Tagging your whereabouts on Instagram is one of the most effective ways to boost your content's discoverability. When you attach a specific place to your photos or short-form videos, anyone who taps that tag can see your artwork alongside other media tagged in that exact same geographic area.
However, many creators hit a frustrating roadblock when trying to tag a pop-up event, a personal studio, or a custom brand name: the place simply does not exist in Instagram’s database. If you have ever been confused about how to actually make a brand new location on Instagram, you are not alone. Here is the complete breakdown of how the system works and how you can establish your own custom geotags.
Why You Cannot Create a Location Directly Inside Instagram
The reason you cannot find a "create new" button when searching for a place on Instagram is because the app does not manage its own independent mapping database. Instead, Instagram pulls all of its geographic data directly from its parent company, Facebook.
Currently, there is no official way to establish a brand new location natively within the Instagram app. To get your custom studio or clever brand name to show up on the Instagram map, you must first create it as a "Place" on Facebook.
Step-by-Step: How to Create a Custom Location for Instagram
To establish a new geotag, you will need to open the Facebook mobile app. Ensure that your device's GPS and location services are turned on so the app can accurately pinpoint where you are.
- Open Facebook and tap "What's on your mind?" to start a new status update.
- From the options menu at the bottom, select "Check In."
- In the search bar, type the exact custom name you want to use for your new Instagram location (e.g., "Neon Dream AI Studio").
- Ignore the suggested places. Scroll to the very bottom of the results and tap the option that says "Add [Your Custom Name]."
- Facebook will ask you to select a category that best describes your place. Be sure to pick an accurate category (like "Art Studio" or "Local Business") and ensure it is set to public, as private or "Home" categories will not sync to Instagram.
- Input your exact address details and pinpoint the red marker on the map.
- Tap "Save Custom Place."
Once saved, it can take anywhere from a few minutes to a couple of weeks for Facebook's database to sync with Instagram.
How to Add Your New Location to an Instagram Post
Once your custom place has successfully synced to the database, you can officially use it for your grid content. After you upload or take a photo or video for your feed, and after you have applied any desired effects or filters, you will reach the final publishing screen.
From there, simply tap the "Add location" option located just below your caption area. Type the name of your newly created custom place into the search bar, select it from the suggestions, and tap Share. You can even use public Facebook events as locations, which act just like a standard location page.
How to Add Your Location to an Instagram Story
If you want to share a quick behind-the-scenes update, you can easily attach your new geographic tag to an Instagram story. Once your story photo or video is ready, tap the Stickers icon at the top of your screen.
Select the specific Location sticker from the menu, and search for your custom place at the top. Once selected, you can tap the sticker to change its color and design, and drag it anywhere on the screen before posting. Anyone who can see your story can tap this sticker to view the dedicated page for that specific location.
Putting Yourself on the Instagram Map
Understanding how Instagram sources its geographic data is the key to bypassing the frustration of missing geotags. By taking a brief detour to the Facebook app, you can establish custom, branded places that elevate your digital presence. Whether you are adding a location to an Instagram post to increase your local discoverability or dropping a location sticker onto an Instagram story to engage your followers, managing your own custom geotags is a powerful tool for building your identity on the platform.
