Where to find Instagram notification settings
Open Instagram and tap your profile icon in the bottom right corner. Then tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top right. Scroll down and tap Settings and privacy, then tap Notifications. This is where you control what Instagram tells you about.
Instagram separates notifications into categories so you can turn on only what matters to you. You will see options for Likes and comments, Messages, Follows and suggestions, Video and reels, and others depending on your account type. Each category has its own on-off switch.
Key Takeaways
- Notification settings live in your profile menu under Settings and privacy, then Notifications — not in your phone's settings.
- Instagram groups notifications by type (likes, messages, follows) so you can turn on only the ones you want to see.
- Turning on notifications in Instagram does not work unless your phone also allows Instagram to send notifications in your phone's settings.
- You can turn notifications on for some times of day and off for others using quiet hours or scheduling features.
- Turning on notifications for messages is separate from turning on notifications for likes and comments.
Turning on notifications for likes, comments, and posts
In the Notifications section, find Likes and comments. Tap it and toggle the switch to on. You can then choose whether you want to see notifications for every like and comment, or only for comments from people you follow. If you want notifications only from close friends, tap From and select Close friends.
For post notifications, scroll down in the same menu and look for Posts, reels and stories. Toggle this on if you want Instagram to tell you when accounts you follow post new content. This is separate from likes and comments — you can have one on and the other off.
Turning on notifications for messages and chats
Tap Messages in the main Notifications menu. Toggle the switch on to receive notifications when someone sends you a direct message. You can then choose whether to get notifications for all messages or only from people you follow.
If you are in group chats, you can control notifications for each chat separately. Open the chat, tap the group name at the top, then tap Mute notifications or Unmute notifications. This overrides your general message settings for that specific conversation.
Turning on notifications for follows and suggestions
In the Notifications menu, find Follows and suggestions. Toggle this on to get notified when someone follows you or when Instagram suggests new accounts to follow. Many people turn this off because it can create constant notifications, but the choice is yours.
You can also control notifications for Friend requests separately if your account type shows this option. Toggle it on to be notified when someone requests to follow you.
Making sure your phone allows Instagram notifications
Turning on notifications in Instagram is only half the work. Your phone must also allow Instagram to send notifications. On iPhone, go to Settings > Notifications > Instagram and make sure Allow Notifications is toggled on. On Android, go to Settings > Apps > Instagram > Notifications and toggle on Allow notifications.
If Instagram notifications are on in the app but off in your phone settings, you will not see any notifications at all. Check both places if notifications are not showing up.
Using quiet hours to limit when notifications arrive
Instagram has a feature called Quiet hours that lets you turn off notifications during certain times. In Settings and privacy > Notifications, scroll down and tap Quiet hours. Toggle it on and set the start and end times. During those hours, Instagram will not send you notifications even if you have them turned on in the app.
This is useful if you want notifications during work hours but not at night, or vice versa. You can set different quiet hours for weekdays and weekends if your phone's version of Instagram supports it.
Controlling notifications for specific accounts
You can turn off notifications from a specific account without turning off all notifications. Go to that account's profile, tap the menu icon (three dots), and tap Mute. Choose whether to mute posts, stories, or both. You can also choose to mute notifications from that account while still seeing their posts in your feed.
This is different from unfollowing — the account stays in your feed, but you will not get notifications about their activity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why am I not getting Instagram notifications even though I turned them on?
Check two places: first, make sure notifications are on in Instagram's Settings and privacy menu. Second, check your phone's settings to make sure your phone allows Instagram to send notifications. If both are on and you still see nothing, try closing Instagram completely and opening it again.
Can I get notifications for messages but not for likes and comments?
Yes. In the Notifications menu, toggle Messages on and Likes and comments off. Each notification type is separate, so you can mix and match however you want.
What is the difference between muting an account and turning off notifications?
Muting an account stops notifications from that one person or account. Turning off notifications in Settings stops all notifications of that type from everyone. Muting is useful when one account posts too much; turning off notifications is useful when you do not want that type of notification at all.
Do quiet hours turn off all notifications or just some?
Quiet hours turn off all notifications during the times you set, regardless of which notification types you have turned on. If you have quiet hours set from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m., you will not get any Instagram notifications during those hours.