Do you dread picking up your phone these days? Does it feel like no matter when you look, another couple Instagram notifications are demanding your attention? You‘re not alone.
With over 2 billion monthly active users, Instagram‘s constant alerts and interruptions can feel impossible to manage. But your phone doesn‘t have to control you.
This comprehensive guide will show you how to customize your Instagram notifications so you can focus on the updates that matter most to you. Soon, you‘ll be scrolling Instagram when you want to – not just when it wants you to.
Why Take Control of Your Notifications?
Before we dive into the step-by-step settings, let‘s take a minute to understand why getting a handle on notifications is so important.
"Research shows that the constant smartphone notifications and pings we receive every day aren‘t just annoying – they can substantially disrupt productivity, attention span, and overall wellbeing."
As this Stanford research study revealed, frequent interruptions from notifications and alerts can:
- Increase stress and frustration levels
- Reduce ability to focus by up to 20%
- Double the number of mental mistakes made
When it comes to Instagram specifically, a BugInsights survey found that 68% of users feel overwhelmed by notifications from the app. Getting bombarded with Instagram alerts – no matter how exciting the updates may seem – takes a toll.
By thoughtfully customizing your notifications settings, you‘ll be able to…
- Reduce frustrating distractions
- Increase your ability to focus
- Feel more in control of your Instagram experience
Let‘s explore the steps for making this notification peace of mind a reality!
Accessing Your Notification Settings in 3 Easy Steps
Ready to start adjusting your settings? Following these simple steps will take you right where you need to go:
Step 1: Open the Instagram App & Tap Your Profile Icon
First, launch the Instagram app on your mobile device. Once it‘s open, tap on the profile icon in the bottom right corner:
This icon has your current profile picture and represents your account. Tapping it will open up your profile page.
Step 2: Tap the Menu Icon & Select "Settings"
From your profile, you‘ll see a menu icon in the top right corner (it looks like three horizontal lines). Tap this to open the menu, then scroll down and select "Settings":
This is the gateway to all your account and notification customizations!
Step 3: Select "Notifications" to Access Notification Settings
On the Settings page, you‘ll see a list of different options. Tap "Notifications" to access the notifications management portal:
And just like that, you‘ve reached notifications nirvana! From here you can fully customize your notifications.
Now let‘s explore what settings you have at your fingertips…
Notification Types & What They Control
Instagram offers granular control for fine tuning which notifications you receive and how often. Here‘s an overview of the different categories:
Push Notifications
This refers to any notifications that push directly to your device – whether they appear as banner alerts or icons in your notification tray. Most Instagram notifications fall into this bucket.
| Notification Type | Include |
|---|---|
| Posts | New posts from accounts you follow |
| Stories | New story posts from accounts you follow |
| Comments | New comments on your posts |
| Likes | New content likes |
| Live Videos | When accounts you follow start livestreams |
You can toggle each category on or off based on what content updates you want to prioritize.
For example, if likes and comments feel less urgent you could turn those off while still allowing post notifications.
Messages
These control notifications around Instagram‘s built-in Direct messaging.
| Notification Type | Include |
|---|---|
| Message Requests | When new accounts send a message request |
| Group Requests | When added to a new group message |
| Text Messages | New incoming text messages |
| Group Messages | New messages in group chats you‘re part of |
Consider your habits – if you don‘t check groups frequently, turning those message notifications off can help reduce noise.
Followers & Following
Manage updates around your follower community with these options:
| Notification Type | Include |
|---|---|
| Follower Requests | When new accounts request to follow you |
| New Followers | When new accounts follow you |
| Went Live | When accounts you follow start streaming |
| Shared Post | When accounts share one of your posts |
For example, you could turn off follower requests if you prefer to manually approve those on your own cadence.
And Lots More Customization…
We‘ve only scratched the surface of the customizations available across:
- Shopping notifications
- Live notifications
- Instagram suggestions & recommendations
- Direct emails from Instagram
Prioritize the updates that matter most to your goals and experience. Mute or turn off the rest.
Now that you know the possibilities, it‘s time to put these learnings into action!
Tailoring Notifications for Optimal Focus
Finding your ideal notification settings is a journey. Start by turning off distracting updates like comments and followers. Monitor if that helps your productivity. Then tweak from there based on what draws your attention unnecessarily.
Build restful boundaries with tools like:
Scheduling Notification Breaks
Set time ranges where notifications are paused completely, like when you‘re working or with family. Instagram has a "Quiet Mode" that does this automatically or you can trigger it manually in Settings.
Muting Overwhelming Accounts
If notifications from particular Instagrammers are out of control, you can mute their updates specifically instead of fully turning certain categories off. Open their profile, access Following tools from the menu icon, and select "Mute" to stop all alerts.
Using Do Not Disturb Str strategically
Your device probably has a Do Not Disturb mode – use it! Block notifications when you want to prevent all Instagram disruptions.
It may take experimentation to discover your optimal notification cadence. But the payoff for your focus is worth it!
Troubleshooting Common Notification Issues
Of course with complex functionality also comes potential for tech headaches. Here are some troubleshooting tips for common notification struggles:
Problem: Notifications are enabled but you‘ve stopped receiving them
Solution: Check your device notification settings to confirm Instagram has permission to send alerts. Toggle permissions off/back on to reset.
Problem: A muted account‘s notifications reactivated
Solution: Muted accounts can become unmuted during app update. Double check they are still disabled in your Following tools.
Problem: You only receive some notification types
Solution: iOS and Android restrict background notifications. Check OS guidelines for Instagram‘s categories.
Still struggling? Consult Instagram‘s notification support guidelines or contact their team.
Now that you know the ins and outs of this powerful functionality, hopefully you‘re feeling empowered to control your Instagram notifications instead of them controlling you! I‘d love to hear if you have any other questions – just send them my way. Happy customizing!
