Turn off all Instagram notifications at once, or silence only the ones that bother you
You can stop Instagram notifications from reaching your phone in two ways: turn them all off in one place, or pick and choose which types you want to mute. Most people find it faster to keep notifications on but turn off the ones that interrupt the most — like when someone likes your post or when Instagram suggests a new account to follow. The steps are slightly different depending on whether you use an iPhone or Android phone, but both take less than a minute.
The notification settings live inside the Instagram app itself, not in your phone's main settings, though you can also control them from there if you prefer. This guide covers the Instagram app method, which gives you more control over what you see and when.
Key Takeaways
- Open Instagram, tap your profile picture, then go to Settings and Privacy > Notifications to see all your notification options in one place.
- You can turn off notifications by type — like likes, comments, or follow requests — without turning off all notifications.
- If you want to silence Instagram completely, toggle off "Notifications" at the top of the Notifications menu.
- Your phone's notification settings offer a second way to control Instagram alerts, useful if you want to keep notifications on but mute the sound.
How to turn off notifications by type inside Instagram
Open the Instagram app and tap your profile picture in the bottom right corner. Then tap the three horizontal lines (called a menu) in the top right, and select Settings and Privacy. Scroll down and tap Notifications.
You will now see a list of notification types. The ones you are most likely to want to turn off are Likes, Comments, and Suggested Accounts. Tap any of these, and you will see options like "From People You Follow" or "From Anyone". Toggle off the ones you do not want to see. For example, if you turn off "Likes" entirely, you will not get a notification when anyone likes your post — but you can still see your likes by going to your post and looking at the list.
Leave the ones you do want turned on. Many people keep Messages and Follow Requests on but turn off everything else. You can change these settings anytime, so do not worry about getting it perfect the first time.
How to turn off all Instagram notifications at once
If you want to stop all Instagram notifications without picking through each type, go back to Settings and Privacy > Notifications and look at the very top of the screen. You will see a toggle next to "Notifications" — tap it to turn off all notifications from Instagram. The toggle will turn gray, which means notifications are off.
When all notifications are off, Instagram will not alert you about anything: no messages, no likes, no comments, nothing. You can still use the app normally and see everything when you open it. The only difference is that your phone will not buzz or show a badge number on the Instagram icon.
If you change your mind later, go back to the same screen and toggle notifications back on. Your previous settings will still be there.
Control notifications from your phone's settings instead
Your phone has its own notification controls that work alongside Instagram's settings. This method is useful if you want to keep notifications on in the Instagram app but prevent them from making a sound or showing on your lock screen.
On iPhone, go to Settings > Notifications > Instagram. You can toggle off "Allow Notifications" to stop all alerts, or scroll down to change how they appear — for example, turning off sounds or removing the badge number on the app icon. On Android, go to Settings > Apps > Instagram > Notifications and toggle off "Allow Notifications" or adjust individual settings like sound and vibration.
The phone-level settings override the Instagram app settings. So if you turn off notifications in your phone's settings, Instagram notifications will not reach you even if they are turned on inside the app. This is why some people turn notifications on in Instagram but off on their phone — it keeps the app working normally while preventing interruptions.
Why you might want to keep some notifications on
Turning off all notifications can mean you miss direct messages from friends or important follow requests. Many people find a middle ground: turn off notifications for likes, comments, and suggestions, but keep Messages and Follow Requests on. This way you still hear from people who are trying to reach you directly, but you do not get interrupted by every interaction on your posts.
You can also use Do Not Disturb mode on your phone to silence all notifications during certain hours — like at night or during work — without turning Instagram notifications off permanently. On iPhone, go to Settings > Focus and create a new Focus (like "Sleep" or "Work"). On Android, go to Settings > Notifications > Do Not Disturb and set a schedule. Instagram notifications will still come through, but your phone will not alert you.
What to do if notifications are still coming through
If you turned off notifications in Instagram but they are still appearing, check your phone's notification settings. Go to your phone's Settings app (not Instagram), find Notifications, and look for Instagram. Make sure "Allow Notifications" is toggled off there as well. Sometimes the phone-level setting overrides the app setting, so you need to turn off both.
If notifications are still appearing after that, try closing the Instagram app completely and opening it again. On iPhone, swipe up from the bottom of the screen and swipe up on Instagram. On Android, go to Settings > Apps > Instagram and tap "Force Stop". Then open Instagram again and check your notification settings to make sure they are still turned off.
If the problem continues, uninstall and reinstall the Instagram app. This clears out any settings that might be stuck. Go to your phone's app store, search for Instagram, and tap Uninstall or Remove. Then tap Install to download it again. When you open it, sign back in and adjust your notification settings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will people know if I turn off notifications for their messages?
No. Turning off notifications only stops your phone from alerting you — it does not change anything on the other person's end. They will not see that you have notifications off, and the message will still be there when you open Instagram. You will just not get a buzz or badge when it arrives.
Can I turn off notifications for one person only?
Not through the main notification settings. However, you can mute a person's story or posts so their content does not show up in your feed, which reduces interruptions. To do this, go to their profile, tap the three dots, and select "Mute". You can also mute notifications from a specific chat by opening the conversation, tapping their name at the top, and toggling off notifications for that chat only.
What is the badge number on the Instagram icon?
The badge is the small red circle with a number on the Instagram app icon on your home screen. It shows how many unread messages or notifications you have. You can turn off the badge without turning off notifications by going to your phone's Settings > Notifications > Instagram and toggling off "Badge App Icon" (iPhone) or adjusting the badge setting (Android).
Do I need to turn off notifications in both Instagram and my phone settings?
You only need to turn them off in one place. If you turn them off in Instagram, they will not reach you. If you turn them off on your phone, Instagram notifications will not reach you even if they are on in the app. Turning them off in both places is redundant but does not hurt anything.
Will turning off notifications affect my Instagram account or posts?
No. Notifications are only about alerts your phone receives. Turning them off does not change your account, your posts, your followers, or anything else about how Instagram works. It only stops your phone from notifying you about activity.