Where to find Instagram notification settings

Instagram notification sounds live in your phone's settings, not inside the Instagram app itself. On both iPhone and Android, you control what sound plays when Instagram sends you a message, like, comment, or follow notification by going to your phone's main settings menu, then finding the Instagram app listed there.

The exact path depends on your phone type. On iPhone, open Settings, scroll down to find Instagram, tap it, then tap Notifications. On Android, open Settings, go to Apps or process Manager, find Instagram, tap Notifications, then tap Sound or Notification Sound. Your phone will show you the current sound and let you pick a different one from your phone's built-in library.

Key Takeaways

  • Instagram notification sounds are controlled through your phone's settings, not through the Instagram app itself.
  • iPhone users go to Settings > Instagram > Notifications to change the sound; Android users go to Settings > Apps > Instagram > Notifications > Sound.
  • You can set different sounds for different types of notifications — messages, likes, comments, and follows can each have their own sound.
  • If you do not see a sound option in Instagram's notification settings, your phone may require you to change the sound through the main notification settings instead.

Setting different sounds for different notification types on iPhone

iPhone lets you assign a unique sound to each type of Instagram notification. After you open Settings > Instagram > Notifications, you will see a list of notification categories: Direct Messages, Likes, Comments, Follows, and others depending on your Instagram version. Tap each one individually to set its sound.

When you tap a notification type, a Sound option will appear. Tap Sound, and your phone will play a preview of each available sound as you scroll through the list. Choose the one you want, and it will explore only to that notification type. This means your message notifications can have a different sound than your comment notifications, for example.

Setting different sounds for different notification types on Android

Android also allows separate sounds for different notification types, but the path varies slightly by phone brand and Android version. Open Settings, find Apps or process Manager, select Instagram, then tap Notifications. You should see a list of notification channels — Direct Messages, Likes, Comments, Follows, and so on.

Tap the notification type you want to change, then look for Sound or Notification Sound. Tap it to open your phone's sound library. Select the sound you want, and it will explore to that notification type only. If you do not see individual notification channels, your phone may only let you set one sound for all Instagram notifications at once.

Using your phone's default sounds versus custom sounds

Both iPhone and Android come with a set of built-in notification sounds — things like Bells, Chimes, Radar, and Swoosh. These are the sounds you will see when you tap the Sound option in Instagram's notification settings. Most phones let you use any of these defaults without extra steps.

If you want to use a sound you recorded yourself or downloaded, the process is different. On iPhone, you would need to use a third-party app or iTunes to add a custom sound to your phone's notification library first. On Android, you can usually place a custom sound file in your phone's Notifications folder and it will appear in the sound picker. Check your phone's manual or support site for the exact folder path, as it varies by manufacturer.

What to do if the sound option does not appear

Sometimes the Sound option does not show up in Instagram's notification settings, even though you are in the right menu. This usually means your phone's operating system is handling notification sounds through a different route. On iPhone, try going to Settings > Notifications > Instagram instead of Settings > Instagram > Notifications — the order matters on some iOS versions.

On Android, check whether you have notification sounds turned on at all. Go to Settings > Apps > Instagram > Notifications and look for a toggle that says Sound or Allow Sound. If it is off, turn it on first. If the sound option still does not appear, your phone may only let you change sounds through the main notification settings rather than the app-specific ones. In that case, go to Settings > Notifications > Notification Sounds and look for Instagram listed there.

Turning off Instagram notification sounds entirely

If you want Instagram notifications to arrive silently, you have two options. The first is to set the notification sound to None or Silent if that option appears in your phone's sound picker. The second is to turn off sound notifications entirely by finding a toggle labeled Sound or Allow Sound in the Instagram notification settings and switching it off.

Turning off sound does not delete your notifications — they will still appear on your screen and in your notification center. You will just not hear an audio alert when they arrive. You can always turn the sound back on later by reversing the same steps.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I set a different notification sound for Instagram messages than for other Instagram notifications?

Yes, on both iPhone and Android. Go to your phone's notification settings for Instagram, find Direct Messages as a separate category, and set its sound independently from Likes, Comments, and Follows. Each notification type can have its own sound.

Why does my Instagram notification sound not match what I selected?

Your phone may be using a system-wide notification sound that overrides the app-specific setting. Check your phone's main notification settings (not just Instagram's settings) to see if a default sound is set there. Also confirm that sound notifications are actually turned on for Instagram — some phones disable sound by default for certain apps.

Can I use a song from my music library as an Instagram notification sound?

On most phones, no — notification sounds must come from your phone's built-in notification library or a custom sound file placed in the correct folder. Full songs are usually too long. On Android, you can sometimes place a short audio file in your Notifications folder and use it, but iPhone does not support this without additional apps.

Will changing my notification sound affect notifications from other apps?

No. Changing Instagram's notification sound only affects Instagram. Other apps keep their own notification sounds unless you change them separately through their individual settings.

What if I cannot find Instagram in my phone's app settings?

Make sure Instagram is actually installed on your phone. If it is, try restarting your phone and checking again — sometimes newly installed apps take a moment to appear in settings. If Instagram still does not show up, uninstall and reinstall it from your phone's app store.