The fastest way to add someone on Instagram

To add someone on Instagram, open the app and tap the magnifying glass icon at the bottom to search for their username or real name. Type what you know about them into the search box — their handle, first name, or both. When you find the person, tap their profile and then tap the "Follow" button (it appears as a person with a plus sign). That's it — you're now following them, and you'll see their posts in your feed.

If you want them to follow you back, they'll see a notification that you followed them. They can then choose to follow you or not. If you want to send them a private message instead of just following, tap the message icon on their profile after you follow them, and start a conversation.

Key Takeaways

  • Search for someone by their username, real name, or both using the magnifying glass icon at the bottom of the app.
  • Tap their profile when it appears in the search results, then tap the "Follow" button to start seeing their posts.
  • You can message someone after you follow them by tapping the message icon on their profile.
  • If your account is private, people you follow won't see your posts unless you follow them back or they send you a follow request you accept.
  • You can also add someone by tapping "Follow" on their profile if they share a link to it with you or if Instagram suggests them in the "Suggested for You" section.

Finding someone by username or real name

The search bar is the main way to find people on Instagram. Tap the magnifying glass at the bottom center of your screen, and a search box will appear at the top. You can type a username (like @jsmith), a real name (like "John Smith"), or even a nickname if you know it. Instagram will show you matching accounts as you type.

If the person has a common name, you might see several results. Look for a blue checkmark next to their name — that means Instagram has verified the account belongs to a public figure or brand. If you're looking for a friend, check their profile photo or bio to make sure it's the right person before you follow them.

Adding someone from a shared link or profile card

If someone sends you a link to their Instagram profile, you can tap it and go straight to their account. Once you're on their profile, the "Follow" button will appear near the top. Tap it to follow them without having to search.

Some people also share a profile card — a small preview of their account that appears when you tap a link or when they share it through another app. You can follow them directly from that card by tapping "Follow" on the preview.

When Instagram suggests people to follow

Instagram shows suggested accounts in a few places: on the Explore page (the magnifying glass icon), in the "Suggested for You" section on people's profiles, and sometimes in your feed. These suggestions are based on who you already follow and what accounts you interact with. If you see someone you know in the suggestions, you can tap "Follow" right there without searching.

You can also find suggested accounts by going to someone's profile and scrolling down to see "Suggested for You" — these are accounts similar to the person you're viewing. This is useful if you want to follow people with similar interests.

The difference between following and being followed

Following someone means you'll see their posts in your feed. Being followed means they see your posts in their feed. These are separate actions — you can follow someone without them following you back, and vice versa.

If your account is public, anyone can follow you without your permission. If your account is private, people have to send you a follow request, and you have to accept it before they can see your posts. You can change this in your account settings under "Privacy" if you want to switch between public and private.

Adding people from your phone contacts

Instagram can show you which of your phone contacts have Instagram accounts. Go to your profile (tap the person icon at the bottom right), tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines), and select "Discover people." Tap "Find contacts" and allow Instagram to access your phone's contacts. Instagram will show you a list of people in your contacts who have Instagram accounts, and you can follow them from there.

You only need to do this once — Instagram remembers your contacts after the first time. If you add new contacts to your phone later, you can repeat this process to see if they have Instagram accounts.

Unfollowing or blocking someone

If you follow someone and later change your mind, you can unfollow them by going to their profile and tapping "Following" (it changes from "Follow" once you're following them). A menu will appear with the option to unfollow. They won't be notified that you unfollowed them.

If you want to stop seeing someone's posts and prevent them from seeing yours, you can block them instead. Go to their profile, tap the menu icon (three dots), and select "Block." They won't be able to find your profile, see your posts, or message you. You can unblock them later the same way if you change your mind.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can someone tell if I followed them?

They'll see a notification that you followed them, but they won't know how you found them or whether you searched for them directly. If your account is public, they can visit your profile and see what you follow and like.

What happens if I follow someone with a private account?

Your follow request goes to them, and they have to accept it before you can see their posts. Until they accept, you'll see a message saying "Follow requested" on their profile instead of "Following." They can accept, decline, or ignore your request.

Can I follow someone without them knowing?

They'll get a notification that you followed them, but they won't know why or how you found them. If you want to view someone's posts without following them, you can search for their profile and look at their public posts without tapping "Follow."

How do I find someone if I only know their first name?

Type their first name into the search bar and Instagram will show you accounts with that name. If it's a common name, you might see many results — look for a profile photo or bio that matches the person you're looking for. If you know their location or workplace, that information in their bio can help you identify the right person.

What if the person I want to follow has deleted their account?

If their account no longer exists, you won't be able to find it in search. If they deactivated their account temporarily, their profile will reappear once they reactivate it. You can try searching again later, or ask them directly for their username if you're not sure it's spelled correctly.