Threads is loud by default. Likes, replies, follows, mentions, suggested follows, "your post is performing well" alerts — they add up fast, and they show up in three different places: the Threads app itself, Instagram (because the two share an identity), and email.
This guide walks through how to turn off Threads notifications at every layer. You can mute everything, or surgically disable just the noisy types (like reposts and follow suggestions) and keep the ones you actually care about (like direct mentions and replies).
Instagram's Threads settings hub lists push notification management and notification pauses under Threads settings. The practical fix is usually to align both the app-level and phone-level settings.
The Three Places Notifications Come From
Before you start tapping toggles, it helps to know which app is actually the source:
| Notification source | Where to mute it |
|---|---|
| Threads app pushes | Threads app → Settings → Notifications |
| iOS / Android system pushes | Phone Settings → Notifications → Threads |
| Notifications inside Instagram | Threads app (controls them) + Instagram app (controls in-app banners) |
| Email from Threads | Threads app → Settings → Notifications → Email |
Most "I can't get rid of Threads notifications" problems come from changing only one of these — Threads keeps poking you through the channel you forgot.
Turn Off All Threads Notifications (Fastest Path)
If you want to silence everything in one move:
- Open the Threads app.
- Tap your profile picture.
- Tap the menu icon (top right).
- Go to Settings → Notifications.
- Toggle on Pause all.
Threads pause options are temporary, typically 15 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, 4 hours, or 8 hours. If you want an indefinite mute, turn off noisy categories inside Threads and then disable Threads notifications at the iOS or Android level.
This stops Threads from sending pushes during the selected pause window. You keep the account, the posts, the followers — just not the noise.
Turn Off Threads Notifications by Category
If "pause all" is too aggressive, mute by type instead. From Settings → Notifications you'll see categories like:
- Likes
- Replies
- Mentions
- Reposts
- Quotes
- Followers
- Following requests
- Posts (alerts about activity on your posts)
- From Threads (Meta's promotional messages)
For each category you can choose:
- Off (no push, no in-app)
- From people you follow
- From everyone
Realistic noise-reduction setup that most users land on:
- Likes: Off or From people you follow
- Replies: From everyone
- Mentions: From everyone
- Reposts: Off
- Quotes: From people you follow
- Followers: From people you follow or Off
- From Threads: Off
Turn Off Threads Notifications on iPhone (System-Level)
Even if you've set everything inside Threads to "Off," iOS may still display badges or banners until you mute at the OS level too:
- Open Settings on your iPhone.
- Tap Notifications.
- Scroll to Threads.
- Toggle Allow Notifications off.
Or keep Allow Notifications on and selectively disable Sounds, Badges, and Banners.
Turn Off Threads Notifications on Android
- Open Settings.
- Tap Notifications → App notifications.
- Find Threads in the list.
- Toggle off, or expand to mute by channel (Threads exposes per-category Android channels).
Android's per-channel control is more granular than iOS — you can keep "Mentions" loud and silence "Likes" entirely without ever opening the Threads app.
Turn Off Threads Notifications on Instagram
Threads notifications can leak into Instagram in two forms:
1. Push notifications branded "Threads" coming through Instagram. These are controlled inside the Threads app under Settings → Notifications. Even though they look like Instagram notifications, they originate from Threads.
2. In-app banners on the Instagram home screen. Tap the three dots on the banner and choose "Hide" or "Don't show this again." For a more permanent fix, see how to remove Threads from Instagram.
Turn Off Threads Email Notifications
Threads sends digest emails ("People liked your posts," "New follower suggestions"). To stop them:
- Threads app → Settings → Notifications → Email preferences.
- Toggle off categories you don't want, or Unsubscribe from all.
- The fastest one-click option: open any Threads email and click Unsubscribe at the bottom.
"I Turned Off Notifications and They Came Back"
A few common reasons:
- You turned off Threads notifications but iOS/Android system notifications are still on. Both layers need to be aligned.
- App update reset preferences. Some Threads updates have re-enabled categories. Re-check after major version bumps.
- You logged in on a new device. Each device has independent system-level notification settings.
- You enabled "Pause all" for a fixed duration (e.g., 8 hours) and it expired.
If you need Threads to stay quiet indefinitely, do not rely on Pause all alone. Turn off specific categories in Threads and disable system-level notifications for the app.
Considering Going Further?
Turning off notifications is often the first stop on a longer journey. People who mute Threads completely often eventually want to:
- Bulk delete old Threads posts to clean up their content history.
- Delete Threads account entirely while keeping Instagram.
- Auto delete old Threads posts on a schedule so the profile gradually cleans itself.
If notifications were the only thing that bothered you, you don't need to escalate. If your real problem is "I don't want this content history anymore," cleaning up posts is a much better answer than deleting the account.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I turn off Threads notifications on Instagram?
Threads notifications that reach you through Instagram are controlled inside the Threads app, not Instagram. Open Threads → Settings → Notifications and disable the categories you want. For Instagram in-app banners, dismiss the banner with the three-dot menu.
How do I mute Threads notifications without deleting the app?
Use Pause all in Threads → Settings → Notifications for a short break. For a permanent mute, turn off the noisy Threads categories and disable Threads notifications in iOS or Android settings.
Why am I still getting Threads notifications after turning them off?
Most often it's because iOS/Android system notifications are still on. Mute Threads at the OS level too (iPhone Settings → Notifications → Threads, or Android Settings → Apps → Threads).
Can I turn off only the Threads notifications about likes and reposts?
Yes. Threads → Settings → Notifications has per-category controls. Set Likes and Reposts to Off, leave Replies and Mentions on.
Does turning off Threads notifications affect Instagram notifications?
No. Instagram notifications are controlled separately in the Instagram app. Muting Threads notifications doesn't touch Instagram.
Can I disable Threads email digests permanently?
Yes. Open the email and click Unsubscribe, or go to Threads → Settings → Notifications → Email preferences and unsubscribe from all.
Final Take
Notification overload is fixable in under 5 minutes once you know notifications come from three layers (Threads app, OS, email). Tackle all three or use Pause all for a one-tap solution. If muting wasn't the real fix you needed, see how to remove Threads from Instagram or how to delete Threads account for the next step.