How to Tag Someone on TikTok

Tagging another user on TikTok is one of the most effective ways to boost your video's reach, build community, and collaborate with other creators. This guide covers every way to tag someone on the platform, from your video caption to your Story, so you can start connecting with your audience and other creators in a more meaningful way.

Why Tagging on TikTok is a Game-Changer

Before we get into the step-by-step instructions, it helps to understand why tagging is so powerful. It's more than just a notification, it's a strategic tool for growth.

• Collaboration and Cross-promotion: When you tag another creator, their followers might see your video. It's the easiest way to tap into a new, relevant audience. It's perfect for shoutouts, challenges, or just showing love to another creator whose work you admire.
• Boosted Engagement: A tag sends a direct notification to the person you mentioned. This high-visibility alert makes them much more likely to engage with your content through a comment, a like, or even a stitch or duet.
• Giving Credit Where It's Due: Did someone inspire your video? Did you use a sound effect from another creator's post? Tagging them is the proper etiquette for giving credit. It shows respect and fosters goodwill within the TikTok community.
• Building Community: By tagging followers who leave great comments or participate in trends, you make them feel seen. This simple act can turn casual viewers into loyal fans who are invested in your content.

How to Tag Someone in a TikTok Video Caption (The Classic Way)

This is the most common and direct method for tagging accounts in a new video. The tagged username appears directly in your video's description, making it clickable for all viewers.

1. Record or Upload Your Video: Create your masterpiece just as you normally would. Film your content within the TikTok app or upload a pre-edited video from your camera roll. Proceed through the editing screens where you add sounds, effects, and text.
2. Navigate to the Post Screen: After editing, tap "Next." This takes you to the final screen where you write your caption, add hashtags, and adjust settings.
3. Type the "@" Symbol: In the "Describe your video" caption field, type the "@" symbol. As you start typing the username, a list of suggested accounts will pop up. TikTok suggests people you interact with frequently.
4. Select the Correct User: You can either finish typing the full username or, more easily, tap on the correct name and profile picture from the suggestion list. Once you select it, the username will appear in your caption highlighted in bold or a different color, indicating the tag is active.
5. Finish and Post: Complete the rest of your caption and hashtags, then tap "Post." The person you tagged will receive a notification that you mentioned them in a video. Voila!

Pro Tip: You can tag multiple people in a caption. Just repeat the process for each person you want to mention. Be mindful not to overdo it, a caption stuffed with too many tags can look spammy.

How to Tag Someone Using the "Tag people" Feature

There's another way to tag accounts that declutters your caption. The "Tag people" feature adds a small, clickable tag directly on your video (usually in the bottom-left corner next to your username) instead of inside the description itself. This keeps your caption clean and focused on your message.

When to Use This Method

This method is perfect when you want to tag multiple people without making your caption look like a wall of text. It's great for group videos, collaborations, or crediting several people who were involved in making the video.

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Create and Edit Your Video: Go through the normal process of recording and editing your video.
2. Go to the Post Screen: Just before posting, you'll be on the screen where you write your caption.
3. Find and Tap "Tag people": Look for the icon with a person and an "@" symbol. It's usually right below the caption box, next to options like "Add location."
4. Search and Select Accounts: A new screen will open where you can search for the users you want to tag. Select the accounts one by one. You'll see them get added to a list. Again, it's most efficient to search for people you've recently interacted with.
5. Confirm and Post: Once you've added everyone, tap "Done." You'll be taken back to the post screen. You'll now see the usernames you selected listed next to the "Tag people" button. Write your caption, add hashtags, and tap "Post."

How to Mention Someone in TikTok Comments

Replying to comments is one of the best ways to grow a dedicated community. Tagging the original commenter or pulling someone else into the conversation is a great way to show engagement and keep the discussion going.

1. Open the Comments Section: On any TikTok video, tap the speech bubble icon on the right side of the screen to view the comments.
2. Start a New Comment or a Reply: You can either add a new comment at the bottom or hit "Reply" under a specific comment you want to respond to.
3. Type "@" and the Username: Just like with captions, use the "@" symbol. As you type, a list of suggested users will appear.
4. Select the User: Tap the correct account name from the list. Add any message you want to include and post your comment. They'll get a notification that you mentioned them in a comment.

How to Add a Tag to Your TikTok Story

TikTok Stories work like they do on other platforms, disappearing after 24 hours. The Mention sticker is the primary way to tag others in this format, and it sends a direct notification to the tagged account.

1. Start Creating a Story: From the main TikTok feed, tap the "+" button at the bottom of the screen. Then, switch from "Camera" mode to "Story" at the bottom.
2. Record a Video or Add a Photo: Create your Story content. Once you're done, you'll land on the editing screen.
3. Use the Mention Sticker: On the right-hand editing menu, find the stickers icon (it looks like a square with a happy face). Tap it.
4. Select the "@Mention" Sticker: In the sticker tray, find the sticker labeled "@Mention." Tap it.
5. Search and Select the User: A search bar will pop up. Type the username of the person you want to tag and select them from the list.
6. Customize and Place the Tag: Once selected, the sticker will appear on your Story. You can pinch to resize it, tap it to change its style and color, and drag it anywhere on the screen.
7. Post Your Story: When you're happy with the placement, tap "Your Story" to post. The tagged person can now view your Story and will receive a notification.

Uh Oh! Why Can't I Tag Someone? (Troubleshooting)

Sometimes you might run into an issue where a tag won't work. It's usually due to one of a few common reasons. Here's what to check.

Privacy Settings

The most common reason is the other person's privacy settings. Users can control who can tag them or mention them. Their settings might be limited to:

• "Everyone": Anyone can tag them.
• "People you follow": Only accounts they follow back can tag them.
• "No one": No one can tag them, period.

If you can't tag someone you don't follow, this is almost certainly the issue. There's no way to bypass this, you have to respect their settings.

Incorrect Username

It's easy to make a typo, especially with usernames that have underscores, periods, or repeating letters. Double-check the spelling. The best way to be sure is to visit their profile and confirm the exact username before you attempt to tag them.

The Account is Private or Doesn't Exist

You can't freely tag private accounts in the same way you tag public ones. Furthermore, if you're trying to tag someone and their name doesn't appear in the search results, it's possible they've deactivated or deleted their account, or that they have blocked you.

Temporary App Glitch

Sometimes, technology just has a moment. If you're sure the username is correct and their settings should allow it, try these steps:

• Close and reopen the TikTok app.
• Check for an app update in the App Store or Google Play Store.
• Restart your phone.

This will resolve most temporary glitches that might be preventing the tagging feature from working correctly.

Final Thoughts

Knowing how to tag someone on TikTok is more than a technical skill, it's a fundamental part of engaging with the platform's culture of collaboration and community. From giving credit in your caption to mentioning a friend in a Story, each method serves a different purpose for connecting with others and building your presence.

Of course, a great tagging strategy often leads to a major boost in comments and engagement. Sorting through all those notifications can be tough. We built Postbase with a unified inbox that puts all your comments and DMs from TikTok, Instagram, and other platforms into one simple, clean feed. Instead of jumping between apps, you can manage conversations, reply to followers, and build your community all from one screen.