Instagram limits hashtags to five per reel or post

Instagram has announced a new restriction on hashtag use in posts and reels, as it continues to combat spam and boost discovery through AI.

“Instagram will gradually update the number of hashtags that you can include in a caption for a reel or post to 5. We find that using fewer (up to 5) more targeted hashtags, rather than many generic ones, can improve both your content’s performance and people’s experience on Instagram," according to Instagram's post announcing the change on Dec. 18.

Instagram says that targeted, relevant hashtags can play a role in discovery.

Here are some tips Instagram shared:

© Instagram