# How to Search Multiple Hashtags on Instagram

Instagram's search can't combine hashtags: typing #vegan #glutenfree doesn't return posts with both tags, it searches one tag or treats the text as keywords.

[![apidojo](/blog/authors/apidojo.png)**Apidojo** *15+ years of experience in data retrieval.*](/blog/authors/apidojo/)

**16 October 2026** Published

**2 min** Read

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**Instagram’s search can’t combine hashtags: typing `#vegan #glutenfree` doesn’t return posts with both tags, it searches one tag or treats the text as keywords.** To find posts using two or more hashtags, search the narrower hashtag and scan captions for the other, or collect both hashtags’ posts and match them by their hashtag lists.

This guide covers the in-app workarounds and a reliable data method. Choosing hashtags is covered in [how to find trending hashtags on Instagram](/blog/instagram-trends/trending-hashtags/). Sounds trend the way tags do, covered in [how to find trending audio on Instagram](/blog/instagram-trends/trending-audio/).

## Can You Search Two Hashtags at Once on Instagram?

**No, Instagram search returns results for one hashtag at a time, and there’s no AND or OR operator.** The table shows what each approach gives you.

| Approach | What you get |
| --- | --- |
| Search #vegan | Posts tagged #vegan |
| Search #vegan #glutenfree | Usually one tag’s results, or keyword matches; not posts with both |
| Search the narrower tag, then scan captions | Posts with both tags, found by hand |
| Collect both tags and match | Every collected post with both tags |

## How Do You Find Posts With Two Hashtags in the App?

**Search the less popular of the two hashtags, open recent posts, and check each caption for the other tag.** Starting from the narrower tag means fewer posts to scan. A plain keyword search, such as `vegan gluten free`, can also surface posts about both topics, tagged or not.

## How Do You Find Posts With Multiple Hashtags Using Data?

**Collect each hashtag’s posts, then keep the posts whose hashtag list contains all the tags you want.** apidojo’s [Instagram Hashtag Scraper](https://apify.com/apidojo/instagram-hashtag-scraper) on Apify returns each post with a `hashtags` list, so matching is one line of Python (Apify).

```
from apify_client import ApifyClient

client = ApifyClient("YOUR_APIFY_TOKEN")
wanted = {"vegan", "glutenfree"}
posts = {}

for tag in wanted:
    run = client.actor("apidojo/instagram-hashtag-scraper").call(run_input={
        "keyword": tag, "getPosts": True, "getReels": True, "maxItems": 1000,
    })
    for p in client.dataset(run.default_dataset_id).iterate_items():
        posts[p["id"]] = p

both = [p for p in posts.values() if wanted <= {h.lower() for h in p.get("hashtags", [])}]
print(len(both), "posts use all the hashtags")
```

Each hashtag costs $0.016 with the first 60 posts included, then $0.0004 per post, so two hashtags with 1,000 posts each cost about $0.78. Hashtag collection is covered in [how to scrape Instagram posts by hashtag or keyword](/blog/instagram-scraping/scrape-hashtags/).

## Why Search Hashtag Combinations?

**Combinations narrow a broad topic to a specific audience, such as vegan and gluten-free, or a brand tag plus a city.** They’re useful for finding niche creators, checking how a campaign tag is used, and spotting sub-trends inside a big hashtag.

## The scrapers behind this

-   [Instagram Hashtag Scraper Top posts and reels for any hashtag; 60 items free per hashtag $0.016 / hashtag + $0.40 / 1K](/scrapers/instagram-hashtag-scraper/)

## Questions people ask

### Can you search hashtags with spaces?

No, hashtags are single words; search the joined form, such as #glutenfree.

### Can you exclude a hashtag from search?

No, Instagram search has no exclude option.

### How do you keep up with a hashtag over time?

Check its recent posts regularly, or monitor it on a schedule; see [how to monitor Instagram hashtags and brand mentions](/blog/instagram-scraping/monitor-hashtags/).

### How many hashtags can a post use?

Up to 5 per post or reel since December 2025.

## More on Instagram trends

-   [How to Find Trending Hashtags on Instagram (5 Max) Instagram has no trending hashtags list. How to spot rising tags, why posts are capped at 5 hashtags, and how to measure trends.](/blog/instagram-trends/trending-hashtags/)
-   [How to Find Trending Audio on Instagram Spot trending Instagram audio in Reels, the music browser and the Professional dashboard, judge momentum, and know business account limits.](/blog/instagram-trends/trending-audio/)

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