Instagram notifications stop because of settings you changed, phone settings that override the app, or Instagram itself being muted
The most common reason you are not getting Instagram notifications is that you turned them off without realizing it — either in the Instagram app itself, in your phone's settings, or both. Instagram also mutes notifications during certain hours if you set a "quiet time" schedule. Less often, Instagram's servers have a problem delivering notifications, but that usually fixes itself within a few hours.
The fix depends on where the block is. Start by checking whether Instagram is allowed to send notifications at all on your phone, then check whether you muted specific types of notifications inside the app. If both are on, the problem is usually a quiet time schedule or a temporary glitch.
Key Takeaways
- Check your phone's notification settings first — on iPhone go to Settings > Notifications > Instagram, and on Android go to Settings > Apps > Instagram > Notifications.
- Inside Instagram, open Settings > Notifications and turn on the types of alerts you want, because each category (likes, comments, messages) can be muted separately.
- If you set a quiet time or "Do Not Disturb" schedule, Instagram will not send notifications during those hours even if everything else is on.
- Restarting the Instagram app or your phone fixes temporary glitches that block notifications from reaching you.
Check your phone's notification permission for Instagram
Your phone controls whether any app can send notifications at all. If Instagram does not have permission, you will not get alerts no matter what you do inside the app. On iPhone, go to Settings > Notifications, scroll down and tap Instagram, then make sure Allow Notifications is turned on. The toggle should be green.
On Android, go to Settings > Apps (or Applications), find Instagram in the list, tap it, then tap Notifications. Make sure Show Notifications is turned on. If it is off, tap it to turn it on. Some Android phones also have a separate "Do Not Disturb" setting in the notification panel at the top of the screen — swipe down twice and look for it.
After you turn on the permission, close Instagram completely and reopen it. The app may need a moment to register the change.
Turn on notification types inside the Instagram app
Even if your phone allows notifications, Instagram lets you mute specific types separately. Open Instagram, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the bottom right, then tap Settings > Notifications. You will see a list of notification types: Likes, Comments, Messages, Story Replies, and others depending on your account type.
Each one has a toggle. If a toggle is off, you will not get notifications for that type of activity. Turn on whichever ones you want to see. If you only want messages but not likes, that is fine — turn on Messages and leave the others off.
Below the toggles, you may also see options for notification sound and vibration. Make sure at least one is turned on, or you might miss a silent notification. If you want notifications but without sound, turn off the sound toggle but leave vibration on.
Check for a quiet time or Do Not Disturb schedule
Instagram has a feature called Quiet Time that silences notifications during hours you set. If you turned this on and forgot about it, you will not get alerts during those times. Open Instagram, go to Settings > Notifications, and scroll down to Quiet Time. If it is on, you will see the hours listed. Turn it off if you do not want a schedule, or change the hours to match when you actually want to be quiet.
Your phone also has its own Do Not Disturb mode, separate from Instagram's quiet time. On iPhone, go to Settings > Focus and check whether any Focus mode is currently active — if one is, it is blocking notifications from all apps. On Android, swipe down from the top twice to open the full notification panel and look for Do Not Disturb. If it is on, tap it to turn it off.
These two settings work independently. You can have Instagram's quiet time on but your phone's Do Not Disturb off, or vice versa. Check both.
Restart the Instagram app and your phone
Sometimes Instagram fails to deliver notifications because of a temporary glitch. Close the app completely — on iPhone, swipe up from the bottom of the screen to open the app switcher, find Instagram, and swipe up on it. On Android, open Settings > Apps > Instagram and tap Force Stop.
Wait 10 seconds, then reopen Instagram. If that does not work, restart your entire phone. Turn it off, wait 30 seconds, and turn it back on. This clears out temporary problems that can block notifications from reaching you.
After you restart, test whether notifications work by asking someone to like one of your posts or send you a message. You should get an alert within a few seconds.
Check whether Instagram is muted in your phone's notification center
On iPhone, you can mute an app's notifications from the lock screen or notification center without going into Settings. If you swiped left on an Instagram notification and tapped Manage, you might have turned off notifications by accident. Go to Settings > Notifications > Instagram and make sure Allow Notifications is still on.
On Android, long-press an Instagram notification and look for a Mute option. If you tapped it, notifications are silenced. To turn them back on, go to Settings > Apps > Instagram > Notifications and turn Show Notifications back on.
Update Instagram if you are running an old version
Older versions of Instagram sometimes have bugs that break notifications. Open your phone's app store — the App Store on iPhone or Google Play on Android — search for Instagram, and check whether an Update button appears. If it does, tap it to install the latest version.
After the update finishes, close and reopen Instagram. The new version may fix notification problems that the old one had.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why am I getting notifications for some people but not others?
Instagram lets you mute notifications from specific accounts. Open the person's profile, tap the three dots in the top right, and look for Mute or Notifications. If you muted them, turn it off. You can also mute notifications from accounts you follow without unfollowing them — the person will not know.
I turned notifications back on but I am still not getting them. What else could it be?
If your phone and app settings are both on, the problem is usually a temporary glitch with Instagram's servers. Wait a few hours and try again. If notifications still do not work after a day, try uninstalling and reinstalling Instagram. This clears out corrupted app data that sometimes blocks notifications.
Do I need to keep Instagram open to get notifications?
No. Notifications should arrive whether the app is open, closed, or not running at all. If you only get notifications when Instagram is open, your phone's notification permission is probably off. Check Settings > Notifications > Instagram and make sure Allow Notifications is on.
Why do my notifications come late sometimes?
Instagram's servers can be slow during peak hours, and your phone may delay notifications if your battery is low or you have Battery Saver mode on. Check your battery level and turn off Battery Saver if it is on. Notifications should arrive faster after that.
Can I get notifications for only direct messages, not posts?
Yes. Open Instagram, go to Settings > Notifications, and turn off everything except Messages. You will only get alerts when someone sends you a direct message, not when they like or comment on your posts.