If you cannot reply on Instagram, it may be due to your connection, the app or a limitation in the chat. First, send one short text message. If that works but you cannot reply to a specific message, the issue is only with the function that attaches that message to your reply. If nothing sends, try a different internet connection.
Read below to find the steps that fit your problem 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 here as quoting.
Suppose a friend sends you three questions. You can answer them in one message. Do you want to make clear which question you are responding to? Then quoting is useful.
| What do you notice? | What do you test first? |
|---|---|
| Your text does not send or you see an error message. | Try a different connection and send one short text message. |
| Normal text sends, but quoting does not work. | Check whether you see a reply option for another message. |
| Replies only fail with one person. | Read any message that appears in that chat. |
| It does not work in the app, but it does in the browser. | Update the app and close it completely. |
Can you also not send messages outside existing chats? Then read why you cannot send messages on Instagram . The steps below concern replies in a chat.
Your Instagram reply is not sending: 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. Does it fail to load too? 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 lets you see whether only sending a file 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 to see whether an Instagram update is available.
- Test another existing chat. Only send something if you genuinely want to message that person. If it works there, you know the problem does not affect all chats.
Do not keep pressing send. First check whether your earlier reply has arrived after all. Do you see an error message? Write down the exact text.
You cannot reply to a specific Instagram message
Does normal text send? Then focus on the function that links an earlier message to your reply. You do not 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 does not 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 holding down a text message briefly. Do you not see a reply option? Try it with another text message and then in another chat. Your version may not display 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 does not yet explain why the option is missing.
For now, you can also say in your text what you are replying to. For example: “About your question about what time we are 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 the 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 necessary, 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. If necessary, test another updated browser on your own computer. |
Be careful 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 check that you know your password and have access to any additional login codes. Only delete the app once you are sure you can log in again.
Can you no longer access your account? Then first read what to do if you cannot log in to Instagram.
Why can you not 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 cannot send a message. Write down the text and follow the explanation Instagram displays itself.
- 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 does not send does not prove that.
You cannot change the other person’s settings from your phone. Do not try to bypass a possible block with another account either.
Can you also not follow that person? Then read why you cannot follow someone on Instagram . That is a separate problem. The fact that both actions fail does not mean they have the same cause.
Is the reply problem caused by an Instagram outage?
If multiple chats stop working at the same time, there may be an outage. If necessary, ask someone you know whether replies also fail for them. Check whether it is 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 fail both in the app and in the browser, while other websites still load, stop testing for a while and try again later. Reinstalling repeatedly does not help determine whether there is an outage.
Do not give your password to services that promise to repair your messages. Purchased followers also do not solve problems with Instagram messages.
When should you report the problem with Instagram messages?
Does the problem keep returning after you have 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 in your report:
- Whether normal replies do not send or only quoting fails.
- Whether it happens in one chat or multiple chats.
- Which phone or browser you are using.
- When the problem began and which error message you see.
- Which steps you tried and what happened afterwards.
If necessary, attach a screenshot. Make private messages and names unreadable if they are not needed to show the problem. Never share your password or login codes.
An example report: “Since this morning, I cannot reply to a specific message in the app. Normal text sends. It happens in two chats. I updated the app and restarted my phone.” Adapt the text to your situation.
A report does not guarantee a reply or solution. Can you still send normal text? Use that for now and briefly write in your reply which question you are 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.
