If you can’t reply on Instagram, it could be due to your connection, the app or a restriction in the chat. First, send one short text message. If that works but you can’t reply to a specific message, the issue is only with the feature that attaches that message to your reply. If nothing sends, try a different internet connection.
Read below to find the steps that match your problem and what you can safely try.
What problem are you having with Instagram replies?
You can type a reply at the bottom of a chat. You can also reply to one specific message. That earlier message then appears with your reply. We refer to this here as quoting.
Suppose a friend sends you three questions. You can answer them in one message. Want to make it clear which question you’re responding to? Quoting is useful then.
| What do you notice? | What do you test first? |
|---|---|
| Your text doesn’t send or you see an error message. | Try a different connection and send one short text message. |
| Regular text sends, but quoting doesn’t work. | Check whether you can see a reply option on another message. |
| Replies only fail with one person. | Read any message shown in that chat. |
| It doesn’t work in the app, but it does in the browser. | Update the app and close it completely. |
Can’t you send messages outside existing chats either? Then read why you can’t send messages on Instagram . The steps below are about replying in a chat.
Your Instagram reply won’t send: try these steps
Go through the steps one by one. After each step, test whether your reply now sends.
- Check your connection. Open another website. Doesn’t that load either? Switch between wifi and mobile data, if you can use it.
- Send text only. Try one short reply without a photo, video or other file. This lets you see whether only attaching a file is failing.
- Close Instagram completely. Open the app again and return to the chat.
- Update the app. Check your phone’s official app store to see whether an update for Instagram is available.
- Test another existing chat. Only send something if you genuinely want to message that person too. If it works there, you know the problem doesn’t affect every chat.
Don’t keep pressing send. First check whether your earlier reply arrived after all. Do you see an error message? Write down the exact wording.
You can’t reply to a specific Instagram message
Does regular text send? Then focus on the feature that links an earlier message to your reply. You don’t need to troubleshoot your entire internet connection first.
Meta announced replies to specific messages in its introduction of new messaging features in 2020. That announcement doesn’t say which options you currently see in your chat.
In the explanation of messaging updates from March 2024 Meta described holding down a message and then choosing ‘reply’. The controls and the name of that option may have changed since then.
Try pressing and holding a text message. Don’t see a reply option? Try it on another text message and then in another chat. Your version may not show the option.
Update the app if an update is available and compare the same chat in the browser. Note if you see something different there. That difference doesn’t yet explain why the option is missing.
For now, you can also say in your text what you’re replying to. For example: “About your question about what time we’re eating: half past six suits me.” This makes your reply clear even without a quote.
Replying to Instagram messages on iPhone, Android and in a browser
Always compare the same account and the same chat. Use your own phone or computer for this, not a public device.
| Where do you use Instagram? | What can you try? |
|---|---|
| iPhone | Update the app, close it completely and restart your phone. Then compare it with the browser. |
| Android | Try the same steps. You can also look in your phone settings for the option to clear the app cache. These are temporary files from the app. |
| Browser on your computer | Refresh the page. You can also test another updated browser on your own computer. |
Take care when deleting files on Android: clearing the app cache is not the same as clearing all app data. If you clear all app data, you may need to log in again. The names of these options vary by phone.
You can then try logging out and logging in again. First make sure you know your password and have access to any additional login codes. Only delete the app once you’re sure you can log in again.
Can’t you access your account anymore? Then first read what you can do if you can’t log in to Instagram.
Why can’t you reply in one Instagram chat?
Can you reply to others? Then your internet connection is less likely to be the cause. Check what appears in that one chat.
- You see a message saying you can’t send a message. Write down the text and follow the instructions Instagram itself displays.
- You may have blocked that person yourself. Check your blocked accounts if you want to resume the conversation.
- You suspect the other person has blocked you or has a privacy setting affecting you. A reply that won’t send doesn’t prove that.
You can’t change the other person’s settings from your phone. Don’t try to get around a possible block with another account either.
Can’t you follow that person either? Then read why you can’t follow someone on Instagram. That’s a separate problem. Both actions failing doesn’t mean they have the same cause.
Is an Instagram outage causing the reply problem?
If several chats stop working at the same time, there may be an outage. You could ask someone you know whether replies are also failing for them. Check whether it’s the same problem at the same time.
Reports from others are an indication, not proof of an outage. Also pay attention to the date when searching for outage reports. An old report says nothing about today’s problem.
If replies don’t work in the app or the browser, while other websites still load, stop testing for a while and try again later. Reinstalling over and over won’t help determine whether there’s an outage.
Don’t give your password to services that promise to fix your messages. Bought followers won’t solve problems with Instagram messages either.
When should you report the problem with Instagram messages?
Does the problem keep coming back after you’ve tested your connection, updated the app and tried the browser? Report it to Instagram. Look in the app for the help option to report a technical problem. The location and name of that option may vary.
Include the following in your report:
- Whether regular replies won’t send or only quoting fails.
- Whether it happens in one chat or several chats.
- Which phone or browser you’re using.
- When the problem started and which error message you see.
- Which steps you tried and what happened afterwards.
You can also attach a screenshot. Make private messages and names unreadable if they’re not needed to show the problem. Never share your password or login codes.
An example report: “Since this morning, I can’t reply to a specific message in the app. Regular text sends. It happens in two chats. I’ve updated the app and restarted my phone.” Adapt the text to your situation.
A report doesn’t guarantee a response or solution. Can you still send regular text? Use that for now and briefly write in your reply which question you’re responding to. Once your account is working as intended, you can explore our Instagram services to compare packages for followers and likes for your public profile or content.
