How do I tag Instagram photos and Reels in Sprout?

When composing Instagram posts in the Sprout desktop app, you are able to tag other profiles and products directly within the media you are sharing. This includes single image posts, Reels, and images within carousel posts. 

This article will provide information on tagging other profiles within your media. For product tagging, see: How do I tag products on Photos and Reels in Instagram?

Tagging an Image for an Instagram Post

1. In Compose, upload an image or multiple images for a carousel post
2. Click in the top-right corner of the image you would like to tag
3. Click Tag People and Products to open the Media Tagging window
4. Click the photo directly and enter the Instagram profile you want to tag. Note: you can't search for personal profile usernames or tag private profiles. You can tag usernames in each photo you include in a post, up to 10 photos.
5. After selecting the profile from the dropdown, Sprout will automatically verify if the profile exists natively on Instagram and is eligible for media tagging 
   • Note: Private Accounts and Age-Restricted Accounts are not eligible for tagging via Instagram's API and will be flagged as invalid
6. If a profile is flagged as invalid or you want to verify that you've entered the intended profile, you can click the profile handle in Sprout to check the profile natively within Instagram
7. Once you've verified the profiles you intend to tag, click Save Tags and proceed with scheduling your post!

Applying Tags to a Reel in Sprout 

1. In Compose, upload a single video.
2. Click in the top-right corner of the video thumbnail
3. Click Tag People and Products to open the Media Tagging window
4. Within the People Tagging tab, use the search bar to enter and select the profiles you intend to tag.
   • Note: Reels do not support tagging specific x,y coordinates like image posts do. Your profile tags will appear in the lower left-hand corner of your Reel once published. 
5. After selecting the profile from the dropdown, Sprout will automatically verify if the profile exists natively on Instagram and is eligible for media tagging 
   • Note: Private Accounts and Age-Restricted Accounts are not eligible for tagging via Instagram's API and will be flagged as invalid.
6. Once you've verified the profiles you intend to tag, click Save Tags and proceed with scheduling your Reel! 

Instagram Media Tagging FAQs

Can I apply tags to an Instagram Carousel post? 

Yes, you can apply tags to each separate image within in a carousel post. However, you will no be able to apply media tags to any videos included in a multimedia carousel. This is due to limitations with Instagram's API. 

Is there a limit to the amount of profiles I can tag in an image or Reel? 

You can apply up to 20 media tags on a post. 

What is the difference between a media tag and an Instagram collaborator invite? 

Tagging an Instagram profile in an image or Reel will send a notification to the tagged profile which may encourage that profile to share in their Story or engage with your content. This will differ from the Invite Collaborators option found within the Instagram Options in Compose. Inviting a profile to be a collaborator will allow the post to appear in the other profile's grid if they accept the invitation which unlocks additional reach and discoverability with their followers. You can learn more about inviting collaborators on your Instagram posts here: How do I create Instagram collab posts? 

I can see the profile exists natively but it was marked invalid in Sprout. How do I determine if the profile is private or restricted?

If you are logged into Instagram as a profile that actively follows the other profile, this can make it difficult to quickly spot if the profile is a private or age-restricted account. In this case, we would recommend copying the address for the profile (from the handle in Sprout) and opening this within a private browsing window such as Google Chrome's incognito. This would allow you to see the profile as an Instagram user who is not actively following the account and has not completed any age verifications.