Control which shifts you get notified about by setting your preferred work radius and updating your home address. This article shows you how to customize these settings to find shifts that work best for you.
Set your notification distance
You can choose how far you're willing to travel for shifts. This helps you receive notifications only for shifts within your preferred travel distance.
To set your notification distance:
Open the Instawork app
Tap on your profile icon (bottom right)
Tap the settings icon (cog wheel in the top right)
Tap "Notifications"
Select "Shifts"
Tap "Edit"
Choose your preferred mile radius from the options provided
Tap "Save" to confirm your selection
Update your home address
Make sure your home address is correct so that distance calculations for shifts are accurate. To update your address:
Open the Instawork app
Tap on your profile icon (bottom right)
Tap the settings icon (cog wheel in the top right)
Select "Account Information"
Tap on the "Home Address" field
Enter your current address
Tap "Save" to confirm your changes
How these settings work together
Your home address serves as the starting point for calculating shift distances
The notification radius determines how far from your home you'll receive shift alerts
You'll only get notifications for shifts within your selected radius
You can still see and book shifts outside your notification radius in the "Open Shifts" tab
Tips for optimizing your settings
Set a realistic travel radius based on your transportation options
Update your address immediately if you move to a new location
Consider setting a larger radius if you're willing to travel farther for certain shifts
Review these settings periodically to make sure they still match your preferences
Remember that these settings only affect which shift notifications you receive. You can always browse all available shifts in your area by checking the "Open Shifts" tab in the app. Additionally, ensure your device's location services settings are enabled and optimized (such as "Precise Location" on iOS or "Allow all the time" on Android) so that you receive accurate shift recommendations based on your current location.
If you have any questions about managing your notification or location settings, please contact our support team through the Instawork app.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Can’t I See Shifts in My Area After Updating Location?
After updating your location, it might take a few minutes for the app to refresh. Make sure that your city is supported and double-check your notification radius. Restarting the app can also help.
How Long Does It Take for Location Changes to Reflect?
Most updates take effect immediately. If not, restart the app to push the refresh.
Troubleshooting Location Updates
If your updated location does not appear correctly, try the following:
Restart the App:
Close the app and open it again to refresh your settings.
Ensure GPS is Enabled:
Confirm that location services are active and permissions are correctly configured.
Verify Instawork Operates in Your Area:
If you’ve moved to a new city, check if Instawork operates there by visiting their Supported Cities List.
Contact Support:
If issues persist, contact Instawork support through the app for further assistance.
Troubleshoot Missing Location Option on iOS:
Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services and confirm Location Services is enabled.
Find Instawork in the list and verify permissions are set to Always.
If Instawork doesn’t appear, try performing app actions that require location to prompt an access request.
General Device Issues:
Ensure your device’s software is up to date.
For Android devices, check permissions in Settings > System > Advanced > Permissions.
Enabling Location Services on Your Device
iOS Devices:
Enable Location Services:
Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services and toggle it on.
Set App Permissions for Instawork:
Go back to Settings, scroll down to Instawork.
Tap Location and select Always to give the app continuous access.
Enable Precise Location for better accuracy.
Activate Motion & Fitness Permissions:
Within the Instawork settings, toggle on Motion & Fitness to improve shift tracking.
Enable Background App Refresh:
Again in Settings, find Instawork and turn on Background App Refresh to ensure uninterrupted app functionality.
Android Devices:
Enable Location Services:
Swipe down from the top of your screen to open Quick Settings.
Long-press the Location icon. Toggle it to on.
If the Location icon is not visible, go to Edit to add it to the Quick Settings menu.
Set Location Permissions for Instawork:
Find the Instawork app on your home screen.
Long-press the app icon, select App Info, tap Permissions, and choose Allow all the time.
Enable Background Data:
In App Info, navigate to Mobile Data & Wi-Fi and toggle on Background Data for the app.