How to Fix Instagram Notifications

Missing an important Instagram notification for a comment, DM, or mention can feel incredibly frustrating, especially when you're managing a brand or creative account. One missed message can mean a lost customer or a missed collaboration opportunity. This guide walks you through every possible fix, from simple in-app settings to more advanced device-level troubleshooting, so you can get your notifications back on track and never miss an important interaction again.

Why Aren't My Instagram Notifications Working?

Before jumping into the fixes, it helps to understand why this problem happens in the first place. More often than not, the issue isn't a single big bug but a small, overlooked setting. There are several layers of control for your notifications - both within the Instagram app and on your phone itself. Sometimes one setting contradicts another, effectively silencing the alerts you're waiting for.

The most common culprits include:

• The master "Pause All" switch inside Instagram is accidentally turned on.
• Specific notification types (like DMs or Comments) are turned off in your Instagram settings.
• Your phone's system settings are blocking notifications from the Instagram app entirely.
• A Do Not Disturb or Focus mode is active and is silencing app alerts.
• Low Power or Battery Saver modes are preventing Instagram from checking for new activity in the background.
• The app's cache is cluttered or corrupted, causing temporary glitches (this is common on Android phones).

By working through these potential issues one by one, you can almost always identify and resolve the problem. Let’s start with the easiest and most likely suspect: the settings inside the Instagram app itself.

Start Inside the App: Check Your Instagram Notification Settings

Your first stop should always be Instagram's own notification control panel. This is where you have granular control over what you get alerted for and what gets silenced. A single misplaced tap in here could be the source of all your troubles.

Rule Out the Obvious: The 'Pause All' Switch

Instagram has a single switch designed to temporarily mute all push notifications. It's a handy feature if you need a break, but it's also the most common reason people suddenly stop receiving alerts. Here's how to check it:

1. Open the Instagram app and go to your Profile page.
2. Tap the hamburger menu (three horizontal lines) in the top-right corner.
3. Select Settings and privacy.
4. Tap on Notifications.
5. The very first option is Pause All. Make sure this toggle is switched off. If it's blue, you've found your problem. Tap it to turn it off.

You can even set it to pause for a specific duration (from 15 minutes to 8 hours). Double-check that you didn't accidentally enable it for an extended period of time.

Dive Deeper Into Specific Notification Controls

If the "Pause All" switch was already off, your next step is to review the individual categories. On that same Notifications screen, you can control alerts for nearly every type of interaction. This is particularly important for creators and social media managers who rely on specific alerts for their work.

Tap into each of these sections to review your settings:

• Posts, Stories, and comments: This section covers alerts for Likes, Comments, Comment Likes and Pins, First Posts and Stories, and Mentions. For brand management, Comments and Mentions are non-negotiable. Make sure these are set to "From Everyone."
• Following and followers: Here you can manage alerts for new followers, accepted follow requests, and account suggestions. While less critical for engagement, it’s good to check these are set to your preference.
• Messages: This is a big one. This category controls alerts for Message Requests and actual Messages. If you are missing DMs from potential clients or collaborators, verify that both are set to "On."
• Calls: Manages notifications for incoming video chats. Again, set to "On" if you use this feature for business or personal connections.
• Live and Reels: Manage alerts for Live videos, newly uploaded Reels, most-watched Reels, and fundraisers. This can get noisy, but if staying on top of trends is part of your strategy, you’ll want these on.

Go through each category methodically and set the alert to "On" or "From Everyone" for every type of notification you want to receive. If anything is set to "Off," you won't get a push notification for it, even if your phone's settings are perfect.

Next, Check Your Device's System Settings

If everything inside the Instagram app looks correct, the problem likely lives one level higher: in your phone's main settings menu. Both iOS and Android have master controls that can override any app's individual preferences. You could have every Instagram notification turned on, but if your phone has silenced the app entirely, you won't see a thing.

For iPhone & iPad Users

Apple gives you a straightforward menu to manage notifications on a per-app basis. Here’s how to make sure Instagram has the green light on your iPhone or iPad:

1. Open the Settings app on your device.
2. Scroll down and tap on Notifications.
3. Find Instagram in your list of apps and tap on it.
4. The first toggle on this screen is Allow Notifications. This is the master switch. If it's off, you've found the issue. Turn it on.

Once notifications are allowed, you can fine-tune how they appear:

• Alerts: Check the boxes for Lock Screen, Notification Center, and Banners. For maximum visibility, have all three enabled so you never miss an alert, whether your phone is locked or you're using another app. Banners can be set to "Temporary" or "Persistent." Persistent banners stay on screen until you interact with them, making them hard to ignore.
• Sounds and Haptics: Make sure the Sounds toggle is turned on if you want an audible alert.
• Time Sensitive Notifications: This is a newer iOS feature that allows critical alerts to break through a Focus mode. Turning this on can be very helpful for DMs or time-sensitive comment replies.

For Android Users

Android's notification settings can vary slightly depending on your phone's manufacturer (e.g., Samsung, Google Pixel, OnePlus), but the general process is similar. Android offers very powerful, granular control, which also means there are more places to check.

1. Open your phone's Settings app.
2. Tap on Notifications (or on some devices, Apps &, notifications and then Notifications).
3. Go to App settings and find Instagram in the list. Tap it.
4. At the very top, you'll see a master toggle for All Instagram notifications. You absolutely must ensure this is turned on.

Below the master switch, Android breaks down Instagram's notifications into several "channels." This allows you to silence certain types of alerts while keeping others. Scroll through this list and confirm that key categories like Instagram Direct (your DMs), Comments, and Mentions are all enabled and not set to "Silent."

Still No Notifications? Try These Advanced Fixes

Okay, so your in-app settings and system settings are correct, but your phone remains stubbornly silent. Now it's time to check for other software settings or system-level issues that could be interfering.

1. Disable 'Focus' or 'Do Not Disturb' Modes

Modern smartphones have powerful tools to help you minimize distractions. On iPhone, this is called Focus. On Android, it's typically called Do Not Disturb. These modes are designed to silence non-urgent notifications, but they can sometimes be too aggressive.

• On iPhone: Go to Settings >, Focus. Check if you have a Focus mode (like Work, Sleep, or a custom one) active. If you do, tap into its settings and look under "Allowed Notifications >, Apps." Make sure Instagram is on the list of allowed apps. If it isn't, your Focus mode will block its alerts.
• On Android: Pull down the quick settings shade from the top of your screen and see if Do Not Disturb is enabled. Or, go to Settings >, Notifications >, Do Not Disturb. In here, you can review its settings for what apps and people can get through. Create an exception for Instagram if needed.

2. Turn Off Low Power or Battery Saver Mode

To extend battery life, both iOS and Android offer power-saving modes. A common way they save energy is by reducing or stopping background activities, like apps fetching new data. This can delay or completely block push notifications.

On your phone, check your battery settings (Settings >, Battery) and disable Low Power Mode (iOS) or Battery Saver/Power saving mode (Android). If you regularly rely on this feature, dive into its specific settings to see if you can exempt Instagram from its restrictions.

3. Clear the App Cache (Android-Specific)

Over time, apps build up a collection of temporary files called a "cache" to help them load faster. Sometimes, this cache can become corrupted, leading to strange behavior - including broken notifications. This is a very common fix for Android users.

1. Go to Settings >, Apps.
2. Find and tap on Instagram.
3. Tap on Storage &, cache.
4. Tap the Clear Cache button.

Important: Do not tap "Clear Storage" or "Clear Data" unless you are ready to log back into your account, as this will reset the app completely. "Clear Cache" is harmless and just removes temporary files.

4. Update Everything: The App and Your OS

You’d be surprised how often notification bugs are simply glitches in an outdated version of the app or your phone’s operating system. A new update can contain a patch that solves the exact problem you're experiencing.

• Update the App: Go to the Google Play Store (Android) or the App Store (iOS), search for Instagram, and install any available updates.
• Update Your Phone: Go to Settings >, General >, Software Update (iOS) or Settings >, System >, System update (Android) to make sure your phone is running the latest software.

5. The Last Resort: A Fresh Start Reinstall

If you've tried everything above and are still having issues, it's time for the final step: deleting and reinstalling the app. This process removes all of the app's local files from your device and provides a completely fresh installation, which often resolves stubborn, hard-to-diagnose bugs.

Simply uninstall the app from your phone, restart your device for good measure, and then reinstall it from the App Store or Play Store. You will need to log back in with your username and password, so make sure you have it handy.

Final Thoughts

Solving the mystery of missing Instagram notifications almost always comes down to a systematic process of elimination. By starting with the app's internal controls, moving to your phone's system settings, and finally checking for other conflicts like Focus modes or cache issues, you can pinpoint the setting that's causing the problem and get meaningful alerts flowing again.

Getting your notifications working is one thing, but keeping up with all those comments and DMs once they start pouring in is its own challenge. When you're managing multiple social profiles, the native apps can become overwhelming. That's why we designed the unified inbox at Postbase. All your comments and DMs from Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, LinkedIn, and more stream into one central, easy-to-manage inbox, so you can stop jumping between apps and focus on engagement without letting a single message slip through the cracks.