How to Tag Someone on Instagram, in Posts, Stories and Comments
In a post, tap Tag people before you share. In a story, reel or comment, type @ and pick the name. How to tag after posting, untag yourself and limit tags.
To tag someone in an Instagram post, tap Tag people before you share, tap the photo and pick their username. In a story, a reel or a comment, type @ and choose their name from the list that pops up. A story can mention up to 20 people in each photo or video, Instagram's Help Center says. To take your own name off a post, tap the post, tap your username and tap Remove Me From Post.
We read Instagram's Help Center as Google showed it on October 23, 2026, along with guides from LocalIQ (July 7, 2026) and Evergreenfeed (May 19, 2026).
"How to tag someone on instagram story" gets about 27,100 searches a month, up 14%. "How to tag someone on instagram" gets another 22,200.
| Where you tag | How | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| A post's photo | Tag people | Up to 20 |
| A story | @ or a mention sticker | 20 per photo or video |
| A caption or comment | @ and pick the name | Not stated |
Instagram Help Center and Later's help center, as Google showed them on October 23, 2026.
How do you tag someone in an Instagram post?
- Start a post and pick your photo or video.
- Tap Tag people before you share. LocalIQ's guide says to do it "as you're uploading a photo."
- Tap the person in the photo, then pick their username. That's "the most dependable method," Evergreenfeed's guide says.
- Tap Done, then share.
Later's help center says "up to 20 users can be tagged per post." To tag someone in the caption instead, type @ and their username. A caption tag lets followers "quickly click on the tag to access the tagged user's profile," LocalIQ notes.
How do you tag someone on Instagram after posting?
Forgot someone? You can add them later:
- Go to the post on your profile.
- Tap the three dots, then tap Edit. Instagram's Help Center says to "tap Options" on the post first.
- Tap Tag people and add the person.
- Tap Done.
How do you tag someone in an Instagram story?
- Make your story. Take a photo or video, or upload one.
- Add the mention. Type @ in a text box and pick the username, or use the mention sticker.
- Share it.
"You can mention up to 20 people in each photo or video you share to your Instagram story," the Help Center says. A tag can "trigger a notification" and "open the door to a reshare," Evergreenfeed's guide says. That's often why people tag in stories in the first place.
How do you tag someone in a reel or a comment?
In a reel, tap the screen to add text, then type @ and the username, LocalIQ's guide says. You can tag in the caption too. In a comment, type @ and pick the account from the list.
The common mistake is typing the name without picking it. "If you don't select the suggested entity, you usually won't create a live mention," Evergreenfeed says. A space after the @ breaks it too.
How do you untag yourself on Instagram?
"Tap the post. Tap your username. Tap Remove Me From Post," Instagram's Help Center says. For a tag on a photo, it lists another route that ends with "Tap Remove tag next to your name."
Hiding a post works differently. "Hiding a post from your profile doesn't remove you from the reel, photo or video itself," the Help Center notes. So remove the tag if you want your name off it.
How do you stop people from tagging you?
Instagram's Help Center gives the path: "go to your profile," tap the menu in the top right, then "Tap Tags and mentions." Pick who's allowed, from options like Everyone, Profiles you follow or No one.
If someone outside that group tries, "they'll see that you don't allow mentions or tags from everyone," the Help Center says. A Reddit answer from November 2025 points to the same settings.
Getting more from tags
Tags can help a post "travel outside your own audience," Evergreenfeed's guide says, so tag people who really are in it or helped make it. Our guides to Instagram story ideas, adding a link to your story and reposting on Instagram cover what comes next. Hclout's free tier gives 12 free Instagram likes and 100 free Instagram views on a public post, with no password, on the free page. A short Cloudflare check runs before each claim.
Frequently asked questions
How do I tag someone on my Instagram story?
Type @ and pick their username, or add a mention sticker. You can mention up to 20 people in each photo or video.
Can I tag someone on Instagram after posting?
Yes. Open the post, tap the three dots, tap Edit, then Tag people.
Why can't I tag someone on Instagram?
They may only allow tags from people they follow, or from no one. Also pick the name from the list, since a typed name or a space after @ won't link.
How many people can I tag in an Instagram post?
Up to 20, Later's help center says.
How do I remove my name from an Instagram post?
Tap the post, tap your username, then tap Remove Me From Post.
Sources
- Instagram Help Center pages on tagging after sharing, story mentions, removing tags, hiding tagged posts, and tags and mentions settings, as Google showed them on October 23, 2026
- LocalIQ, "How to Tag Someone on Instagram in a Caption, Photo, Story or Reel," updated July 7, 2026, read October 23, 2026
- Evergreenfeed, "How to Tag People on Social Media: The 2026 Guide," May 19, 2026, read October 23, 2026
- Later's help center, June 8, 2026, and Reddit r/Instagram, November 3, 2025, as Google showed them
- Google Ads Keyword Planner, worldwide, read October 23, 2026
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