12 Annoying Instagram Problems and Easy Ways to Fix Them in 2024

You may have started your Instagram marketing campaign, and you may be posting quality content regularly. However, sooner or later, you may realize that Instagram isn’t one of the most efficient modes of marketing. You’re sure to encounter some Instagram problems.

Every day, you want to post at the right times to reach the most people. However, doing this on a day-to-day basis can be an extremely difficult and cumbersome task. While Instagram wasn’t initially designed to serve as a marketing tool, you can save some time by knowing the common Instagram problems.

Not sure how to fix the issue?

Let me help you out.

Which Are the Most Common Instagram Problems? (Plus Solutions)

Knowing the most common and frustrating Instagram problems can help you solve them quickly. This can make life a lot simpler for you and let you utilize your time in a better manner.

Here are a few annoying Instagram problems and methods to solve them:

1. Posting at Optimum Times

Instagram’s business accounts show analytics that allow you to figure out the time when most of your audience is online. Those times are when you need to post content to get the most engagement possible. You can also use tools such as Iconosquare.

However, it is more than often that these timings clash with some other activities. These Instagram problems can make it a frustrating task to polish the post and then upload it at that exact same time.

And unlike Facebook, it is not possible to schedule a post on Instagram from the Instagram app itself. However, there are several tools that can solve this Instagram problem for you; some of them are:

HubSpot

HubSpot’s Instagram integration feature enables you to create content from within their tool and schedule it for publishing in advance. Using this tool, you can also upload your posts in bulk to save your time. Additionally, you can also find out how your audience is engaging with your content through HubSpot.

Image via HubSpot

Buffer

Buffer is a great social media app that not only simplifies Instagram but also other social media platforms for you. It can help you weed out a lot of common Instagram problems. Through this social media app, you can schedule multiple posts for the week with little effort. All you need to do is select the image and enter the caption. All the hashtags can be added right in the scheduler itself.

Image via Buffer

You can then select a date and time to post on Instagram. Buffer also gives you the option of posting the same post to multiple social media networks at the same time. This can make social media posting very easy for you.

Later

Later is a social media app that is specially dedicated to Instagram; it can help you solve loads of Instagram problems. You can plan your entire feed to create a beautiful profile that can catch the attention of viewers. To plan your content in a better manner, it has a visual content calendar. This will allow you to schedule your posts with insights on when they will be published.

Image via Later

If you have a business profile, the app supports the auto-publish function as well. So you don’t need to wait for any notification from the Instagram app to tap and then publish it manually. The social media app does all the work for you. It’s an easy remedy for many Instagram problems.

2. Clean Up Followers

When your brand becomes popular on Instagram, it may be tough to keep track of who’s following you. The same, of course, applies to those who are even unfollowing you.

Even though it may not seem like a big problem on Instagram, it’s something you need to pay attention to. To maintain your brand’s image, you need to ensure that your follower list is clean and authentic.

Not sure how to clean up your follower list?

Here’s a tip:

You may want to unfollow accounts that don’t follow you back.

To identify such accounts, you can use Instagram tools like Combin. All you need to do is go to the “Users” tab in the tool. Next, click on the “Not Followers” option.

To unfollow them all at once, you can click on “Select All” and then press “Unfollow the users.”

Image via Combin

3. Responding to Comments

When your brand is fairly new to Instagram, it’s easy to keep a track of comments and respond to them. To keep your engagement high, you need to communicate with your audience through the comments.

However, things start becoming trickier as you grow. The volume of comments grows quickly and that can make it difficult for you to respond to them. To solve such Instagram problems, you can use Iconosquare.

Image via YouTube

This tool displays a list of all your latest posts on a single page. Additionally, it lets you know about all of the comments that you haven’t responded to. This makes your job of finding and replying to comments extremely easy, especially because you can reply to them right there.

4. Editing Photos on Mobile

Instagram’s photo editor and filters are great. However, it can be a pain to use the small screen on a phone to edit your photos well. When you need to have the same features on a bigger screen, the Instagram app is a huge letdown.

While the Instagram app can be viewed on desktops, it doesn’t allow you to edit or upload photos through it. Such Instagram problems can be very annoying for those who prefer editing on desktops.

However, Iconosquare sorts this problem out for you. While it does allow you to view, like, and comment on posts, it also lets you post content onto the platform via the Instagram app.

This can simplify the entire process for you. The bigger screen can help you edit your photos well. At the same time, a full keyboard will make the caption typing process simpler.

Image via Iconosquare

5. Posting Across Social Media

Instagram makes it easy for you to share your posts on Facebook. However, if you want to share it to other social media platforms, you need to either have a link to the post or share it from the Instagram app itself. Such Instagram problems can be time-consuming.

We’ve already introduced Buffer, which can help you post to different social media networks simultaneously. However, IFTTT can do the task in a similar fashion. Firstly, IFTTT stands for “If This Then That.” Using this tool, you can create conditions that it will execute.

Image via AndreaBolder

For instance, say you want to post a photo on Twitter every time a certain hashtag is used on your Instagram posts or appears on your Instagram feed. All you need to do is head to IFTTT and create a “Recipe.” You will first need to set the “This.” You can choose Instagram in this list of platforms.

You will then need to select a trigger based on which the tool will have to act. Once the conditions for the trigger are set, you need to move on to the “That.”

 

It will again show you a list of platforms available. From this list, you’ll need to select Twitter. Then, you’ll be required to select the action that needs to be taken. The tool lets you set all the specifics of the action so that you can lie back and relax later. Finally, you’ll have to click on “Create Recipe” to finish off the order.

Now, whenever the trigger is hit on your Instagram feed, the tool will take the required action on Twitter without your interference. It’s a quick fix for one of the most frustrating Instagram problems out there.

6. Commenting on Others’ Posts

In an effort to crack down on spammers, Instagram has restricted comments. If you don’t know these Instagram problems, you may find your comments rejected many times. For this reason, it is important to know that Instagram doesn’t accept comments with:

• More than 5 tags
• More than 30 hashtags in one comment
• Same comment on the post multiple times

It is important to keep all these in mind while commenting on posts on Instagram. If you aren’t sticking to the guidelines, there are chances that Instagram may not allow you to post comments.

Reducing the factors mentioned above can help you sort such Instagram problems out.

7. IGTV Problems

IGTV is the latest feature introduced on Instagram. It allows publishers to upload long-form vertical videos which are up to 10 minutes long. Verified accounts can publish up to 60 minutes of videos.

While the videos may appear great on the mobile Instagram app, it’s a completely different story when you view them on desktops or other larger screens. The poor quality of videos can be off-putting for the viewers. Instagram problems such as this one can be solved with ease.

Unlike regular photos and videos, you have the option of uploading the IGTV videos directly from your desktop. Uploading them from desktops can help with the quality of the videos. They will appear well on both mobiles and desktops.

To do this, you need to go to Instagram.com. Then, head to your profile and select the IGTV option below the stories. You’ll be able to see an option to upload a new IGTV video there. It’ll also show you options to add a cover photo, title, and description.

Image via Medium

Do keep in mind that the resolution of the video is supposed to be 9:16 so you may be required to resize it.

8. Promoting Photos Outside Instagram

Instagram may be one of the best places to find photos and short videos. It’s gathered over 1 billion active monthly users. However, not everyone has accounts on the platform.

One of the main Instagram problems is that posting content on it can limit your audience. To reach out to your other fans, you need to post separately elsewhere.

Using the IFTTT tool, you can easily connect your posts on Instagram to other social media networks. This way, you can get your photos in front of your audience on Flickr, Reddit, Digg, and more.

You could also use Iconosquare to improve your reach to your target audience. Through this tool, you can create a web link to your profile so all those who don’t use Instagram can still see all your content.

Additionally, they will be able to see all the comments and likes on the photos just like on Instagram. They can even comment on the photos from Iconosquare and share your photos across multiple social media platforms.

If you want to display your Instagram images on Facebook, you could install an app on Facebook through Iconosquare. People will be able to check your Instagram feed right on Facebook this way.

9. Problems with Facebook Permissions

You can have Instagram problems if you delete Instagram from your account on Facebook. When this happens, you may not be able to post on Facebook via the Instagram app.

This can be extremely frustrating, so you need to re-connect them to let them work smoothly. Here are the steps to do so:

1. Uninstall the Facebook app and Instagram app.
2. Go to the settings on Facebook on your desktop and then remove all the permissions that were granted to Instagram.
3. Install the Instagram app and Facebook app from Google Play Store or Apple App Store on your phone again and then follow the process of connecting them again.

Once they are connected, you will be able to post content on the Instagram app and share it directly to Facebook. Such Instagram problems can only be fixed by reinstalling the Instagram app.

10. Following Other Accounts

There might be a time when you may not be allowed to follow someone anymore. You may receive the error message, “You can’t follow any more people.” It’s one of those Instagram problems that not everyone will encounter.

This happens because Instagram has a limit on the number of accounts you can follow. This number is capped at 7500. So, unless you follow a large number of followers, you aren’t likely to face this issue.

If you’re facing this Instagram problem, you may need to unfollow a few accounts before you can follow new ones. If you do spot some accounts that are following more than 7500 people, it may be because they had done so before the new rules came into effect.

11. Switching Between Accounts

This was one of the most annoying Instagram problems out there. To switch accounts, you would have to log out from one and then log into the other one. This was a lot of hassle in the past. It was one of the most common problems that Instagram users complained of.

However, with the new updates, Instagram has solved this problem for you. All you need to do is log in to the first account and head to the profile. You’ll be able to see a tiny arrow next to your name at the top of the Instagram app.

Image via iPhone Life

When you tap on this arrow, it’ll show you the option of adding a new account. When you tap on that, you’ll be prompted to log in to the new account. Once you log in to the new account, you’ll be logged in to both the accounts at the same time.

To switch accounts, you can either go to the profile and tap on the account name and select the account. Or, you can simply long-press on the profile icon and select the account you wish to open. This way, you can easily switch between your personal and business accounts on the Instagram app.

12. Problems Playing Videos

Some Instagram users have faced issues with playing videos on the social media platform. The usual complaint is that the videos won’t play or will stop playing abruptly after a few seconds.

Instead, the screen shows the loading sign — a spinning circle. There can be various reasons for this Instagram problem. Some of them include:

• Poor internet connection or limited mobile data.
• Power saving mode is on. This setting disables auto playing Instagram videos.
• You’re still using an older version of the Instagram app.
• The owner of the video has deleted it from their account.

Now that you know the reasons for one of the most common Instagram problems, let’s move on to the solutions that you can try.

First, always check your internet connection and mobile data limits. Especially if you are using WiFi in a public place, your internet connection could easily be poor. Likewise, your surroundings could be affecting your internet connection. For example, if you're in an elevator or in an underground parking garage.

Sometimes all it takes to get your account up and running normally is a simple restart. If you aren’t able to watch videos, even after a simple restart, you can check the next solution.

Adjust the battery performance on your phone. If you’re on power saving mode, disable it. Keep in mind that if you want better quality videos, your phone is going to use more battery. So, your best bet is to choose high performance battery settings.

If none of these options work, you may need to clear cache on the Instagram app. You can do this by following these steps:

Settings → Apps → Instagram → Storage → Clear Cache

Once you’re done with this, reopen your app and see if videos play normally on Instagram. If the problem persists, you might have to reinstall the Instagram app from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.

It’s one of those Instagram problems that have no clear solution. You have to go with trial and error to figure out what works for you.

FAQs

Q1. How do I contact Instagram about a problem?

A. Here are the steps that you can follow to contact Instagram about a problem:

• Go to the Help Center by going to help.instagram.com.
• Navigate to Privacy and Safety Center.
• Click on Report Something.
• Select your issue.
• Fill out the form and report the issue.

Q2. How to report a problem on Instagram?

A. To report a problem on Instagram, head to your Instagram app, and follow the steps below:

• Go to your profile.
• Open Settings.
• Click on Help.
• Select Report a Problem.
• In the box that appears, click on Report a Problem.
• Enter information about the problem and send it.

Q3. Is there a problem with Instagram?

A. Instagram rarely has any problems and is online most of the time. However, if you do encounter problems while using the app, you can check if the social media app is down in your area.

Q4. Why has my Instagram stopped working?

A. To learn why your Instagram has stopped working, you could perform these checks:

• Check if your WiFi or mobile data connection is working.
• Ask your friends or family if they’re facing trouble with Instagram too.
• Check if Instagram is down in your region.
• Report an issue if nobody else is facing the same problem as you.

Q5. How do you fix Instagram problems?

A. Here are the various things that you can do to fix Instagram problems:

• Clear app data or clear cache.
• Check the app permissions to see if some permissions are missing.
• Check Google Play Store or Apple App Store for app updates and update it.
• Find out if Instagram is down.
• Reinstall Instagram.
• Try a different device.

Q6. Is Instagram growing or dying?

A. Instagram is growing, but not as rapidly as it was. Its growth had slowly tapered off, but with new features like Reels, the platform is growing. There are over 1.08 billion Instagram users now.

Q7. What happens when Instagram shuts down?

A. When Instagram stops working, you should try to check if your network or mobile data connection is working. It also helps to see if Instagram is down in your area or around the world. You can even try to clear cache and app data or reinstall the app from the Google Play Store.

Q8. Can Instagram shut down your account?

A. Yes, Instagram can shut down your account but only if they have a reason to do so. If you’re breaking a lot of rules laid out by the platform within a short period of time, they might remove your account. They could also ban your account if a lot of people report it for legitimate reasons.

Q9. How do I recover an old Instagram account?

A. If you’ve disabled and not deleted your Instagram account, you can recover it. However, deleting it would mean that you won’t be able to get it back. Here are the steps to recover your account:

• Open Instagram.
• Login to Your Account.
• Your Account Gets Activated.

Q10. How do I stop getting banned from Instagram?

A. Here are some ways through which you can avoid getting banned from Instagram:

• Don’t mass follow accounts.
• Don’t share content that violates Instagram’s rules.
• Don’t spam the comments section.
• Complete your profile.
• Post content regularly.
• Don’t infringe on copyrights.

Instagram Problems, Be Gone!

Instagram is one of the best apps for marketing. However, Instagram problems can play spoilsport to your success. But you don’t have to let Instagram problems deter you. You can use tools such as Buffer to schedule your posts. Similarly, Iconosquare can help you respond to comments and even increase your reach at the same time.

Additionally, you can improve the quality of IGTV videos by uploading them through your desktops. And using tools such as IFTTT, you can upload photos and get them out to people across social media.