How to get notifications on Apple Watch when specific accounts post pictures to Instagram

With around 200 million photos and videos being shared on Instagram every day, receiving only the alerts from specific accounts you follow is important if you want to reduce the amount of noise hitting your wrist.

Alternatively, if your special friend (read crush) occasionally posts to Instagram, you may want to be immediately notified when they post a picture. This way, their image isn’t buried somewhere on your Instagram Home feed that’s full of ads and suggested posts curated by Instagram.

Here’s how to receive notification alerts on your Apple Watch and iPhone when a specific person posts a photo, video, Story, or Reel to Instagram.

Three Apple Watch mockups showing an Instagram notification for a new post on the watch screen

Breakdown of steps

  • Step 1: We will set Instagram to notify you when that specific person/account publishes a post.
  • Step 2: Next, we will ensure the Instagram app on your iPhone is allowed to send notifications.
  • Step 3: And finally, we will make sure your Apple Watch can receive Instagram notifications.

How to receive new post alerts for an Instagram account on your Apple Watch

Set Instagram to notify you

  1. Go to that person’s Instagram profile and tap the bell icon from the top right. You’ll see this bell icon only if you’re following that account.
  2. Enable the switch for Posts and other options as desired. After this, whenever this person publishes anything to Instagram, you will be notified.
Get notified of new posts from an Instagram account

Allow your iPhone’s Instagram app to send notifications

  1. Open the Settings app and tap Notifications.
  2. Pick Instagram from the list of apps.
  3. Make sure Allow Notifications is turned on. From the same screen, enable Lock Screen, Notification Center, and Banners.
Instagram app notification settings on iPhone

Set up Instagram notifications for Apple Watch

  1. Open the Watch app on your iPhone and tap Notifications from the My Watch section.
  2. Scroll down to Mirror iPhone Alerts From and enable the switch next to Instagram.
Mirror Instagram notifications to Apple Watch

From now on, when that account posts to Instagram, you will receive a notification on your iPhone and your Apple Watch (see the image at the top of this post). Just make sure to keep these points in mind:

  • You will receive a notification on your Apple Watch only when your iPhone is locked.
  • During Do Not Disturb or other Focus modes on your iPhone, all notifications may be muted. In that case, you won’t be alerted on your Apple Watch as well.
  • Please restart your iPhone and Apple Watch if you don’t see the option to mirror Instagram notifications or if the notifications aren’t delivered to your Watch on time.
  • Follow the above steps and turn off the notifications if you no longer want to get alerts for that account.

Useful Instagram tips: