If you can’t reply on Instagram, it may 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 only affects 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 issue and what you can safely try.
What problem are you having with replying on Instagram?
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 as quoting here.
Suppose a friend sends you three questions. You can answer them in one message. Want to make it clear which question you’re replying to? Quoting is useful then.
| What do you notice? | What should you test first? |
|---|---|
| Your text won’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 see a reply option for 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 InstagramThe steps below deal with replying in a chat.
Your Instagram reply won’t send: try these steps
Go through the steps one at a time. After each step, test whether your reply now sends.
- Check your connection. Open another website. Is it not loading either? Switch between WiFi and mobile data, if you can use both.
- Send text only. Try one short reply without a photo, video, or other file. This helps you see whether only sending an attachment is getting stuck.
- Close Instagram completely. Open the app again and return to the chat.
- Update the app. Check your phone’s official app store for an Instagram update.
- Test another existing chat. Only send something if you genuinely want to message that person. If it works there, you know the issue 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 check 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 briefly. Don’t see a reply option? Try it with another text message and then in another chat. Your version may not show the option.
Update the app if there’s an update available and compare the same chat in the browser. Note if you see something different there. That difference doesn’t yet tell you 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 works for 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 are you using 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. If needed, look in your phone settings for the option to clear the app cache. These are temporary app files. |
| Browser on your computer | Refresh the page. If needed, test another updated browser on your own computer. |
Be careful when clearing files on Android: clearing the app cache isn’t the same as clearing all app data. If you clear all app data, you may have to sign in again. The names of these options vary by phone.
You can then try signing out and signing 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 sign in again.
Can’t access your account anymore? Then first read what to do if you can’t sign 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 that you can’t send a message. Write down the wording and follow the explanation Instagram itself displays.
- You may have blocked that person yourself. Check your blocked accounts if you want to resume the conversation.
- You suspect a block or privacy setting on the other person’s side. A reply that doesn’t send doesn’t prove that.
You can’t change the other person’s settings through your phone. Don’t try to bypass 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 issue. The fact that both actions fail doesn’t mean they have the same cause.
Is the reply issue caused by an Instagram outage?
If multiple chats stop working at the same time, there may be an outage. If needed, ask someone you know whether replies are also failing for them. Check whether it’s the same issue 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 issue.
Can’t replies be sent 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. Purchased followers also don’t solve problems with Instagram messages.
When should you report the Instagram messaging issue?
Does the issue keep returning 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 issue. The location and name of that option may vary.
Include the following in your report:
- Whether regular replies fail to send or only quoting doesn’t work.
- Whether it happens in one chat or multiple chats.
- Which phone or browser you’re using.
- When the issue started and which error message you see.
- Which steps you tried and what happened afterwards.
You may also attach a screenshot. Obscure private messages and names if they aren’t needed to show the issue. Never share your password or login codes.
An example report: “Since this morning, I haven’t been able to reply to a specific message in the app. Regular text sends. It happens in two chats. I updated the app and restarted my phone.” Adjust 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 state in your reply which question you’re answering. 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.
