Instagram sometimes does not work because of an outage, a poor internet connection, a frozen app or a problem with your account. First, open another website. Then try Instagram using Wi Fi and mobile data. Is Instagram the only thing that does not work? Open it in your browser as well. These tests give you an initial indication of where the problem lies.
Choose what you see on your screen below and follow the steps that apply.
Why isn’t Instagram working for you?
Test one thing at a time. If you delete the app while also changing your password and restarting your router, you won’t know afterwards what helped.
Find what you notice in the table. The possible cause is a clue, not a certainty.
| What do you notice? | What could be causing it? | What do you test first? |
|---|---|---|
| Other websites won’t load either. | Your internet connection. | Switch between WiFi and mobile data. |
| Instagram works via mobile data, but not via WiFi. | Your WiFi network or a filter blocking traffic. | Try another trusted network. |
| Instagram works in the browser, but not in the app. | The app or something on your phone. | Close the app completely and open it again. |
| Several people on different networks are having problems at the same time. | A broader outage. | Compare what is going wrong and when it started. |
| Your account doesn’t work anywhere, but another account does. | A problem logging in or a restriction on your account. | Read the message on your own account. |
Does an account still work on your phone? Leave it logged in. You don’t need to log out to do the other tests.
Checking for an Instagram outage in the Netherlands or Belgium
To find out whether Instagram is experiencing an outage today, you need to check current reports. This article does not show live status.
- Ask someone on another network. Someone on the same WiFi is not a good comparison. For example, ask a friend whether they can open messages via mobile data.
- Have them try the same thing. Can’t open a story yourself? Ask whether the other person can open it. Simply opening the app does not tell you much.
- Check recent outage reports. Pay attention to the time and region. Old reports tell you nothing about the problem you have now.
Many reports at once may indicate an outage. They do not prove that the whole of the Netherlands or Belgium is affected. Sometimes only one feature is not working.
Are others on different networks experiencing the same problem? Wait a little and try again later. Deleting the app is not a logical first step in that case.
Instagram won’t open or crashes on iPhone or Android
Does Instagram close immediately when you open the app? Close the app completely first and open it again. If that does not help, follow the steps for your phone. Check after each step whether Instagram is working again.
On your iPhone
- Close Instagram completely. Simply returning to your home screen is not enough.
- Restart your iPhone.
- Check the App Store for an Instagram update.
- Check whether your phone shows a system update or a warning that storage is full.
Is your storage full? Make space by deleting files you no longer need. Save important photos and videos somewhere else first.
On your Android phone
In the Google’s guidance about apps that aren’t working these steps are listed: restarting, checking for updates, force stopping, and clearing the cache or data.
Start by restarting and checking for updates. Then look for Instagram in your phone’s settings. There you can see which options are available to stop the app or clear temporary storage. The names and options vary between devices.
Cache means temporary storage. Clearing data is a more drastic step: you may lose local data, meaning data stored on your phone. Leave this until later and read the warning before confirming anything. First check that you know your password and have access to your login codes.
Test Instagram in your browser
Open Instagram itself in your browser, not through a link from an unexpected message. Does it work there? You can then temporarily use the browser version for the features available there.
Does only the browser not work? Try another browser. Are you using an extension, an extra tool in your browser, that blocks pages? Temporarily turn it off for this test and then turn it back on.
When should you reinstall the app?
Try this only if the earlier steps do not help. First check that you can use your password and login codes. Also save photos, videos and text that you have not posted yet.
If you delete the app, you may lose data on your phone. Reinstalling does not fix a general outage.
Instagram feed, stories or messages won’t load
Is part of Instagram still working? Check which feature is getting stuck. This lets you continue testing more precisely.
- Your feed only shows old posts. Refresh the feed and then open a profile. Are recent posts visible there? Note that only your feed, the overview of posts, is glitching.
- A story gets stuck. Open a story from another account. One story that will not open does not mean there is a general outage.
- A direct message remains stuck on sending. Check your connection and see whether the message appears later. Do not immediately send the same text several times.
- A photo or video will not post. Save the original file and your text before closing the app.
Is only a link not working? Read the explanation about an Instagram link that is not working. Is sound or a song missing? See what to do if Instagram music is not working.
Few reactions to your photo do not automatically mean that Instagram is broken. Is the app working normally, but you are unsure whether others can see your post? Read why your followers cannot see your Instagram posts.
If you use Instagram for your shop or work
Before trying again, check whether your post is already on your profile. This prevents you from posting it twice. Also save photos and text outside the app.
Is someone waiting for an answer about an order? Use an existing contact channel, such as your business email address.
Can’t log in to Instagram
Read the error message first. An incorrect password requires different steps from a message about a restricted account.
- Your password is rejected. Check your username. Do you use a password manager? Check whether it is filling in the correct account. Then use the recovery option on the official login screen.
- You are not receiving a code. Check which phone number or email address is shown on screen, if you can see it. Read the separate explanation if your Instagram verification code does not arrive.
- You see a restriction or suspension. Follow the explanation in the message. A different connection or clearing temporary storage will not remove an account restriction.
- You see changes you did not make yourself. Use the official help to recover your account. Also secure the email account linked to Instagram.
Are you still logged in on another device? Do not log out there without thinking. You can use that access to read notifications and check your contact details.
How to report an Instagram problem safely
Can you still use the app? Look in Instagram for help or an option to report a problem. Can’t find it? Start with the help on the official login screen or Instagram’s official website.
Meta described in an announcement about improved account support a central help hub and a digital help assistant. That help is not available to every account in the same way.
Write exactly what is going wrong in your report:
- What were you trying to do and what happened?
- When did the problem start?
- Which phone and app version are you using?
- Does it happen via WiFi, mobile data and the browser?
- Which error message do you see?
A fictional example: “Since this afternoon, the app closes as soon as I open a story. My feed works. It happens via WiFi and mobile data. Restarting did not help.”
You can attach a screenshot. First make private messages, phone numbers and other sensitive data unreadable. Never share your password, login code or recovery codes.
What not to do when Instagram is glitching
- Do not call a help number from the comments. A phone number or reference to WhatsApp or Telegram does not prove that someone works for Instagram.
- Do not give anyone access to your screen or account. Especially not if someone offers unsolicited help recovering your account.
- Do not install an unknown recovery app. Use your phone’s official app store for updates.
- Do not delete everything straight away. First save your files and check whether you can log in again.
- Do not keep repeating the same failed action. Note the error message and choose another suitable test.
Can’t get any further? Consider what your tests have shown. If Instagram works on only one network, check that connection. If only the app does not work, follow the steps for your phone. For an account message, use account support. If it looks like a broad outage, test again later. If you also publish your own content, our Instagram services includes packages for followers and likes. The product pages show the available quantities and prices.
