Can You Add A Collaborator On Instagram After Posting?

You’ve just hit “Post” on that perfect Instagram photo or reel, and suddenly it hits you—I forgot to add my collab partner! Don’t worry, you’re definitely not the only one who’s been in that situation. Instagram’s Collab feature is one of the best ways to boost your reach, show up on more feeds, and grow your following by teaming up with other creators or brands. When you add someone as a collaborator, the post appears on both of your profiles—giving you double the visibility with just one piece of content. But what if you forget to invite your collaborator before publishing? Can you add a collaborator on Instagram after posting? That’s a common question, and the answer isn’t as simple as you might hope.

In this article, we’ll walk you through what’s actually possible, what Instagram currently allows, and the best workarounds to still get that collab out into the world—even after you’ve already gone live. Let’s sort it out together!

Table of Contents

What Is the Instagram Collab Feature?

Before we dive into the details, let’s quickly go over what the Instagram Collab feature actually is and how it works.

Imagine you and another creator worked together on a post—maybe it’s a reel, a photo, or even a carousel. When it’s time to share it, you both want credit and you want it to show up on both your profiles. Tagging them in the caption or photo might seem like enough, but here’s the thing: that won’t push the post to their followers. And if they tag you in theirs, the same limitation applies.

That’s where the Collab feature comes in.

Instead of just tagging someone, Instagram lets you invite them as a collaborator—which means if they accept, the post will appear on both of your profiles and be shown to both of your audiences. It’s a great way to double your reach while giving proper credit to everyone involved.

Another nice bonus? It adds a layer of privacy and consent. Unlike a simple tag, you can’t just make someone a collaborator without their approval—they have to accept the invite first. That way, everyone’s on the same page before the content goes live.

And yes, this applies whether your accounts are public or private—once the collab is accepted, it gets shared across both audiences either way.

Can You Add a Collaborator on Instagram after posting?

Now for the million-dollar question: Can you add a collaborator on Instagram after posting?

Unfortunately, the short answer is no—you can’t turn an already published post into a Collab. Once it’s live, the option to invite a collaborator is no longer available.

That’s why it’s so important to double-check before you hit “Post.” Make sure to tap Tag People and then Invite Collaborator if you want your content to appear on both profiles. It might feel like a small step, but skipping it can be a real headache later.

That said, if you forgot or things didn’t go as planned, don’t worry. There are still a few workarounds you can try to give proper credit and make sure your collab doesn’t go unnoticed. We’ll walk you through those next.

How to Add a Collaborator on Instagram Even After Posting?

So you missed the chance to invite a collaborator before hitting “Post”—we’ve all been there. While you can’t officially turn a published post into a Collab after the fact, there are still a few solid ways to give credit where it’s due and highlight your creative partner.

These workarounds won’t make the post appear on both profiles like an official Collab would, but they can help you get a similar result in terms of visibility and recognition.

1. Tag Your Collaborator in the Post and the Caption

One of the easiest ways to acknowledge your collaborator is to tag them in both the post itself and the caption. This shows your followers—and theirs—that someone else played a key role in bringing the content to life.

Just a heads-up: tagging doesn’t push the post to their feed, and it doesn’t give them co-author status. But if you take the time to mention their contribution in the caption, it still goes a long way in giving them credit.

Here’s how to tag them in your post after it’s already live:

Tap the three dots in the top-right corner of your post.
Select Edit.
Tap Tag People.
Tap the photo or video, then search for and select your collaborator’s account.
Once they’re tagged, hit the blue checkmark (or Done) to save.

Boom—your collaborator is now tagged in both the image and the caption. It may not be a full Collab, but it still shows your audience who helped make the magic happen.

2. Ask Your Collaborator to Repost the Content to Their Feed

Tagging your collaborator is a great start, but it doesn’t push the post to their audience. That’s where this second option comes in—ask your collaborator to repost your content directly to their feed.

Now, Instagram doesn’t have a built-in feature for sharing someone else’s post to your own profile, which means your collaborator will need to use a third-party app. These apps make it easy to share content while still giving credit to the original creator.

It takes a little extra effort, but reposting to their feed helps get the content in front of their followers—achieving something close to the exposure you’d get from a real Collab post.

3. Have Them Share the Post in Their Instagram Stories

Another quick workaround? Ask your collaborator to share the post in their Instagram Stories. This one’s super simple—no extra apps required—and it gets your content in front of their followers in just a few taps.

Keep in mind, though, that Stories disappear after 24 hours and generally don’t reach as many people as feed posts. Stories typically get between 1.5% and 6.2% reach, while feed posts can see anywhere from 12% to 25%. Still, considering that over 500 million people use Stories every day, it’s a solid way to grab attention—especially when used alongside the other methods.

Here’s how your collaborator can share your post to their Stories:

Tap the paper airplane icon underneath the post.
Select Add to Your Story.
Customize it with stickers, text, mentions—whatever feels right. Then tap Your Story (or Close Friends) to share it.

Even if it’s temporary, sharing via Stories gives your post an extra boost and lets your collaborator show some love to their audience.

So, can you add a collaborator on Instagram after posting? Sadly, not yet. Once a post is live, the official Collab option is off the table. But that doesn’t mean all hope is lost.

By tagging your collaborator, asking them to repost to their feed, or having them share it in their Stories, you can still give credit where it’s due—and get your content seen by more people. These workarounds may not be quite as powerful as a native Collab post, but they can still make a meaningful impact.

The key takeaway? Always double-check before you post. Take a second to hit “Tag People” and invite your collaborator while you’re still in the draft stage. It’s a simple step that can lead to much better results.

And if you forget—no worries. Now you’ve got the tools to handle it like a pro.

Happy posting and collaborating!