How to Tag Another Instagram Account

Tagging another account on Instagram is one of the platform's most powerful networking features, yet it’s often used without a clear strategy. Think of it as a digital handshake - it connects you to other users, shares their profile with your audience, and acknowledges their contribution to your content. This guide covers every single way you can tag on Instagram, from your feed posts and Stories to Reels and collaborative content, turning a simple action into a powerful tool for growth.

Why Tagging on Instagram is a Game-Changer

Before getting into the step-by-step, it's useful to know why tagging is so effective. It’s not just about letting someone know they’re in a photo, it’s a core function for building community, reach, and credibility on the platform.

• It Expands Your Reach: When you tag an account, your post can appear in their "Tagged Photos" tab. This exposes your content to their audience, which can bring new followers and engagement your way.
• It Builds Relationships and Community: Tagging brands you love, creators you admire, or customers who feature your products shows you’re paying attention. It’s a simple act of acknowledgment that fosters goodwill and strengthens connections.
• It Provides Social Proof: When a customer tags your business in a post, it’s a real-world endorsement. By encouraging and resharing this user-generated content (UGC), you build trust and credibility far more effectively than with traditional ads.
• It Drives Collaboration: The first step toward a partnership often starts with a simple tag. It shows potential collaborators that you appreciate their work and puts you on their radar for future projects.
• It Gives Proper Credit: Whether it's a photographer, a makeup artist, or another creator whose idea inspired you, tagging is the right way to give credit. It’s ethical, professional, and fosters a positive creator ecosystem.

How to Tag Accounts in an Instagram Feed Post

Feed posts are the most common place to tag accounts. You have two main opportunities to do this: directly on the photo or video itself, or within the caption. You can also go back and add tags after you've already published the post.

Tagging Before You Post

Follow these steps when you're creating a new post. You can tag up to 20 accounts per post.

1. Start creating a new post by tapping the + icon at the bottom of your screen.
2. Select your photo or video, apply any filters or edits, and tap Next.
3. On the final screen before sharing, you’ll see the option to "Tag People." Tap it.
4. Tap anywhere on the photo where you’d like the tag to appear.
5. Start typing the username in a search box. Instagram will suggest accounts as you type. Select the correct user.
6. Repeat this for every account you want to tag. You can drag the tags around to reposition them on your image.
7. Tap Done. The tags are now embedded in your photo.

Tagging in the caption is even simpler. While writing your caption, just type the @ symbol followed immediately by the username (e.g., @postbase). The account name will become a clickable link in your final caption. This method is great for shoutouts that aren't tied to a specific person in an image.

Tagging After You've Already Posted

Forgot to tag someone? No problem. Instagram lets you easily add or edit tags on existing photo posts.

1. Go to the post you want to edit.
2. Tap the three dots (...) in the top-right corner of your post.
3. Select Edit from the pop-up menu.
4. You'll see a "Tag People" icon (a person-shaped silhouette) appear in the bottom-left corner of your photo. Tap it.
5. Now you can tap on the photo to add new tags or tap existing ones to remove or change them.
6. Tap Done in the top right corner to save your changes.

For caption tags, you just need to select "Edit" and type the @mention directly into the text field, then save your changes. Note that while you can add content to the caption, you cannot edit tagged photos in a carousel post once it is published, nor can you add photo tags to a video post after it's posted.

How to Tag Accounts in Instagram Stories

Stories offer a couple of dynamic ways to tag other accounts. Both methods will send a notification to the person you tagged, and it also gives them the option to easily re-share your Story to their own.

Using the @Mention Sticker

This is the most visible and engaging way to tag someone in a Story.

1. Create a new Story by swiping right from your feed or tapping the + icon and selecting Story.
2. Add your picture, video, or create a text-based background.
3. Tap the Sticker icon (the square smiley face) at the top of the screen.
4. Select the @MENTION sticker.
5. Start typing the username you want to tag. Select the correct account from the list that appears.
6. You can tap the sticker to change its color style, and you can pinch to resize it or drag it anywhere on the screen.

Using the Text Tool

You can also tag someone using the standard text tool, similar to writing a caption.

1. In the Story editor, tap the "Aa" icon to open the text tool.
2. Type the @ symbol and then the username. As you type, suggestions will appear at the bottom.
3. Select the correct account. The username will become underlined in the text editor to show the tag is active.
4. You can change the font, color, and size just like any other piece of text in your Story.

While both methods work, the @Mention Sticker is often more noticeable and clearly shows your audience that you're highlighting another account. This gives tagged users the option to repost your story with a single tap, which amplifies your content for free!

How to Tag an Account in an Instagram Reel

Reels are all about discoverability, and tagging relevant accounts is a strong strategy to broaden your audience. Similar to feed posts, you can tag in both the caption and with a dedicated tagging feature.

1. Create your Reel and proceed to the final share screen.
2. Write your caption and include tags by typing @ followed by the username.
3. Tap on "Tag People" (below "Add Location").
4. Tap + "Invite Collaborator" or + "Add Tag." For a standard tag, tap Add Tag and search for the user account. Tap and add a check mark to add your tag to your Reel before sharing.
5. Publish your Reel. The tagged accounts will be notified and the Reel will appear in their "Tagged Photos" feed section of their profile page, just like a regular post.

Take Tagging to the Next Level: The "Invite Collaborator" Feature

The "Invite Collaborator" feature is the ultimate form of tagging for feed posts and Reels. When you invite another account to collaborate, the post doesn't just appear on your profile - it appears on theirs, too, shared with both of your audiences simultaneously. It shares the same likes and comments which makes collaboration and cross-promotion easy. This is perfect for brand partnerships, creator collaborations, event promotions, or joint announcements. If one account has a larger audience, that audience will see the co-author's content, boosting their visibility and follower growth.

How to Create a Collab Post

1. Create a new feed post or Reel as you normally would.
2. On the final share screen, tap "Tag People."
3. Select "Invite Collaborator."
4. Search for and select the username of the account you want to co-author the post with. You can have one collaborator per post.
5. Share the post. The other person will receive a notification and a request in their DMs to accept the collaboration. Once they accept, the post will appear on their profile grid and their username will be added to the post's header.

A quick note: The collaboration feature is only available for public accounts. If the person rejects the invitation, they will just be tagged normally in the post.

General Tips and Best Practices for Tagging

Knowing how to tag is only half the battle. Knowing when and why will make your efforts much more effective.

• Keep Your Tags Relevant: Don’t just tag popular accounts hoping for attention. This is seen as spammy and can hurt your reputation. Only tag accounts that are genuinely in the photo, relevant to the caption, or were involved in the creation of the content (e.g., a brand whose clothing you’re wearing).
• Double-Check the Username: A simple typo can lead to you tagging the wrong account or no account at all. Always double-check spellings for accuracy. Check the handle's profile picture or bio info to double-check their identity.
• Respect Tagging Controls: Some users have settings that require them to approve tags before they appear on their profile. If your tag isn’t showing up in their tagged tab, this might be why. Respect their choice and don't badger them to approve it through a pushy message in their DMs.
• Don't Be Afraid to Network: When someone tags you, engage with it! Like the post, leave a thoughtful comment, and consider re-sharing it to your Story if it’s high-quality content. This validates their effort and encourages more people to tag you in the future.

Final Thoughts

Tagging on Instagram is your key to unlocking wider reach, building stronger community relationships, and growing your brand organically. Knowing how to correctly tag collaborators, credit creators, and mention brands in Posts, Stories, and Reels will make you a more effective and well-connected social media user.

Juggling all those conversations sparked by tags, comments, and mentions on all platforms, not just IG, can become overwhelming. When we were managing accounts, we felt like we were always switching between apps and missing important messages. That’s why we built Postbase with a unified inbox that brings all your comments and DMs from every platform into one clean view. It helps you stay on top of engagement without the chaos, so you can focus on building those valuable connections that tags create.