How to Mention Another User in a Threads Post With at Symbol

When you post on Threads, you often want to draw attention to another user or reply directly to their content. The @ symbol, combined with a username, creates a mention that notifies the other person and links to their profile. Without this mention, your post may feel disconnected or your intended recipient may never see your message. This article explains exactly how to use the @ symbol in a Threads post and what happens when you do it correctly.

You will learn the manual typing method and the auto-complete search method. You will also see how mentions appear differently in a new post versus a reply. Finally, you will find out how to avoid common mistakes like typing the wrong username or mentioning someone who has blocked you.

What Happens When You Mention Someone in Threads

A mention is a way to directly reference another Threads user inside your post. When you type @ followed by a valid username, Threads converts that text into a clickable link to the user’s profile. The mentioned user receives a notification in their Activity tab, which appears as a bell icon at the bottom of the app. This notification tells them which post mentioned them and who wrote it.

Mentions work in both original posts and replies. In a reply, the person you are replying to is automatically mentioned at the start of your post. You can also mention additional users in the same reply by typing @ again. Each mention creates a separate notification for that user.

There is no limit to the number of mentions you can add in a single post. However, using too many mentions may look like spam to other users. Threads does not currently block posts with many mentions, but other people may choose to mute or unfollow you if you overuse the feature.

Steps to Mention a User in a Threads Post

You can mention someone using two methods: typing the username manually or selecting from the auto-complete list. Both methods produce the same result. Use manual typing when you know the exact username. Use auto-complete when you are unsure of the spelling or want to see matching accounts.

1. Open the Threads app and tap the compose button
   On the home screen, tap the pen-and-paper icon at the bottom center of the screen. This opens a new post composer.
2. Tap the text field to start typing your post
   The composer shows a blank text area. Tap it to bring up the keyboard. You can type your message before or after adding the mention.
3. Type the @ symbol
   Press the Shift key and then the number 2 key on your keyboard to produce the @ character. On mobile, the @ symbol is usually on the numeric or symbol keyboard layout.
4. Type the username immediately after the @ symbol
   Do not add a space between @ and the username. For example, type @instagram not @ instagram. The mention will not work if there is a space.
5. Select the correct user from the auto-complete list (optional but recommended)
   After typing two or three characters, a popup list appears showing matching accounts. Tap the correct name to insert the mention. This ensures the spelling is correct and the user exists.
6. Continue typing your post or tap Post
   After the mention is inserted, you can add more text or emoji. When you are ready, tap the Post button in the top-right corner. The mention becomes a blue link in the published post.

How to Mention a User in a Reply

When you reply to an existing post, Threads automatically inserts the original poster’s username at the beginning of your reply. You do not need to type @ manually for that person. To mention additional users in the same reply, follow the same steps above: type @ followed by the username and select from the auto-complete list.

Common Mistakes and Limitations When Mentioning Users

You typed the wrong username or the user does not exist

If you type a username that does not exist, the text remains plain and does not become a clickable link. The mentioned user receives no notification. To fix this, delete the incorrect mention and retype using the auto-complete list to verify the username exists.

The mentioned user has blocked you

If you mention someone who has blocked your account, the mention still appears in your post, but the blocked user will not receive a notification. Their username may still show as a link, but they cannot see your post in their feed. This is a privacy measure built into Threads.

You added a space between @ and the username

A space after the @ symbol breaks the mention. For example, @ johnsmith does not work. The text remains plain and no notification is sent. Always type @ immediately followed by the username with no space.

The mention does not appear as a link in the preview

Threads does not always show the blue link styling in the composer preview. The mention will appear as a link only after you tap Post. Do not worry if the text looks plain while you are still typing. It will link correctly once published.

Mentioning Users in Threads vs Instagram: Key Differences

Feature	Threads	Instagram
Auto-complete list	Shows matching accounts after typing @ and 2-3 characters	Shows matching accounts after typing @ and 2-3 characters
Notification type	Notification appears in the Activity tab (bell icon)	Notification appears in the heart icon tab
Mention in replies	Original poster is automatically mentioned at the start	Original poster is not automatically mentioned
Clickable link in post	@username becomes a blue link to the user’s profile	@username becomes a blue link to the user’s profile

While the core mention behavior is very similar between Threads and Instagram, the main difference is that Threads automatically includes the original poster in replies. This saves you one manual step when you want to reply directly to someone.

Now you can confidently mention any user in your Threads posts using the @ symbol. Use the auto-complete list to avoid typos and ensure the mention works correctly. If you want to remove a mention, simply tap the linked text and delete it before posting. For power users, try mentioning multiple users in a single post to start a group conversation.