• Open the Instagram app > search icon > search bar > search for the user and go to their profile > Follow.
  • Open Instagram web > profile icon > Edit Profile > check the Show account suggestions on profiles option > Submit.
  • Go to the Instagram app settings > Account Center > Your information and permissions > Upload contacts > turn the toggle on.

Method 1: Follow the User on Instagram

One of the easiest ways to pop up on someone’s suggested friends is by following them on Instagram. This is because someone following you triggers a follower notification to the other user. Instagram will also suggest your profile to other users as someone who follows them. Here’s how to do it.

Step 1: Open the Instagram app and tap on the search icon . Tap on the search bar .

Step 2: Search for the relevant user and go to their profile . Tap on Follow .

tap the search bar - 1

Once the blue Follow button turns gray, Instagram will send a notification to the user about a new follower.

Your search history helps Instagram to understand your interests and connections. So, if you’re searching for any particular user, it will be picked up by Instagram’s algorithm as someone you’re interested in. In turn, this will also increase your chances of getting into their suggestions on Instagram.

Method 3: Enabling Account Suggestions

While account suggestions are enabled by default, you can manually check and enable them as well. This will allow Instagram to suggest you as a follower to other users with whom you might share common interests. You can also use an Android or iOS web browser to open the Instagram website. Here’s how.

Step 1: Open Instagram on any web browser and click on your profile icon .

Click on profile icon - 2

Step 2: Then, click on Edit Profile .

Click on Edit Profile - 3

Step 3: Check the Show account suggestions on profiles option. Click on Submit to confirm.

Check the option and click on Submit - 4

Interacting with a user’s profile will let Instagram know that you are interested in the content they share and, by default, their profile. This will not only increase the chances of you showing up in their suggestions but might also prompt interaction from the other user. Here’s how to do it.

Step 1: Open Instagram and open any post from relevant user.

Step 2: Tap on the comment icon . Type your comment and tap on Post .

tap on the comment icon - 5

Method 5: Use Hashtags or Geolocations in Your Posts

You can pop up on someone’s suggested friends if you share the same interests. To do this, open the other user’s posts and check the hashtags and geolocation tags for a couple of different posts. Then, whenever you post something, make sure to include these hashtags or geolocation tags where relevant.

Method 6: Add User as Friend on Facebook

The Instagram and Facebook platforms are owned by Meta, and they share user data to enhance the overall user experience. This also means that there’s a good chance of you getting into someone’s Instagram suggestions if you’re friends with them on Facebook. Here’s how to do it.

Step 1: Open Facebook and tap the Friends icon . Tap on Search and use the search bar to find the user .

Step 2: Tap on Add friend . Then, try sending a message to introduce yourself on Facebook.

tap on the Friends icon - 6

Method 7: Sync Your Contacts With Instagram

Once you turn on contact sync, Instagram will scan your contact list and suggest the accounts automatically to you and to the other users who are either added to your contact list or share multiple connections to the accounts present in your contact list. Here’s how.

Step 1: Open the Instagram app and tap your profile icon . Tap the hamburger menu and tap on Settings and privacy .

Open Instagram settings - 7

Step 2: Here, tap on Account Center . Tap on Your information and permissions .

Access Instagram Account Center - 8

Step 3: Tap on Upload contacts and turn on the toggle for Connect contacts .

Turn on contact sync - 9

Now, wait for your contact list to sync with Instagram, and check your suggested friend list to confirm sync.

Yes, if you share a group chat, you might appear in the suggestion list for all the other users currently or previously added to the group chat on Instagram.

Yes, as mentioned above, accounts that you search for will be marked as people of interest by Instagram. So this also means that if someone searches for your profile, they will appear in your suggested friends as well as theirs.

Just as searching for someone on Instagram increases your chances of getting into their suggestions, other people can also use this method to get into your Instagram suggestions. Additionally, Instagram might also suggest the same user multiple times if your interests match up in multiple aspects or if they’re following you.

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