Instagram users have been expressing their dissatisfaction as July 2023 began with a series of issues, including frequent Instagram not working and crashes and users complaining about it on other social media platforms. With all the recent changes happening across various platforms, such as Elon Musk’s announcement of Twitter limits and Mark Zuckerberg introducing a new platform called Threads, it can be overwhelming to keep up with everything. In the midst of these changes, some users have reported Instagram not working and frequently crashing out whenever they try to open the app, accompanied by an error message stating that there is a bug in the app.
If you’re experiencing similar problems with Instagram, rest assured that you’re not alone. Many users have reported being unable to access their favorite social media platform since the release of Instagram Threads. Instagram is a widely popular platform that enables users to share photos and videos with their friends and followers. However, like any app, Instagram can encounter issues that cause it to stop working.
To help you navigate these problems, this guide will address some of the most common reasons why Instagram might not be functioning properly and provide potential solutions to fix them.
July sees Instagram crashing glitches frequently
On July 9, many Instagram users took to Twitter to express their frustrations regarding the persistent Instagram not working and crashing issues. Users reported that whenever they attempted to open the Instagram app on their phones, it would immediately crash, preventing them from accessing the platform and loading stories and pictures.
One user expressed their exasperation by stating, “I think I’ve given up with #Instagram, the app still keeps crashing after two days!” Another user mentioned their repeated attempts to resolve the issue, saying, “It’s been nonstop with Instagram not working and crashing for the past two days now. I’ve had to uninstall and reinstall it like 4 times… It’ll work for a bit then start crashing again every time I open it. Now it just started crashing as soon as I reinstalled it. I’m about to give up.”
Users were also disappointed by the lack of acknowledgment and resolution from Instagram. One user questioned, “When will the app crashing issue get resolved? It’s been days! Why is @instagram not acknowledging the issue… It’s frustrating at this point!” Another user expressed surprise at the lack of response from Instagram, stating, “Nah, the fact that Instagram hasn’t addressed the app crashing for thousands of people is crazy lol. It’s been a week.”
The continuous Instagram not working and crashing problem has caused significant frustration and inconvenience for users, with many expressing their disappointment at the lack of a timely resolution or acknowledgment from the Instagram team.
July has seen 6 outages so far in 10 days with a huge Instagram service outage reported globally on 3rd July. There has been no acknowledgment so far from Meta, but hoping that the glitch will be resolved soon and a new patch will be rolled out!
Why is your Instagram not working or crashing out?
There are several potential reasons why Instagram not working or experiencing crashing issues. While Meta (formerly Facebook) has not officially addressed the specific issue of Instagram not working or crashing in July 2023, we can speculate on some possible causes. These include:
- Outage: It’s possible that there is an outage on Instagram’s servers, which can result in the app crashing for all users. To check if there is an outage, you can visit websites like Downdetector.com that track service interruptions and user reports.
- App bug: The latest version of the Instagram app may contain a bug or software glitch that is causing the app to crash. Software bugs can affect various functionalities and stability, leading to unexpected app behavior.
- Device-related issue: Your specific device might be encountering compatibility issues or other technical problems that result in Instagram crashing. This can happen due to conflicts with other apps, insufficient storage, outdated software, or hardware-related issues.
- Account-related issue: It’s possible that there is an issue specific to your Instagram account, such as a corrupted file or conflicting data, that is causing Instagram not to work or crash when you try to access it. This could be resolved by troubleshooting your account settings or contacting Instagram support for assistance.
Without an official statement from Meta, these reasons are speculative and based on common scenarios that can affect app performance.
How to fix the Instagram not working issue?
If Instagram is not working for you, here are some steps you can take to troubleshoot the issue:
1. Check your internet connection:
Ensure that you have a strong and stable internet connection. Restart your router or modem if necessary.
2. Restart your device
If you’re still experiencing problems with Instagram after trying the previous methods, restarting your device can be a helpful step. Here’s how you can restart your device:
For Android:
- Press and hold the power button on your Android device.
- A power menu should appear on the screen.
- Tap on the “Restart” or “Reboot” option from the menu.
- Wait for your device to shut down and start up again.
Please note that the exact steps may vary slightly depending on the Android device model and software version. If you’re unsure, you can refer to your device’s user manual or perform a quick search online for specific instructions.
For iPhone:
- Press and hold the power button and either of the volume buttons simultaneously.
- Keep holding the buttons until the power-off slider appears on the screen.
- Drag the slider from left to right to turn off your iPhone.
- After your iPhone has shut down completely, press and hold the power button until the Apple logo appears on the screen.
- Release the button and wait for your iPhone to start up again.
If you have an iPhone 7, iPhone 8, iPhone 9, or iPhone SE, you can simply press and hold the power button and slide the on-screen slider to power off your device. To turn it back on, press and hold the power button until the Apple logo appears.
By restarting your device, you can refresh its system and potentially resolve any underlying issues that may be causing problems with Instagram.
3. Force quit the app
If restarting your device doesn’t solve the problem, try force-quitting the Instagram app.
To restart the Instagram app on your Android mobile phone or iPhone, follow these steps:
Android:
- Swipe up from the bottom of your screen to access the recent apps menu.
- Scroll through the list of recent apps to find the Instagram app.
- Swipe left or right to navigate to the Instagram app card.
- Swipe the card upward or off the screen to close the app.
- Now, tap on the Instagram app icon to relaunch it.
iPhone:
- On iPhone X or newer models, swipe up from the bottom of the screen and pause in the middle to access the app switcher. On iPhone 8 or earlier models, double-press the Home button to access the app switcher.
- Locate the Instagram app card in the app switcher.
- Swipe the Instagram app card upward or off the screen to force quit the app.
- Return to your home screen and tap on the Instagram app icon to open it again.
By following these steps, you will effectively restart the Instagram app, clearing it from memory and giving it a fresh start. This can help resolve temporary bugs, UI glitches, or other issues you may encounter while using the app.
4. Update Instagram
Make sure you have the latest version of Instagram installed on your device. Check for updates in the App Store (iOS) or Google Play Store (Android).
To ensure that you have the latest version of Instagram installed on your device, follow these steps:
For Android:
- Open the Google Play Store on your Android device.
- Tap on your profile picture or avatar at the top right corner of the screen.
- From the dropdown menu, select “Manage apps and device.”
- Under the “Updates” tab, look for Instagram in the list of apps.
- If there is an available update for Instagram, you will see an “Update” button next to it. Tap on it to download and install the latest version.
For iPhone:
- Open the App Store on your iPhone.
- Tap on your profile picture or avatar at the top right corner of the screen.
- Scroll down to the “Available Updates” section.
- Look for Instagram in the list of apps.
- If an update is available for Instagram, you will see an “Update” button next to it. Tap on it to download and install the latest version.
By keeping your Instagram app up to date, you ensure that you have the latest features, optimizations, and bug fixes, which can improve the overall performance and stability of the app.
5. Clear Instagram cache and data
Clearing the cache and data of the Instagram app can help resolve issues related to stored temporary files. To do this, go to your device’s Settings app, find “Apps” or “Applications,” locate Instagram in the list, and then select “Storage & cache” or a similar option. From there, choose to clear the cache and, if needed, clear the app data.
6. Reinstall the Instagram app
If you have tried the previous methods and are still facing issues with Instagram, another solution you can try is to uninstall and reinstall the app. Here’s how you can do it:
For Android:
- Press and hold the Instagram icon on your Android device’s home screen or app drawer.
- A menu should appear with options related to the app.
- Tap on the “Uninstall” or “Remove” option to uninstall Instagram from your device.
- Confirm the uninstallation if prompted.
Once Instagram is uninstalled, you can proceed with reinstalling it:
- Open the Google Play Store on your device.
- In the search bar at the top, type “Instagram” and tap on the search icon.
- From the search results, find the official Instagram app and tap on it.
- On the Instagram app page, tap on the “Install” button to download and install the app.
- Once the installation is complete, tap on the “Open” button to launch Instagram.
- Log in with your Instagram credentials to access your account.
For iPhone:
- Locate the Instagram app on your iPhone’s home screen.
- Press and hold the Instagram app icon until the icons on your screen start to jiggle.
- A small “X” should appear at the top-left corner of the Instagram app icon.
- Tap on the “X” to delete the Instagram app from your iPhone.
- Confirm the deletion if prompted.
To reinstall Instagram:
- Open the App Store on your iPhone.
- In the bottom-right corner, tap on the “Search” tab.
- Type “Instagram” in the search bar at the top and tap on the search result.
- On the Instagram app page, tap on the “Get” or “Download” button to reinstall the app.
- Once the download is complete, tap on the “Open” button to launch Instagram.
- Log in with your Instagram credentials to access your account.
Reinstalling Instagram can help resolve any issues related to the app’s installation or configuration. It will give you a fresh installation of the app, which may help resolve the crashing or other problems you were experiencing.
7. Is Instagram down?
If you’re still experiencing issues with Instagram, here are a few additional steps you can take
Check whether Instagram is down:
- Visit Downdetector’s website on your browser.
- Search for “Instagram” to see if there are any reports of Instagram facing an outage or issues. Downdetector provides real-time information based on user reports.
- You can also search “Instagram down” on Google or Twitter to check for any widespread reports or discussions about Instagram being down.
8. Log in to Instagram on other devices
If the Instagram app is not working on your current device, try logging in to your account on another device, such as a different mobile phone or desktop. If Instagram works normally on the other device, it suggests that the issue may be specific to your device.
9. Check if your account has been deactivated/suspended
Verify if your Instagram account has been deactivated or suspended. Typically, Instagram sends a notification or email if your account has been deactivated intentionally or by mistake.
Check your email inbox, including spam or junk folders, for any emails from Instagram regarding account deactivation or suspension.
By checking if Instagram is down, trying on different devices, and confirming the status of your account, you can further troubleshoot the issue and determine if there are any external factors affecting your Instagram experience.
6. Contact Instagram Support
If none of the above steps resolve the issue, you can reach out to Instagram Support for further assistance. Visit the Instagram Help Center website to access support resources and contact options.
Remember, these steps are general recommendations, and specific instructions may vary depending on your device and operating system.
Conclusion
While you wait for Instagram to officially address Insgram not working glitches, it’s better to try these simple workarounds. More often than not, various kinds of compatibility issues take place across Android devices, resulting in glitches. But the fixes we have listed above can potentially fix the Instagram down issue without requiring you to work too hard.