How To Enable Gifts on Instagram: Let Fans Show Their Love!
There are many monetization programs on Instagram, from Subscriptions to getting invited to the coveted Bonus Program. But there’s another fun way to earn from your content—getting gifts from your top fans! And nope, you don’t just get them on your birthday.
If people love your content, you get them year-round! In this article, we’re teaching you how to enable gifts on Instagram and get some love straight from the fans. Keep scrolling to learn more!

What Are Gifts on Instagram?
Instagram gifts are virtual gifts fans can send to their favorite creators on the platform. People can send these tokens of appreciation on a creator’s IG Reels by tapping the “Send gift” button on the video.
When a fan sends you a gift on your Reel, you receive cute, artistic graphics. These little vector images range from a crown to a pizza to pretty hearts. Fans can buy these gifts in-app with a currency called Stars.
What’s unique about this method of showing admiration to Instagram Influencers is that it allows them to make extra cash online. Creators can cash in the Stars they collect from their gifts through their preferred payment method on a monthly basis. Yup, you read that right. Fans give the creators gifts, and the creators can turn them into real money! You can get $0.01 for each star you receive from gifts.
But these gifts aren’t just great for earning money on social media. They also make a terrific benchmark for whether your fans love your video content.
It’s also an excellent measure of how strong your relationship is with your fans. After all, sending gifts isn’t free, unlike double-tapping a photo to like it or leaving a comment. Only the most dedicated fans would spend their hard-earned money to show their favorite creators the appreciation they deserve.
How To Enable Gifts on Instagram Reels: Step-by-Step Guide
Want to monetize your Reels and challenge yourself to get gifts on your video content? Here’s how to enable gifts on Instagram Reels:
1. Open the Instagram app and go to your profile.
2. Click the three horizontal lines at the top-right of the page.
3. In the settings, select Professional Dashboard.
4. Tap Gifts under Your Tools.
5. Toggle on the switch labeled Allow gifts on Reels.
Now, the “Send gift” button should appear on your Reels, and anyone can send you gifts! You can come back to these settings and switch the feature off if you no longer want to receive gifts.
Who Can Enable Instagram Gifts?
Knowing how to enable “Send gift” on Instagram is useless if you don’t even meet the criteria for receiving gifts. So, who is allowed to get gifts on Instagram?
Here are some of the requirements you must meet in order to receive virtual gifts from fans:
- A professional account (either a business or creator page)
- You must be 18 years old or above
- At least 500 followers
- A working payout method is already set up
- You need to be from a country where the Gifts feature is available. These include the US, UK, Japan, Canada, Germany, Italy, France, South Korea, and a bunch more
- You should have, on record, always followed Instagram’s strict Community Guidelines
- You must agree with the Instagram Gifts Creators Terms
Does All the Money From Gifts Go to the Creator?
Instagram gives creators a revenue share of $0.01 for every Star they get from their virtual gifts. So, for every 100 Stars an influencer gets, they get $1 in their payout account. You can withdraw your money when the balance is $25 or more. And yes, you get all the money—Instagram doesn’t take away any fees from the creator.
However, the platform does get a cut when a user buys Stars, the currency used to purchase gifts. Their share of revenue depends on how many Stars a person buys from the app. Apple and Google also take a cut from the in-app purchases.
Other Top Tips for Mastering the Art of Instagram Gifts
Followed all the steps for how to enable the gift message on Instagram, but are still struggling to get love online? Here are some tips to get more gifts from fans.
1. Create Unique Content You Know Your Fans Will Enjoy
Fans will be more inclined to send gifts if you post unique, impactful, interesting content. According to data from Bazaarvoice, 47% of consumers feel fatigued when influencer content is repetitive. So, it’s important to stand out if you want people to appreciate your work.
Produce creative videos aligned with your target audience’s interests. Think of their hobbies, lifestyle niches they love, and even pain points in their daily lives. Then, make content related to these in fun, out-of-the-box formats!
2. Be Open and Honest With Fans About Gifts
Don’t treat the “Send gift” button as if it were invisible! Feel free to let your fans know in the video or your caption that they can send you gifts. Be transparent and tell them their gifts can help fund certain projects and personal milestones in your life. Authenticity and honesty go a long way, increasing your chances of getting more gifts from loyal fans.
3. Give Your Top Gift Givers a Shoutout
Acknowledge generous fans who give you gifts through quick shout-outs, whether on future posts or a quick Instagram Story. Doing so only takes a few seconds for you but can mean everything to fans who love your video content. It’s a terrific way to strengthen your relationships with fans and build a community with them.
When others see that you recognize and appreciate fans who send gifts, they might be inclined to do it, too. That gets you more gifts than before!
4. Engage With Your Followers
Your followers won’t give you gifts if they don’t feel a special bond with you. Improve your relationship with them by connecting with your community on a deeper level. Start replying to their direct messages and comments they leave on your posts to spark conversation with them. Foster genuine friendships with your fans so that they feel an affinity with you that inspires gift-giving.
5. Express Gratitude for the Gifts You Receive
Last but not least, always say thank you for the gifts you receive. As mentioned, you can always do it through a public shoutout. However, a personal DM with a thank you message might be even more meaningful.
Don’t have time to send “thank you” notes to every gift-giver? Just tap the heart icon beside every Instagram notification that you received a gift. Instagram will alert the gift-giver that you “liked” their action, which is already an awesome recognition of their generosity!
Get More Gifts by Growing Your Instagram Fanbase!
We’ve come a long way from sending flowers, gift cards, and fan mail to celebrities we’re obsessed with. Today, it’s all about giving your favorite creators Instagram gifts to show them some love.
Getting gifts isn’t just an awesome way to earn money online. Gifts to creators also give them a confidence boost, allowing them to keep the momentum going for creating engaging content. Knowing how to enable gifts on Instagram is just step one. Now, you need to inspire that interaction from the fans.
But remember—you won’t receive gifts if you don’t build an active, engaged fanbase. Path Social can help you out with that.
Our team uses AI-driven algorithms to target your niche audience and get your content on their screens. This maximizes your visibility on Instagram, leading to more likes, comments, and followers. We’ve improved reach and engagement for pages like the Beauty of Baking, and you can see the same stellar results. Get more Instagram fans with Path Social now!
Frequently Asked Questions
Why am I not eligible for Instagram gifts?
If you can’t turn on gifts on Instagram, it’s likely because there are certain criteria you don’t meet. Perhaps you have less than 500 followers or live in a country where the feature isn’t available yet.
Review the requirements for receiving gifts to pinpoint which ones you don’t meet. Make it a goal to complete the criteria so you can start getting gifts from fans!
How can I get more Instagram gifts?
You can get more gifts on Instagram by building a strong relationship with your fans. Engage with them through comments and DMs to build rapport with them. And, of course, always churn out high-quality content that will make a lasting impression on people.
How do you send gifts to Instagram influencers?
Want to show another creator some love on their Reels? Here’s how:
1. Purchase some stars on the Instagram app.
2. Look for a Reel of the creator you want to send a gift to.
3. Tap the Send gift button at the top of the Reel.
4. Choose a virtual gift you want to surprise them with that you can afford with the stars you have.
5. Hit Send.
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