How to Change Instagram Notification Sound: Key Steps

Key Takeaways

• Android users can change Instagram notification sounds through their phone’s system settings or by using third-party apps
• iPhone users can’t directly change Instagram notification sounds but can modify notification style and settings
• Different phone brands (Samsung, Google Pixel, Xiaomi, etc.) have unique paths to access notification sound settings
• If notification sounds aren’t changing, troubleshooting steps include restarting your phone, clearing cache, and checking for system updates

Are you tired of missing important Instagram notifications because the default sound blends in with your other apps? Or maybe you just want to personalize your social media experience with a sound that better fits your style? Changing your Instagram notification sound can help you quickly identify when you’ve received a new message or like without even looking at your screen.

How to change Instagram notification sound depends largely on what type of device you’re using. Android users have several options, while iPhone users face more limitations. Some phone brands also offer unique customization settings that can make the process easier or more complex.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through multiple methods to change your Instagram notification sound on different devices, along with troubleshooting tips if you run into problems. Let’s make sure you never miss an important Instagram notification again!

How to Change Instagram Notification Sound on Android

Android users are in luck when it comes to customizing notification sounds. The open nature of the Android operating system gives you more flexibility to personalize your experience, including changing notification sounds or icons for specific apps like Instagram.

Method 1: Use system settings

The most straightforward way to change your Instagram notification sound on Android is through your phone’s system settings:

1. Open the Settings app on your Android phone
2. Scroll down and tap on Apps or Applications (may vary by device)
3. Find and select Instagram from your list of installed apps
4. Tap on Notifications or Notification settings
5. Select Notification categories to see different types of Instagram notifications
6. Choose Direct Messages or Other Notifications category
7. Tap on Sound to open a list of available notification tones
8. Browse through the available sounds, tap one to preview it
9. Select your preferred sound and tap Save or Apply

These steps might vary slightly depending on your Android version and phone manufacturer. Some phones might have the option labeled as “Sound and vibration” instead of just “Sound,” or the menus might be organized differently.

Method 2: Use a third-party app

If you want more customization options or if your phone’s system settings don’t give you the flexibility you want, third-party apps can help:

1. Visit the Google Play Store and search for “notification sound changer” or “custom notification sounds”
2. Download and install a reputable app (like Notification Sounds, Audiko Ringtones, or Zedge)
3. Open the app and browse through available sounds or upload your own audio file
4. Select or create a custom notification sound
5. Follow the app’s instructions to set it as the default sound for Instagram
6. This usually involves going back to your system settings and selecting the new sound you added

When using third-party apps, be careful about what permissions you grant. Stick to well-reviewed apps with privacy policies you’re comfortable with. Some apps might request more access to your phone than needed, so review permissions carefully.

How to Change Instagram Notification Sound on iPhone

Unfortunately for iPhone users, iOS has more restrictions when it comes to customizing notification sounds for individual apps. Apple doesn’t allow users to directly change the notification sound for specific apps like Instagram.

iOS uses a system-wide approach to notification sounds, where you can set default sounds for different categories (like text messages or reminders), but not for individual third-party apps. This means Instagram will use whatever sound you’ve set as your default notification sound.

Change Instagram notification style on iPhone

While you can’t change the actual sound, you can modify how Instagram notifications appear and behave:

1. Open Settings on your iPhone
2. Scroll down and tap Notifications
3. Find and select Instagram from the list of apps
4. Here you can adjust several options:
   • Toggle Allow Notifications on/off
   • Choose whether notifications appear in Notification Center
   • Set whether notifications appear on the Lock Screen
   • Select the Banner Style (temporary or persistent)
   • Enable/disable Sounds altogether
   • Toggle Badges (the red number dots on the app icon)

These settings can help you better distinguish Instagram notifications through their appearance, even if you can’t change the actual sound.

Set custom sound for Instagram DMs

While you can’t set a custom sound directly for Instagram DMs, there is a workaround that applies only to specific contacts if they message you:

1. Open the Phone or Contacts app on your iPhone
2. Select a contact you frequently chat with on Instagram
3. Tap Edit in the top-right corner
4. Scroll down and tap Text Tone
5. Choose a unique sound for this contact
6. Tap Done to save

Keep in mind this only works for regular text messages and calls, not Instagram notifications. When these contacts message you through SMS or iMessage, you’ll hear your custom tone, but Instagram notifications will still use your default sound.

How to Change Instagram Notification Sound on Specific Phone Brands

Different phone manufacturers often add their own custom layers on top of Android, which can change how you access notification settings.

Samsung phones (One UI customization)

Samsung’s One UI offers additional customization options:

1. Open Settings on your Samsung phone
2. Tap on Apps
3. Find and select Instagram
4. Tap Notifications
5. You’ll see categories like “Likes and comments,” “Direct messages,” etc.
6. Tap on a category, then select Sound
7. Choose your preferred notification tone
8. Tap Save to apply changes

Samsung phones also have a Sound Assistant app (available via Galaxy Store) that offers even more advanced sound customization options for different apps.

Google Pixel phones

Google Pixel phones follow a cleaner, more stock Android approach:

1. Open Settings
2. Tap Apps & notifications or just Notifications
3. Select See all apps and find Instagram
4. Tap Notifications
5. Choose a notification category
6. Tap Sound to change the notification tone

On Pixel phones, you can also access notification settings quickly by long-pressing the Instagram app icon on your home screen and selecting “App info” > “Notifications.”

Device Type	Can Change Sound?	Primary Method	Customization Level	Alternative Options
Android (Stock)	✅ YES	Settings → Apps → Instagram → Notifications → Sound	HIGH	Third-party apps, custom sound files
Samsung (One UI)	✅ YES	Settings → Apps → Instagram → Notifications → Category → Sound	VERY HIGH	Sound Assistant app, per-category sounds
Google Pixel	✅ YES	Settings → Apps & notifications → Instagram → Notifications → Sound	HIGH	Long-press app icon shortcut, system sounds
Xiaomi (MIUI)	✅ YES	Settings → Apps → Manage Apps → Instagram → Notifications → Sound	HIGH	MIUI themes, custom ringtones
OnePlus/Oppo	✅ YES	Settings → App Management → Instagram → Notifications → Sound	HIGH	OxygenOS/ColorOS sound library
iPhone (iOS)	❌ NO	Not available – uses system default notification sound	NONE	Change system notification sound, adjust notification style/appearance

Xiaomi, Oppo, OnePlus, and other Android brands

These brands have their own unique interfaces:

Xiaomi (MIUI):

1. Open Settings
2. Go to Apps > Manage Apps
3. Find and tap on Instagram
4. Select Notifications
5. Choose a notification category
6. Tap Sound to select a custom tone

Oppo & OnePlus (ColorOS & OxygenOS):

1. Open Settings
2. Tap App Management or Apps & notifications
3. Select Instagram
4. Tap Notifications
5. Choose a notification category
6. Select Sound to change it

Each brand adds its own twist to Android’s notification settings, but the general path is similar: Settings > Apps > Instagram > Notifications > Sound.

What to Do if Instagram Notification Sound Is Not Changing

Sometimes you might follow all the steps correctly, but your Instagram notification sound doesn’t change. Here’s why that might happen and how to fix it.

Common reasons

Several issues can prevent notification sound changes from taking effect:

1. Cache issues: Instagram’s app cache might be storing old settings.
2. System override: Your phone’s system settings might be overriding app-specific settings.
3. Software bugs: Either Instagram or your phone’s operating system might have bugs affecting notification sounds.
4. Silent mode: Your phone might be in silent mode, Do Not Disturb mode, or have notifications muted.
5. Battery optimization: Power-saving features can sometimes restrict background app activities, including notifications.

Troubleshooting steps

Try these fixes if your Instagram notification sound isn’t changing:

1. Restart your phone: This simple step can resolve many temporary glitches.
2. Clear Instagram’s cache:
   • For Android: Go to Settings > Apps > Instagram > Storage > Clear Cache
   • For iPhone: You’ll need to reinstall the app, as iOS doesn’t allow clearing cache directly
3. Update Instagram:
   • Make sure you’re running the latest version from the App Store or Google Play Store
   • Outdated apps can have compatibility issues with newer operating systems

Problem	Possible Causes	Solutions	Success Rate
Sound Not Changing	App cache issues, system override, outdated software	1. Restart phone 2. Clear Instagram cache 3. Update Instagram app 4. Reinstall Instagram	HIGH
No Sound at All	Silent mode, Do Not Disturb, volume off, notification permissions	1. Turn off silent/DND mode 2. Increase system volume 3. Check notification permissions 4. Verify sound isn’t muted in settings	VERY HIGH
Sound Reverts to Default	App/system updates, battery optimization, corrupted settings	1. Disable battery optimization for Instagram 2. Re-apply sound settings after updates 3. Check if sound file still exists	MEDIUM
Delayed Notifications	Battery saver mode, background restrictions, network issues	1. Disable battery optimization 2. Allow background data 3. Check internet connection 4. Enable Background App Refresh (iOS)	HIGH
Custom Sound Not Working	Incompatible file format, file moved/deleted, permission issues	1. Use MP3 or OGG format 2. Keep sound file in Notifications folder 3. Re-add sound file 4. Grant storage permissions	MEDIUM
Sound Option Grayed Out	System restrictions, iPhone limitations, notification category disabled	1. Enable notification category first 2. Check if notifications allowed 3. On iPhone: Not fixable due to iOS limitations	MEDIUM

1. Check notification settings:
   • Make sure Do Not Disturb mode is off
   • Verify that Instagram has notification permissions
   • Check that system volume is turned up
2. Disable battery optimization for Instagram:
   • On Android: Settings > Battery > Battery Optimization > Find Instagram > Don’t optimize
   • On iPhone: This isn’t directly available, but you can check if Background App Refresh is on
3. Reinstall Instagram:
   • Uninstall the app completely
   • Restart your device
   • Install Instagram again from the official app store
   • Set up your notification preferences from scratch

If all else fails, you might need to wait for a system update or an Instagram app update to fix potential bugs.

Conclusion

Changing your Instagram notification sound can help you stay on top of important interactions without constantly checking your phone. While Android users have more flexibility for customization, iPhone users are more limited but can still adjust notification styles to better manage their Instagram experience.

Remember that different phone brands offer varying paths to notification settings, so you might need to adapt these instructions slightly for your specific device. And if you run into trouble, the troubleshooting steps should help resolve most common issues.

For the best results, check your notification settings periodically, especially after system updates or when Instagram releases new versions. These updates may reset your preferences or introduce new notification options.

Take a few minutes today to personalize your Instagram notifications – it’s a small change that can make managing your social media much more convenient.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I change the IG notification sound on iOS 17?

In iOS 17, you still cannot change the specific notification sound for Instagram. However, you can adjust your overall notification settings by going to Settings > Sounds & Haptics to change your default notification sound, which will affect Instagram notifications. You can also manage Instagram notification behavior in Settings > Notifications > Instagram, where you can control when and how notifications appear.

Can you change the Instagram call sound?

On Android devices, you might be able to change the Instagram call sound by going to Settings > Apps > Instagram > Notifications > Call notifications > Sound. However, Instagram often uses the system’s default call ringtone, especially on iPhones, where customization is more limited. Instagram video call sounds cannot be changed separately from your phone’s ringtone on iOS.

How can you turn on notifications for a specific user on Instagram?

To receive notifications for a specific Instagram user:

1. Open Instagram and go to the profile of the user you want to follow closely
2. Tap “Following” at the top of their profile
3. Select “Notifications”
4. Choose which types of content you want notifications for (posts, stories, live videos, etc.)
5. Toggle on the notification options you want

This works the same way on both Android and iPhone devices and allows you to stay updated on activity from your favorite accounts without enabling notifications for everyone you follow.