Instagram Notifications Not Working? 7 Quick Fixes

If Instagram notifications are not working, no alerts for messages, likes, comments, or new followers, the issue is usually caused by a simple setting or a temporary glitch. Here are the quickest fixes for both iPhone and Android.

📱 1. Check Your Phone’s Notification Settings

Even if Instagram notifications are enabled inside the app, your phone may be blocking them.

iPhone:

• Settings

• Notifications

• Instagram

• Turn on Allow Notifications

• Enable Lock Screen, Notification Center, and Banners

Android:

• Settings

• Apps

• Instagram

• Notifications

• Turn on All Notifications

If these were off, turning them on usually fixes the issue immediately.

🔔 2. Enable Notifications Inside Instagram

Instagram has its own notification settings.

Steps:

• Open Instagram

• Go to your profile

• Tap Menu → Settings and privacy

• Tap Notifications

• Turn on:

  • Messages

  • Comments

  • Likes

  • Follows

  • Direct Requests

If any category was disabled, you won’t receive alerts.

🌐 3. Check Your Internet Connection

Notifications won’t arrive if your phone is offline or unstable.

Try:

• switching between Wi‑Fi and mobile data

• toggling Airplane Mode on/off

• restarting your router

If notifications appear after switching networks, the issue was your connection.

🔄 4. Restart the Instagram App

A quick restart can refresh your notification session.

• Close Instagram completely

• Reopen it

This often fixes delayed or missing alerts.

🧹 5. Clear Instagram Cache (Android)

A corrupted cache can block notifications.

Android:

• Settings

• Apps

• Instagram

• Storage

• Clear Cache

(iPhone users can reinstall the app to refresh cache.)

🔁 6. Log Out and Log Back In

Refreshing your account session can restore notifications.

Steps:

• Go to your profile

• Tap Settings and privacy

• Scroll down → Log out

• Log back in

📉 7. Check If Instagram Is Down

If Instagram is experiencing an outage, notifications may stop for everyone.

Check:

• Twitter/X trending topics

• Downdetector

• Instagram’s official updates

If it’s a global issue, you’ll need to wait for Instagram to fix it.

⭐ Why Instagram Notifications Stop Working

Common causes include:

• phone notifications disabled

• Instagram notifications disabled

• unstable internet

• corrupted cache

• outdated app version

• Instagram outages

Most issues resolve with the steps above.

⭐ Summary

If Instagram notifications aren’t working:

• enable notifications on your phone

• enable notifications inside Instagram

• check your internet

• clear cache

• restart the app

• log out and back in

• check if Instagram is down

One of these fixes usually solves the problem quickly.