With its fast, secure, and exciting features, Instagram has won millions of people’s hearts worldwide. But, sometimes, gives pain to users with unexpected minor errors and issues. Recently, some users reported their Instagram not loading pictures, videos, new posts, stories, messages, etc. They also find the app is crashing and not working suddenly without any errors or warnings.
Answer:
To fix Instagram not loading, check your internet connection, update the Instagram app, restart your device, clear cache and app data, disable battery optimization, ensure you have enough storage space, and contact Instagram support if issues persist after trying these troubleshooting steps.
That’s why I have combined all available solutions in this article to fix Instagram’s not working, loading, or crashing problem. In this comprehensive guide, I will cover various troubleshooting methods you can try to fix Instagram loading and crashing issues. Make sure to go through the complete article to resolve your problem.
Why Is My Instagram Not Working?
Here are some common reasons why you may face problems in using Instagram on your device:
- Poor internet connection or weak public Wi-Fi prevents media from loading properly in the app. Instagram is bandwidth-intensive.
- Outdated version of the Instagram app that has bugs or incompatibilities with your device’sdevice’s OS. Not updating to the latest version could cause issues.
- Insufficient storage space or cache on your device leads to app crashing or freezing. Instagram needs free space to function smoothly.
- Permission is not granted to the Instagram app to access photos, media, contacts, etc. This blocks certain features.
- Software issues, old OS versions, and faulty Android/iOS device settings affect how apps work.
- Server outages or downtime at Instagram’s end also hampers services temporarily.
Also Read: How To Follow Your Friend on Instagram?
How to Fix Instagram App Not Working or Loading?
Two methods exist to solve Instagram not loading, refreshing, or working problems. One is by troubleshooting your device issues, and another is within the app. This is because the malfunctioning of Instagram can be from both the device and the app.
Here are some useful tips and tricks to get Instagram working again:
Method 1: Check Your Internet Connection
The first thing to fix Instagram’s not loading or crashing issues is to examine the internet to which you connect to your device. When you have a poor Wi-Fi network, it will take time to load all the features of Instagram, including chat messages. So, check your connection; if it’s slow, call your ISP (Internet Service Provider) to solve it.
If you use your home router, you can also unplug your router wire for 15 seconds and re-plug it. It may help to improve your Wi-Fi connection.
Method 2: Restart Your Device
Sometimes, minor glitches are resolved by restarting your Android phone or iPhone. It clears any RAM issues and resets the app’s processes.
Press and hold the Power button on your device and select Restart or Reboot. Wait a minute or two after restarting, then open Instagram again to check if it works fine. This basic troubleshooting step fixes most app problems.
Method 3: Examine Data and Network
Do you have a habit of checking your mobile data plan? If not, then you must. When you are out of data, you will find your Instagram is not loading problem. That’s why either renew your data plan or switch to your home Wi-Fi network.
Besides, if the issue is on your device network, reset your network settings and check whether your Instagram problem is solved.
Android Device
- Go to your device settings.
- Tap on Connection and Sharing.
- Next, tap on reset Wi-Fi, mobile & Bluetooth.
- Finally, confirm your changes.
IOS Device
- Go to your device settings.
- Tap on General.
- After that, tap on the Reset option.
- Finally, tap on Reset Network Settings.
Method 4: Force Stop the Instagram App
On Android, open Settings > Apps > Instagram > Force Stop. This closes the app completely. On iOS, double-tap the Home button and swipe up on the Instagram app preview to force close it.
Then, launch Instagram again after a few seconds to check if the loading/crashing issues persist. Force-stopping refreshes the app and clears up any temporary bugs.
Method 5: Enable Permission
If you have yet to give Permission for your device to access Instagram features, you will have trouble loading Instagram. Remember, it is necessary to provide Permission if you want to use Instagram on your device.
Android Device
- Go to your Device settings.
- Tap on the Apps option.
- Next, tap on Permission.
- Locate Instagram and enable all Permissions.
Method 6: Update Device OS
Having the latest firmware and OS is important for compatibility with apps. When an app is incompatible with the device, it will cause a problem. There, either the app will stop working or there will be an unidentified error in its features. This might be the same case on Instagram, too. Your device may not support the latest version of Instagram if you have recently updated it.
So, this is how you update your device.
Android Device
- Open your device settings.
- Locate and open the About phone section.
- Next, check for an update.
- If there is one, then update your device.
IOS Device
- Tap on the Settings icon from the home screen.
- After that, scroll down and tap on About device.
- Next, tap on Software update.
- Now, if there is an update available, then update your device.
Method 7: Turn Airplane Mode On and Off
Airplane mode turns off all wireless connections temporarily on your device. Turning airplane mode on and off forces your device to reconnect freshly to all mobile data and Wi-Fi networks in range.
If Instagram has loading issues, try switching on Airplane mode for 30 seconds, then turn it off. This will promptly disconnect Instagram from the network and then reconnect it completely when you turn Airplane mode off.
Doing this refreshes the network connections and stacks, which can resolve temporary glitches that hamper Instagram loading. When you test this, ensure no other apps are running in the background. Airplane mode reset gives Instagram a fresh start, fixing any network conflicts.
Method 8: Restart Instagram App
To fix Instagram not working or crashing issues, try restarting the Instagram app. This will start the app server from the start and may help solve your issue.
Close your Instagram app, even from the multitasking section, and re-open it. After that, check the feature which you are having trouble with. If it still doesn’t work, move to the next method.
Method 9: Clear Cache and App Data
We download an app from the store and use it for a long time unless we face some issues. By doing this, the app stores too many cache files and data. When your cache is full, then it starts malfunctioning some of the app features. That’s why it is recommended to clear the app cache occasionally (only if you have a storage problem).
But remember, you have to re-sign into your Instagram account once you clear out its cache.
Android Device
- Go to your device settings.
- Tap on Manage app or Apps.
- Locate and open the Instagram app.
- Next, tap on clear cache.
IOS Device
Clearing the Instagram cache on an iPhone device means completely deleting the app. There is no such option in IOS to clear out an Instagram app. That’s why if you want to clear the Instagram cache in IOS, then delete the app.
Method 10: Update or Reinstall the Instagram App
An outdated version of the app with performance bugs could be the culprit. Update Instagram by going to the Play Store or App Store. The latest updates usually contain fixes for loading issues that users are facing.
If updating doesn’t help, your last resort is to uninstall Instagram and install it again fresh. This should clear up all caches and errors. Make sure to backup your data before reinstalling.
So, this is how you update your Instagram app.
Android Device
- Open the Google Play Store from your device.
- Tap on the three horizontal lines from the upper left corner of the screen.
- There, tap on the My Apps & Games option.
- You can update your app from two sections. If there is a new update for the Instagram app, you can find it in the Updates section. From there, you can update the app. Otherwise, go to the Installed section and manually update your Instagram app.
IOS Device
- Open the App Store.
- Tap on Today, which is located at the bottom side.
- Now, tap on your Profile Icon from the top section.
- Under the Available Updates section, check for an Update for Instagram.
- If there is one, then tap on Update. If you want to update your other entire apps, tap Update All.
Method 11: Disable VPN or Proxy Settings
VPN apps and proxy servers route your internet traffic through different servers for privacy or to access blocked content. However, this can sometimes interfere with region-specific features, content delivery, and connectivity of apps like Instagram.
If Instagram has problems loading feeds or posting content when connected to a VPN or proxy service, try disconnecting from them temporarily to see if that resolves your issues. Disable the VPN app or turn off your proxy settings, and test if Instagram loads reliably on your original IP address and network without interruptions.
Some VPNs may also have bandwidth or data limits that can disrupt bandwidth-heavy apps. Check with your VPN provider as well. If the loading problems disappear once you disconnect the VPN and proxy, you can confirm that is what was causing conflicts with Instagram.
Method 12: Switch to Instagram Web
Alternatively, if you need help with the official mobile version of the Instagram app, you can use an Instagram web. This is a web version of Instagram, which you can access using any browser.
You can find all the same features on the Instagram web, just like in the official app. But uploading your image on both your Instagram feed and stories is impossible. Apart from that, you can have all the fun.
Method 13: Reboot Your Wi-Fi Router
If you are facing problems only on Wi-Fi, unplug your wireless router, wait 10 seconds, and plug it back in. This reboots your home Wi-Fi network, fixes connectivity issues, and offers a fresh start to all connected devices. Make sure to disconnect from Wi-Fi before rebooting the router.
Method 14: Free Up Storage Space
Lack of storage space hampers Instagram’s functionality. Ensure you have at least 500MB of free space on your phone for Instagram to work smoothly.
Delete old photos, videos, files, and clear caches from other apps using your device’s storage settings to free up space. This lets Instagram read and write data properly, preventing freezing or crashing.
Method 15: Contact Instagram Support
If you need help with the troubleshooting steps suggested to persistently resolve Instagram loading, crashing, or freezing issues, contact Instagram customer support directly.
Describe your problem in as much detail as possible in an email or chat. Specify when the issues started happening, what you’ve tried already, and the exact symptoms you are facing. Provide relevant screenshots and error messages. Mention your Instagram username, registered email, device model, and OS version.
The Instagram support team can then access diagnostic information and backend logs about your account you don’t have access to. They have advanced internal tools to identify and troubleshoot technical problems in the app. Instagram support can provide specific solutions tailored to your account, device, and location if it is an issue. They can also escalate unresolved bugs for engineering teams to fix.
Also Read: How To Add And Change A Phone Number On Instagram?
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some frequently asked questions about Instagram not loading:
Is Instagram Down?
No, Instagram is not down. If this ever happens, then Instagram will let you know. You can also check the online status of Instagram using Down Detector.
Why Are My Instagram Posts Not Loading?
This happens due to poor internet connectivity or using mobile data saver options. Disable the data saver, switch to stable Wi-Fi, force stop the app, or reinstall it to fix issues loading posts and stories.
Why Is Instagram Constantly Crashing?
Frequent crashes indicate insufficient storage space, outdated app versions, software conflicts, or device OS issues. Clear cache, update Instagram, restart your phone, and uninstall conflicting apps as necessary.
Why Is My Instagram Feed Not Refreshing?
Outdated app version, internet instability, cache build-up, or feature bugs can prevent feed refresh. Try updating the app, rebooting Wi-Fi, force-stopping Instagram, and clearing app data/cache.
Why Are Instagram Videos Not Playing?
Glitchy app, encoding issues with the uploaded video, using unsupported formats like .webm, network issues, etc., prevent video playback. Re-upload videos in MP4 format in optimal resolution.
Why Does Instagram Keep Stopping?
Resource-intensive apps running simultaneously, low free RAM, buggy firmware version, and battery saver restrictions cause Instagram to stop frequently. Close other apps, update device software and turn off battery optimization for a smooth experience.
How To Fix If The Instagram Camera Is Not Working?
Grant required permissions, clean out app data, update the app from Play Store/App Store, turn off battery saver settings, and free up storage space to fix camera issues.
What If My Uploaded Pictures Look Blurry On Instagram?
Upload higher resolution images sized 1080 x 1080 pixels. Also, avoid excessive compression and editing of images before posting on Instagram for the best quality.
Conclusion
Issues like Instagram crashing, not loading content, blank feeds, and login problems can be extremely frustrating. But in most cases, they can easily be fixed by troubleshooting your device performance, app version, network connectivity, and Instagram settings.
Follow the step-by-step guide outlined in this article to resolve any Instagram problems. The key is to isolate the issue and try one solution at a time until the app starts working normally again. With some patience and experimentation, you’ll be able to enjoy uninterrupted Instagram service.
If the problems persist even after trying all fixes, report the technical issues directly to Instagram’s support team for assistance. They can dig deeper and suggest platform-specific solutions or escalate unresolved bugs. With the help of the above guide, you should get your Instagram working properly again in no time.
If you have any queries regarding Instagram, please ask in the comment section.
