If you’re creating a new Instagram account or looking to expand the reach of your existing profile, it’s important to connect with people you know. This can help you build a strong network on the platform and increase engagement with your content. Fortunately, there are several ways to find and follow your contacts on Instagram. By using these methods, you can not only access your contact list from your mobile phone but also from Facebook, which can help you connect with even more people. Whether you’re using Instagram for personal or business purposes, following your contacts is an effective way to grow your audience and connect with the people who matter to you.

Why Should You Connect with Your Contacts on Instagram?

There are several benefits to finding your contacts on Instagram:

• Stay connected with friends and family: By finding your contacts on Instagram, you can stay connected with friends and family members who are also on the platform. This can help you keep up with their lives and stay in touch even if you are physically far away from each other.
• Grow your network: Connecting with your contacts on Instagram can help you grow your network and expand your reach on the platform. This can be especially beneficial if you are using Instagram for business purposes, as it can help you reach potential customers and partners.
• Discover new content: Following your contacts on Instagram can also help you discover new content that you might not have found otherwise. By seeing what your contacts are sharing and engaging with, you can discover new accounts and content that you might be interested in.
• Increase engagement: When you follow your contacts on Instagram, they are more likely to follow you back and engage with your content. This can help increase your engagement and visibility on the platform, which can be especially beneficial if you are using Instagram for business purposes.
• Build relationships: By following your contacts on Instagram, you can build and strengthen relationships with the people in your life. This can help you stay connected and build a sense of community on the platform.

How To Find Your Contacts On Instagram?

Method 1: Syncing Your Contacts

One of the easiest ways to find your contacts on Instagram is to sync your phone’s contacts with the app. This will allow Instagram to automatically suggest accounts to follow based on your contacts.

To sync your contacts with Instagram, follow these steps:

• Open the Instagram app on your mobile device and navigate to your profile by tapping the profile icon in the bottom right corner.
• Tap the three horizontal lines in the top right corner to open the menu.

• From the menu, select “Settings and privacy.”

• In the Settings menu, select “Account Center.”

• Scroll down and select “Your information and permissions.”

• Tap on “Upload contacts.”

• Turn on “Connect contacts.”.

Once you’ve enabled contacts sync, Instagram will automatically suggest accounts to follow based on your contacts. You can view these suggestions by tapping the magnifying glass icon at the bottom of the screen, then selecting “People.”

Method 2: Searching for Contacts

If you don’t want to sync your contacts or if you’re looking for a specific person, you can search for them on Instagram using their name or username.

To search for a contact on Instagram, follow these steps:

• Open the Instagram app on your mobile device and tap the magnifying glass icon at the bottom of the screen.
• In the search bar at the top of the screen, type in the name or username of the person you’re looking for.
• Tap “Search,” and Instagram will display a list of accounts that match your search term.
• Tap on the account you want to follow to view their profile.
• If the account is public, you can follow them by tapping the “Follow” button on their profile.

Method 3: Connecting with Facebook Friends

If you have a Facebook account linked to your Instagram, you can connect with your Facebook friends on Instagram.

To connect with Facebook friends on Instagram, follow these steps:

* I have tried with both my personal account and business account. It seems that just business accounts have access to this feature)

• Open the Instagram app on your mobile device and navigate to your profile by tapping the profile icon in the bottom right corner.
• Tap the three horizontal lines in the top right corner to open the menu.

• From the menu, select “Discover people.”

• Choose “Connect to Facebook.”

• Once you’ve connected your Facebook account, Instagram will suggest Facebook friends to follow.

Method 4: Using Instagram’s “Discover People” Feature

Instagram’s “Discover People” feature allows you to find and connect with people based on your interests and activity on the platform.

To use Instagram’s “Discover People” feature, follow these steps:

• Follow the same steps as you did to connect with Facebook friends (Method 3), but instead of selecting “Connect to Facebook,” follow the profiles and pages that share similar interests with you.

• Instagram will suggest accounts to follow based on your interests and activity on the platform. Follow the accounts you’re interested in by tapping the “Follow” button on their profile.

Contacts Not Showing Up on Instagram! Why?

Sometimes, you might not see some of your contacts on Instagram. This could be because the contact information is outdated or not useful. Also, if someone hasn’t signed up for an Instagram account, you won’t be able to find them on the app.

Instagram will only suggest accounts to follow based on your contacts list, and only if those contacts have an active Instagram account with credentials that match the contact details. Instagram may also use Facebook information to suggest accounts.

In short, some of your contacts will show up as suggestions to follow on Instagram, while others won’t.

What to Do if Instagram’s Find Contacts isn’t Working?

If you can’t find your phone contacts on Instagram after syncing them, there are a few things you can try. Firstly, give it some time, as contacts get updated periodically. If you still can’t see them, you can try disconnecting and reconnecting contact syncing.

How to Prevent Others from Finding Your Instagram Account?

If you want to prevent others from finding your Instagram account, there are a few steps you can take:

• Make your account private: By setting your account to private, only your approved followers will be able to see your content. To do this, go to your profile and tap the three-lined icon in the top right corner. Select “Settings,” then “Privacy,” and toggle on the “Private Account” option. Or read our article on how to make your Instagram Account private.
• Use a unique username: Avoid using your real name or other identifying information in your username. Instead, choose a unique and unrelated username that is difficult for others to guess.
• Don’t share your Instagram handle: Avoid sharing your Instagram handle on other social media platforms or websites. This can make it easier for others to find and follow you.
• Limit your use of hashtags: While hashtags can help increase your visibility on Instagram, they can also make it easier for others to find your account. Use hashtags sparingly, and avoid using ones that are too specific or personal.
• Block specific users: If there are specific users you want to prevent from finding your account, you can block them. To do this, go to their profile, tap the three-lined icon in the top right corner, and select “Block.”

By taking these steps, you can prevent others from finding your Instagram account and ensure that your content remains private.

Final Thoughts

Instagram offers several ways to find and connect with your contacts on the platform. By syncing your contacts, searching for contacts by name or username, connecting with Facebook friends, and using Instagram’s “Discover People” feature, you can easily find and follow the people you know on Instagram. Whether you’re using Instagram for personal or business purposes, connecting with your contacts on the platform can help you stay connected and grow your network.