How to Add Pronouns to Instagram Bio (2026): Step-by-Step Guide
To add pronouns to your Instagram bio, open the Instagram app, go to your profile, tap Edit profile, tap Pronouns, select up to four pronouns from the list, and tap Done. Your pronouns then appear in light grey text next to your name, in a separate field that does not use any of your 150 bio characters.
Pronouns tell visitors how to refer to you before the first message is ever sent. This guide walks through the exact steps, explains the visibility setting, shows formatting examples, and covers what to do when the Pronouns field is missing.
What Are Pronouns on Instagram?
Pronouns are the words people use instead of your name when they talk about you. Common examples are she/her, he/him, and they/them. On Instagram, they appear in a dedicated field beside your name, separate from the main bio text, so they never eat into your 150-character limit.
Listing pronouns is completely optional. Some people share them openly, others keep that detail private, and an empty field says nothing about a person on its own. For people who do share them, pronouns remove guesswork: friends, followers, and brands can address them correctly from the very first interaction.
How to Add Pronouns to Instagram Bio: Step by Step
The Pronouns field is available on the Instagram mobile app only. You will not see it when you edit your profile from a desktop browser, so use your phone for these steps.
- Open the Instagram app and tap your profile picture in the bottom right corner to go to your profile.
- Tap Edit profile, found below your profile picture and name.
- Tap Pronouns in the list of editable fields.
- Type a pronoun in the search field, such as she, he, or they, and tap the option that fits from the suggestions.
- Repeat to add more options. You can select up to four pronouns in total.
- Choose your visibility setting, then tap Done on iPhone or the checkmark icon on Android to save.
To build a pair like she/her, select she and then her as two separate options. The same applies to he/him and they/them. Check your profile after saving to confirm the pronouns show up exactly as you expect.
How to Add Pronouns on iPhone and Android
On iPhone, the save button is labelled Done in the top right corner. On Android, it is a checkmark icon in the same place. Apart from that, the steps are identical on both platforms. If the Pronouns option does not appear, update Instagram from your app store, then close the app completely and reopen it.
Which Pronouns Can You Choose?
Instagram only lets you pick pronouns from its predefined list, and you cannot type a custom pronoun into the dedicated field. This is deliberate: the list exists to stop people from putting other text into that space. The list covers the common sets, including she/her, he/him, and they/them, plus combined sets such as she/they and he/they, and the any pronouns option. If your preferred pronouns are not on the list, type them into your bio text instead.
Common Pronoun Sets Explained
She/her is often used by women and some gender-diverse people. He/him is often used by men and some gender-diverse people. They/them is often used by nonbinary people and others who prefer gender-neutral language. These are only common patterns: the right pronouns for any person are the ones they choose for themselves.
Show to Followers Only: Controlling Who Sees Your Pronouns
By default, anyone who visits your profile can see your pronouns. If you prefer more privacy, turn on Show to Followers Only, and only people who follow you will see the field. To change it, go to Edit profile, tap Pronouns, and toggle the setting, then tap Done to save.
How to Edit or Remove Pronouns
Pronouns can change, and Instagram lets you update them at any time. Open your profile, tap Edit profile, and tap Pronouns to see your current choices. Tap a selected pronoun again to remove it, then pick a different set. To remove pronouns entirely, remove every selected option and save without choosing a replacement.
Adding Pronouns Directly in Your Bio Text
If the Pronouns field is missing from your account, or your pronouns are not on the predefined list, typing them into the bio itself works just as well. The trade-off is that bio text counts toward the 150-character limit, so keep the line short. Most people put pronouns on the first line of the bio, often with a separator or an emoji, so visitors spot them instantly.
Pronoun Bio Examples
- she/her, sharing travel stories from Pakistan
- he/him, designer and coffee lover
- they/them, writer and photographer
- she/they, making food videos every week
- he/they, building useful things
- any pronouns, say hello
Each example pairs the pronouns with one short detail about the account. That is the whole job of a bio: tell visitors who you are and why they should follow. If you want help shaping the rest of your bio, try our Instagram bio generator to draft a clean bio in seconds.
Why Add Pronouns to Your Instagram Bio?
The main reason is clarity. Pronouns tell visitors how to refer to you before a conversation starts, which reduces awkward corrections and misgendering in comments and direct messages. For creators, that clarity also signals a welcoming space. A complete profile also looks more trustworthy than a half-finished one, and visitors are more likely to tap Follow on a profile that feels real.
Pronouns Field Missing? How to Fix It
If you do not see the Pronouns option in Edit profile, work through these fixes in order. First, update Instagram to the latest version from your app store. Second, close the app completely and reopen it. Third, check that you are editing from the mobile app, because the field is not available on desktop. If the field is still missing, it may not have rolled out to your account or region yet. While you wait, add your pronouns as plain text in your bio.
Make Your Whole Profile Work Harder
Pronouns are one field in a profile that has six editable parts: picture, name, username, pronouns, links, and bio description. Together they decide whether a visitor follows or leaves in seconds, so it is worth getting each one right. Once your profile is polished, the next step is growing the audience that sees it. Our guide on how to get more followers on Instagram covers the organic habits that turn profile visits into follows, and the free Instagram growth tools on BigFollowers can support your growth.
