How to Tag Someone in a TikTok Video

Tagging someone on TikTok is more than just a function - it's how you build community, spark collaborations, and pull your friends directly into the conversation. Getting it right is a core skill for any creator looking to grow their audience and make more engaging content. This guide covers every way you can tag someone on TikTok, from video captions and comments to the interactive @mention sticker.

Why Tagging on TikTok is a Game Changer

Before getting into the step-by-step instructions, it helps to understand why tagging is such a powerful tool in your content strategy. It goes far beyond simply sending someone a notification, it’s a strategic move that can significantly impact your video's performance and your account's growth.

Builds Community and Fosters Connection

Tagging isn't just for influencers and big brands. Acknowledging a follower in your video caption by saying, "Thanks for the video idea, @username!" transforms a passive viewer into an active participant. It makes your audience feel seen and valued, encouraging deeper loyalty and a stronger sense of community around your content. When people feel connected to you, they're more likely to engage consistently.

Acts as a Powerful Engagement Signal

When you tag another creator, they (and often their most dedicated followers) are likely to check out your video. If they comment, like, or share it, that rush of early engagement signals to the TikTok algorithm that your content is resonating with people. This can help push your video out to a wider audience on the For You Page, leading to a bump in views and visibility.

Simplifies Giving Credit and Collaborating

The creator economy is built on remixes, trends, and collaboration. Tagging is the accepted currency for giving credit where it's due. Did you use a sound from a smaller artist? Tag them. Did you get inspired by a dance challenge from another creator? Tag them. For official collaborations, including a tag in the caption is standard practice, directing traffic to your partner's page and making the partnership clear to everyone watching.

Increases Your Reach Organically

Your network on TikTok is powerful, but so is everyone else's. By tagging a friend or fellow creator, you are essentially tapping into their network as well. If they engage with your video, their activity might show up in their followers’ feeds, creating a ripple effect that introduces your content to a new, relevant audience that might not have discovered you otherwise.

How to Tag Someone in a TikTok Caption (Before Posting)

Tagging in the caption is the most common and straightforward method. This is perfect for giving credit, mentioning friends who appear in the video, or shouting out another creator who inspired you. When a user is tagged in a caption, their username becomes a clickable link that takes viewers directly to their profile.

Here’s how to do it step-by-step:

1. Record or Upload Your Video: Open the TikTok app and create your video as you normally would, either by recording new footage or uploading from your camera roll. Add your sounds, effects, and text overlays.
2. Proceed to the Post Screen: Once your video is edited and ready, tap the "Next" button in the bottom right corner. This takes you to the final screen where you can write your caption, add hashtags, and adjust settings.
3. Start Your Caption and Type '@': In the "Describe your post" field, start writing your caption. When you get to the point where you want to add a tag, type the at symbol (@).
4. Search for the User: As soon as you type the "@" symbol, a search bar and a list of your friends on TikTok will appear. Start typing the username of the person you want to tag. The list will dynamically update as you type.
5. Select the Correct Account: When you see the correct user profile appear in the list, simply tap on it. Be sure to check the profile picture and username carefully, as many accounts have similar names.
6. Confirm the Tag: Once selected, the username will be added to your caption. It will often appear in a bold or differently colored font inside the text box, indicating that the tag is active.
7. Finish and Post: Complete the rest of your caption, add relevant hashtags, and configure any other settings. When you’re ready, tap "Post." The tag in your live caption will be a clickable link.

Using the @Mention Sticker to Tag in the Video Itself

Sometimes, you want to tag someone visually, right in the video frame. TikTok’s @mention sticker is the perfect tool for this. It’s more eye-catching than a caption tag and is great for directly pointing out a person, responding to a user's question, or giving on-screen credit. Viewers can tap the sticker to go straight to the tagged person's profile.

Follow these steps to add a mention sticker:

1. Stay on the Editing Screen: After you finish recording or uploading your video, do not press "Next." Stay on the primary editing screen where you can add sounds, effects, and text.
2. Find the Stickers Menu: On the right-hand editing toolbar, look for the "Stickers" icon. It typically looks like a square smiley face with a corner peeling up. Tap on it.
3. Select the @Mention Sticker: A gallery of stickers will pop up. At the top, you should see an option labeled "@Mention." Tap this sticker.
4. Search and Select the User: A search window will appear, prompting you to "Mention a user." Start typing the username of the person you want to tag and select their profile from the results list, just like you would for a caption.
5. Customize the Sticker: The tag will now appear on your video as an interactive sticker. You can use your fingers to drag it around the screen, resize it by pinching in or out, and rotate it to the perfect angle.
6. Set the Sticker’s Duration (Optional): If you only want the tag to appear for a specific part of the video, tap the sticker and then select "Set duration." You’ll be taken to a timeline editor where you can trim the beginning and end of the sticker's appearance. This is great for timing the tag to appear exactly when that person is mentioned or shown.
7. Finish Editing and Post: Once the sticker is placed where you want it, you can tap "Next" to move to the posting screen, write your caption, and share your video.

How to Tag Someone in the Comments of a TikTok Video

What if the video is already posted? You can still bring someone into the conversation by tagging them in the comments section. This method is ideal for replying to a question and looping in another creator for their opinion, alerting a friend to a video you think they’d find funny, or answering a question that requires you to credit someone you forgot to mention in the caption.

Tagging in comments works on your own videos and on videos from other creators.

1. Find the Video and Open Comments: Navigate to the TikTok video where you want to leave a tag. Tap the icon on the right-hand side that looks like a speech bubble.
2. Start a New Comment: In the "Add comment..." field at the bottom, begin your message.
3. Type '@' and the Username: Just as with captions, type the "@" symbol and begin typing the person's username you wish to tag.
4. Select from the List: A pop-up list of users will appear. Find and tap the correct account.
5. Post Your Comment: The username will turn into a clickable link in your comment. Finish writing your message and hit the send button. The tagged user will receive a notification that you mentioned them in a comment.

TikTok Tagging: Best Practices & What to Avoid

Knowing how to tag is one thing, but knowing when and why is what separates a savvy creator from a spammy one. Following some simple etiquette will help you use tags more effectively and maintain a good reputation.

Do: Tag Relevant People

Only tag users who are genuinely connected to your video. This includes people who are in it, those who inspired the content, or friends you think would truly enjoy it. A relevant tag feels authentic and is welcomed by the person receiving the notification.

Don't: Spam Tags for Views

Resist the urge to tag massive creators like Charli D'Amelio or MrBeast in an unrelated video, hoping they'll notice you. This tactic, often called "tag spamming," is transparent and annoying. It rarely results in engagement and can cause users to block you or the algorithm to view your behavior as spammy, potentially harming your reach.

Do: Double-Check the Username

Typos happen. Before hitting post, take a second to make sure you've selected the correct account. Tagging `@JohnSmith123` instead of `@JonSmith123` can send your notification to a complete stranger and means the person you intended to tag will never see it.

Don't: Forget About Privacy Settings

If you can't find a user when you try to tag them, it may not be a mistake on your part. TikTok users can control who is allowed to tag or mention them in their privacy settings (under *Settings and privacy > Privacy > Mentions and tags*). They may have it set to "Friends" or "No one," making it impossible for you to tag them. Respect their privacy and don't try to force it.

Troubleshooting: "I Tagged the Wrong Person!"

It's a frustrating moment: you've just posted a video, it’s already getting some views, and you realize you tagged the wrong account in the caption. Unfortunately, there is a major limitation here: you cannot edit a TikTok video's caption after it has been posted.

Your only option to fix an incorrect tag in a caption or sticker is to:

1. Save Your Video: Before deleting anything, make sure you have a copy of your posted video. Tap the three dots (...) and select "Save video" to download it to your device.
2. Delete the Original Post: Once saved, delete the video with the incorrect tag from your profile.
3. Re-Upload and Correct It: Start a new upload, select the video you just saved, and proceed to the posting screen. This time, you can enter the correct caption and tags before posting it again.

For tags made in a comment, the fix is much simpler. You can just delete your comment and post a new one with the correct username.

Final Thoughts

Tagging on TikTok is an essential skill for anyone looking to connect with others on the platform. By learning how to tag effectively in captions, with stickers, and in comments, you can give proper credit, foster relationships, and grow your community in a genuine and authentic way.

Managing all these different interactions, especially as you grow, can be a lot to handle across multiple social platforms. At our company, we designed Postbase to make that simpler. We built a unified inbox that organizes all your comments and DMs from TikTok, Instagram, and more into one single feed, so you can keep up with every tag, mention, and message without feeling overwhelmed.