Adding a collaborator on Instagram lets another account co-author a post, Reel, or story with you
When you add a collaborator, both accounts appear as creators on that piece of content. Instagram shows it came from both of you, and both accounts can share it to their own feeds and stories. The collaborator doesn't need special permissions or access to your account — you invite them for each post individually, and the invitation expires once the content is published or deleted.
This feature works on feed posts, Reels, carousel posts, and stories. It does not work on Lives or direct messages. Both accounts must be public or have the collaborator setting turned on in their privacy settings for the feature to work.
Key Takeaways
- You can add a collaborator while creating a new post by tapping the collaborator icon before you publish.
- The collaborator receives an invitation and must accept it before the post goes live with both names attached.
- Both accounts will show the post on their own profile and can share it to their stories independently.
- You can only add collaborators to new content — you cannot add them to posts you have already published.
- Private accounts can use the collaborator feature only if they have turned it on in their privacy settings.
How to add a collaborator to a feed post or carousel
Open Instagram and tap the plus icon at the bottom to start a new post. Upload your photo or photos, add captions and filters as usual, then tap Next at the top right. On the screen where you add location and other details, look for the Add collaborators option — it appears below the caption field.
Tap Add collaborators and search for the account you want to invite by username. When you find them, tap their name to send the invitation. You can add up to three collaborators per post. Once you have added everyone, tap Done, then Share to publish the post. Instagram sends each collaborator a notification that they have been invited. They must tap Accept on the notification or in their activity feed before the post publishes with both names.
If a collaborator declines or does not respond within a set time, the post publishes with only your name. You cannot add collaborators after the post is live.
How to add a collaborator to a Reel
Start a new Reel by tapping the plus icon and selecting Reels. Record or upload your video, add music, effects, and text, then tap Next. On the editing screen, scroll down to find Add collaborators and tap it.
Search for the account you want to invite and tap their username. You can add up to three collaborators. Tap Done, then Share to send invitations. Like feed posts, the Reel publishes only after all collaborators accept, or with just your name if they decline or do not respond in time.
How to add a collaborator to a story
Open Instagram and tap your profile picture at the bottom left to start a new story. Take a photo or video, add stickers and text, then tap Next at the top right. Look for the Add collaborators option on the sharing screen.
Tap it, search for the account, and select their username. You can add one collaborator per story. Tap Done, then Your Story to send the invitation. The story appears on both accounts' story rings once the collaborator accepts. If they decline, only your name shows as the creator.
What happens when a collaborator accepts or declines
When a collaborator accepts your invitation, Instagram adds their name and profile picture to the post or story. Both accounts show the content on their own profile feed or story ring. Both of you can share it to your stories, send it to direct messages, or repost it — Instagram tracks that it came from both creators.
If a collaborator declines the invitation, the content publishes with only your name. If they do not respond within 24 hours, the post or story publishes automatically with just you as the creator. You cannot resend an invitation for content that has already published.
Privacy settings for collaborators
If your account is private, you need to turn on the collaborator setting before anyone can invite you to collaborate. Go to your profile, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines), then tap Settings and privacy. Tap Privacy, then scroll to Interactions and toggle on Allow collaborators.
Public accounts can receive collaborator invitations without changing any settings. If you turn off the collaborator setting on a private account, people cannot invite you to new posts, but any content you have already collaborated on stays published with both names.
Removing a collaborator or declining an invitation
If you have sent a collaborator invitation and want to cancel it before they respond, tap the post or story, then tap the three dots menu. Select Remove collaborator and confirm. The invitation disappears and they will not receive a notification.
If you receive a collaborator invitation you do not want to accept, tap the notification or go to your activity feed and select Decline. The post or story publishes without you. You can also ignore the invitation — after 24 hours, it expires and the content publishes with only the original creator's name.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I add a collaborator to a post I already published?
No. You can only add collaborators while creating new content, before you tap Share. Once a post is live, you cannot add collaborators to it. If you need to collaborate on existing content, you would need to delete it and create it again with the collaborator invited from the start.
What if the person I want to collaborate with has a private account?
They can still collaborate with you, but they must have turned on the collaborator setting in their privacy settings first. If they have not turned it on, your invitation will not go through. Ask them to enable it in Settings and privacy > Privacy > Interactions, then try inviting them again.
Can a collaborator edit or delete the post after they accept?
No. Only the original creator can edit captions, delete the post, or change other details. A collaborator can only accept or decline the invitation. Once the post is published, both names appear but only you control what happens to it.
Does a collaborator get notified every time someone likes or comments?
No. Collaborators do not receive notifications about likes, comments, or saves on the shared post. You both see the post on your profiles and can check activity independently, but Instagram does not send them alerts about engagement.
Can I collaborate with a business account or creator account?
Yes. The collaborator feature works with any account type — personal, business, or creator. The other account just needs to have the collaborator setting turned on if it is private.