How to Tag Someone on X: Mentions and Photo Tags
To tag someone on X, type @ and their username anywhere in your post. X calls that a mention: the person sees your post in their Notifications tab, and their username becomes a link to their profile. To tag people in a photo instead, tap Tag people while adding the image.
Mentions work in any post, with or without a photo; photo tags exist only on images and have their own privacy setting. Each kind gets X’s steps below, followed by the setting that decides who may tag you and the way to untag yourself. Still getting used to X’s new names for Twitter features? Our Twitter-to-X explainer maps them.
Table of Contents
- How to tag someone on X
- Mention vs photo tag: what’s the difference?
- How to mention someone in a post
- How to tag people in a photo on X
- Why can’t I tag someone on X?
- How to stop people tagging you
- How to remove a tag or leave a conversation
- FAQ
How to tag someone on X
Pick the kind of tag first. An @mention puts someone’s username in the words of any post or reply; a photo tag adds their name to an image, and works only if their photo-tagging setting lets you.
Mention vs photo tag: what’s the difference?
A mention lives in the text of a post; a photo tag lives on an image. Both show up in the other person’s Notifications, but photo tags carry extra limits: no animated GIFs, removable by you only before you post, and controlled by the other person’s settings.
| Mention | Photo tag | |
|---|---|---|
| How you add it | Type @ before their username | Tap Tag people while adding a photo; you can remove a tag only before you post |
| Where it works | Any post, including replies | Photos, but not animated GIFs |
| What they see | Your post in their Notifications tab | Your post listed under Notifications |
| Their controls | Leave this conversation stops new mentions in that thread | Photo tagging (off, anyone, or only people they follow), and Remove tag from photo |
Sources: Checked against X Help Center: About replies and mentionsArchived copy, 18 September 2026 View the archived copy; Checked against X Help Center: How to post photos or GIFs on XArchived copy, 29 August 2026 View the archived copy. The photo-tag notification row comes from the same photo page. A #hashtag is a different tool again: it labels a topic, not a person (see our Twitter hashtags guide).
How to mention someone in a post
Write your post, type @ before each username you want to address, and post it. X’s replies and mentions page defines a mention as a post that contains another person’s username anywhere in the body of the post, and everyone you mention sees it in their Notifications tab.
On x.com or in the X app:
- Type your message in the post compose box.
- Type the "@" symbol before the username(s) when addressing a particular account(s).
- Click or tap post to post.
Checked against X Help Center: About replies and mentions.Archived copy, 18 September 2026 View the archived copy.
In a reply, the button reads Reply rather than Post. Mentions don’t appear on the mentioned person’s profile page, though: to find posts that mention an account, X says to search for its @username. Checked against X Help Center: About replies and mentionsArchived copy, 18 September 2026 View the archived copy
Keep mentions personal. X’s automation rules allow automated replies or mentions only to people who opted in, one per interaction, with an easy opt-out, and don’t permit automated replies based on keyword searches. Checked against X Help Center: Automation rulesArchived copy, 1 October 2026 View the archived copy For reaching your own followers, see the best time to post on X and how to schedule tweets.
How to tag people in a photo on X
Add the photo to your post, tap Tag people, type a full name or a username, and tap Done. X’s photo help page says tags can’t be applied to animated GIFs, and that you can remove a tag only before the photo is posted.
Checked against X Help Center: How to post photos or GIFs on X.Archived copy, 29 August 2026 View the archived copy.
To remove a tag before posting, the same page says to tap the tag, then the backspace or delete key. It gives no maximum number of tags per photo. Posting a clip instead? Here’s how to upload a video to X.
Why can’t I tag someone on X?
For a photo tag, the usual reason is the other person’s setting: they’ve switched photo tagging off, or allow it only from people they follow. Other documented causes are an animated GIF, a settings change that hasn’t applied yet, and a conversation they’ve left.
- Their photo tagging is off or limited. The setting has three positions: off, anyone, or only people they follow. Checked against X Help Center: How to post photos or GIFs on XArchived copy, 29 August 2026 View the archived copy
- They changed it recently. X says changes can take up to 30 minutes to apply.
- It’s an animated GIF. Tags can’t be applied to GIFs.
- They left the conversation. After someone chooses Leave this conversation, people can’t mention them there again. Checked against X Help Center: About replies and mentionsArchived copy, 18 September 2026 View the archived copy
- Your posts are protected. X says replies you send to people who don’t follow you aren’t seen by them. Checked against X Help Center: About public and protected PostsArchived copy, 19 September 2026 View the archived copy
How to stop people tagging you
Open Settings and privacy, then Privacy and safety, and under Posts choose Photo tagging. Switch it off, or let anyone or only people you follow tag you; X says the change can take up to 30 minutes.
In the X app on iPhone:
- In the top menu, tap your profile icon, then tap Settings and privacy.
- Tap Privacy and safety.
- Under Posts, tap Photo tagging and drag the slider to enable or disable photo tagging.
- If you enable photo tagging, you can adjust your settings so that Anyone can tag you or only Only people you follow can tag you.
In the X app on Android:
- In the top menu, you will either see a navigation menu icon or your profile icon. Tap whichever icon you have, and select Settings and privacy.
- Tap Privacy and safety.
- Under Posts, tap Photo tagging. You can select Off to disable photo tagging, or you can enable photo tagging by selecting Anyone can tag you or Only people you follow can tag you.
Checked against X Help Center: How to post photos or GIFs on X.Archived copy, 29 August 2026 View the archived copy.
X says the setting exists on x.com too, but publishes steps only for the apps. For mentions, the control X documents works one conversation at a time: Leave this conversation, below.
How to remove a tag or leave a conversation
To take your name off someone’s photo, open the more menu on that post and choose Remove tag from photo, or Remove my tag from photo on x.com. To stop being mentioned in a thread, choose Leave this conversation; X says you can’t undo it.
In the X app on iPhone:
- Select the more icon located at the top of the Post you're tagged in.
- Select Remove tag from photo.
- Select Delete to confirm.
In the X app on Android:
- Select the more icon located at the top of the Post you're tagged in.
- Select Remove tag from photo.
- Select Delete to confirm.
On x.com (computer):
- Tap the more icon located at the top of the Post you're tagged in.
- Select Remove my tag from photo.
- Select OK to confirm.
Checked against X Help Center: How to post photos or GIFs on X.Archived copy, 29 August 2026 View the archived copy.
On x.com (computer):
- From your Home timeline, navigate to your menu bar and select Notifications. Then go to your Mentions tab.
- Find the post in which you're mentioned that you wish to untag yourself.
- Tap or click on the more icon.
- Select Leave this conversation.
- To proceed, select Leave.
Checked against X Help Center: About replies and mentions.Archived copy, 18 September 2026 View the archived copy.
After you leave, people can’t mention you in that conversation again and you stop getting its notifications. You can still read it, and your username link is hidden.
If you publish to X through Outfeed, here is what that means for photo tags:
Draft your next X text post in Outfeed AI
FAQ
How do you tag someone on X?
Type @ followed by their username anywhere in your post, then post it. X calls that a mention: everyone you mention sees the post in their Notifications tab, and each username becomes a link to their profile. To tag someone in a photo instead, tap Tag people while adding the photo.
What’s the difference between a mention and a photo tag on X?
A mention is an @username in the text of a post, including replies. A photo tag attaches someone’s name to an image you post. Photo tags depend on the other person’s photo-tagging setting, can’t be added to animated GIFs and can be removed by you only before you post.
How do I stop people from tagging me in photos on X?
Go to Settings and privacy, then Privacy and safety, and under Posts open Photo tagging. Turn it off, or allow tags only from people you follow; X says changes can take up to 30 minutes. To remove yourself from a photo you’re already tagged in, choose Remove tag from photo (Remove my tag from photo on x.com) from the more menu on that post.
Does someone get notified when you tag them on X?
Yes. X says everyone you mention sees your post in their Notifications tab, and posts with photos you’re tagged in are listed under Notifications too. Mentions don’t appear on the mentioned person’s profile page, though: X says to search for their @username instead.
Why can’t I tag someone on X?
For photos, their photo-tagging setting decides: they may have turned it off or allowed tags only from people they follow, and a change can take up to 30 minutes to apply. Animated GIFs can’t be tagged. For mentions, someone who chose Leave this conversation can’t be mentioned in that conversation again.