Instagram is one of the most popular social networks in the world, and therefore, when it suddenly stops working, some users even feel heartbroken. As a rule, Instagram servers are quite reliable, but anything can happen. It is for those unfortunate cases when the application still does not work that we have compiled a list of ways that can help you correct this misunderstanding.
Check if Instagram is working
If Instagram isn't working for you, it probably isn't working for others. Before taking any more drastic measures, check whether the problem is with the servers of the social network itself.
There are several sites that allow you to do this, but we recommend using Down Detector. Just go to the Instagram page on the Down Detector website, and it will show what is currently happening with your favorite service: “No problems at Instagram”, “Possible problems at Instagram” (Possible problems on the Instagram site) or “Problems at Instagram” (There are problems on the Instagram website). You can also report any issues you notice to alert other users.
If the problem with Instagram is its servers, there is little you can do except wait. If this is not the case, then continue down the list.
Nothing helps
If none of the described methods helped to get rid of the problem, write to the developers about it.
- Click on the little man icon on the main page.
- Tap the button with three stripes, then tap the “Settings” .
- Go to the “Help” and tap “Report a problem” .
- Enter the reason for your request with a detailed description and attach a screenshot if appropriate.
First of all, it is recommended to access the site from another device or in another way (if the problem occurs with the application, use a web browser). You can also ask your friends if Instagram works for them, and study the help, where you can find answers to most questions asked through feedback.
Restart the Instagram app
If everything is fine with the Instagram servers and it still doesn’t work for you, try closing the application and opening it again. You just need to close the application, unloading the device from its memory, and not just minimize it.
Restarting the app may be a quick fix, but if the problem is more serious, it will require further action.
Instagram frozen - what to do
If Instagram freezes while you are on the social network, then you can either just wait or exit it. To close the program, it is often enough to click on the main system button located in the middle of the screen at the bottom or on the panel.
When your smartphone slows down and refuses to perform any actions at all - does not respond to finger movements at all, then force a reboot. This can be done using the side button on the right side of the case.
After the gadget returns to life, try again to launch the desired social network. Perhaps last time the problem was not with the application, but with your operating system.
Update the Instagram app
Closing and reopening Instagram will solve most problems, but if this does not help, you should definitely make sure that you have the latest version of the application installed. Newer versions often contain bug fixes in addition to new features. Checking for updates for Instagram, like any other application, is very simple: open Google Play > open the menu by clicking on the “burger” icon in the upper left corner > open the My apps and games section > click the “Update” button next to the Instagram application, if it is available.
Problems with messenger on mobile devices
The main cause of errors, as already mentioned, is the low speed of the connection to the local network. When standard reconnection does not help, perform the following operations:
- Reboot the Internet.
- Check that your network connection settings are correct. Also be sure to check your Internet connection. It is recommended to verify that the software and digital content are playing properly.
- A glitch on Instagram today also appears due to a mismatch in the connection address. The access point and network access are different from each other. In such a situation, connect to another source.
- Reboot your smartphone urgently. Instant shutdown and startup are allowed.
- Check messenger updates. If “Update” is not written next to the application icon in the software store, then delete the application. After a couple of minutes, install Instagram again.
These steps will help you fix connection problems. Standard solutions to many login problems do not work on every device. Let's talk about why Instagram doesn't open and how to fix it on gadgets and desktop computers with different OSes.
What to do on Android
If you are the owner of an Android device, make sure that there is a connection to the local network. To obtain information about the nature of the connection, perform the following operations:
- Open another application that requires a connection or a browser.
- Check for active updates and open the app store if everything is ok.
- In the Play Store, select Instagram.
- Next to the application icon, if it needs to be updated, there is a corresponding icon. Update the program to the latest version.
- If there is only an “Open” button, then the latest version of the program is already installed on your smartphone.
If no updates have been made, then look for versions of Instagram in other resources. Another option is that with Instagram today – the developers have not yet fixed the problems with the new updates. Wait and do nothing. Usually all problems are resolved as soon as possible. The developers quickly take action and establish stable functioning of the messenger. You can encourage developers to fix problems faster by writing a message to support.
What to do on iPhones
Also initially check the speed and connection to the access point. If there is no Wi-Fi, turn on mobile data. If this doesn’t help, then check if Instagram has been updated. These steps will help you find out the causes of communication problems. The guaranteed result is achieved after rebooting the gadget and updating the operating system. All actions are performed in the smartphone settings.
If there is an active software update, then start the download process. This will automatically eliminate all problems and malfunctions that have arisen. Instagram crashes also appear when users activate the application immediately after downloading a new update. If you are not the only one who has such complaints, then do nothing, but wait for a response from support.
On computers
On stationary devices there are external and internal causes of failures. Among external experts, the following are distinguished:
- The application has not been updated for a long time, go to the application store and download the latest version.
- You are not connected to the Internet. On desktop computers, a wired connection predominates.
- The computer processor is overloaded. Restart your computer, closing unused programs and features.
- There is no free space on your hard drive. In this case, transfer the necessary materials to digital media.
- The cache is full. Clear all data in it.
- Access to the account has been lost by the owner. Restoration is carried out via email or mobile phone.
- The page is banned for publishing materials prohibited by the administration. If you are sure that an error has occurred, contact support.
If you have problems with Instagram today, check with your friends registered there to see if everything is fine. Write to your friends on other social networks, if you encounter a similar problem, contact support or wait. This is usually due to glitches in the program, which are quickly resolved.
Also read: Photo processing for Instagram: how to edit and process, filters with effects, programs, review
Check your internet connection
If your Instagram account is not loading or you are unable to load images, it may be due to your internet connection. If you are using a Wi-Fi connection, there are several methods, any of which can solve the problem with loading the social network. Try each item in the list below.
- Turn off cellular data and switch to Wi-Fi.
- Move closer to your router.
- Reboot your router, even if your internet is working on other devices.
If none of the above methods work, try turning off Wi-Fi completely and see if Instagram works over your mobile network. If this happens, it's time to buy a new router, but if not, then it's time to move on to the next potential solution.
Reasons for problems with Instagram operation
The most common reasons why Instagram does not load include:
- poor internet connection;
- lack of updates for Instagram;
- failures of the device itself;
- the application cache is too large;
- lack of free memory on the smartphone.
In addition, access to the social network may be blocked when performing maintenance work, introducing global updates to the application, or due to a failure in the social network server. The latter are very often reported in the media, as they affect a lot of users. If you find a mention of a failure or maintenance work, do not rush to take any steps. Wait until the developers return the service to functionality.
Reboot your phone
As with many technical problems, the easiest and most effective solution is to restart your device. When Instagram doesn't work, why not apply the same logic.
Reboot your device and this can instantly solve your problems with your favorite social network. Simply press and hold the Power button and then select Restart. If that doesn't work, move on to the next item on the list.
Instagram won't load on phone
After connecting the social network, the user will see a feed on the screen. Photos of friends and media personalities are uploaded. If this does not happen, the profile owner needs to check the quality of the connection. In the presence of normal high-speed traffic, it is worth carrying out thorough manipulations. The operation scheme depends on the OS on which the device runs.
On Android
Having a phone of this OS in your hands, it is worth trying to reinstall the program. Developers tend to release poorly thought out updates. A person cannot use the software normally.
If there is no result associated with the update, you should contact support. If employees realize that this is a common problem, they will advise you to be patient and wait.
If the problem manifests itself as individual, action will be taken. In any case, you won’t be left without Instagram. The exception is situations when you have an old model of the device.
On iPhone
In such a case, you can eliminate slow operation or problems by disabling unnecessary software. This will free up the functionality of the device. Accordingly, the resource will start working quickly and will not produce bugs.
You can close unused software by swiping the screen through the Home option. You need to leave one application running. The functioning of the insta is quickly restored.
Additionally, you need to reboot the device. This type of operation scheme is suitable if the memory is full. It is equally important to remember the functioning of the network you are using. She must work at the level. This is necessary so that the resource loads without slowdowns or failures. You can’t do without a normal Internet. This is the only way the content will be downloaded quickly.
Uninstall and reinstall the Instagram app
Sometimes, when installing or updating Instagram, an error may appear due to which it stops working. The only way to fix this is to uninstall and reinstall the app. This is not at all difficult to do: open “Settings” > go to the applications section “Applications and notifications” > find Instagram in the list and click “Delete”.
Now all you have to do is find Instagram in the Google Play app store and reinstall it. Your device will automatically install the latest version of the app, but you may need to re-enter your login information.
Computer problem
In case of problems with a laptop or computer running Windows, you should use the current version of the official Instagram application and the latest version of the browser. Also, access to the site may be blocked by an antivirus application, firewall, or in the hosts .
- In the latter case, open the hosts in the %windir%\system32\drivers\etc using any text editor.
- Delete the line with the Instagram.com save the changes using the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + S.
To access hosts you need administrator rights.
Try clearing cache and cookies in your browser. For this:
- Open your internet browser's navigation history through its settings.
- Delete cache and cookies .
In Chrome, Opera, Yandex, Firefox, the process looks similar, the names of the items may differ.
Check the list of known issues
If you've tried all the methods on our list and Instagram is still not working, it could be a known app bug that the Instagram developers are already aware of and are working on fixing. You can track these issues and bugs on Instagram's known issues list.
There may be workarounds for these known issues, so be sure to check the link above.
Share your opinion in the comments under this material and in our Telegram chat.
How to cancel stuck upload on Instagram
In order to cancel the stuck history loading process, do the following:
- Disable your internet connection.
- Close the application or web page.
- Reboot your device if necessary.
Possible problems for the user
The following problems may occur on the user side:
- Instagram is not working correctly. You can try deleting the social network completely and installing it again, or updating the application.
- The application is overloaded. Close existing tabs.
- Old OS version. Insta works on Android version no lower than version 4, on iPhone – no lower than version 8.
- Old version of the program. Update the application through the inert store.
- There is a problem with the application itself. Try restarting the application or the mobile device itself.
- There is no internet connection. Check the Internet and its speed.
- Your login information was entered incorrectly. Try recovering your password.
