To turn on post notifications on Instagram, open the followed account’s profile in a supported mobile app, open its notification control, select Posts and enable the available alert option. Notifications for Stories, Reels and Live videos are separate choices.
Before you turn on notifications for an account
You must already follow the Instagram account whose content alerts you want to receive. If you do not follow it, follow the account before looking for its profile-level notification options.
Use a supported Instagram mobile app for this workflow. Depending on your device and app interface, the control may appear as a notification or bell icon, or use slightly different wording. This applies to the mobile context on iPhone, Android, iPad and Instagram Lite where the profile notification control is available.
Meta says these per-account content notification controls are unavailable on computers. You therefore cannot configure alerts for one account’s posts through Instagram’s desktop website. See Meta’s help page for notifications from followed accounts for the official availability details.
How to turn on Instagram post notifications for someone
- Open Instagram on your phone or tablet.
- Find the account you follow and open its profile.
- Open the profile’s Notifications control. Its icon or wording can vary between supported mobile apps.
- Select Posts.
- Enable the available post-notification option.
You can return to the same profile control later to change the selection or turn the post alert off. Enabling it requests alerts for that account’s new posts, but it does not guarantee that every alert will arrive immediately.
Choose notifications for Posts, Stories, Reels and Live separately
Instagram treats each content type as a separate notification choice. Enabling Posts does not automatically enable alerts for everything else the account publishes.
- Posts: Select this for new post alerts.
- Stories: Select this separately if you want Story alerts.
- Reels: Select this separately if you want Reel alerts.
- Live videos: Open this category and choose from the options currently shown in your app if you want Live alerts.
Choose only the categories you want. You can revisit the profile’s notification control whenever you need to adjust an individual content type.
If Instagram post notifications are enabled but not arriving
Check the three notification layers separately. A profile-level choice can be enabled while a broader Instagram or device setting still blocks delivery.
| Layer | What to check |
|---|---|
| Account profile | Return to the followed account’s notification control and confirm that Posts is selected. |
| Instagram push settings | Confirm that Instagram’s wider push alerts are not paused or disabled for the relevant category. |
| Device permission | Confirm that your phone or tablet allows Instagram to send notifications. |
The broader Instagram push-notification settings are distinct from the choices on one account’s profile. Device permission is another separate layer. Check all three without assuming that changing one setting guarantees delivery.
Do I need to follow someone to turn on their Instagram post notifications?
Yes. Meta documents per-account content notifications for accounts you follow. Follow the account first, then open its profile notification control in a supported mobile app.
Can I turn on Instagram post notifications from a computer?
No. Meta says the per-account content notification controls covered here are unavailable on computers. Use a supported Instagram mobile app instead.