How to Tag Friends in Your Instagram Posts and Stories

Instagram is a top choice for sharing special moments, whether it's through a quick Story that disappears after 24 hours or a permanent post on your Feed or Reels.

One cool feature of Instagram is the ability to mention or tag friends. This lets them easily share the posts you tag them in on their own accounts. Here’s a simple guide on how to tag friends in both Instagram Feed/Reels and Stories.

Tagging Friends in Instagram Feed/Reels

Tagging friends on Instagram lets you share special moments with them, whether in your Feed or on Reels. Once tagged, these posts appear on your profile. There are two main ways to do this: a regular mention or a collaboration.

With a regular mention, the post shows up in your mentions tab, but a collaboration puts it right on your main profile page, making it more visible. Here’s how you can tag friends in your Instagram Feed or Reels:

1. Regular Tags on Instagram Feed/Reels

The first way to tag friends in your Feed or Reels posts is with regular tags. When you do this, your post will show up in the tagged section of your friend's Instagram profile. You can tag friends directly in the photo or in the caption of your post. Here’s how:

• Open Instagram and tap the plus icon to start a new post.

• Select the photo(s) or video(s) you want to upload. Remember, Reels are video only.
• Tap “Next” in the top right, apply any filters you like, and hit “Next” again.

• To tag someone, tap on “Tag people” before posting.

• Tap anywhere on the photo to bring up the tagging option, then search and select your friend’s Instagram handle. Their name will appear on the photo.
• Once done, tap the blue checkmark to save your tag.

Alternatively, you can tag someone directly in the caption by typing “@” followed by their username.

You can choose to tag in the photo or in the caption, but you don't need to do both.

Remember, a regular tag only adds the post to the tagged posts section of your friend’s profile and won’t allow them to share it directly on their Feed or Reels.

2. Invite Collaboration on Instagram Feed/Reels

A great way to engage with friends and potentially gain new followers is by using the "Invite collaborators" feature. This lets both you and your tagged friends share the same post on your respective profiles.

Here's how you can invite friends to collaborate on your Instagram Feed/Reels:

• Start by creating a new post: Tap the plus sign, select the photo or video, and choose any filters you want to use.
• Before posting, go to the “Tag people” menu.

• Click on the “Invite collaborators” option and search for your friend's Instagram account.
• You can then position your friend's name on the photo wherever you like.

Remember, the collaboration won’t activate immediately. Your friend needs to accept the invitation to collaborate.

Once they do, the post will appear on both your and your friend’s main profile pages. This feature not only enhances visibility but also strengthens engagement through shared content.

How to Mention Friends in an Instagram Story

Mentioning friends in your Instagram Stories is another dynamic way to interact, allowing them to reshare or repost the Stories you create.

Here’s how you can mention friends in your Instagram Stories, even after they've been uploaded:

• Open Instagram and start a new Story by tapping the blue plus sign or swiping right on your screen.
• Select a photo or video for your Story.

• Before uploading, tap the Stickers icon at the top of the screen.

• Choose the “@MENTION” sticker to add a mention of your friend.

• Search for and select your friend's Instagram handle.
• Enable the option “Let people you mention create with this or share it?” This allows your friends to share or repost your Story.
• Tap “Done,” then position the sticker where you want it on your Story.

You can also type a mention manually:

• Tap the “Aa” text icon, then type “@” followed by your friend's username.
• Hit “Done” and place the text wherever you prefer in your Story.

Then how do you tag your friend if the story has been uploaded?

Worry not! Here's how you do it:

• Open the Story you've already posted. Tap the three dots labeled “More” to access settings.

• Choose “Add mentions” to tag your friends.

• Search for and select your friend's account. Make sure to activate the toggle allowing them to reshare or repost your Story.
• Press “Add” to update your Story with the mention.

These steps make it easy to mention or tag friends in both new and existing Instagram Stories, enhancing how you share and interact on the platform. Give it a try and see how it spices up your Stories!