# How to Do a Collab Post on Instagram Page: https://famoid.com/how-to-do-a-collab-post-on-instagram/ To do a collab post on Instagram, start a new post or Reel, tap Tag people, then tap Invite collaborator and pick the account. Once they accept, the post shows on both profiles and goes to both sets of followers. ## The short answer Here is how to do a collab post on Instagram. Make a post or Reel as usual. Before you share it, tap **Tag people**, then **Invite collaborator**. Search for the account, tap it, and tap **Done**. Then share the post. The other person gets the invite in their messages. When they accept, their name joins yours at the top of the post. The post shows on both profiles, and it goes to both sets of followers. You can invite up to 5 collaborators. You can't add collaborators to a Story.
Flow of an Instagram collab post: tap Tag people and Invite collaborator, the invite arrives in Messages, the other account taps Review and Accept, and one post shows on both profiles, plus what the original creator and each collaborator control
Four steps from invite to one shared post, and who controls what after it goes live.
## What an Instagram collab post is A collab post is one post with two or more authors. Instagram calls it co-authoring. The header shows every account that accepted, and the post sits on each of their profiles. It is not two copies. It is one post with one set of likes and comments. Instagram's page on [collab posts](https://help.instagram.com/291200585956732) explains that the original author owns it. The others are collaborators. This is how two people share the same post on Instagram. It is also why creators and brands use collabs. One post reaches both audiences, and nobody has to repost anything. ## Collab vs tag: what changes People often mix up a collab with a tag. Instagram treats them very differently. | | Tag or mention | Collab | |---|---|---| | Shared with your followers | No | Yes | | Listed as an author | No | Yes | | Added to your profile | Yes, unless you approve tags by hand | Only after you accept | | Works in Stories | Yes, as a mention | No | ## How to invite a collaborator on Instagram These are the steps from Instagram's help page on [creating collaborative posts](https://help.instagram.com/5861247717337470), in the app. ### Step 1: Make your post Start a new post, carousel or Reel. Add your photos or video, edits and caption as usual. ### Step 2: Open Tag people Before you share, tap **Tag people**. ### Step 3: Invite the collaborator For a post, tap **Invite collaborator**. For a Reel, the button says **Invite collaborators**. Search for the account and tap it. ### Step 4: Tap Done and share Tap **Done**, then share the post as normal. Collabs work in the iPhone, iPad and Android apps. Instagram says the feature is not available on computers. To take someone off before you share, go back to **Tag people** and tap **Remove** next to their name. ## How to accept a collab invite You get a message when someone invites you. To accept: 1. Tap **Messages** at the bottom of the app. 2. Open the chat with the invite. 3. Tap the collaboration invite. 4. Tap **Review**. 5. Tap **Accept**. To say no, follow the same steps and tap **Decline**. Until you accept, the post does not show on your profile or go to your followers. ## How to add a collaborator after posting Instagram's help page says the original author can add or remove a collaborator at any time. But it only gives the step by step for removing one after posting. Those steps open the post, tap **Options**, then **Edit**, then **Tag people**. That same screen is where to look for **Invite collaborator** on a post that is already live. If you don't see it there, the safe fallback is to plan the collab before you share next time. ## How to remove a collaborator or yourself If you made the post, you can remove a collaborator any time: 1. Open the post. 2. Tap **Options** in the top right. 3. Tap **Edit**, then **Tag people**. 4. Tap **Remove** next to their name. 5. Tap **Done**, follow the steps on screen, and tap **Done** again. To remove yourself from a collab post someone else made: 1. Open the post. 2. Tap **Options** in the top right. 3. Tap **Stop sharing**, then confirm. The post stays on the original creator's profile either way. Only the original creator can delete it. If they do, it disappears from every collaborator's profile too. ## Who controls a collab post The original creator is in charge. Here is what that means in practice: - **Privacy.** The creator's account settings decide who sees the post. If they switch to private, only their followers can see it. - **Deleting.** Only the creator can delete the post. - **Blocking.** If either side blocks the other, the collab ends. The post stays with the creator. - **Deactivating.** If the creator deactivates their account, the post is gone from every profile. It comes back if they reactivate. So think before you accept an invite from an account you don't know well. Their choices decide what happens to the post on your profile. ## Private accounts and collab posts A public account can invite public or private accounts. A private account can invite either kind too, but only people who follow it. There is a catch for private accounts. If a public account accepts, the post is shared publicly through that account. Instagram shows private accounts a notice about this the first time they invite someone. When a private account accepts an invite, its name appears on the post. People who want to follow it still have to send a request. ## Why you can't do a collab post on Instagram If the option is missing, check these: - **You are on a computer.** Collabs work only in the app. - **You are posting a Story.** Stories can't have collaborators. - **You are private and they don't follow you.** Private accounts can only invite their followers. - **You already added 5.** That is the limit on a post. - **One of you blocked the other.** A block ends any collab between you. - **The account broke the rules.** Instagram says accounts that went against its guidelines may lose access to Collabs. If none of these fit, update the app and try again. ## How creators use collabs to grow Once you know how to collab post on Instagram, the harder part is picking the partner. A collab is one of the few free ways to show your work to another person's followers, and it works best when both sides plan it. Our guide on [how to get more followers on Instagram](/how-to-get-more-followers-on-instagram/) covers the rest of the growth plan. - **Pick a partner with a similar audience.** A baker and a coffee shop often share followers who care about the same things. Size matters less than fit. - **Split the work.** Agree who films, who edits, and who writes the caption. Decide who posts, since that account owns the post. - **Agree on a time.** Post when both audiences tend to be online. Our guide on the [best time to post on Instagram](/best-time-to-post-on-instagram/) shows how to find yours. - **Both reply to comments.** Each of you sees every comment. Answer the people from your side. - **Keep it fair.** Take turns being the original creator on the next collab. Keep expectations modest. A collab puts your post in front of new people. Whether they follow you still depends on the post and your profile. ## After the collab goes live Check the results a few days later. Open the post and tap **View insights** to see its views and interactions. Note your follower count on the day you post, using our free [Instagram follower count checker](/instagram-follower-count-checker/). Check it again a few days later to see if the collab brought anyone new. If you want to share someone else's post without being a co-author, a collab is the wrong tool. Our guide on [how to repost on Instagram](/how-to-repost-on-instagram/) explains the other options. ## Quick answers **Where is the collab button on Instagram?** There is no separate collab button. Start a new post or Reel, and before you share it, tap Tag people. The Invite collaborator option is on that screen. Collabs work in the app, not on a computer. **How many people can collab on one Instagram post?** Instagram's help page says you can add up to 5 collaborators to a post. Each one has to accept the invite before the post shows on their profile. **Can you add a collaborator after posting on Instagram?** Instagram says the original author can add or remove a collaborator at any time. It only publishes step by step instructions for removing one after posting. Those go through Options, Edit, then Tag people, which is the screen to check. **Can a private account do a collab post?** Yes, with one limit. A private account can only invite people who follow it. If a public account accepts, the post becomes public through that account. The original creator's privacy setting decides who can see the post. **Can you boost a collab post on Instagram?** Yes. Meta calls it boosting partner content, and you do it on instagram.com or in Meta Business Suite. Your partner has to give permission first. Until they do, the ad waits as Pending partner approval. **Do both accounts see the likes and comments on a collab post?** Yes. It is one post, not two copies. Instagram says accounts that accept the invite can see all likes and comments on the post. **Can you collab on an Instagram story?** No. Instagram says you can mention other accounts in your Stories, but you can't add collaborators to them. Collabs work on feed posts, carousels and Reels. ## Related - [Instagram follower count checker (free)](https://famoid.com/instagram-follower-count-checker/) - [How to repost on Instagram](https://famoid.com/how-to-repost-on-instagram/) - [How to get more followers on Instagram](https://famoid.com/how-to-get-more-followers-on-instagram/) Written by the Famoid team. Updated 2026-09-22.