Have you ever noticed that you don‘t get notifications from Instagram on your iPhone anymore? It can be super frustrating to miss out on comments, messages, and engagement on your posts simply because the notifications are broken.
Well, don‘t worry my friend – I‘ve got you covered!
In this detailed guide, I‘ll explain exactly why Instagram notifications may stop working on iPhones and show you how to troubleshoot and fix the problem for good.
By the end, you‘ll never miss an important Instagram notification again on your iPhone. Let‘s get started!
Contents
- Why Do Instagram Notifications Fail on iPhones?
- 12 Ways to Fix Instagram Notifications on iPhone
- 1. Verify Notification Settings in Instagram App
- 2. Check Notification Settings on iPhone
- 3. Update Instagram to Latest Version
- 4. Restart Your iPhone
- 5. Turn Off Low Power Mode
- 6. Reinstall the Instagram App
- 7. Reset Network Settings
- 8. Confirm Date/Time Settings
- 9. Update iOS Version
- 10. Disable Do Not Disturb
- 11. Enable Background App Refresh
- 12. Erase and Restore iPhone
- Why Are Instagram Notifications Failing More on iOS 16?
- Troubleshooting Instagram Notifications on iPhone XS/XR
Why Do Instagram Notifications Fail on iPhones?
Before we fix the issue, it helps to understand why it happens in the first place.
Here are the most common reasons your iPhone may not be getting Instagram notifications anymore:
You Accidentally Disabled Notifications
The obvious culprit – you or someone else toggled off notifications either within the Instagram app itself or in your iPhone‘s Settings app. It takes just one tap to turn them off!
Outdated Instagram App
Running an old version of the Instagram app can prevent notifications from coming through reliably. Bugs get fixed in app updates.
iOS Software Glitch
Sometimes a bug or glitch in iOS or even the iPhone‘s hardware can affect notifications system-wide, including Instagram.
Background App Refresh Off
With this iPhone setting disabled, Instagram can‘t fetch notifications in the background when the app is closed.
Do Not Disturb Enabled
When your iPhone is in Do Not Disturb mode, all notifications from all apps are blocked temporarily.
Poor Internet Connection
An unstable internet connection prevents Instagram‘s servers from pushing notifications to your iPhone.
Incorrect Date/Time Settings
If your iPhone‘s date and time are inaccurate, notifications scheduling can get disrupted across different apps.
Now that you know the likely reasons, let‘s go through all the solutions to get your Instagram notifications working again on iPhone!
12 Ways to Fix Instagram Notifications on iPhone
Follow these troubleshooting steps to restore Instagram notifications on your iPhone:
1. Verify Notification Settings in Instagram App
Open the Instagram app on your iPhone and check that notifications are enabled for the different activity types like Direct Messages, Comments, Likes etc.
Tap your profile > settings cog > Notifications and toggle on anything that‘s disabled.
2. Check Notification Settings on iPhone
Even if notifications are on in the Instagram app, they could be disabled at the iOS level. Go to Settings > Notifications > Instagram and make sure they are enabled.
3. Update Instagram to Latest Version
Go to App Store > your profile > check for Instagram app updates and install the latest version. Updated apps often fix notifications issues.
4. Restart Your iPhone
Press and hold the Side or Volume Down button on your iPhone to bring up the power slider. Slide to turn off your phone. Wait 30 seconds and turn it back on. Restarting refreshes the OS and fixes many minor bugs.
5. Turn Off Low Power Mode
Low Power Mode limits background activity to save battery life. Turn it off in Settings > Battery so Instagram can receive notifications in the background.
6. Reinstall the Instagram App
Delete and reinstall the Instagram app from the App Store. When asked, allow notifications again. This gives the app a fresh start fixing any corrupted files.
7. Reset Network Settings
Go to Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings. This fixes any iPhone network issues preventing notifications.
8. Confirm Date/Time Settings
Make sure automatic Date & Time and the correct timezone are set on your iPhone, or notifications can get delayed incorrectly.
9. Update iOS Version
Install the latest iOS updates from Settings > General > Software Update. New iOS versions often improve notifications reliability.
10. Disable Do Not Disturb
Swipe down from top-right to open Control Center and make sure Do Not Disturb mode is off. DND blocks all notifications until you manually turn it off.
11. Enable Background App Refresh
Go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh and make sure it is on and Instagram is enabled. This allows notifications to come through when the app is closed.
12. Erase and Restore iPhone
Backup your iPhone and erase all content and settings from Settings > General > Reset. Set up your phone again and reinstall Instagram as a last resort.
Why Are Instagram Notifications Failing More on iOS 16?
Many iPhone users have been reporting Instagram notifications issues specifically after updating to iOS 16. This is likely due to some bugs and compatibility problems with the new iOS version.
Here are some key differences in how notifications work on iOS 16 vs older iOS versions:
Lock Screen Notifications
iOS 16 introduces a completely revamped notifications system on the lock screen which has caused problems with certain apps like Instagram.
Focus Modes
The redesigned Focus modes for reducing distractions can sometimes block notifications from apps like Instagram even when they are not meant to be silenced.
Notifications Permissions
The new notification permission prompt when installing apps under iOS 16 has caused confusion leading some users to accidentally disable Instagram notifications.
Underlying Bugs
There are undoubtedly some software bugs and glitches in iOS 16 causing notifications to fail until Apple further optimizes the system in future updates.
So in summary, upgrading your iPhone to iOS 16 seems to have triggered Instagram notifications to stop working for many users. But Apple will likely fix these problems in subsequent iOS 16.x updates.
Troubleshooting Instagram Notifications on iPhone XS/XR
iPhones models like the popular iPhone XS and XR are also prone to Instagram notifications issues after iOS 16.
Here are some quick fixes to try on these iPhones:
- Force quit and relaunch the Instagram app from the app switcher.
- Enable notifications for Instagram in the Focus modes under Settings > Focus.
- Double check DND is off, since it is known to block Instagram notifications on iPhone XS/XR after iOS 16.
- Reset Network Settings under General > Reset to refresh network components.
- Try deleting and reinstalling the Instagram app from scratch.
- Finally, update your iPhone XS/XR to the latest iOS 16.1 version which should have notification bug fixes.
And that‘s a wrap! Hopefully by now your Instagram notifications are working perfectly again on your iPhone. Let me know in the comments if any of these troubleshooting tips did the trick for you! I‘m happy to help get your notifications back up and running.
