, approve tags before they appear on your profile, and use tagging strategically to grow your audience.

Why Instagram Tagging is a Game-Changer

Before we get into the "how," let's quickly cover the "why." Far from being a simple notification, tagging is one of the most powerful organic growth tools baked into Instagram. It functions like a digital referral, connecting accounts and building bridges between audiences.

• Visibility and Reach: When someone tags you in their post, their followers can tap that tag and land directly on your profile. It's a direct path for new, interested people to discover you. Similarly, when you tag another account, their followers might see your post if they're browsing the tagged section of that profile.
• Community Building and Social Proof: Tags from happy customers, clients, or fans are modern-day testimonials. This user-generated content (UGC) shows that real people are engaging with and enjoying your brand, which builds trust with potential followers far more effectively than a standard ad.
• Networking and Collaboration: Tagging is the currency of collaboration on Instagram. Tagging partners, influencers you're working with, or brands featured in your content acknowledges them and loops in their community. It's a professional courtesy that can open doors to bigger partnerships down the line.
• Content Curation: When others tag your account, their posts can appear in the "Tagged Photos" tab on your profile. With the right settings, you can curate this section to become a gallery of social proof and community love.

Controlling Your Digital Footprint: How to Manage Tag Settings

Here’s the thing about "enabling" tagging: for most accounts, it's already on by default. The real power comes from setting boundaries and deciding who can tag you and what happens when they do. Gaining this control means a more polished, professional, and spam-free profile. Your tagging settings are divided into two main categories: photo/video tags and @mentions.

Step-by-Step: Managing Photo and Video Tags

These are the clickable tags that appear directly on an image or video in someone's feed post. You can set rules on who is allowed to tag you this way and, more importantly, whether or not those tags automatically appear on your profile's tagged tab. Here’s how to adjust your settings:

1. Navigate to Your Settings: Open the Instagram app and go to your profile page. Tap the hamburger icon (the three horizontal lines) in the top-right corner.
2. Open Settings and Privacy: From the menu that appears, tap on "Settings and privacy." This is the control center for your entire account.
3. Find "Tags and mentions": Scroll down until you see the section titled "How others can interact with you." Inside this section, tap on "Tags and mentions."
4. Set Your Tagging Permissions: Under the "Who can tag you" section, you’ll see three options.
   • Allow tags from everyone: This is the default setting. Anyone on Instagram, whether they follow you or not, can tag you in their photos and videos. This is great for maximum visibility but can open you up to spam tags.
   • Allow tags from people you follow: This tightens things up. Only accounts that you are personally following will be able to tag you. It's a solid middle ground for reducing spam while still allowing your community to tag you.
   • Don't allow tags: This is the most restrictive option. No one will be able to tag your account in photos or videos. This is generally not recommended for brands or creators looking to grow, as it cuts off a powerful avenue for UGC and collaboration.

The Ultimate Control: Manually Approving Tags

This is arguably the most fundamental feature for brand management, lurking right below the main tagging permissions. By turning on manual approval, you give yourself the power to review every single photo or video tag before it ever appears in the "Tagged Posts" tab on your profile.

You’ll still get a notification that you’ve been tagged, and the tag will appear on the other person’s post, but you become the gatekeeper for what shows up on your turf. This prevents unrelated, low-quality, or spammy content from being associated with your brand profile.

To enable manual tag approval:

1. In the same "Tags and mentions" menu, tap on "Manually approve tags."
2. Toggle the switch for "Tag Controls" to the on position. It will turn blue.
3. Once enabled, any time someone tags you, the post will land in a pending queue. You can review your tagged posts by going to this same menu and tapping "Pending tags."
4. From there, you can tap on a post and choose to "Show on My Profile" or "Hide." You can also select multiple posts at once to manage them in bulk.

Step-by-Step: Managing @Mentions

An @mention is when someone uses your username (e.g., @yourbrand) in their caption, comments, bio, or in a Story. Unlike photo tags, you can't prevent mentions from appearing in those places, but you can control who is allowed to mention you.

To manage your mention settings:

1. Once again, head to Settings and privacy &rarr, Tags and mentions.
2. Under the "Who can @mention you" section, you'll find three similar choices:
   • Allow mentions from everyone: Let anyone on Instagram mention your account in text. This is standard for most businesses that want to encourage open conversation.
   • Allow mentions from people you follow: Restrict mentions to only the accounts you follow.
   • Don't allow mentions: Nobody will be able to link to your account with an @mention. Again, this is highly restrictive and not ideal for growth-focused accounts.

How to Tag Other Accounts on Instagram

Now that you’ve secured your own profile, you need to know how to effectively tag others to spark collaboration and conversation. The process is slightly different depending on where you're doing it.

Tagging in Feed Posts (Photos & Videos)

This is the most common form of tagging, attaching an account directly to the media itself.

1. Create a new post as you normally would, selecting your photo or video and applying any edits or filters.
2. On the final screen where you write your caption, look for the option that says "Tag people." Tap it.
3. The media will appear. Tap anywhere on the photo or video where you want the tag to appear.
4. A search bar will pop up. Start typing the username you want to tag. Select the correct account from the list.
5. You can add multiple tags (up to 20 per post). Tap "Done" when you're finished, then share your post.

Tagging with @Mentions in Captions and Comments

This method simply involves typing out the username, which creates a clickable link to their profile.

• In any text box - your caption, a comment, or even your bio - type the "@" symbol.
• Immediately start typing the username without a space. As you type, Instagram will suggest accounts.
• Tap the correct account from the list that appears. The name will turn into a blue, clickable link once posted.

Tagging in Instagram Stories

There are two primary ways to tag someone in a Story, both equally effective.

Using the @Mention Sticker:

1. Create your Story with a photo, video, or plain background.
2. Tap the Sticker icon (the smiley face square) at the top of the screen.
3. Select the "@MENTION" sticker from the "sticker tray".
4. Start typing the username and select the correct account. You can then resize, rotate, and move the sticker anywhere on the screen.

Using the Text Tool:

1. Tap the "Aa" (Text) tool in the top right.
2. Just like in a caption, type the "@" symbol followed by the username.
3. Select the account from the list that pops up. The mention will be added to your Story as a piece of text that you can customize with different fonts, colors, and styles.

Best Practices for Using Tags to Grow Your Brand

Knowing how to tag is only half the battle. Using tags strategically is what separates passive posters from active community builders.

• Be Relevant, Not Spammy: Only tag accounts that are directly related to your content. If you post a photo wearing a specific brand's jacket, tag the brand. If you're at a local coffee shop, tag the shop. Tagging dozens of random, popular accounts in a bid for attention is spammy and can get your post reported.
• Acknowledge and Network: Tag your collaborators, employees, clients, and partners. This shows appreciation and extends your post's reach to their audiences. It's digital networking 101.
• Encourage User-Generated Content (UGC): Actively ask your followers to tag you in their photos when they use your product or visit your location. You can then feature their posts in your Stories or, with their permission, on your main feed. Remember to manually approve these tags to create a pristine UGC gallery on your profile.
• Run Contests & Giveaways: A classic growth hack is to run a contest where entrants must tag a friend (or two) in the comments to enter. One post can lead to hundreds or thousands of people being introduced to your brand.

Final Thoughts

Mastering Instagram tagging is about finding the right balance. Securing your own tag and mention settings protects your brand's reputation and allows you to curate an online image that's authentic and spam-free. At the same time, proactively and strategically tagging others builds connections, fosters community, and becomes one of your most effective tools for organic growth.

Keeping up with all those new mentions, comments, and DMs is a huge part of community management, but hopping between apps is draining. When developing our own tool, Postbase, we knew we had to solve this. We built a unified social media inbox that pulls all your Instagram and Facebook comments and DMs into one simple, organized feed. This way, you can engage with people who mention you and respond to conversations without missing a single message or losing your focus.