Instagram’s Quiet mode lets you pause notifications and let people know you’re unavailable. Here’s what it does, what it’s called now, and how to turn it on or off.
Meta introduced Quiet mode on Instagram in January 2023 to help people focus and set boundaries with their time, especially at night and while studying. Instagram has since renamed the feature Sleep mode: Meta’s announcement was updated in January 2025 to say that “at launch, Sleep mode was called Quiet mode, but its name has since changed.” Depending on your app version and region, you may see either name.
Updated October 2026. Based on Meta’s announcement and Instagram’s Help Center (see Sources). Instagram changes its menus regularly, so the exact labels in your app may differ slightly.
What is Quiet Mode on Instagram?
Quiet mode (now Sleep mode) is an Instagram feature that pauses your notifications. According to Meta, while it’s on:
- you won’t receive notifications;
- your activity status changes so people can see you’re unavailable;
- anyone who sends you a direct message gets an automatic reply saying you won’t be notified.
Messages still arrive; you just aren’t notified until the mode ends. Instagram’s Help Center describes it as a daily schedule, with a default window of 11 pm to 7 am that you can change. It does not limit how long you can use the app: for that, Instagram has separate time-management settings. Meta also prompts teens to turn the mode on when they spend time on Instagram late at night.
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How to Turn on Quiet Mode on Instagram?
Based on Instagram’s Help Center:
- Open the Instagram app and go to your profile.
- Tap the menu (three lines) in the top-right corner.
- Tap Notifications.
- Tap Quiet mode (or Sleep mode) and switch it on.
- Edit the start and end times if you want a schedule other than the default.
If you can’t find the option, update the Instagram app and check again, as features and labels can roll out at different times in different countries.
How to turn off Quiet Mode on Instagram?
Follow the same steps (profile > menu > Notifications > Quiet mode or Sleep mode) and switch the toggle off. Notifications resume straight away.
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Uses of Quiet Mode on Instagram
- Better sleep: silence notifications overnight so they don’t wake you or tempt you to scroll.
- Focus time: pause notifications while you study, work or attend meetings.
- Clear expectations: the auto-reply and activity status tell friends why you aren’t replying, so you don’t feel pressure to answer straight away.
