Why Can’t I Tag People on Instagram?

Like any large social media platform, Instagram is not immune to minor glitches. With over 1.4 billion users, it has become one of the biggest social networks.

If you’re facing difficulties in tagging people on Instagram, there can be several reasons behind it.

This article will cover why you cannot tag people in detail. Most reasons will have a quick solution. But, before that, let’s see how tagging works.

How Does Instagram Tagging Work?

When you tag someone in an Instagram post, they receive a notification once the post is published and continue to receive notifications for any comments or likes on that post. These tags are visible to everyone and can be used to showcase collaborations and contributions to the shared content. Additionally, tags on Instagram are often utilized to display sponsored content, where sponsors are linked to your reels or photos through a tag.

If you’re encountering difficulties while using this essential feature, here’s a list of potential issues to help you diagnose the problem and understand what might be going wrong.

8 Reasons You Can’t Tag People on Instagram

There are several potential reasons why you may be unable to tag people on Instagram. In the following paragraphs, we will delve into the most common causes in detail.

Reason #1: Instagram Servers Are Down As Instagram has a vast user base of over 1.4 billion, regular server maintenance and updates are necessary to ensure a smooth user experience. When new features are integrated into the app, the servers may temporarily go down. Additionally, server shutdowns can occur in specific regions due to local errors or regional issues. In such cases, the best course of action is to wait until the servers are back online. You can check the status of Instagram servers on Downdetector.

Reason #2: Poor or No Internet Connection Sometimes the issue may lie with your own internet connection rather than Instagram’s servers. If your internet connectivity is weak or limited, it may prevent you from connecting to Instagram’s servers. In such situations, restarting your router or internet device is a recommended step. If the problem persists, contacting your Internet Service Provider (ISP) and reporting the issue is advisable. If you’re using mobile data, ensure that it is functioning properly by restarting your phone or toggling the airplane mode on and off.

Reason #3: Tagging a Private Account Instagram provides two privacy options for accounts: public and private. Public accounts can be tagged and viewed even if you don’t follow each other, whereas private accounts can’t be interacted with or tagged unless you both follow each other. If you attempt to tag a private account, Instagram won’t allow it. The simple solution in this case is to send them a follow request, and upon acceptance, you will be able to tag them.

Why Can’t I Repost on Instagram?

Reason #4: Incorrect Spellings When tagging an account, it’s crucial to accurately spell out the username of the person you intend to tag. If you misspell their username, the tag won’t go through as Instagram won’t be able to locate the account. Instead, it will appear as plain text. Double-checking the account’s name can resolve this issue.

Reason #5: Omitting the “@” Symbol The “@” symbol is essential to indicate that you are referring to a profile when tagging someone. Without this symbol, Instagram will treat the text as plain text instead of a tag. Therefore, ensure that you include the “@” symbol when tagging accounts.

Reason #6: Account Blocked or Deactivated If you have blocked an account or the account you’re trying to tag has blocked you, tagging them will not be possible. The same applies if the account you wish to tag is deactivated. If you have blocked a user, you can unblock them to tag them. However, if they have blocked you or deactivated their account, there is no solution to this issue.

Reason #7: Tagging Limit Reached Instagram allows you to tag up to 20 people in a post or story at once. If you exceed this limit, Instagram will prevent you from tagging additional accounts. To resolve this, you will need to manage and reduce the number of accounts you wish to tag to fit within the limit.

Reason #8: New or Restricted Instagram Account When you create a new Instagram account, certain restrictions are placed on your activity, including the actions you can perform and their frequency. Account restrictions can also be imposed on older accounts if they are reported. In this case, the best approach is to wait for a few weeks or contact Instagram support regarding your account.

By considering these possibilities, you can diagnose the issue preventing you from tagging people on Instagram and take appropriate steps to address it.

Conclusion

No need to worry if you’re unable to tag someone on Instagram. It’s a common issue experienced by many users. This article provides a compilation of the primary reasons why you might encounter difficulties tagging people on Instagram. Identify your specific problem and find the appropriate solution provided here. Now, go ahead and start tagging!