How to Turn On Comments on Instagram

Realizing your Instagram comments have been turned off can be panic-inducing, especially when you're trying to build a community. Whether you turned them off by accident or just need to switch them back on, the fix is quick and easy. This guide will walk you through exactly how to turn on comments for new posts and existing ones, plus how to manage your settings to receive an ideal connection with your followers.

Why Instagram Comments Are So Important Anyway

Before we get into the "how," let's quickly touch on the "why." Comments aren't just vanity metrics, they are the lifeblood of engagement on Instagram and a powerful signal to the algorithm. When people take the time to comment on your posts, it shows that your content is resonating enough to spark a conversation. Here's what a healthy comment section does for your brand or profile:

• Builds Community: The comment section is where your followers talk to you and to each other. It turns your profile from a broadcast channel into a lively community hub. Responding thoughtfully to comments fosters loyalty and makes your followers feel seen and heard.
• Provides Social Proof: A post with dozens of comments looks more credible and interesting than one with zero. This social proof can attract new followers who see that you have an active and engaged audience.
• Fuels the Algorithm: Instagram's algorithm prioritizes content that generates meaningful interactions. Comments, especially conversations with back-and-forth replies, signal to Instagram that your post is high-value, which can lead to it being shown to more people, both in your followers' feeds and on the Explore page.
• Offers Genuine Feedback: Comments are a direct line to your audience. You can learn what they love, what they want to see more of, and get honest feedback on your products, services, or content. Think of it as free, real-time market research.

How to Turn On Comments for a New Instagram Post

If you're about to publish a new photo, video, or Reel and want to make sure comments are enabled from the moment it goes live, you can set this on the final screen before publishing. It's a setting that's easy to miss but just as easy to adjust.

Here's the step-by-step process:

1. Create your post as you normally would. Add your media, write your killer caption, tag accounts, and add your location and hashtags.
2. On the final screen just before you hit the Share button, scroll all the way to the bottom of the options.
3. You'll see a faint grey option that says Advanced Settings. Tap on it.
4. The very first option on the next screen will be Turn off commenting. Make sure this toggle is switched to the off position (it should be grey, not blue).
5. Tap the back arrow in the top left corner to return to the previous screen.
6. Now, tap Share. Your post will go live with commenting fully enabled right from the start.

How to Turn On Comments for an Existing Instagram Post

Maybe you accidentally turned comments off, or maybe you disabled them temporarily on purpose. Either way, turning them back on for a post that's already live on your grid is just as straightforward. This is probably the most common scenario people find themselves in.

Follow these quick steps to get the conversation flowing again:

1. Navigate to the post on your profile where comments are currently disabled.
2. Tap the three dots (...) located in the top right corner of the post, directly above your photo or video.
3. A menu will slide up from the bottom of the screen with several options like Archive, Edit, and Hide like count.
4. One of the options in this menu will be Turn on commenting. Tap it.
5. That's it! The menu will disappear, and the comment icon will reappear underneath your post. Your followers can now leave comments as usual.

You can repeat this process for any individual post on your feed. There's no limit to how many times you can turn comments on or off.

Who Should Be Able to Comment on Your Posts?

Once you've enabled comments, the next step is deciding who gets to participate in the conversation. Instagram gives you granular control over this, which is incredibly useful for filtering out spam and maintaining a positive community environment. This is more of a profile-wide setting than a post-specific one.

To access these controls:

1. Go to your Instagram profile and tap the three horizontal lines (the hamburger menu) in the top right corner.
2. Tap on Settings and privacy.
3. Scroll down to the "How others can interact with you" section and tap on Comments.
4. Tap on Allow comments from. You'll see several options here.

Understanding Your Comment Control Options

• Everyone: This is the default setting. Anyone on Instagram, whether they follow you or not, can leave a comment. This setting maximizes potential engagement but also opens you up to more spam or unwanted interactions.
• People you follow and your followers: This is a nice middle ground. It restricts comments to the community you've curated - the people you follow and the people who've chosen to follow you. It's great for preventing random spam accounts from cluttering your comment sections.
• People you follow: This is a much more restrictive option. Only the accounts you are personally following can comment on your posts. It's often used by people who want to share content with friends but avoid managing a wider community conversation.
• Your followers: This allows only the people who follow you to leave comments. It's another excellent option for creators and brands aiming to build a safe, focused community and protect themselves from trolls or irrelevant comments from non-followers.

Choosing the right setting depends on your goals. For a brand trying to maximize reach and discussion, "Everyone" or "People you follow and your followers" usually works best. For a personal account, you might prefer a more restrictive setting.

So Your Comments Are On… But No One Is Commenting

Turning on comments is only half the battle. If your comment section feels like a ghost town, it's a sign that your content strategy might need a small adjustment to be more conversational.

Here are a few proven tactics to encourage more comments and boost your engagement:

1. Ask Questions in Your Captions

This is the simplest and most effective way to start a conversation. Don't just post a photo, guide the conversation. Instead of "Here's our new product," try "Our new product is here! What do you think of the new color?" Simple questions, polls ("Which one do you prefer, A or B?"), and fill-in-the-blanks can dramatically increase comment volume.

2. Write Captivating Captions That Add Value

Give your audience something to react to. Tell a story, share a surprising statistic, offer a helpful tip, or write about a relatable experience. A caption that provides value or evokes an emotion gives people a stronger reason to share their own thoughts in response.

3. Use Strong Calls-to-Action (CTAs)

Be direct. Sometimes, your audience just needs to be told what to do. Phrases like "Let me know your thoughts below," "Tag a friend who needs to see this," or "Share your best tip _______ in the comments" can work wonders.

4. Reply to the Comments You Do Get

If someone takes the time to leave a comment, always acknowledge it. Replying to comments shows you're listening and encourages others to join in. It also boosts your post's visibility by signaling to the algorithm that an active conversation is happening.

5. Post Content Designed for Interaction

Quizzes, "wrong answers only" posts, behind-the-scenes content that prompts questions, or even a slightly controversial (but brand-safe) take on a topic in your niche can get people talking much more than a standard post ever will.

Final Thoughts

Turning on your Instagram comments is a simple fix, but a core part of building a successful social media presence. By enabling comments on your posts and fine-tuning your privacy settings, you open the door to deeper connections with your audience, valuable feedback, and the engagement signals Instagram's algorithm loves to see.

Once those conversations start picking up, managing them across Instagram - along with TikTok, Facebook, and all your other channels - can quickly become a full-time job. With Postbase, we wanted to fix that. We built a unified inbox that brings all your comments and DMs from all your accounts into one easy-to-manage feed. This way, you can stay on top of your community without bouncing between a dozen different apps.