How to Create a Location on Instagram
Instagram locations do more than tag where a photo was taken — they help posts get discovered by local audiences, build brand presence for businesses, and make content searchable by place. But the process for creating a new location isn't as obvious as tapping a map pin. Here's how it actually works.
Why You Can't Create a Location Directly Inside Instagram
Instagram doesn't have a built-in tool for adding brand-new custom locations. The location tags you see on posts are pulled directly from Facebook's Places database — the same system that powers check-ins on Facebook. This means to create a new location on Instagram, you actually create it through Facebook first.
This surprises a lot of people, but it's how the system has worked for years. Once a location exists in Facebook's Places, it becomes available as a taggable location inside Instagram, usually within a few minutes to a few hours.
What You Need Before You Start
Before creating a location, a few conditions need to be in place:
- A Facebook account — you need to be logged in to Facebook on a mobile device
- Location services enabled — your phone's GPS must be active so Facebook can verify the physical location
- The Facebook app installed on your phone (not just the mobile website)
You don't need a Facebook Business Page or a verified account. A standard personal Facebook account is enough to submit a new location.
Step-by-Step: Creating a New Location via Facebook 📍
- Open the Facebook app on your Android or iOS device
- Tap "What's on your mind?" to start a new post
- Tap the Check In option (the location pin icon)
- In the search bar, type the name of the location you want to create
- If it doesn't appear in the results, scroll down — you should see an option that says "Add [Location Name]"
- Tap that option and fill in the details: location name, category (restaurant, business, landmark, etc.), and your current physical location
- Submit the new location
Facebook will process the submission and add it to the Places database. Once live, the location becomes searchable inside Instagram when tagging posts or Stories.
How to Tag the New Location on Instagram
Once the location is live in Facebook Places:
- Create a new post or Story in Instagram
- Tap "Add Location" (on posts) or the location sticker (on Stories)
- Type the name of your new location in the search field
- Select it from the results and post as normal
If the location doesn't appear immediately, wait an hour and try again. Clearing Instagram's cache can sometimes help surface newly added locations faster.
Factors That Affect Whether This Works Smoothly
Not every location submission goes exactly the same way. Several variables affect the experience:
| Factor | What It Affects |
|---|---|
| GPS accuracy | Facebook needs to confirm a real physical location — weak GPS or indoor positioning can cause issues |
| Location name uniqueness | Generic names (e.g., "Coffee Shop") are more likely to conflict with existing entries |
| Category selection | Choosing an accurate category (retail, landmark, etc.) helps the location get approved faster |
| Device permissions | If location access is set to "only while using the app," submissions may fail |
| Facebook account age/activity | Newer or inactive accounts occasionally face delays in location submission processing |
When Creating a Custom Location Makes Sense — and When It Doesn't
Custom locations are genuinely useful for:
- Small businesses that aren't yet listed anywhere online
- Pop-up shops, events, or venues with a short lifespan
- Private properties or branded spaces (studios, offices) that won't appear on standard maps
- Content creators building a recognizable local brand identity
They're less useful when:
- The location already exists under a slightly different name — Instagram's search isn't always exact, so searching variations first is worth doing
- You're trying to tag a general neighborhood or city area — those usually already exist
- The location is temporary and won't be used again — the Places database is meant for persistent real-world places
🗺️ A Note on Location Visibility After Creation
Creating a location doesn't guarantee it will show up prominently in Instagram's Explore or location pages right away. Instagram surfaces location pages more actively when multiple users post to the same tag over time. A brand-new location with one post attached to it won't behave the same as an established location with hundreds of tagged posts.
This matters especially for businesses: the more consistently staff, customers, and visitors tag the same location, the more visible that location page becomes in local search results on Instagram.
What Changes Depending on Your Situation
The process described above is the standard path — but how useful it ends up being, and how smoothly it runs, depends heavily on what you're actually trying to accomplish. A brick-and-mortar business tagging a permanent address has different needs than a photographer building a portfolio tied to specific locations. A user in a major city will find far more existing locations already in the database than someone in a rural area. Whether creating a new location is the right move, or whether an existing nearby tag serves the purpose just as well, comes down to the specifics of the account, the audience, and what the content is meant to do.