Instagram notifications stop because of four common settings — and they're usually turned off by accident
Instagram notifications disappear when your phone's operating system blocks them, when Instagram's own notification settings are turned off, when Do Not Disturb is running, or when your internet connection drops. Most of the time, you've already disabled them yourself without realizing it — either during setup, after a frustrating notification spree, or because another app's permission request bundled Instagram in without asking. The fastest way to get them back is to check your phone's settings first, then Instagram's settings second.
The reason this matters: Instagram won't send you a warning that notifications are off. The app just silently stops notifying you. You'll miss messages, comments, and posts from people you follow until you manually turn the feature back on.
Key Takeaways
- Your phone's operating system controls whether Instagram can send notifications at all — check Settings > Apps > Instagram > Notifications on Android, or Settings > Notifications > Instagram on iPhone.
- Instagram's own notification settings let you pick which types of alerts you want, and these can be turned off separately from your phone's permission.
- Do Not Disturb mode silences all notifications, including Instagram, so check whether it's scheduled to run during times you use the app.
- If notifications work sometimes but not always, your internet connection may be dropping when you're away from the app, preventing Instagram from reaching your phone.
Check your phone's notification permission for Instagram first
Your phone decides whether Instagram is allowed to send notifications before Instagram even tries. If your phone says no, Instagram cannot reach you no matter what you do inside the app.
On iPhone: Open Settings, tap Notifications, scroll down and tap Instagram. Make sure Allow Notifications is toggled on (the switch will be green). Check that the notification style is set to Banners, Badges, or Sounds — if it says None, tap it and choose one of the other options.
On Android: Open Settings, tap Apps or process Manager, find and tap Instagram, tap Notifications, and make sure Notifications are turned on. The exact names vary by phone manufacturer, but look for a toggle or switch labeled Notifications or Allow Notifications.
If you just turned this on, close Instagram completely and reopen it. The app needs to reconnect to Instagram's notification service after the permission changes.
Turn on notifications inside the Instagram app itself
Even if your phone allows Instagram to send notifications, the app has its own settings where you can turn specific types of notifications on or off. If you turned off all notifications here, your phone's permission doesn't matter.
Open Instagram, tap your profile icon at the bottom right, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines), tap Settings and Privacy, then tap Notifications. You'll see categories like Messages, Likes and Comments, Posts, and Stories. Make sure the ones you want are toggled on.
If you see a toggle that says Notifications and it's off, turn it on. Some versions of Instagram show this as a master switch that controls everything else below it.
Check whether Do Not Disturb is silencing Instagram
Do Not Disturb mode blocks all notifications on your phone, including Instagram. If you've scheduled it to run during certain hours, you won't get alerts during that time.
On iPhone: Open Settings, tap Focus (or Do Not Disturb on older versions), and check whether any focus modes are currently active. If one is on, tap it and check the schedule. If you don't want it running right now, tap the toggle to turn it off.
On Android: Open Settings, tap Notifications, tap Do Not Disturb, and check whether it's turned on. If it is, turn it off or adjust the schedule so it doesn't run when you want Instagram notifications.
Some phones also have a Quick Settings menu you can swipe down from the top of the screen to access Do Not Disturb faster.
Restart Instagram and your phone if notifications still aren't working
Sometimes Instagram's connection to the notification service gets stuck. Closing and reopening the app usually fixes this.
Close Instagram completely — don't just press the home button, actually swipe it away from your recent apps. Wait a few seconds, then reopen it. If that doesn't work, restart your phone entirely. This clears out temporary glitches that prevent notifications from reaching you.
After restarting, open Instagram and navigate to a page where you'd normally get a notification — like your messages or your feed. This helps the app reconnect to the notification service.
Check your internet connection if notifications work sometimes but not always
Instagram needs an active internet connection to send you notifications. If you're on WiFi that keeps dropping, or if your phone switches between WiFi and cellular data, notifications may arrive late or not at all.
If you notice notifications come through when you're on strong WiFi but not when you're away from home, your connection is likely the problem. Try moving closer to your router, or switch to cellular data to see if notifications arrive faster.
You can also check your WiFi settings to see whether your phone is set to automatically switch networks. On iPhone, go to Settings > WiFi and turn off Auto-Join if you're on an unreliable network. On Android, go to Settings > WiFi and check whether you're connected to a strong signal.
Turn off battery saver mode if it's blocking background activity
Battery saver or low-power mode restricts background activity on your phone to save battery life. This can prevent Instagram from checking for new notifications when the app isn't open.
On iPhone: Open Settings, tap Battery, and check the Battery Saver toggle. If it's on, turn it off. You can also check Settings > Battery > Low Power Mode.
On Android: Open Settings, tap Battery or Device Care, and look for Battery Saver or Power Saving Mode. Turn it off, or add Instagram to the list of apps that are allowed to run in the background even when battery saver is on.
If you need battery saver on most of the time, check whether your phone lets you exclude specific apps from the restriction. This way Instagram can still notify you without draining your battery as much.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why am I getting Instagram notifications on my phone but not on my computer?
Instagram sends notifications to whichever device you're actively using. If you're on your phone, notifications go there. If you're on your computer, they go there. You can't receive the same notification on both at once. Check your Instagram notification settings on the computer to make sure notifications are turned on there too.
I turned notifications back on but I'm still not getting them. What else could be wrong?
Check whether Instagram has permission to use your phone's internet connection. On iPhone, go to Settings > Instagram > Local Network and make sure it's allowed. On Android, go to Settings > Apps > Instagram > Permissions and check that you've granted permission for notifications, internet, and any other relevant permissions. If permissions look correct, uninstall and reinstall Instagram.
Can I get notifications for only certain people on Instagram?
Instagram doesn't have a built-in way to notify you only for specific followers. However, you can turn off notifications for accounts you follow less often by going to their profile, tapping the menu icon, and selecting Mute or Notifications. This silences their posts and stories without unfollowing them.
Why do I get notifications hours after something happens?
Delayed notifications usually mean your phone lost internet connection when Instagram tried to send the alert. The notification arrives once your connection is stable again. Check whether you're on a weak WiFi signal or if your phone is switching between WiFi and cellular data. Staying on one strong connection should fix the delay.
Do I have to keep Instagram running in the background to get notifications?
No. Instagram's notification service runs separately from the app itself. You can close Instagram completely and still receive notifications. However, if your phone's battery saver is on or if Instagram doesn't have permission to run in the background, notifications may be delayed or blocked.