How to Remove a Collaborator on Instagram After Posting

Realized you need to remove a collaborator from an Instagram post after it's already live? It happens more often than you think, and luckily, the fix is straightforward. This guide will walk you through the exact steps to remove a co-author from a Feed post or Reel, explain what happens to the post afterward, and cover some best practices for managing your collaborations professionally.

First, a Quick Refresher: What Is an Instagram Collab Post?

The Instagram Collabs feature is a game-changer for creators and brands. Instead of one person posting and tagging another, this feature allows you to co-author a single piece of content - be it a Feed post or a Reel. When you invite a collaborator and they accept, the post appears on both of your profiles simultaneously.

Here’s why it’s so powerful:

• Shared Reach: The post is shown to a combined audience, tapping into both of your follower bases.
• Shared Engagement: All the likes, comments, and shares are consolidated on the single post, creating powerful social proof.
• Authentic Partnership: It clearly and officially marks the content as a joint effort, which is perfect for brand deals, creator partnerships, and joint announcements.

Essentially, two accounts get to share ownership of one post, splitting the credit and the benefits. But sometimes, partnerships change, mistakes are made, or campaigns end, which brings us to why you're here.

Common Reasons for Removing an Instagram Collaborator

Needing to remove a collaborator isn’t usually a sign of trouble. Most of the time, it's a simple part of the content management lifecycle. Your reason for needing to make a change is probably on this list:

• The End of a Campaign: Many brand partnerships or influencer marketing campaigns are set for a specific duration. Once the contract ends, the brand or creator might want to remove the collaboration tag to keep their profile grid current.
• An Honest Mistake: It's surprisingly easy to select the wrong username when you're setting up a collaboration. If you’ve accidentally invited @brandnameofficial instead of @brandname_official, you’ll need to correct it.
• A Shift in Branding: Perhaps you or your collaborator is undergoing a rebrand, and the old post no longer aligns with the new content strategy or aesthetic. Removing the link keeps both feeds consistent.
• A Personal Disagreement: In less ideal situations, a personal or professional falling out might necessitate severing a public-facing digital connection.
• A Request from the Collaborator: Sometimes, the other person might ask to be removed. They could be cleaning up their own feed or changing their content focus, and respecting their request is always the right move.

Whatever the reason, untangling a collaboration is a simple technical process. Let's cover the exact steps.

How to Remove a Collaborator on Instagram After Posting: Step-by-Step

The process for removing a collaborator is identical for both standard Feed posts (single images, carousels) and Instagram Reels. Follow these steps from the account that originally created the post.

For the Original Poster: Removing a Collaborator

1. Navigate to the Collaborative Post.
   Open the Instagram app and go to your profile. Find the specific Feed post or Reel that has the collaborator you wish to remove.
2. Open the Post Options.
   Tap the three dots (...) located in the top-right corner of the post.
3. Select "Edit".
   A menu will pop up with several options. Tap on "Edit" to make changes to your post.
4. Access the Tagged People List.
   On the edit screen, look for the "Tag People" icon. This is typically found in the bottom-left corner of your photo or video, often represented by an icon of a person in a tag.
5. Find the Collaborators Section.
   After tapping "Tag People," you'll see a section at the top of the photo that shows who is tagged. The invited collaborator(s) will be listed here. Tap on this area to view the collaborators.
6. Remove the Collaborator.
   You will see a list of all current collaborators. Next to each username, there will be an 'X' icon. Tap the 'X' next to the person you want to remove.
7. Confirm Your Decision.
   A confirmation box will appear, letting you know the consequences. It will say something like, "If you remove this collaborator, this post will no longer be shared to their profile grid and they won't be shown as a collaborator." To proceed, tap "Remove".
8. Save Your Changes.
   Tap "Done" in the top-right corner to exit the tagging screen, and then tap "Done" again to save all of your edits. The collaborator has now been removed.

You’ve done it! The change is instant. But what does that mean for the post, its engagement, and the other person involved?

The Aftermath: What Happens After You Remove Them?

Understanding the consequences of removing a collaborator helps you manage expectations for everyone involved. Here's a clear breakdown of what happens next.

What happens for you (the Original Poster)?

For you, not much changes. The post remains live on your profile grid or Reels tab exactly where it was. You now become the sole owner of the post again. And the best part? You keep all the accumulated engagement. Every single like, comment, save, and share that the post received when it was live on both profiles will remain on your version of the post.

What happens for the removed collaborator?

The change is immediate and definitive for them. The post will be instantly removed from their profile grid and Reels tab. They will no longer be credited as a co-author on the post. It will be as if they were never part of it.

Does Instagram notify someone when you remove them as a collaborator?

No, Instagram does not send a formal notification that says, "You have been removed as a collaborator from this post." The removal is discreet from a notification standpoint. However, the person will eventually notice that the post is missing from their profile. This is why communication is so important, especially in professional settings.

Important Considerations and Best Practices

Removing someone is easy, but doing it thoughtfully protects your relationships and reputation. Here are a few final points to keep in mind.

Communication is Your Best Tool

If you're removing a collaborator for any reason other than fixing an accidental tag, tell them first. A simple direct message can prevent confusion, hurt feelings, and unprofessionalism.

Here are a few examples:

• For a finished brand deal: "Hey! It was amazing working together on this campaign. As discussed, the campaign period has ended, so I'll be removing the collaborator tag from our post today. Looking forward to our next project!"
• For a content strategy shift: "Hi! I'm doing a bit of a refresh on my feed's aesthetic and will be archiving some older posts, including our collab post. Just wanted to give you a heads up before I remove the tag!"

A Quick Note for Collaborators: How to Remove Yourself

If you've been invited as a collaborator and want to remove the post from your own profile, you can! The steps are very similar. Go to the post, tap the three dots (...), and you will see an option that says "Stop Sharing." Tapping this has the same effect: the post is removed from your profile, the original creator keeps the post and all its engagement, and you are no longer listed as a co-author.

A Crucial Warning: Removal Is Permanent

This is the most important thing to remember: Once you remove a collaborator from a post, you cannot add them back. The collaboration feature only works at the time of posting. If you remove someone and later change your mind, your only option would be to delete the original post entirely and republish it with a new collaborator invitation. This means you would lose all of the original engagement.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Will I lose my likes and comments if I remove a collaborator?

No, you will not. All likes, comments, and saves stay with the post on the original creator's profile. The impressive social proof you built together remains intact.

Can I add a different collaborator after removing the first one?

No. Once a post is live, you can't invite a new collaborator to it, even if you’ve removed the original one. The invitation mechanic only works when you first upload the content.

What’s the difference between tagging someone and adding a collaborator?

A tag is simply a label that links to someone’s profile. It doesn't make them a co-author. A collaborator becomes a shared owner of the post - it appears on their profile grid, and their username is shown next to yours at the top of the post. Removing a simple tag is much easier and has fewer repercussions than removing a collaborator.

Final Thoughts

Removing a collaborator from an Instagram post is a painless process once you know the steps. Just head to the "Edit" menu, find the tagged users, and click that small 'X'. The most important things to remember are that the action is permanent and that clear communication with your partner can make the whole process smooth and professional for everyone involved.

Managing multiple collaborations, campaign timelines, and posting schedules can quickly become a juggling act. To avoid manual errors - like adding the wrong partner or forgetting to remove a tag after a campaign ends - we built Postbase with a clean, visual calendar at its core. Our platform helps you see your entire content strategy at a glance, so you can plan partnerships, schedule content across all your accounts, and manage your brand's presence without any of the chaos.