Where to find notification settings on Instagram
Instagram's notification sound settings live in your phone's settings, not inside the Instagram app itself. This is because Instagram uses your phone's notification system rather than managing sounds on its own. The exact path depends on whether you use an iPhone or Android phone, but both take about two minutes to reach.
On an iPhone, open Settings, scroll down and tap Instagram, then tap Notifications. On Android, open Settings, find Apps or process Manager, select Instagram, tap Notifications, and then look for Sound or Notification Sound. Once you are in the right menu, you will see a list of notification types — messages, likes, comments, and others — and each one can have its own sound or be set to silent.
Key Takeaways
- Notification sounds are controlled through your phone's settings, not through the Instagram app itself.
- iPhone users find notification settings under Settings > Instagram > Notifications, while Android users go through Settings > Apps > Instagram > Notifications.
- You can set different sounds for different types of notifications — messages, likes, comments, and follow requests can each have their own alert.
- If you want no sound at all, you can turn off sound for specific notification types while keeping others active.
Changing the sound for individual notification types on iPhone
Once you are in Settings > Instagram > Notifications on your iPhone, you will see a list of notification categories. Tap on any one — Messages, Likes, Comments, Follow Requests, or others — and a new screen opens showing options for that type. Look for the Sound option and tap it.
A list of available sounds appears. These are the same notification sounds your phone uses for other apps and system alerts. Scroll through and tap any sound to hear a preview. When you find one you want, tap it again to confirm the selection. If you want no sound for that notification type, look for a None or Silent option at the top of the list and select that instead.
Repeat this process for each notification type you want to customize. You might want messages to make a sound but likes to be silent, for example. Each category remembers its own setting, so you only need to change the ones you want different from the default.
Changing the sound for individual notification types on Android
On Android, the process is similar but the menu names vary slightly depending on your phone's manufacturer. After you reach Settings > Apps > Instagram > Notifications, look for a Sound option or Notification Sound option. Tap it and you will see a list of available sounds.
Select the sound you want to hear for Instagram notifications. Some Android phones also show a Vibration option near the Sound setting — you can turn vibration on or off independently of the sound. After you make your choice, the setting saves automatically when you back out of the menu.
If you have multiple notification channels on Android — separate settings for Messages, Likes, and Comments — you may need to tap into each one individually to set different sounds. Not all Android phones break notifications into channels, so check whether your version of Instagram shows separate options for each notification type.
Turning off sound for specific notifications while keeping others active
You do not have to choose between hearing all Instagram notifications or hearing none. Most phones let you silence specific types while keeping others active. On iPhone, go to the notification type you want silent, tap Sound, and select None. On Android, do the same — find the Sound option for that notification type and choose Silent or None.
This is useful if you want to hear messages when ready but do not care about being alerted when someone likes your post. You can also use your phone's Do Not Disturb or Focus mode to silence all notifications during certain hours, which overrides individual app settings without changing them permanently.
Why Instagram notifications come through your phone's system
Instagram does not control its own notification sounds because Apple and Google require all apps to use the phone's built-in notification system. This means Instagram cannot add custom sounds inside its app — the sound you hear is always one of your phone's standard notification tones. It also means that if you silence notifications at the phone level, Instagram cannot override that choice.
This design protects your control over your phone. You decide what sounds you hear and when, and no app can force a notification sound on you. It also means that if you change your phone's notification sounds in general settings, those changes may affect Instagram notifications too, depending on how you have set things up.
What to do if you do not see notification sound options
If you cannot find a Sound option in Instagram's notification settings, your phone may not support custom sounds for individual apps, or Instagram may not have permission to use your phone's notification system. On iPhone, check that Instagram has notification permission by going to Settings > Instagram and making sure Notifications is turned on. On Android, do the same under Settings > Apps > Instagram > Permissions.
If notifications are already turned on and you still see no sound option, try closing and reopening the Settings app, or restart your phone. Sometimes the menu does not load completely on the first try. If the problem continues, uninstall and reinstall Instagram — this resets the notification settings to default and often fixes missing options.
Using vibration and visual alerts when you want no sound
If you want to be notified but do not want sound, most phones let you keep vibration or visual alerts active. On iPhone, go to Settings > Instagram > Notifications, tap the notification type, and look for Vibration or Sound options separately — you can turn off Sound while leaving Vibration on. On Android, the same approach works: find the Vibration setting near Sound and toggle it on or off independently.
Visual alerts — like a banner at the top of your screen or a badge on the Instagram icon — work on both phones and do not require sound or vibration. These appear automatically when notifications are turned on, so you will still know when something happens even if your phone is silent.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I set different notification sounds for different people who message me?
No. Instagram notifications use your phone's system sounds, which explore to all messages from all people. You cannot assign a custom sound to one person's messages. However, you can mute notifications from specific people or chats by opening the conversation, tapping the person's name at the top, and selecting Mute Messages.
Why did my notification sound change after I updated Instagram?
Instagram updates do not change notification sounds — your phone's settings stay the same. If your sound changed, it may be because your phone updated at the same time and reset some notification settings, or because you accidentally changed the setting yourself. Check your notification settings again to confirm what is currently selected.
What if I want Instagram notifications to be silent but other apps to make sounds?
Go to your phone's notification settings for Instagram and turn off Sound for the notification types you want silent. Other apps will keep their own sounds because each app's notification settings are separate. You can also use Do Not Disturb mode to silence everything temporarily without changing individual app settings.
Can I use a custom sound I downloaded instead of the phone's default sounds?
On iPhone, custom sounds must be added to your phone through iTunes or the Files app before they appear in notification settings. On Android, the process varies by phone, but many phones let you choose sounds from your Downloads folder. Check your phone's notification sound settings to see if custom sounds are available.
Do notification sounds work the same way on Instagram Direct Messages and regular notifications?
Yes. Both use your phone's notification system, so the sound you set for Messages applies to all Instagram messages. If you want messages to be silent but other notifications to make sound, turn off Sound only for the Messages notification type.