Why don't I have Instagram notes? How to fix 'Instagram notes not showing' issue?

Not long ago Instagram released a new feature called Instagram Notes which was said to be quite similar to how AIM (an instant messaging computer software created by AOL) worked.

It is surely an interactive feature that can help many to stay engaged with their followers. But some users are complaining and tweeting about an Instagram Notes issue as below.

And the crazy thing is that the notes don’t appear on my Instagram 😂 https://t.co/RO7O5T978L

— Jala 🤩 (@jala____) December 14, 2022

In this article, we’ll walk you through everything you want to know about Instagram Notes and issues like ‘Instagram Notes Not Showing’ that surround it. So, let’s get down to business and start by talking a bit about what exactly Instagram Notes are.

Instagram Notes: An Overview

With almost every other social media platform coming up with cool new features time and time again, Instagram Notes by Instagram is no surprise. After testing it for a while, Instagram introduced its Notes feature, which allows users to post quick notes with disappearing content.

Like the Instagram Stories feature, the notes also disappear after 24 hours. Released in December 2022, you can add a short message to notes up to 60 characters. While it is already available for various reasons, not everyone knows about it and its use. In fact, some users are facing the problem of not being able to post on Instagram.

Users can share their thoughts in sticky notes with their added close friends list, or with their followers and those they follow on Instagram. It’s a fun way to interact with others and also see what they have to say when they share their thoughts.

The Instagram Notes feature is being liked by many users, and many are already using it. However, some users are complaining that Instagram notes are not showing. So, to answer the question, ‘why don’t I have notes on Instagram?’, let’s first take a look at the reasons and understand why this might be the case.

Why aren’t Instagram notes showing?

Unlike DMs on Instagram, the Instagram Notes feature is the complete opposite. While you’re notified when someone messages you on Instagram, Instagram notes stay hidden in your inbox.

However, if you can’t see them for any reason, there is a list of factors that could lead to “Why can’t I see notes on Instagram?” issue. They are listed below:

You may have a poor network connection.
There is something wrong with your device.
The update, including the Instagram Notes feature, is not installed.
You are not added as a close friend of the user or they do not follow each other.
Instagram Notes is not yet available in your region.
Your Instagram app is out of date.

Here are some reasons that might make you wonder, ‘why isn’t my Instagram showing notes?’ Now let’s take a look at the steps for ‘how to get Instagram notes’.

How to get notes from Instagram?

Just like the Instagram Stories feature, the Instagram Notes feature also stays for 24 hours only. It allows users to share their thoughts. So if you also want to share notes on Instagram and want to know how you can get Instagram Notes, here is a step by step guide.

Check your messages

Before you overthink your own thoughts and let FOMO get the best of you, make sure you’re looking for the notes in the right place! Instagram is a pretty big place, and some can get lost looking for the right options and features.

So, you need to make sure that you don’t check the wrong options to view Instagram notes as they can only be posted and viewed in direct messages. And if you’ve been looking for them in the Instagram Feed, you’re missing them without a clue. Some users have also faced “Instagram could not update feed” issue.

Now you know that instead of an Instagram feed, you should be looking in direct messages for Instagram notes. To find Instagram notes in your DMS:

Solution Brief: Instagram < Messenger icon < + icon on your profile picture

Here you will also be able to see the Instagram notes of other users who have shared them with you.

update instagram

One of the most important things that people forget or often tend to ignore or skip is updating their apps. And the same can be the case here for Instagram too.

Since Instagram Notes arrived in December 2022, there are many who might not have updated the Instagram app and therefore cannot find it. So make sure to update your Instagram account by following the steps below:

Go to Play Store or App Store.
Search Instagram.
Check if a new version is available.
If there is, click Update.

Create a close friends list

If you don’t have a close friends list created for your account on Instagram, this may also be the reason why you can’t show Instagram notes to others or ‘why can’t I see Instagram notes?’

So, to create a close friends list on Instagram, follow the steps below:

Go to Instagram and tap on the profile icon.

Then click the Menu icon and select Nearby Friends.

Click Get Started.

Once you’re ready to add friends, tap Add next to the user’s name and click Create List.

Once you’ve done that, check if you can now see your followers’ Instagram notes or if you can add your own now.

Try switching to a professional account

One way to fix the ‘Instagram Notes not showing’ problem is by switching to a professional account. To do so, follow the steps below:

Go to Instagram and tap on your profile photo.

Then click on the three line menu icon at the top right.

Tap Settings.

Go to Account.

Now scroll down and tap Switch to work account.

Proceed with the prompts on the screen.

Now go back to your DMS and check if the Instagram Notes feature is available, if it is not then you can try going back to your personal account and see if the Instagram Notes feature is now there.

Enable activity status

If Instagram Notes isn’t working for you, you can turn on Activity Status and see if it helps.

Open Instagram and click on your profile icon.

Now tap on the three line Menu icon.

Choose Settings.

Click Privacy.

Now scroll down and tap on Activity Status.

Turn on the Show activity status option.

After that, head over to your Messages and see if the Instagram Notes feature is now available for you.

Check if notes are muted

In case you didn’t know, there is also the option to mute Instagram notes. So, you may have accidentally or unknowingly muted them. However, if this is the case, the process of muting Instagram Notes is not that simple.

To mute someone’s notes on Instagram, you’ll need to long press on their note and then tap on the ‘Mute Notes’ option. So if you want to check if Instagram Notes are annotated, you can do it in the following ways:

Open Instagram and go to the profile you think you might have muted notes for.
Below their timeline, tap Following < Mute < Unmute notes.

If you have muted notes for more than one user, it can surely be a slow process, so make sure you go through the other methods before trying this one.

Check if the Instagram Notes feature is available in your region

There is also a chance that the Instagram Notes feature may not be available for your region yet. This is because the feature is still being tested in some locations, leading to the “Instagram Notes Not Showing” issue for some users.

If you are sure after checking that the feature has not been implemented for you and you want to use the feature anyway, there is a VPN option. With any premium VPN, chances are you can get your hands on the Instagram Notes feature.

Change your location/region to the United States.
Close your Instagram session.
Now log in again with your login details.
Check if you can now use the Instagram Notes feature.

Now hopefully you will be able to use the Instagram Notes feature and if not then move on to the next method.

Contact Instagram support

In case none of the methods explained so far have worked for you, you are left with one last resort that might just do the trick. And that is contacting Instagram Support directly.

You can report this issue for further assistance. The steps to do this are as follows:

Open Instagram and tap on your profile icon.

Then select the Menu icon.

Then click Settings.

Select Help.

Now choose Report a problem.

Now you can mention the problem you are facing and explain it in the description box provided.

The methods discussed in the article will help you understand the “Instagram notes not showing” problem and hopefully help you solve it as well.

final thoughts

Before you completely give up on the ‘Instagram notes not showing’ problem, be sure to try the methods discussed in the article. After analyzing the reasons, you can most likely find out and get the answer to “why don’t I have instagram notes”.

The methods explained in the article will help you get away with the ‘why don’t I have notes on Instagram’ problem. For the most part, the reason is probably because the Instagram Notes feature is not available in your region or you haven’t updated your Instagram app. Well, the final step is up to you and hopefully the feature will roll out soon as well.

frequent questions

How to make an Instagram Note easily?

Answer: You can add a note on Instagram by following the simple steps below:

Open Instagram
Go to your Messages.
Tap +Leave a note with your profile photo.
Write what you want and touch Share.

Can you delete an Instagram note?

Answer: Yes, you can easily delete a note from Instagram. To do it:

Open Instagram and go to your inbox.
Click on your note and long press.
Tap Delete note.

Why don’t I have Instagram notes after an update?

Answer: There may be several reasons why you can’t see Instagram notes even after an update, such as the phone you’re using, or the feature itself not available in your region yet.

Sources:

Instagram Notes Not Showing Up, Reddit Colleen Christison, Instagram Notes Explained: What the Heck Are They For?, Hootsuite

Why don’t I have Instagram notes? How to fix ‘Instagram notes not showing’ issue?