Instagram Posts Are Now Google Searchable

Key Summary/TL;DR

Instagram is officially letting Google and other search engines index public posts from professional accounts. This is a big shift that could help creators, brands, and businesses get discovered outside the app. If SEO matters to you (and it should), this is something worth paying attention to.

So, What’s Changing?

Starting July 10, 2025, Instagram is letting Google, Bing, and other search engines crawl and index public content from professional accounts. That includes photos, videos, carousels, and reels that were posted on or after January 1, 2020.

If you’re a business or creator account and your profile is public, your content can now show up in search results, just like any other web page.

Will My Posts Show Up?

Instagram to Google indexing will only apply to professional accounts (business or creator) where the user is over 18 years old. If your account is private or personal, nothing changes. Instagram Stories and Highlights are also excluded from this rollout - for now, at least.

Why This Is a Big Deal for SEO

This move brings Instagram content into the world of search engine optimization. Until now, your content was stuck inside the app. Now, your posts can show up in Google search results, giving you a new way to attract traffic, leads, and visibility - especially from people who don’t follow you yet or even use Instagram at all.

Here’s how this helps with SEO:

• More visibility: Google can now show your posts in search results, especially for image-heavy searches like food, travel, fashion, and design.
• More long-term reach: Instagram posts usually fade fast. But indexed posts can keep showing up in Google results for months - or even years.
• Keyword strategy matters: Just like your website, using good keywords in captions, alt-text, and location tags can help your posts rank better in search.

What You Can Do to Get Ready

If you're already using a professional account and your profile is public, your content is eligible by default. But you can take it a step further by optimizing your posts for search. Here’s how:

• Use clear, keyword-friendly captions: Think about what someone might search to find your post. Describe what’s in the photo or video using natural language.
• Write good alt-text: Instagram lets you add custom alt-text. Use it to describe the image in a way that makes sense to both people and search engines.
• Geo-tag your content: Adding a location helps your content show up in local searches.
• Be consistent: Posting regularly gives Google more content to index, which can help improve your overall search presence.

Don’t Want Your Content to Be Indexed?

You’ve got options. If you don’t want your Instagram content showing up in search results, you can:

• Switch to a personal account
• Set your account to private
• Turn off the setting that allows search engines to index your public posts (you’ll find this under Settings → Privacy)

The Bottom Line

This update brings Instagram out of its walled garden and into the open web. If you’re running a brand, business, or creator account, this is a huge opportunity to get more eyes on your content - without spending more on ads.

SEO and social media are blending more and more. And now that Instagram content can be found on Google, it's worth taking a little extra time to optimize your posts. The result? More visibility, more traffic, and a stronger presence online.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How do I know if my Instagram posts are being indexed by Google?

If your account is a public professional account (business or creator) and you're over 18, your content posted after January 1, 2020 is eligible for indexing. To confirm, try searching for your Instagram handle or specific post captions on Google and see if any of your posts appear in the results.

Can personal Instagram accounts show up on Google?

No, only public professional accounts are eligible for search engine indexing. Personal accounts and private profiles will not appear in search results.

How can I stop my Instagram posts from appearing in search results?

You can prevent your posts from being indexed by either switching your account to private, changing it from a professional to a personal account, or turning off the toggle that allows search engines to index your content (found under Settings → Privacy).

Will my Instagram Stories or Highlights appear in Google search?

No, stories and highlights are not included in the indexing update. Only feed posts like photos, videos, reels, and carousels are eligible to appear in search engine results.

Does adding hashtags help my Instagram post rank better on Google?

Hashtags may help discoverability within Instagram, but for Google indexing, it’s better to focus on writing clear, descriptive captions with natural language and keywords. Optimizing alt text and geotags also helps with SEO outside the app.

Is this indexing update available worldwide?

Yes, Instagram is rolling out this update globally for all eligible professional accounts. As long as your content meets the criteria, it can be indexed by search engines regardless of your location.

How long does it take for my Instagram posts to show up on Google?

Indexing doesn’t happen instantly. It can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks for Google to crawl and index your content, depending on various factors like account activity, keyword relevance, and search engine crawl frequency.