Instagram Notes: What They Are and How to Use Them

Published: 14 October 2024

Updated: 6 November 2025

Get to know another communication tool on Instagram and how it works.

Instagram Notes, one of the latest additions to the available forms of communication on the social media powerhouse, is proof that brands should closely monitor the features available on the platforms they use in their marketing strategies. Now available for posts and Reels, Notes allows users to share short messages with a 24-hour lifespan.

For businesses, Instagram Notes can be used to increase brand awareness, announce news, and drive meaningful interactions. In this blog post, we’ll explore how to create them, why they’re important for brand marketing, and tips for maximizing their potential for brand success.

What Instagram Notes are

Instagram Notes is a feature that allows users of the social media platform to share short text statuses with their followers that disappear after 24 hours.

Unlike regular posts, Instagram Notes appear at the top of the Direct Messages screen, offering greater Instagram Notes visibility. This makes them the perfect tool to share quick thoughts, ask questions, or start conversations.

There are several types of Instagram Notes available:

A text message up to 60 characters.
An interactive question that others can respond to with their own Notes.
A location: to let your followers know where you are at the moment.
Music: share what you are listening to.

Note that some types of Notes may not be available in certain regions.

How to use Instagram Notes

Launch the Instagram app and tap the Messenger icon in the upper-right corner of the screen.
Navigate to the Notes section, which is located between the search bar and your message inbox.
To create a new note, simply tap your profile picture in the notes tray. This will open a text box where you can type your message.
Keep it short, as it's limited to 60 characters. You can also use @ to mention a friend or add a music track.
Customize the note by choosing its background color and adding emojis.
Control who can see your note by selecting the desired audience from the drop-down menu. By selecting the desired audience from the drop-down menu, you can set an Instagram note to be visible to followers who follow you back or only to your Close Friends list.
Tap the Share button in the top right corner. The note will appear at the top of your message inbox for your selected audience to see immediately.

If you decide to update or remove the note, tap your profile picture again in the notes tray: options will appear to leave a new note or delete the existing one.

How to share Spotify Listening Now on Instagram Notes

To share music from Spotify on Instagram Notes:

1. Create a new Note, and tap the 🎵 icon.
2. Link your Spotify account if needed, then tap “Share from Spotify” while a song is playing.
3. You can add a caption before posting, and your Note will automatically display the track you’re currently listening to.

If playback stops, it’ll refresh once you start another song within 30 minutes, and occasionally, listening to certain artists can trigger special visual effects in your Notes.

Experience the benefits of omnichannel communication with Umnico now Sign up free

Why can't I add notes on Instagram?

Since Instagram Notes are a recent addition to the social media app, make sure you're using the latest version. If your Instagram Notes have disappeared, check to see if you've accidentally muted notes from specific users or all users in your DM settings.

Visibility of Instagram Notes: who can see them

Instagram Notes are automatically visible on the app's conversation screen, so there's no view counter for them like there is for Stories, for example. However, it is possible to see who has liked a note by tapping on it, which brings up a list of those users. When someone replies to a note, it starts a Direct Message conversation between the original note creator and the person who replied.

How to mute or unmute notes on Instagram

To mute Instagram Notes and stop viewing them, follow these steps:

Open the Instagram Direct Messages section.
In the Notes section, find a note from the user you want to mute.
Tap and hold their profile picture in the Notes tray.
Select "Mute Notes" or "Unmute Notes" from the menu.

This will prevent you from seeing notes from the selected user. The process to unmute a specific person's notes is the same, except that when you tap and hold a profile picture, there is an option to "Unmute Notes”.

Instagram Notes on Reels and posts

With the goal of expanding the number of ways people can engage with Posts and Reels on Instagram, the platform recently added the ability to leave Notes on these forms of content as well. Responding to posts and Reels in real-time with Notes makes it easier for users to keep up with the content their friends are enjoying, and see their reactions to posts as they scroll.

Notes on Instagram are only visible to a user's connections, the people they follow, and their followers. When you leave a note on a post or Reel, it automatically appears and can be seen by your connections without having to click into the comments. Importantly, the creator of the content won't see your note unless they also follow you. They have the option to turn off Notes on their posts or delete all Notes from their audience. In essence, Notes serve as a middle ground between public comments and private direct messages, offering a level of visibility that is less public than comments but not as private as DMs.

How to add a Note to a post or Reel

Select the post or Reel on which you want to leave a note.
Tap the share icon, which is represented by a paper airplane.
In the sharing area, tap "Add Note”.
Create your note. Be aware of the 60-character limit.
Select the audience that can see the note. Select either "Followers you follow back" or "Close friends”.
Tap "Share”. Your connections will now see your note when they view the post or Reel.

How to disable Instagram Notes on posts or Reels

To disable Notes on posts or Reels, follow these steps.

Open the Instagram app and navigate to your profile by tapping the profile image in the bottom-right corner.
Tap the menu symbol (three horizontal lines) in the upper right corner.
Scroll down and select ‘Sharing and Reuse’.
Find the option ‘Allow Notes on Posts and Reels’ and turn it off. The switch will turn gray, indicating that notes are turned off for your content.

Instagram Notes for business: 4 actionable strategies

Unlike Reels, posts, or stories, Notes have far fewer measurable metrics (basically just likes and replies) and have less visibility potential. However, Instagram Notes marketing can still work to a brand's advantage, allowing it to channel news and updates in a low-key way.

How to use Instagram Notes for marketing

Announcements

Instagram Notes are the perfect solution for sharing bite-sized updates that your audience needs to see. In contrast to posts and stories, which can get lost in the feed or disappear after 24 hours, Notes stay pinned to the top of the Direct Messages tab, ensuring maximum visibility.

For example, let your followers know about a change in business hours with a short Note like, "New hours: 9 AM - 8 PM, starting next week," or build anticipation for a product launch by saying, "Eco-friendly line drops this Friday! Stay tuned."

Quick promotions

Instagram Notes are ideal for driving immediate action with flash sales, limited-time offers, or exclusive deals. Because they appear in the DMs tab, they have a higher chance of being seen by users who frequently check their messages.

Let your audience know about a sudden discount with a Note like, "20% off all items. Code: FLASH20. 24 hours only." Or highlight a time-sensitive offer: "30% off summer collection until midnight. Last chance!"

Stand out

With less competition and fewer metrics than other formats, Instagram Notes offer a unique opportunity to engage with your audience on a personal level. By sharing thoughts, asking questions, or providing value, you can foster a stronger connection with your followers.

Encourage interaction by asking a thought-provoking question like, "What is one thing you wish you knew before you started your business?" Or share a short story to humanize your brand: "5 years today! Thank you for your support."

Gather instant feedback

Instagram Notes make it easy to get real-time input from your followers. Use the new prompt feature to ask questions, test ideas, or gauge interest before launching something new. For instance, post a Note like, “New merch idea — what color should we drop next?” or “Which product should come back in stock first?” This quick, low-effort format lets you crowdsource opinions and make smarter decisions based on your audience’s direct responses.

Instagram integration with CRM by Umnico is the ultimate omnichannel messaging solution, designed to supercharge a company's marketing efforts. The platform supports the management of multiple Instagram business and personal accounts from a single, intuitive interface, streamlining sales funnels and maximizing your reach.

Instagram Notes analytics and insights

Currently, there is no dedicated dashboard for Instagram Notes analytics. However, you can still measure performance by tracking two key signals: likes and replies provide a quick snapshot of how well your audience connects with your message.

Replies to Instagram Notes are especially valuable as they start a two-way conversation, making them a strong indicator of genuine engagement and interest. Notes’ engagement rate can be gauged by tracking the ratio of replies and likes to the number of followers who can view your Notes.

In terms of impact, Notes occupy a unique position in the means of communication via Instagram. Unlike Stories, which are visual and designed for broad storytelling, Notes are short, text-based prompts that appear at the top of the DM inbox. Compared to Posts and Reels, which aim for public reach and algorithmic discovery, Notes are more intimate and community-focused. For brands, they’re best used to nurture existing relationships, encourage feedback, and drive private conversations that can strengthen customer loyalty long term.

Summing things up

Instagram Notes offer yet another way for brands to connect with their audience in a personal and immediate way. Whether it's sharing quick updates, promoting limited-time offers, or starting meaningful conversations, Notes can serve as a great additional tool in Instagram's already rich marketing arsenal.

To take your customer communications to the next level, consider using the Instagram CRM offered by Umnico's omnichannel messaging platform. Official integration eliminates the risk of account suspension, while extensive automation features and chatbots provide everything you need to increase productivity and stay in touch with followers 24/7. Maximize your Instagram impact by integrating with Umnico today.