How to Turn Notifications On and Off for Instagram

Which setting do you need?

How to change notifications in the Instagram app

On iPhone and Android

1. Tap Profile or your profile picture in the bottom right.
2. Tap Menu (three lines) in the top right.
3. Below How you use Instagram, tap Notifications.
4. To mute everything, turn on the toggle next to Pause All and choose how long.
5. To fine-tune, tap a category below Pause All, such as Posts, Stories and Comments, and choose which alerts you want.

Categories cover things like likes, comments, new followers, messages and live videos. Turning off a single category is usually better than pausing everything, because you'll still hear about messages or follow requests you care about.

On a computer

1. On instagram.com, click More in the bottom left, then click Settings.
2. Click Notifications in the left menu, then click Push notifications.
3. Below each notification type (for example Comments or Likes), select Off to stop it.

Browser notifications also depend on your browser allowing instagram.com to send them. For more on what works on the web, see our guide to using Instagram on a computer.

How to turn on post notifications for one account

Account notifications are useful for creators you never want to miss, like a coach who posts fitness routines or an artist announcing music releases. They're set in the phone app.

On iPhone

1. Go to the account's profile.
2. Tap Notifications (the bell) in the top right.
3. Turn on the toggles next to Posts, Stories or Reels.
4. For live broadcasts, tap Next on Live Videos and choose an option.

On Android

1. Go to the account's profile.
2. Tap Notifications (the bell) in the top right.
3. Tap Next beside Posts, Stories, Reels or Live videos.
4. Choose the notification option you want for each.

To turn them off, repeat the steps and switch the options off. The account isn't told either way, and there's no bulk option, so you'll need to change each profile separately. If you're a creator hoping followers turn on your Live alerts, our Instagram Live tips cover how to ask.

How to use sleep mode

Sleep mode pauses notifications automatically during the hours you pick. While it's on, your activity status changes to "In sleep mode" with a moon icon, people who message you get an auto-reply, and you'll get a summary of what you missed when it ends. You can still open Instagram and use it as normal.

1. Tap Profile, then Menu in the top right.
2. In Settings and activity, tap Time management.
3. Tap Sleep mode.
4. Turn the toggle on.
5. Choose the days and times you want it active.
6. Tap the back arrow. Changes save automatically.

Sleep mode can cover up to 24 hours per day. For a longer break, use Pause All instead. If you remember a feature called Quiet mode, look for sleep mode: it's the schedule-based notification pause that Instagram's Help Center currently documents.

If notifications are part of a bigger effort to spend less time scrolling, our guide to Instagram addiction and time limits covers daily limits and other tools.

How to turn off Instagram notifications in your phone settings

Phone-level settings are the most reliable off switch. When they're off, Instagram can't show alerts regardless of its in-app settings.

On iPhone

1. Open Settings and tap Notifications.
2. Tap Instagram in the app list.
3. Turn off Allow Notifications, or keep them on and adjust sounds, badges and where alerts appear.

For a quick break, swipe left on an Instagram notification on the Lock Screen or in Notification Center, tap Options, then choose Mute for 1 Hour, Mute for Today or Turn Off.

On Android

Menu names vary by manufacturer, but on most phones:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Tap Notifications, then App notifications.
3. Find Instagram (tap All apps in the dropdown if it's not listed) and turn its notifications off, or turn off individual notification categories.

You can also press and hold an Instagram notification in your notification shade, tap the settings icon and choose which alerts to keep. Another route is Settings > Apps > Instagram, which also shows notification controls.

Troubleshooting

• You're not getting any notifications. Check your phone's settings first, then Pause All and sleep mode in Instagram. Focus modes on iPhone and Do Not Disturb on Android also hide alerts.
• Notifications stopped after an update. Some updates reset permissions. Re-check the phone setting and update the app if an older version is misbehaving.
• Only some accounts send alerts. Account notifications are per profile; confirm the bell settings on each one.
• You still see a red badge. Badges are controlled separately in iPhone notification settings and some Android launchers.
• You want to hide when you're online instead. That's a different setting; see how to turn off your activity status.