You can add a location to Instagram posts and Stories in a few taps, and it shows up as a clickable tag that other users can see
Instagram lets you tag a specific place — a restaurant, park, your city, or even a street address — when you post a photo or video. The location appears below your caption on feed posts and at the top of Stories. Other people can tap that location tag to see all public posts from that same place, which is why some people use location tags to reach a wider audience or to mark where a memory happened.
The steps differ slightly depending on whether you're posting to your feed, sharing a Story, or adding a location after you've already posted. All of these work on both iPhone and Android.
Key Takeaways
- On a feed post, tap "Add location" after you write your caption, then search for the place by name or scroll through nearby suggestions.
- On a Story, swipe up from the bottom of the screen after recording or uploading, tap the location sticker, and search or select from suggestions.
- You can add a location to an old post by editing it — tap the three dots on your post, select "Edit," and then add the location.
- Your location tag is public and clickable by default, but you can remove it from individual posts without changing your overall privacy settings.
Adding a location to a feed post before you share it
When you're creating a new post for your feed, write your caption first, then look for the row of options below the caption box. You'll see buttons for "Add location," "Add music," and other features. Tap "Add location."
A search box will open. Type the name of the place — a restaurant name, neighborhood, landmark, or city all work. As you type, Instagram shows you matching locations. If the exact place you want appears in the list, tap it. If you don't see it, scroll down to see more results or try a different search term.
Once you've selected a location, it appears as a tag below your caption. You can remove it by tapping the location tag and selecting "Remove." If you want to change it to a different place, tap the location tag and search for a new one.
Adding a location to a Story
Record or upload a photo or video to your Story the way you normally would. Once you're on the editing screen with your image or video in front of you, swipe up from the bottom of the screen. A menu of stickers and tools will appear.
Look for the location sticker — it looks like a map pin. Tap it. A search box opens where you can type the name of a place or scroll through nearby locations that Instagram suggests. Select the location you want, and the sticker will appear on your Story. You can move it around by dragging it, resize it by pinching, or delete it by tapping and holding, then selecting delete.
Location stickers on Stories work the same way as location tags on feed posts — other people can tap them to see other public Stories and posts from that location.
Adding a location to a post you've already shared
You can edit an old post to add a location even if you didn't tag one when you first shared it. Open the post, tap the three dots in the top right corner, and select "Edit." You'll be able to change your caption and add or remove a location using the same "Add location" button that appears below the caption.
After you make changes, tap "Done" to save. The updated location tag will appear on your post, and anyone viewing it will see the new location. If you remove a location from an old post, the tag disappears immediately.
How location privacy works on Instagram
When you add a location tag to a post or Story, it's public by default. Anyone on Instagram can tap that location tag to see all public posts from that place, and they can see that you posted there. This is true even if your account is private — your location tag is still visible and clickable.
If you don't want a specific post to show your location, simply don't add a location tag to it. You don't need to change your overall privacy settings. There's no setting that lets you hide location tags from certain people while keeping them visible to others on the same post.
If you're concerned about sharing your exact location, you can tag a broader area instead — a neighborhood or city rather than a specific address or business. This lets you mark where a memory happened without pinpointing exactly where you were.
What happens when you search for a location on Instagram
When someone taps a location tag on your post or Story, they see a location page showing all public posts tagged with that place. Instagram also shows a map, the location's website or contact information if available, and a list of other accounts that have posted from there recently.
This is why some people use location tags strategically — if you're a photographer or business, tagging a popular location can help people discover your work. But it also means your post becomes part of a searchable collection, so consider whether you want that before you tag.
Troubleshooting location tags that won't appear
Sometimes you search for a location and it doesn't show up in Instagram's suggestions. This usually means the place is too new, too small, or Instagram hasn't created a location page for it yet. Try searching with different terms — the full address, the neighborhood name, or a nearby landmark.
If a location still won't appear, you can tag a broader area instead. For example, if a specific coffee shop doesn't have a location page, search for the neighborhood or city it's in. You can also try searching again in a few days — Instagram regularly adds new locations as users tag them.
If you're having trouble with the location feature in general, make sure your Instagram app is up to date. Outdated versions sometimes have bugs with location tagging. You can update through your phone's app store.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I hide my location from specific people?
No. Location tags are either public or not there at all. If you add a location tag, everyone can see it. If you don't want certain people to know where you were, don't tag that location on that post, or don't share the post with them at all.
Does Instagram track my location even if I don't tag it?
Instagram can access your phone's location data if you've given the app permission in your phone's settings, but tagging a location is a separate action you control. Disabling location permission in your phone's settings prevents Instagram from accessing your location, but you can still manually tag places.
What if someone tags me in a location I don't want to be tagged in?
You can remove yourself from location tags on other people's posts. Go to the post, tap the location tag, and look for an option to remove yourself. You can also report the post if you feel unsafe or if the tag is misleading.
Can I create a custom location that doesn't exist yet?
You can't create a location page yourself, but if you tag a place that doesn't have a page yet, Instagram may create one automatically over time as more people tag it. For now, tag the nearest existing location or a broader area like a neighborhood.
Do location tags affect how many people see my post?
Location tags don't directly change how many people see your post in their feed, but they do make your post discoverable through the location page. This can bring new viewers who search that location, even if they don't follow you.