Feeling overwhelmed by endless notifications or missing updates from your favorite people on Instagram Threads? You’re not alone, but here’s the good news: Threads lets you customize notifications so they work for you.
Enable Post Notifications and Stay Updated
We all have those people whose content we can’t afford to miss—whether it’s your best friend, a favorite creator, or a brand that inspires you. Instead of endlessly scrolling to catch their latest post, you can make things easier by enabling notifications just for them. Keep in mind, though, you’ll need to follow them first to activate this feature.
Here’s how: visit their profile on Threads and tap the bell icon in the top corner. From there, choose the type of updates you want to receive—threads, replies, or both. You can even turn on push notifications for real-time alerts. Once it’s set up, you’ll always stay in the loop.
Take Control of Who Can Mention You
Ever feel like you’re tagged in things you don’t really want to be a part of? Threads make it super simple to decide who gets to mention you.
Go to your profile, tap the settings icon (those two lines at the top right corner), and navigate to the “Privacy” section. From there, choose “Mentions” and select whether you want mentions to come from everyone, just the people you follow, or no one at all. This way, you can keep your mentions clean and relevant—no more random tags pulling you into conversations you didn’t sign up for.
Pause Notifications When You Need a Break
Sometimes, you just need to unplug without completely turning off your notifications forever. That’s where the “Pause All” feature comes in handy. Let’s say you’re deep in work or just want some uninterrupted Netflix time—go to the Threads settings, tap on “Notifications,” and turn on “Pause all.” You can choose how long you want to pause notifications, from 15 minutes to a whopping 8 hours. Once the timer is up, your notifications come back automatically. It’s perfect for those moments when you need to focus or relax.
Mute Accounts While Keeping the Peace
We all know someone who posts a little too much, right? But you don’t want to hurt their feelings by unfollowing them. Muting is the perfect middle ground. When you see a thread from someone you want to mute, tap the three dots in the top right corner of their post and choose “Mute.” This way, their posts and replies won’t show up in your feed, but you’ll still stay connected.
Use Take a Break Reminders for Better Balance
Let’s be honest—scrolling through Threads can quickly pull you in. One minute, you’re checking a few updates, and suddenly, an hour has flown by. Thankfully, Threads has a “Take a Break” feature to help you stay on track. To set it up, go to settings, select “Account,” and then tap “Break reminder.” You can choose to get a gentle nudge after 10, 20, or 30 minutes of app use. It’s a simple feature, but it can go a long way in helping you stay mindful of your screen time.
There you have it—five simple tricks to take control of your Instagram Threads notifications and make the app work for you, not the other way around. Whether it’s staying updated on your favorite accounts or setting healthy boundaries, these tips will help you create a more balanced and enjoyable experience.
