Instagram is the dominant online photo-sharing platform and has become the exclusive social media site used by people who prefer to express themselves in photos rather than words. But what do you do when Instagram falls? Here we show you the main reasons why Instagram does not work and how you can fix it.
1. Restart the phone and router
A good place to start fixing problems on Instagram is to restart your device. Many times, this simple fix is enough to fix things again.
Also, make sure you have a stable internet connection. If you use Instagram on Wi-Fi, restart the router as well.
2. Is Instagram disabled?
Next, you need to check if Instagram is disabled for everyone. A clear sign that the servers are disabled is if you get the “5xx” error or your Instagram update is not loaded.
You can use a third-party status checker such as Detector below, Is it down now?or Break report. Enter the Instagram URL and it will let you know if Instagram is disabled with messages like “Possible Instagram issues” or “Instagram issues”.
Other places to check out include Instagram’s Twitter handle For any post and company updates or search Instagram on Twitter.
If Instagram is experiencing breaks around the world, there is not much to do other than wait for its team to fix the site.
3. We updated Instagram
If the above solutions have not worked so far, you may not have updated the Instagram app to the latest version on your device. Newer versions usually contain security patches and bug fixes, in addition to new features.
To update the Instagram app on Android, open the Google Play Store and search for Instagram. If you see an update button next to Instagram, tap it. Check out other methods for updating apps on Android.
Similarly, on iOS, open the App Store and find Instagram. Click the update button next to it.
Once you have finished updating the app, try running Instagram again.
4. Clear app and cache data (Android)
If restarting did not fix your Instagram problem not working for you, try clearing the app data and cache.
- Open “Settings -> Apps”.
- Tap the “See all apps” button.
- Scroll down and find Instagram from the list of populated apps.
- Depending on the version of your Android device, you may need to tap “Storage and Cache” to access the “Clear Data” and “Clear Cache” settings.
- Tap “Clear Cache”. To clear the data, go through the same steps again, but this time, tap “Clear Storage” instead.
5. Downloading the Instagram app (iPhone)
While you can clear the cache and data of an individual app on Android, you need to delete and reinstall the app on iPhone.
Fortunately, there is a “download” function on the iPhone, which means that your Instagram data is saved on the phone when you delete the app, so it restores everything when you reinstall Instagram. This is basically a rotary way to clear the cache.
To “download” Instagram from your iPhone, go to “Settings -> General -> iPhone Storage.”
Scroll down until you find the Instagram app, tap it and then tap “Download app”. Restart the iPhone. Go to the App Store, find Instagram and install it again.
6. Uninstall and reinstall Instagram
If the problem is caused by a bug, you can fix Instagram by uninstalling and reinstalling the Instagram app.
Reinstall Instagram on Android
- Open “Settings -> Apps”.
- Tap the “See all apps” button.
- Find Instagram in the list of apps and tap on it.
- Just tap Uninstall.
- Then go back to the Google Play Store and reinstall the latest version of Instagram. Sign in again and see if it works.
Reinstall Instagram on iPhone
- Open the app directory on your iPhone and search for the Instagram app.
- Touch and hold the Instagram app icon. Tap “Delete app”.
Another way to remove Instagram is to go to “Settings -> General -> iPhone Storage -> Instagram -> Delete App.”
- After deleting, restart the iPhone. Then open the App Store, search for Instagram and install it again.
7. Reinstall an older version of Instagram (Android only)
If you noticed that your Instagram issues started since updating the app, then you can try restoring the app to an earlier version. The best way to do this is through APK Mirror. Be sure to uninstall the Instagram app before attempting the following steps.
- In your phone browser, go to APK AppearanceThen use the search icon in the top right corner to search for “Instagram”.
- Tap “Apps” and then scroll down the list until you find “Instagram from Instagram”. Select it.
- Now, scroll through the available Instagram versions until you find an dated version before Your latest update (avoiding “alpha” or “beta” versions).
- Then, on the next page, scroll down to the “Download” section and select the correct version for the Android version you are using. Tap the download icon next to it,
- If you need to, grant permission to your browser to download apps from unknown sources, then browse to the download APK in your downloads folder (which can be accessed through the files app), tap it and allow it to install.
8. Allow permissions to Instagram
Instagram requires many app permissions to work properly on your iOS or Android phone – camera, contacts, microphone, photos and storage, to name a few. If permissions for even one or two of them are disabled, Instagram may not work properly.
On Android, verify that app permissions are enabled by going to “Settings -> Apps -> Instagram -> Permissions.” Depending on your Android version, on this screen, you will need to tap the switches next to each option so that they are green, or tap entries in the “rejected” list, then confirm them.
In iOS, go to “Settings -> Instagram” and make sure all relevant permissions are given there.
9. Turn off the VPN
With the use of a VPN, you can access all the restricted content in your country. One of the benefits of using a VPN is that it hides your web presence and bypasses regional constraints. This means you can use apps like WhatsApp, Instagram etc. in countries where it is restricted.
The downside to this is that VPN may well be the reason behind Instagram not working. A damaged VPN may not load the Instagram feed, you are experiencing a delay in sending or receiving messages, etc.
If you use a VPN, turn it off and see if Instagram works again.
10. Make sure background data is not restricted (Android)
Instagram needs to be connected to the internet to continuously update your feed, send / receive messages and show you alerts about your post. For Instagram to run smoothly, you need to make sure the background data is not restricted.
To ensure that background data is not restricted on Android, go to the settings menu on your phone, then “Apps -> See All Apps -> Instagram -> Mobile Data and Wi-Fi.” Set the “Background data” button to on. This ensures Instagram internet access while running in the background.
11. Check the storage of your phone
If the storage volume of your Android or iPhone is low, you may be having problems with the Instagram app. Learn how to test and free up storage space on Android and iPhone.
12. Log out of your account
To fix Instagram not working, you should try to sign out of your account. To do so, open the Instagram app and go to your profile screen. Tap the hamburger icon (three horizontal bars) followed by settings.
Scroll down and tap “Exit Username“Restart the phone and log in again.
13. Check for common error messages and known issues
Like most other apps, Instagram also has a set of Error messages and known issuesAnd this list is regularly updated so that users can find possible solutions to their daily problems with the app.
You can pay attention to the error you see and do a Google search to find out if it has already been fixed. Other users probably had a similar problem or the same problem and found help.
14. Try another device or tool
Most of the time, the problem of Instagram not working occurs with the mobile app. So if Instagram is not working on your mobile device, try using An Internet version of Instagram In the browser on your phone. Alternatively, you can try using Instagram on another device like your computer.
Still unlucky? Report the problem to Instagram
If none of the steps listed here solve the problem, you can report the bug from within the app to Instagram to investigate. Make sure you give a detailed answer about the problem you are facing, the device you are using and what you did before and when it stopped working. The same goes for login issues with your account.
Common questions
Will your Instagram account be deleted if you uninstall the Instagram app?
No. Uninstalling the Instagram app from your phone will not delete your account. It will only remove the app from your phone without affecting your followers, published posts, etc.
How to fix that Instagram does not work on mobile data on iPhone?
Go to “Settings -> Instagram.” Turn on the switch next to “Mobile Data”.
How to fix Instagram posts that do not work?
Open the Instagram app settings and go to notifications.
On Android, turn off the switch next to “Pause All”. Also, review individual message settings and see if one of them is off.
In iOS, make sure the “Allow alerts” button is enabled and the alerts are active.
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