Fix Instagram App Not Working – Why your IG is down

Most people have an Instagram account, but sometimes, you may find Instagram doesn’t work as it should. The good news is that you can usually fix Instagram when it’s not working fairly easily.

Whether you have stories to share, content to post for your business or maybe you just want to see what your friends are up to, we’re going to explore how to get back and running on the Instagram app. 

Instagram App Not Working – Here’s how to fix it

If Instagram isn’t working for you, there could be several reasons behind it. Here is a list of potential causes:

1. Server Issues: Instagram’s servers may be down or experiencing problems, which can prevent the app from functioning properly.
2. Internet Connection: Your device might have a weak or unstable internet connection, which can disrupt access to Instagram.
3. App Bugs: The Instagram app could have a bug or glitch that is causing it to malfunction.
4. Outdated App Version: If you haven’t updated Instagram to the latest version, it may not work correctly.
5. Corrupted App Data: Sometimes the data stored by the app on your device can become corrupted, which can lead to issues with app performance.
6. Account Issues: There could be issues with your account, such as it being temporarily disabled or banned, which would prevent you from logging in.
7. Device Problems: There might be a problem with your device that is affecting the app, such as insufficient storage or system conflicts.
8. Incorrect Credentials: If you’re having trouble logging in, you might be entering the wrong username or password.
9. Overloaded Network: The network you’re connected to might be overloaded, especially if you’re on a public Wi-Fi network.
10. VPN or Proxy Interference: If you’re using a VPN or proxy, it might interfere with Instagram’s servers.
11. Third-party Apps: Other apps or services that interact with Instagram (like those that offer follower boosts) might cause issues with your account or the Instagram service itself.
12. Device’s Date and Time Settings: If your device’s date and time are set incorrectly, it can cause issues with Instagram.
13. OS Compatibility Issues: Your device’s operating system might no longer be compatible with the latest version of Instagram if it’s very outdated.
14. Cache Overload: Too much cached data in your Instagram app can lead to performance issues.
15. Background Data Restrictions: If your device has restrictions on background data usage, it could affect how Instagram works.

If you encounter issues with Instagram, it’s advisable to check the service status, try reconnecting to your internet, update or reinstall the app, clear the cache, or check if there are any announcements from Instagram about service disruptions.

Let’s run through what to do in more detail.

See if there are no issues with Instagram’s server

Being such a popular platform, it’s not often that there are issues with their servers, but that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t ever happen. 

Since they’re owned by Facebook, if there is an issue it will usually be affecting Facebook and Whatsapp too, so the chances are that you’ll hear about it pretty soon. 

Any wider issues that the public need to be aware of and they’ll usually post about this on their Twitter page.

They typically provide updates there, so it’s worth checking this beforehand. If there is, then you’ll need to wait until the issue is fixed.

If you can’t find any mention of an issue across their social accounts then it’s probably something to do with your own connection to their server.

Check for updates 

The first thing to try when the Instagram app isn’t working is to make sure that you’re running on the latest update.

An app is much more likely to have problems when running on an out-of-date version.

If you have an iPhone, check for updates by visiting the App Store > tap your profile icon at the top of the screen and scroll to see pending updates.

Tap ‘Update’ on the Instagram app if that is showing as needing to be updated.  

If you’re using an Android, you can;

1. Open the Google Play Store app
2. Tap the profile icon
3. In the top right, tap Manage Apps & Devices
4. Apps with an update available are labelled ‘Update Available’.

If you’re using an iPhone, we recommend that you allow automatic downloads to ensure that all of your apps are always up-to-date.

You can do this by going to your Settings > App Store and tick ‘App Updates’ to on. 

Next, it’s also a good idea to make that your phone itself is running on the latest update, as this can also cause apps to play up. You can check this by going to your phone’s Settings. 

Check that you’re connected to Wi-Fi or mobile data

The next thing to check is that you’re connected to Wi-Fi or mobile data. Most apps don’t work offline, so a common reason that you won’t be able to use them is that you’re not connected to the internet. 

If you’re seeing a message about internet connection as shown below, this is likely to be the reason you’re not able to use the app. 

A common mistake people make is turning off their mobile data. To make sure that hasn’t happened go to Settings > Mobile Data and make sure that this is ticked as on. 

To check the Wi-Fi on an iPhone, swipe up and make sure the Wi-Fi is turned on (it will be highlighted blue), alternatively, go to your phone’s Settings > Wi-Fi, and make sure this is turned on.

Then check for any Wi-Fi you can connect to. You can follow the same steps for Android but swipe down instead of up.

Clear app data and cache

If everything appears to be okay with the severs and you’re all up-to-date, the next thing we recommend that you try is to clear the app data and cache. You can clear an app’s cache and data on Android, but on iPhone, you need to delete and re-install the app.

Luckily, there’s an “Offload” function, which means that your Instagram data gets kept on the phone when you delete the app, so it restores it all when you re-install Instagram. 

To “offload” Instagram from your iPhone, go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage, and scroll down until you find the Instagram app, tap it, then tap “Offload App.” Go to the App Store, find Instagram and install it again.

For Android, go to Settings > Apps and Notifications > See all apps > Instagram > Storage and cache > clear cache. You’ll then need to repeat these steps but tap ‘Clear Storage instead. 

Delete and re-install the Instagram app

The next thing we recommend that you try is uninstalling the Instagram app, then re-install it. Sometimes apps just need a refresh.

To delete the app, tap and hold down on the app until the below drop-down appears. Then hit delete.

For Android, tap and hold down the app until you feel a vibration, then drag the app to where it says ‘Uninstall’.  Re-install by searching for it on the App Store or Google Play Store.

How to Fix Instagram Notifications not working

You may sometimes find that your notifications aren’t working on your Instagram app. If you find this to be the case, then you should;

1. Double check that you’ve turned post notifications on from within your phone settings.
2. Make sure the Instagram app you’re using is the latest version.
3. Check your app permissions from within the settings of your device.
4. Ensure that you’ve got storage space free on your hard drive too.

If you follow all of these tips, you should be able to get Instagram Notifications working again on your iOS or Android phone.

Conclusion

It can be a real inconvenience when your Instagram app isn’t working, but generally, there’s an easy fix and it’s likely to be one of the issues that we’ve covered in this article.