Scrolling through Instagram is one of my favorite ways to pass the time when I’m bored or anxious. It’s also nice to see posts from my friends and family that I don’t see as often anymore.
However, the new glitch where the feed won’t refresh has been very frustrating. If you’re like I was, you’re wondering why your Instagram feed is not refreshing.
If your Instagram feed is not refreshing, it’s likely because your internet connection is not working correctly, you need to clear up storage on your device, or some of the data stored on your device is causing conflict. In rare cases, it could mean that Instagram’s servers are down or that your account has been restricted or banned.
If your account has been banned permanently, there’s not an easy fix. If not, the steps I’ll walk you through below will help you determine the cause and fix it.
Reasons why You can’t Refresh your Instagram Feed
1. Slow or Overloaded Internet Connection
If your Instagram feed isn’t refreshing, there’s a good chance it’s because of a poor internet connection.
Whether your internet is down or not, having too many devices connected can cause your speed to be slower, which could easily be causing your Instagram connection problem.
2. Instagram Servers Error
As with any other social media site, Instagram is powered by servers. Sometimes, these servers will go down from time to time due to an error, or they can perform site maintenance.
Regardless, the site will not work until their servers are back up. Luckily these things don’t usually take long to be fixed.
3. Outdated Version of the App
If the issue is not related to your internet or the Instagram servers, it could be that you need to update your app.
When new updates are released, they contain new features and bug fixes for issues like the ones you’re having. Outdated app versions often contain glitches that will go away with an update.
4. Your Instagram Account has Been Banned
Additionally, if Instagram has noticed an activity on your account that appears to be spam, they will usually ban it temporarily. Sometimes when this happens, you won’t be able to see your feed until the ban is lifted.
However, in most cases, you will have a direct message from Instagram that lets you know you’ve been banned and why.
5. Using Unauthorized Third-Party Software
Instagram blocks the use of some third-party software, especially those that generate activity such as increased likes and followers. If these types of apps are used, they can cause glitches or cause your account to be restricted.
In addition, these apps can allow the wrong people to access your account, which could be a bigger problem.
6. Instagram’s Cache is Full
The apps on your, including Instagram, stores cache data on your device. This data is usually just a copy of noncritical data like scripts, images, and other data intended to help the app load faster.
Unfortunately, it can sometimes have the opposite effect due to decreased storage space or conflicting data.
7. The Device’s Date and Time Settings are Inaccurate
Another thing that will cause conflicting data is if the time and date settings are not set correctly on your device.
If they’re incorrect, it can send conflicting information to the app while you are trying to load your feed. This can easily cause problems with your Instagram feed loading.
Fixes for Instagram not Refreshing
1. Check if Your Wi-Fi/Mobile Data is Connected
First, you’ll want to ensure your network connection is connected and working.
The easiest way to check your internet connection from any device is to try a different app or website to see if Instagram is the only one malfunctioning. If you are having issues with others, it indicates the problem is with your connection.
To check the connection on your iOS device, tap Settings > WiFi or Cellular.
On your Android device, tap Settings > Network and Internet/Connections > Wifi or Mobile Data.
On your PC, find the WiFi symbol at the top or bottom of your screen, click it, and ensure the correct network is selected and it says connected.
How To Fix Instagram Couldn’t Refresh Feed
2. Clear the Overloaded or Corrupted App Cache
Next, you should clear your cache. This will remove any temporary data that may be corrupt, conflicting, or taking up to much space. Clearing your cache will not cause you to lose any essential data.
To clear an app’s cache on your iOS device:
- Open your Settings.
- Tap iPad/iPhone Storage.
- Find and select Instagram.
- Tap Offload App.
- Tap Reinstall App.
This will keep your important data but remove the temporary cache files.
To clear the app’s cache on your Android device:
- Go to your Settings.
- Tap Apps.
- Find and select Instagram.
- Tap Storage.
- Tap Clear Cache.
To clear the cache on your PC, open your browsers and find the Settings dropdown menu. From there, you’ll need to find Clear Browsing Data. For most popular browsers, this will be under More Tools.
Once you’ve cleared your cache, you’ll likely be able to load your feed much easier.
3. Clear Your Device Storage
Things like unused apps and old photos can quickly be cleared to allow the apps you use to function as they should.
To clear up storage on your iOS device:
- Store your photos in iCloud rather than on your device.
- Delete apps you don’t need by holding down on the icon and tapping Remove App.
- Clear Safari’s cache by going to Settings > Safari > Clear History and Website Data.
You will sometimes see recommendations when you go to your storage under the General Settings tab, but if you do not, you will need to do them manually. There are also apps to help clear up storage.
To clear up storage on your Android device:
- Store photos in Google Photos rather than storing them on your device.
- Deleted unused apps by opening the Play Store, tapping your profile picture, and selecting Manage Apps and Devices > Manage > App you want to delete > Uninstall.
- Clean up junk files by opening the Files by Google app and tapping Junk Files > Clean > Confirm and Free Up > See Junk Files > Select files to remove > Clear.
To clear up storage on your PC:
- Open the Start/Windows menu.
- Select Settings.
- Click System
- Click Storage
- Click Cleanup Recommendations
- Select temporary files, unused files, and unused apps you want to remove.
- Click Clean Up.
4. Log out and Re-login to Instagram
When sites like Instagram does not refresh, logging out and back into your account is an excellent way to force them to refresh.
Before you start, ensure you remember your username and password, or you may have difficulty logging back into your account.
Follow the steps below to refresh your Instagram feed by Logging out, then back in:
- Tap your profile picture to go to your Account Settings.
- Tap Settings.
- Tap Log out.
- Close the app, then reopen it.
- Enter your login details to log back in.
Once you’ve logged back in, your feed will likely be refreshed and ready to go. If not, you may need to update your Instagram app.
5. Update the App
To quickly update your app on your iOS, Android, or Mac PC:
- Go to your app store.
- Locate the search bar and search for Instagram.
- Select Instagram from the results.
- Tap Update.
If you have a button that says open instead of update, your app is already up to date.
If you need to update your app on a Windows PC, click Start > Microsoft Store > Library > Get Updates.
6. Uninstall & Reinstall the Instagram App
If your Instagram feed isn’t refreshing, deleting it and redownloading it will likely help.
If you’re using an iOS device:
- Tap and hold the icon until your icons start shaking.
- Tap Remove App.
- Open the App Store and search for Instagram.
- Select Instagram from the results.
- Tap Install.
If you’re using an Android device:
- Go to the Google Play store and tap your profile photo.
- Tap Manage Apps and Devices.
- Tap Manage.
- Select Instagram.
- Tap Uninstall.
- Go back to the Google Play home screen and search for Instagram.
- Select it from the results and tap Install.
7. Restart Your Device
Restarting your device will clear the data that your device has temporarily stored in its RAM. Unfortunately, this temporary data can cause your device and apps to glitch.
To restart your iOS device:
- Hold the lock and volume up buttons until the power off screen appears.
- Slide the toggle to the right to shut your device off.
- Wait 60 seconds, then hold the lock button to power your device back on.
To restart your Android Device:
- Hold the power button until the menu pops up.
- Tap Power off.
- Wait 60 seconds.
- Hold the power button to turn your device back on.
If you’re using a PC, click Start > Power > Restart.
8. Login from Another Device
If the steps above haven’t resolved the problem, it could be an issue with your app, device, or Instagram account. Logging in from a different device will help you determine which one it is.
It’s better if you can log into the web version from your PC. If you can refresh your feed on the web version, it’s likely a bug within the app’s current version. If this is the case, you can use the web version until they have an update with a fix.
If you can’t log in on the web version, try logging in from another account to see if the problem is with your account.
9. Make Data Usage Unrestricted
Your device will sometimes restrict the data usage for some apps to keep them from using an excessive amount. Turning this restriction off may help you refresh your Instagram feed.
To this, open your Instagram app or go to the website on your PC, tap your profile picture, and tap Account > Data Usage > toggle off Use Less Cellular Data.
You should also ensure that Instagram can use mobile data on your device.
For iOS devices:
- Open Settings
- Tap Cellular Data
- Make sure the toggle is on next to Instagram.
For Android devices:
- Open settings
- Tap Wireless and Networks
- Tap Data Usage
- Tap Network Access
- Make sure Instagram is checked.
10. Set your Date and Time to Automatic
To ensure your device isn’t sending conflicting information when trying to refresh your Instagram feed, it’s best to set your Time and Date settings to “Automatic.”
To do this on an iOS device:
- Open Settings
- Tap General
- Tap Date and Time
- Toggle on Update Automatically.
For an Android device:
- Open Settings
- Tap Date and Time
- Change Date and Time
- Tap Automatic Date and Time and Time Zone.
To enable automatic Date and Time on your PC:
- Rick-click on the time and date in your taskbar. (Usually at the bottom right corner of the screen.)
- Click Adjust Date/Time
- Toggle on Set Time Automatically
- Toggle on Set Time Zone Automatically
11. Check Instagram Servers
Instagram’s servers, along with other essential functions, enable the feed to refresh. So, if the servers are down, it is the reason your Instagram feed is not refreshing.
When this happens, there isn’t anything you can do to make it work. You’ll have to wait until the issues with the servers are resolved.
To see if the servers are down, you can ask friends and family if they are experiencing the same issue.
In addition, you can use a service like DownDector. This website will tell you if the servers are down or if they’ve been down in the past 24 hours.
12. Avoid Using Unauthorised Third-party Software
As I mentioned above, Instagram Community Guidelines restrict the use of specific types of software, including the software that claims to increase your likes and follower counts.
If you’ve used this software with your account, Instagram has likely placed a temporary ban on your account, which can prevent your feed from loading.
Conclusion
Scrolling through your Instagram feed can be a relaxing way to pass the time. However, looking at the same posts you scrolled through last time likely isn’t what you were hoping for. Hopefully, this information has helped you refresh your feed.
However, if you’ve gone through all the steps and still can’t refresh your Instagram feed, consider reporting the issue to Instagram. They’ll likely be able to provide further information about anything that could be going on with your account or their systems.
Marziano is a seasoned tech expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. Holding a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and multiple certifications, including CompTIA A+, Network+, and Cisco’s CCNA, he has a well-rounded and robust understanding of various aspects of technology.