Fix Instagram Feed Not Refreshing (iPhone, Android)

Fix Instagram Feed Not Refreshing on your iPhone or Android with a few quick and easy steps. It can be annoying when new posts won’t load or the app freezes. This issue can happen for many reasons, like a weak internet connection, app bugs, or outdated software. The good news is—you don’t need to be a tech expert to solve it. Most of the time, it’s simple to fix.

Follow these simple steps to fix your Instagram feed and get back to scrolling!

Start with the Essentials: Internet and Restarts

When Instagram isn’t loading new content, the first thing to check is your internet connection. Instagram needs a stable and reasonably fast connection to load new photos, videos, and stories.

1. Test Your Wi-Fi

• Make sure your Wi-Fi is working properly.

• Try opening a web page in your browser. If it doesn’t load, your Wi-Fi may be the issue.

• Disconnect from your Wi-Fi network and reconnect.

• Sometimes, toggling Wi-Fi off and back on can fix small glitches.

2. Check Mobile Data

• If you’re using mobile data, make sure it’s turned on.

• Confirm that you have enough data left in your plan.

• A weak or unstable signal can stop Instagram from refreshing.

• Try switching between Wi-Fi and mobile data to see which one works better.

3. Restart the Instagram App

A quick app restart can solve many small issues:

• On iPhone: Swipe up from the bottom (or double-press the home button), then swipe Instagram away.

• On Android: Open the recent apps screen and swipe the Instagram app closed.

Then reopen the app to see if the feed works properly.

4. Restart Your Phone

If restarting the app doesn’t help, try restarting your phone.
A full device reboot can fix deeper system issues affecting Instagram or your internet connection.

Address App-Specific Glitches

Sometimes the problem lies within the Instagram application itself. A corrupted file, a bug in the current version, or an authentication issue can stop your feed from updating.

A quick way to refresh the app’s state is to log out of your account and then log back in. This process forces the app to establish a fresh connection with Instagram’s servers and can often clear up loading problems related to your user session.

Ensure your Instagram app is up to date. Developers frequently release updates to fix bugs and improve performance. Check the App Store on your iPhone or the Google Play Store on your Android device for any pending Instagram updates and install them.

Clear Out the Clutter: Cache and Storage

Over time, apps like Instagram store temporary data, known as cache, to help them load faster. However, a corrupted or overloaded cache can sometimes cause issues. Your device’s storage space can also play a role.

Clear Instagram Cache (Android)

On Android, you can clear the cache for specific apps manually.
Settings > Apps (or Applications) > Instagram > Storage > Clear Cache

• Clearing the cache is different from clearing data.

• Clearing data will log you out of the app.

• Clearing only the cache is safe and often helps fix loading or refreshing issues.

Check Device

If your phone is critically low on storage space, it can affect the performance of all apps, including Instagram. Check your device’s storage settings and free up some space by deleting unnecessary files, photos, or apps if needed. Insufficient storage can prevent the app from functioning correctly or downloading new data.

Review Your Data and Background Settings

Your phone’s settings regarding data usage and background activity can sometimes inadvertently restrict Instagram’s ability to load content.

Check Data Saver Settings

Both iPhone and Android have data saver modes that limit background data usage to conserve mobile data. While useful, these settings can sometimes prevent Instagram from refreshing properly when you’re not actively using it or even when you are, depending on the strictness of the setting.

Navigate to your phone’s data usage settings and ensure that data saver is not interfering with Instagram. On Android, you might find specific settings allowing “unrestricted data usage” for certain apps.

Allow Background App Refresh/Data Usage

For Instagram to potentially pre-load content or update itself when you’re not actively using it, it needs permission to use data in the background.

On iPhone:

Go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh

Ensure it’s turned on for Instagram.

On Android:

Go to Settings > Apps > Instagram > Mobile Data & Wi-Fi

Make sure “Background data” is enabled.

Consider External Forces: Server and Network

Sometimes, the problem isn’t with your app or phone, but with Instagram itself or your overall network environment.

Check Instagram Server Status

Occasionally, Instagram’s servers might be experiencing issues or undergoing maintenance. This affects all users and is beyond your control. You can check websites like DownDetector or search on other social media platforms like Twitter to see if other users are reporting problems with Instagram being down.

VPN or Proxy Interference

If you’re using a VPN or proxy service, it might be causing conflicts with Instagram’s connection. Try temporarily disabling your VPN or proxy to see if the feed starts loading normally. If it does, the issue lies with the VPN configuration or the service itself.

When All Else Fails: Reinstallation and Account Refresh

If you’ve exhausted the simpler troubleshooting steps, more drastic measures like reinstalling the app or ensuring your account itself isn’t facing issues might be necessary.

Reinstall the Instagram App

Uninstalling the Instagram app from your device and then downloading a fresh copy from the App Store or Google Play Store can resolve persistent issues caused by corrupted app files.

This is a more thorough fix than just clearing the cache.

Check Date and Time Settings

Incorrect date and time settings on your device can sometimes cause synchronization issues with servers, including Instagram’s. Ensure your phone’s date and time are set automatically based on your network.

Consider Account Restrictions (Less Common)

While less common for simple loading issues, sometimes account-specific problems or temporary restrictions by Instagram can affect functionality. If none of the technical steps work and the issue persists for days only for your account, you might consider contacting Instagram support, though getting a direct response can be challenging.

Hopefully, one of these troubleshooting steps helped resolve the issue of Instagram not loading new posts on your device. We covered checking your internet connection, restarting the app and phone, managing app data and storage, adjusting phone settings, and considering external factors like server status. By systematically working through these potential solutions, you can often quickly get your Instagram feed refreshing smoothly again and enjoy the latest updates.

Wrap-Up