Where to find notification settings on Instagram
Notification settings on Instagram live in your account menu, not in your phone's system settings. Open Instagram, tap your profile icon in the bottom right, then tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines). Scroll down and tap Settings and privacy, then Notifications. From here you can control what Instagram tells you about and how it reaches you.
Instagram separates notifications into several categories: messages, likes and comments, follows and friend requests, and other activity. Each category has its own toggle you can turn on or off. You can also choose whether Instagram sends these notifications as push alerts on your phone, email, or both.
Key Takeaways
- Notification settings are in your profile menu under Settings and privacy, then Notifications — not in your phone's system settings.
- Instagram lets you turn on or off notifications for messages, likes and comments, follows, and other activity separately.
- You can choose how Instagram reaches you: push notifications on your phone, email, or both at the same time.
- If you turn off all notifications in Instagram's settings, your phone will not send alerts even if Instagram is allowed to notify you.
Turning on message notifications
Message notifications alert you when someone sends you a direct message. In the Notifications menu, look for Messages and toggle it on. This turns on push notifications — the alerts that appear on your phone's lock screen or notification center.
If you want Instagram to also email you about new messages, scroll down in the same Notifications menu and look for Email notifications. Tap it, then toggle on Messages. You can receive both push and email notifications at the same time, or choose just one.
Turning on notifications for likes, comments, and follows
Instagram groups these into separate toggles. In your Notifications menu, you will see Likes and comments and Follows and friend requests as separate options. Toggle on whichever ones you want to be notified about. Turning on "Likes and comments" means you get alerts when someone likes your post or replies to it. Turning on "Follows and friend requests" means you hear about new followers and people asking to follow you.
These notifications also respect your email settings. If you turn on email notifications in the Email notifications section and toggle on "Likes and comments" there, you will get emails about activity on your posts in addition to push alerts on your phone.
Understanding push notifications versus email
Push notifications appear on your phone immediately — they show up on your lock screen, in your notification center, or as a banner depending on your phone's settings. Email notifications arrive in your inbox and you see them when you check email. You can have both turned on for the same activity, or turn one off and keep the other on.
If you turn off push notifications for a category in Instagram's Notifications menu, you will not get phone alerts for that activity even if email notifications are on. The two systems work independently, so check both places if you are not seeing alerts you expect.
Checking your phone's Instagram notification permissions
Even if you turn on notifications in Instagram's settings, your phone has its own permission system. Instagram cannot send you alerts if your phone is set to block them. On iPhone, go to Settings, scroll to Instagram, and make sure Notifications is toggled on. On Android, go to Settings, tap Apps, find Instagram, tap Notifications, and make sure notifications are allowed.
Your phone also lets you control how notifications appear — whether they make sound, vibrate, or show on your lock screen. These phone-level settings override Instagram's settings, so if Instagram is allowed to notify you but your phone is muted, you will not hear or see alerts.
Turning notifications back off
You can turn off any notification category by going back to Settings and privacy, then Notifications, and toggling off the ones you do not want. You can turn off all push notifications while keeping email on, or turn off email while keeping push on. You can also turn off individual categories — for example, keep message notifications on but turn off likes and comments.
If you want to turn off all Instagram notifications at once, the fastest way is through your phone's settings. On iPhone, go to Settings, find Instagram, and toggle off Notifications. On Android, go to Settings, Apps, Instagram, Notifications, and toggle off Allow notifications. This stops all alerts from Instagram without changing your in-app settings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why am I not getting notifications even though I turned them on?
Check two places: Instagram's Notifications menu and your phone's app permissions. Instagram might be on but your phone might have notifications blocked for Instagram. On iPhone, go to Settings and find Instagram. On Android, go to Settings, Apps, Instagram, and check Notifications. Your phone's Do Not Disturb mode can also silence alerts even when they are turned on.
Can I get notifications for some people but not others?
Instagram does not have a way to notify you about messages from specific people or posts from specific accounts. You can only turn notifications on or off by category — all messages, all likes and comments, all follows. If you want to mute one person's activity, you can mute their account, which hides their posts from your feed but does not stop notifications about them.
What is the difference between muting someone and turning off their notifications?
Muting hides someone's posts and stories from your feed so you do not see them unless you visit their profile. It does not stop notifications about them. There is no built-in way to stop notifications from one specific person while keeping notifications from everyone else on.
Do I get notifications if my Instagram app is closed?
Yes. Push notifications work even when the app is closed because they come through your phone's notification system, not the app itself. Email notifications also arrive whether the app is open or closed. The only way to stop notifications is to turn them off in Instagram's settings or your phone's app permissions.
Can I get notifications on my computer or tablet?
Instagram's push notifications only work on phones. If you use Instagram on a computer or tablet, you can turn on email notifications and receive alerts in your email inbox instead. You cannot get push alerts on a desktop or tablet version of Instagram.