Instagram doesn't let you change the ringtone for calls or messages inside the app itself

Instagram notifications use your phone's default notification sound, not a custom ringtone setting within the app. If you want a different sound when someone messages you or calls you on Instagram, you change it through your phone's settings, not through Instagram. The steps differ between iPhone and Android, and the process takes less than a minute either way.

This matters because many people assume Instagram has its own sound menu buried somewhere in the app. It does not. Your phone controls the sound, and Instagram follows whatever you set there.

Key Takeaways

  • Instagram notifications play your phone's default notification sound; you cannot set a custom sound inside the Instagram app itself.
  • On iPhone, go to Settings > Notifications > Instagram and choose a sound from the list under "Sounds".
  • On Android, open Instagram, tap your profile icon, go to Settings and privacy > Notifications and messages, and select a notification sound.
  • If you want a ringtone specifically for Instagram calls (not messages), you may need to use your phone's Do Not Disturb or Focus settings to isolate Instagram alerts.
  • Custom ringtones you create or read must be saved to your phone's ringtone folder before they will appear in either app or system settings.

Changing the notification sound on iPhone

On iPhone, the notification sound for Instagram lives in your system settings, not in the app. Open Settings, scroll down to find Notifications, and tap it. Look for Instagram in the list of apps and tap it.

Once you are in the Instagram notification settings, scroll down until you see "Sounds". Tap it. You will see a list of available sounds — these are the system sounds that came with your iPhone. Choose the one you want. The sound will play as you select it, so you can hear each option before confirming. Once you tap a sound, it becomes your new notification sound for all Instagram alerts on that device.

If you want different sounds for different types of alerts (messages versus post likes, for example), you may not be able to do that through Instagram alone. iPhone's notification settings let you set one sound per app. If you need more granular control, you would need to use Focus modes or Do Not Disturb to silence certain notifications at certain times.

Changing the notification sound on Android

On Android, open the Instagram app and tap your profile icon in the bottom right corner. Tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) and go to Settings and privacy. From there, tap Notifications and messages.

Look for the notification sound option — it may be labeled "Notification sound" or "Sound". Tap it and you will see a list of sounds available on your device. These include system sounds and any custom sounds you have added to your phone's ringtone folder. Select the sound you want. Unlike iPhone, some Android phones let you set different sounds for different notification types within the same app, so check whether that option appears below the main sound setting.

If you do not see a custom sound you created, it may not be in the correct folder. Android looks for ringtones in the Ringtones folder on your internal storage. If you downloaded a sound file, move it there and it should appear the next time you open the notification sound menu.

Using custom sounds you created or downloaded

Both iPhone and Android let you use custom sounds, but they have to be in the right place first. On iPhone, custom ringtones must be added through iTunes or the Finder (on Mac) and synced to your phone, or created using a ringtone app. On Android, read or create an audio file and move it to the Ringtones folder in your phone's file storage.

The audio file should be short — between 5 and 30 seconds works best for a notification sound. Longer files will be cut off. Use a common format like MP3 or WAV. Once the file is in the correct folder, it should appear in your notification sound list the next time you open the settings.

Setting different sounds for Instagram calls versus messages

Instagram does not have a built-in option to use one sound for calls and a different sound for messages. Both use the same notification sound you set in your phone's settings. If you want to distinguish between them, you have a few workarounds.

On iPhone, you can use Focus modes to silence Instagram notifications during certain times, or use Do Not Disturb to mute all notifications except calls. On Android, some phones let you create notification channels within the app settings, which means you might be able to set different sounds for different notification types — check under Notifications and messages in Instagram settings to see if that option exists on your device.

Another option is to turn off notifications for one type of alert entirely. For example, you could silence message notifications and keep only call notifications on, or vice versa. This way, you know which type of alert you are getting based on whether you hear a sound at all.

Troubleshooting: the sound is not changing

If you changed the notification sound but Instagram still plays the old one, restart your phone. Sometimes the app does not pick up the new setting until you reboot. Close Instagram completely and open it again — do not just switch away from it.

If the sound still does not change, check that notifications are actually turned on for Instagram. Go back to your phone's notification settings for Instagram and make sure the toggle for "Allow Notifications" is on. If it is off, turn it on and select your sound again.

On Android, if a custom sound you added is not showing up, double-check that the file is in the Ringtones folder and that it is in a supported format (MP3 or WAV). If the file is in a different folder or in an unsupported format, it will not appear in the list.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I set a different sound for Instagram calls than for Instagram messages?

Instagram does not have a built-in setting to use separate sounds for calls and messages. Both use the same notification sound. You can work around this by silencing one type of notification entirely through your phone's settings, or by using Focus modes on iPhone to control when Instagram alerts play.

Why is my custom ringtone not showing up in the notification sound list?

On Android, custom sounds must be in the Ringtones folder on your phone's internal storage. On iPhone, custom ringtones must be added through iTunes or a ringtone app and synced to your device. If your file is in a different location or format, it will not appear in the list.

Will changing the notification sound affect other apps?

No. Each app has its own notification sound setting. Changing Instagram's sound will not affect notifications from other apps like Facebook, WhatsApp, or your text messages.

What if I want Instagram notifications to be silent?

Go to your phone's notification settings for Instagram and turn off the "Allow Notifications" toggle, or select "None" or "Silent" if that option appears. You can also use Do Not Disturb or Focus modes to silence Instagram notifications during specific times.