Can’t find the person you want to follow on Instagram? Once you reach their profile, the button you need is Follow. Here’s how to find the right account on your phone or computer, plus what happens when approval or account limits get in the way.
Find and follow someone in the Instagram app
Sign in to Instagram on your Android phone, iPhone, or iPad. Tap Search at the bottom on Android or iPhone, or on the left on iPad. Then tap Search in the search bar.
Enter the person’s name or username. Submit your search using the keyboard’s Search button. Select Accounts to narrow the results to profiles.
Open the matching profile. Tap Follow. Tip: If you already have their profile open, go straight to Follow, including when you want to follow someone back.
Use Instagram in your browser
No app needed: Instagram’s website lets you find and follow accounts. Sign in at Instagram.com. On a computer, click Search on the left; in a mobile browser, tap Search at the bottom. Select Search in the top left on desktop, or the Search field on mobile.
Enter the person’s name or username. On mobile, submit the search using the keyboard’s Search button. Open the matching account in the results. Select Follow on their profile.
A shared profile gets you there faster
Already have a link? A direct profile URL uses the format instagram.com/username. Open it from a message, website, or another social network.
Sign in if prompted. Then select Follow on the profile. Opening the link alone does not follow the account.
For a profile shared in an Instagram conversation, open the shared profile. For someone mentioned in a Story, tap the mentioned username to open their profile. Tap Follow on the profile reached through either route. If the shared link does not reach the person’s account, try their name or username in Instagram’s Search.
What happens with a private account
Selecting Follow on a private profile sends a request. You become a follower once the owner approves it.
A shared link or profile message does not grant access to private photos. The approval requirement still applies.
When a private account owner follows you and has enabled Automatically confirm anyone you follow, Instagram approves your request automatically. You still need to select Follow yourself. Previously removed followers are excluded from automatic reapproval.
If Instagram will not let you follow another account
Reaching Instagram’s limit of 7,500 followed accounts stops you from adding another follow. Open the profile of someone you no longer want to follow. Select Following.
Choose Unfollow to make room for another account. Return to the person you want to follow. Select Follow on their profile.
Teen Account protections also block certain connections. For affected Teen Accounts, Meta prevents follows involving accounts classified as age-inappropriate. There is no alternative follow procedure for those restricted connections.
Find people through your contacts
Don’t know their username? Contact discovery recommends accounts connected to your contacts. Granting access does not automatically follow anyone or guarantee a match by phone number.
On Android, open Profile → Menu. Under How others can interact with you, select Follow and invite friends → Follow contacts → Allow access.
On iPhone or iPad, open Profile at the bottom right on iPhone or on the left on iPad. Follow Menu → Follow and invite friends → Follow contacts, then select Continue under Allow Instagram to access your contacts. Use Go to settings first if prompted. In the recommended accounts, select Follow for the person you want to follow.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I follow someone using their Instagram QR code?
Yes. Open your Instagram profile. Select Share profile below your bio. Tap the scanner icon at the top right. Point the camera at the person’s Instagram QR code. Open the resulting profile. Select Follow.
Can I follow an account directly from Explore?
Yes. On Android, iPhone, or Instagram Lite, tap Search. Open a suggested photo or video. Tap Follow. On desktop, click Explore on the left. Open a post. Click Follow.
How do I find contacts in Instagram Lite?
Open Profile → Menu → Settings. Under How others can interact with you, select Contacts syncing. Enable Connect contacts. Select Follow for a recommended account.
Why do some accounts follow more than 7,500 people?
Some older accounts retain totals above 7,500 from before Instagram introduced the limit.