The fastest way to add someone on Instagram

To add someone on Instagram, search for their username in the search bar at the bottom of your screen, tap their profile, and tap the "Follow" button. That is the basic version — they will see you are following them, but they will not know you sent a request unless they check their followers list.

If their account is private, tapping "Follow" sends a follow request instead. The person will get a notification that you want to follow them, and they can accept or decline. Until they accept, you cannot see their posts or stories.

If you want to message someone before following them, or if you want to add someone whose username you do not know, there are other routes. The method you choose depends on whether you already know their username and whether their account is public or private.

Key Takeaways

  • Search for someone's username in the search bar, tap their profile, and tap "Follow" to add them to your followers list.
  • If their account is private, your follow request goes to them for approval, and you cannot see their posts until they accept.
  • You can add people by searching their phone number or email address if you have it saved in your phone contacts.
  • If you already follow someone and want to message them, tap the message icon on their profile instead of sending a follow request.
  • Blocking someone removes them from your followers and prevents them from seeing your posts or sending you messages.

Adding someone by searching their username

This is the most direct method if you know the person's Instagram handle. Open Instagram and tap the magnifying glass icon at the bottom of your screen to open the search page. Type the person's username into the search bar at the top.

Instagram will show you a list of accounts that match what you typed. Look through the results — the person's profile picture, username, and display name should help you find the right account. Tap on their profile to open it.

Once you are on their profile, tap the "Follow" button. If their account is public, you will immediately start following them and can see their posts. If their account is private, the button will change to say "Requested" and they will receive a notification that you want to follow them.

Adding someone from your phone contacts

Instagram can search your phone's contact list and show you which of your contacts have Instagram accounts. This works if you have the person's phone number or email address saved in your phone.

Tap your profile icon at the bottom right of Instagram to go to your profile. Tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) at the top right. Scroll down and tap "Discover people." Tap "Suggested for you" or "Find friends" depending on which version of Instagram you have.

Tap "Connect contacts" and allow Instagram to access your phone's contacts when it asks. Instagram will scan your contacts and show you a list of people who have Instagram accounts. Tap "Follow" next to anyone you want to add.

Adding someone by sending a direct message first

If you want to message someone before following them, you can send them a direct message without being followers. This is useful if you want to introduce yourself or explain why you want to follow them.

Go to the direct messages section by tapping the message icon at the top right of your home feed. Tap the pencil icon to start a new message. Search for the person's username and tap their name when it appears. Type your message and send it.

The person will receive your message in their message requests folder if they do not follow you back. They can read it, respond, or delete it without you becoming followers. If they respond, you can then tap "Follow" on their profile to add them to your followers list.

What happens when someone has a private account

When you try to follow someone with a private account, Instagram sends them a follow request instead of immediately adding you. They will see a notification that you want to follow them, and they can tap to accept or decline your request.

While your request is pending, you cannot see their posts, stories, or follower list. Your username will appear in their "Follow Requests" section. If they accept, you will become a follower and can see everything they post. If they decline, your request disappears and you cannot see their content.

You can cancel a follow request at any time by going back to their profile and tapping "Requested." This removes your request and they will not be notified that you cancelled it.

Removing or blocking someone you added

If you followed someone and want to stop seeing their posts, tap their profile and tap "Following." This removes you from their followers list, but they can still see your public posts and follow you again if they want.

If you want to prevent someone from seeing your posts or messaging you, tap their profile, tap the menu icon (three dots), and tap "Block." This removes them from your followers, prevents them from finding your profile in search, and stops them from messaging you. They will not receive a notification that you blocked them, but they may notice they cannot find your profile anymore.

You can unblock someone at any time by going to your settings, tapping "Blocked," finding their name, and tapping "Unblock."

Frequently Asked Questions

Can someone tell if I followed them?

Yes, they can see you in their followers list. If their account is public, you will appear there immediately. If their account is private, they will get a notification that you sent a follow request, and you will appear in their followers list only after they accept.

What if I cannot find someone's username?

Try searching variations of their name — people sometimes use nicknames, numbers, or underscores in their usernames. If you have their phone number or email saved in your contacts, use the "Find friends" feature to see if they have an Instagram account. You can also ask them directly for their username.

Can I follow someone without them knowing?

No. If their account is public, they can see you in their followers list. If their account is private, they will get a notification that you sent a follow request. There is no way to follow someone without them being able to see it.

What is the difference between following and being friends?

Instagram does not have a "friends" feature like Facebook does. Following someone means you see their posts in your feed. They do not have to follow you back. You can message anyone on Instagram, whether they follow you or not, but if they do not follow you, your message goes to their message requests folder.

Can I add multiple people at once?

No, you have to follow people one at a time. There is no bulk follow feature on Instagram. The fastest way to add multiple people is to use the "Find friends" feature, which shows you a list of people from your contacts, and you can tap "Follow" on each one individually.