Want to stay updated with your favorite Instagram accounts? Enabling post notifications is the perfect solution to make sure you never miss a post from friends, family, or influencers you follow. This feature alerts you whenever specific accounts share new content, keeping you in the loop without constantly checking the app.

In this guide, I'll walk you through the simple steps to turn on Instagram post notifications across different devices, troubleshoot common problems, and help you manage your notification settings effectively.

Why Enable Instagram Post Notifications?

Before diving into the how-to, let's quickly look at why you might want to enable post notifications:

• Stay updated with close friends and family posts
• Never miss content from your favorite creators
• Keep track of time-sensitive announcements from businesses
• Follow important updates from news sources
• Be first to see limited-time offers or contests

Instagram's algorithm doesn't always show every post from accounts you follow in your main feed. Post notifications ensure you see content from accounts that matter most to you.

How to Enable Post Notifications on Instagram (Android)

Turning on post notifications on your Android device is straightforward. Follow these steps:

1. Open the Instagram app on your Android device
2. Go to the profile you want to receive notifications from
3. Tap the "Following" button at the top of their profile
4. Select "Notifications" from the menu
5. Toggle on "Posts" to receive notifications when they share new posts

You can also choose to enable notifications for Stories, Reels, Videos, and Live videos from the same menu. This gives you complete control over what content triggers notifications from each account.

How to Enable Post Notifications on Instagram (iPhone)

The process for iPhone users is very similar:

1. Launch the Instagram app on your iPhone
2. Navigate to the profile you're interested in
3. Tap the "Following" button at the top of their profile
4. Select "Notifications" from the dropdown menu
5. Toggle on the switch next to "Posts"

Just like on Android, you can customize your notification preferences for other content types from the same menu.

Enabling Instagram Post Notifications from Your Feed

You can also enable notifications directly from posts in your feed:

1. Find a post from the account you want notifications from
2. Tap the three dots (⋯) in the top right corner of the post
3. Select "Turn on Post Notifications" from the menu

This quick method allows you to enable notifications without visiting the user's profile.

Managing Post Notifications for Multiple Accounts

If you follow many accounts, enabling notifications selectively is important. Consider these strategies:

• Create a priority list of accounts you absolutely want notifications from
• Enable notifications only for accounts that post infrequently
• Turn on notifications temporarily for accounts running time-sensitive campaigns
• Review your notification settings periodically to remove accounts you no longer need updates from

Being selective helps prevent notification fatigue and ensures you only get alerts that matter to you.

Enabling Instagram Post Notifications on Desktop

If you primarily use Instagram on your computer, you can enable notifications through your browser:

1. Go to Instagram.com and log into your account
2. Navigate to the profile you want notifications from
3. Click the "Following" button
4. Select "Notifications" from the dropdown
5. Toggle on "Posts"

Keep in mind that to receive these notifications on your desktop, you'll need to allow browser notifications from Instagram.

Setting Up Browser Notifications

1. When prompted by your browser to allow notifications, click "Allow"
2. If you previously blocked notifications, click on the lock icon in your address bar
3. Change notification settings to "Allow"
4. Refresh the Instagram page

Checking Your Current Notification Settings

Not sure which accounts you've enabled notifications for? Here's how to check:

1. Go to your Instagram profile by tapping your profile picture in the bottom right
2. Tap the three lines (hamburger menu) in the top right
3. Select "Settings and privacy"
4. Tap "Notifications"
5. Under "Following and followers," you can review your notification settings

This section gives you a comprehensive overview of your notification settings and allows you to make global changes if needed.

Troubleshooting Instagram Post Notifications

Not receiving notifications even after enabling them? Try these solutions:

Check Your Device Notification Settings

Sometimes the issue lies with your phone settings rather than Instagram:

For Android:

1. Go to Settings on your phone
2. Tap "Apps" or "Applications"
3. Find and select "Instagram"
4. Tap "Notifications"
5. Make sure notifications are turned on
6. Check that all notification categories are enabled

For iPhone:

1. Open Settings on your iPhone
2. Scroll down and tap "Instagram"
3. Select "Notifications"
4. Ensure "Allow Notifications" is toggled on
5. Check that "Sounds," "Badges," and "Banners" are enabled according to your preferences

Common Notification Issues and Fixes

Problem	Possible Solution
Notifications are delayed	Check your internet connection; ensure battery optimization is disabled for Instagram
No notifications at all	Verify both Instagram and device notification settings are enabled
Notifications stop after a while	Update the Instagram app; check if the account is still active
Getting too many notifications	Review which accounts you've enabled notifications for; consider being more selective
Missing notifications for certain accounts	Verify you've enabled notifications specifically for that account

Update Your Instagram App

Outdated apps can cause notification problems. Make sure you're running the latest version:

1. Go to your device's app store (Google Play Store or Apple App Store)
2. Search for Instagram
3. If an update is available, tap "Update"

Clear Instagram Cache (Android)

For Android users, clearing the app cache can resolve notification issues:

1. Go to Settings on your phone
2. Tap "Apps" or "Applications"
3. Find and select "Instagram"
4. Tap "Storage"
5. Select "Clear Cache"

Reinstall Instagram

If all else fails, reinstalling the app often fixes persistent notification problems:

1. Uninstall Instagram from your device
2. Restart your phone
3. Download and install Instagram again from your app store
4. Log in and reconfigure your notification settings

Quick Tip to ensure your videos never go missing

Videos are precious memories and all of us never want to lose them to hard disk crashes or missing drives. PicBackMan is the easiest and simplest way to keep your videos safely backed up in one or more online accounts. 

Simply download PicBackMan (it's free!), register your account, connect to your online store and tell PicBackMan where your videos are - PicBackMan does the rest, automatically. It bulk uploads all videos and keeps looking for new ones and uploads those too. You don't have to ever touch it.

Comparing Instagram Notification Types

Instagram offers various notification types. Understanding the differences helps you choose which ones to enable:

Notification Type	What It Does	Best For
Post Notifications	Alerts when an account shares a new post	Keeping up with favorite creators or close friends
Story Notifications	Alerts when an account posts a new story	Following accounts that share frequent updates
Live Notifications	Alerts when an account starts a live video	Catching real-time content from important accounts
IGTV Notifications	Alerts for new IGTV videos	Following accounts that create longer-form content
Reel Notifications	Alerts for new Reels	Keeping up with accounts that create short-form videos

Managing Notification Overload

Too many notifications can become overwhelming. Here are strategies to keep them manageable:

Create a Notification Schedule

Instagram allows you to pause notifications temporarily:

1. Go to your profile
2. Tap the three lines (hamburger menu)
3. Select "Settings and privacy"
4. Tap "Notifications"
5. Select "Pause All"
6. Choose a duration (15 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, 4 hours, or 8 hours)

This feature is perfect for meetings, study sessions, or when you need to focus without distractions.

Use Quiet Hours

Set up quiet hours to prevent notifications during specific times:

1. Go to your profile
2. Tap the three lines (hamburger menu)
3. Select "Settings and privacy"
4. Tap "Notifications"
5. Select "Quiet Mode"
6. Set your preferred schedule

This helps maintain a healthy balance between staying updated and avoiding nighttime disruptions.

Be Selective with Notifications

Not every account deserves your immediate attention. Consider these guidelines:

• Enable post notifications only for your top 5-10 favorite accounts
• Review your notification settings monthly
• Remove notification settings for accounts whose content no longer interests you
• Use the Close Friends feature for personal connections instead of notifications

Instagram Notification Etiquette

When asking others to enable notifications for your account, keep these points in mind:

• Don't repeatedly ask followers to turn on notifications
• Provide value that makes notifications worthwhile
• Mention notification options only when sharing particularly important content
• Respect that not everyone wants notifications, even from accounts they enjoy

Post Notifications vs. Instagram Algorithm

Understanding how post notifications relate to the Instagram algorithm helps you make better decisions about which accounts to follow closely:

• The algorithm prioritizes content from accounts you interact with frequently
• Post notifications ensure you see content regardless of algorithm changes
• Engaging with posts you see via notifications signals to the algorithm that you value that account's content
• This creates a positive feedback loop, potentially showing you more content from those accounts naturally

Enabling Notifications for Business Accounts

If you manage a business account and want to stay on top of engagement:

1. Go to your business profile
2. Tap the three lines (hamburger menu)
3. Select "Settings and privacy"
4. Tap "Notifications"
5. Choose "Comments," "Likes," "Tags," etc.
6. Select your preferred notification settings for each category

This helps you respond promptly to customer inquiries and engagement, which is crucial for business accounts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why am I not receiving Instagram post notifications even after enabling them?

If you've enabled post notifications but aren't receiving them, check your device's notification settings for Instagram. Make sure notifications are allowed at the system level. Also, verify your internet connection, as notifications require data to come through. If problems persist, try logging out and back into Instagram, clearing the app cache, or reinstalling the app.

Can I enable post notifications for hashtags on Instagram?

Instagram doesn't currently offer direct notifications for hashtags. However, you can follow hashtags by searching for them and tapping the "Follow" button. While this doesn't send notifications, it does incorporate posts with those hashtags into your regular feed, making them more visible to you.

Is there a limit to how many accounts I can enable post notifications for?

Instagram doesn't set a specific limit on how many accounts you can enable post notifications for. However, for practical purposes, it's best to be selective. Enabling notifications for too many accounts can lead to notification overload, which might cause you to ignore or disable notifications entirely.

Will people know if I turn on post notifications for their account?

No, Instagram users cannot see who has enabled post notifications for their content. This action is private and only affects your experience on the platform. The account holder won't receive any notification or indication that you've turned on post notifications for them.

How do I turn off post notifications for an account I no longer want updates from?

To disable post notifications, visit the profile of the account, tap the "Following" button, select "Notifications," and toggle off "Posts." You can also manage all your notification settings by going to your profile, tapping the three lines (hamburger menu), selecting "Settings and privacy," and then "Notifications" to review and adjust all notification types.

Conclusion

Enabling Instagram post notifications is a simple yet effective way to stay connected with the accounts that matter most to you. Whether you're using an Android device, iPhone, or desktop computer, the process takes just a few taps or clicks.

Remember to be selective about which accounts you enable notifications for to avoid notification fatigue. Regularly review your notification settings and adjust them based on your changing interests and priorities.

By following the steps and troubleshooting tips in this guide, you'll ensure you never miss important updates from your favorite Instagram accounts while maintaining a healthy balance with your social media usage.