One of the most popular social networks, Instagram offers plenty of exciting features to its users. Despite being dependable most of the time, the app isn’t perfect. Your feed may not refresh if you experience this issue.
If you’re looking for help fixing Instagram’s “Couldn’t refresh feed” issue, you’ve come to the right place. What you need to do to get your Instagram up and running is explained in this article.
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Causes for the Instagram Couldn’t Refresh Feed Message
Community members probably loathe Instagram’s “Couldn’t refresh feed” error message. It can happen suddenly, often, and is always frustrating to not be able to view the latest posts and stories. First, let’s discuss possible causes and solutions.
You may be unable to refresh your Instagram feed for the following reasons:
Internet Connection
A slow or laggy internet connection is one of the most common reasons Instagram doesn’t refresh your feed. The connection isn’t fast enough for Instagram to load the latest photos and videos. The connection could also be overloaded due to high traffic volume, such as during a big game or New Year’s Eve.
The App Isn’t Updated
The Instagram app might not load the most recent posts if you’re using an older version.
Instagram Servers Aren’t Working Properly
When Instagram servers are down, you’ll see the “Couldn’t refresh feed” message. It doesn’t happen often, but when it does, it is usually resolved quickly.
Instagram’s Cache Is Full
Instagram’s cache files could be full, causing performance issues. To speed up the loading process, these temporary files are stored on your device. A full cache memory, however, could cause the app to malfunction.
Wrong Time and Date
Instagram may not work properly if you don’t have the right time and date set on your phone. Conflicts can occur if Instagram’s time and date don’t match the ones you’ve selected.
You Were Blocked
Instagram monitors each user’s behavior and can restrict their use. When you make inappropriate comments or like or comment on numerous posts within a short period of time, this can happen to you.
How to Fix the Instagram Couldn’t Refresh Feed Error
Now that we’ve discussed the possible reasons why you can’t refresh your Instagram feed, let’s look at the solutions:
Check Your Internet Connection
Your first step should be to check your internet connection. Make sure the Wi-Fi signal is strong if you’re using it. Make sure you have adequate reception and speed if you’re using cellular data. To test your internet speed, whether you’re using Wi-Fi or a cellular network, we recommend using Speedtest.
You may be running out of mobile data at the end of the month, or your provider may be throttling your connection. You should contact your phone carrier to resolve this issue.
Set Automatic Time and Date
You’ll experience issues with apps such as Instagram if the time and date you set manually don’t match the actual values. Set your phone’s time and date to automatic to avoid this.
Follow these instructions if you’re using an Android device:
- Go to Settings in your menu.
- General management can be tapped.
- Date and time should be hit.
- The toggle next to Automatic date and time should be turned on.
Depending on your Android version, these settings may differ. In your Settings, you’ll find the Date and time option if you don’t see General management.
To set the time and date automatically on your iPhone, follow these steps:
- Select Settings from your menu.
- Click General.
- Choose a date and time.
- Set Automatically is enabled.
Log Out and Log In
Logging out and back in can solve the problem of not being able to refresh your Instagram feed.
How to do it:
- Go to the Instagram app and open it.
- In the bottom-right corner, tap your profile picture.
- In the top-right corner, click the Hamburger icon.
- Click on Settings.
- Select Log Out at the bottom of the page.
- Log back into your account after closing the app and reopening it.
Clear Instagram Cache
To boost Instagram’s performance and resolve bugs, try clearing the app’s memory cache.
Follow these instructions if you have an Android device:
- Go to Settings from the menu.
- Click on Apps.
- Select Instagram from the list.
- Storage of presses.
- Clear the cache by selecting it.
Keep in mind that you will need to log back into your account once your cache has been cleared. Ensure you know your username and password.
The only way to clear Instagram’s cache on an iPhone is to reinstall it. In the section Reinstall the Instagram App, follow the instructions.
Restart Your Device
You may be able to fix temporary glitches and errors by rebooting your system.
The Restart option should be selected by Android users by holding the power button. Hold one of the volume buttons and the side button until the power slider appears on your iPhone. Drag the slider, wait for about 30 seconds, and hold the side button to turn the phone back on.
Update the Instagram App
Your apps need to be updated regularly to ensure the best performance. Automatic updates are enabled by default for most users. However, if you didn’t have enough storage at some point, you may have missed an update. You may have disabled automatic updates.
You can check whether your Instagram app is the latest version on your iPhone by following these steps:
- Go to the App Store from your menu.
- Search for “Instagram” in the search bar.
- You’ll see the Update button on the right if there is a newer version available. You can tap it. You’re already running the latest version if you see the Open button.
The following steps should be followed by Android users in order to update their Instagram app:
- Go to the Play Store from your menu.
- Search for “Instagram” in the search bar.
- To the right of the app, select Update. This button won’t appear if you have the latest version.
Reinstall the Instagram App
It may be necessary to uninstall and reinstall the Instagram app in some cases.
To reinstall Instagram on an iPhone, follow these instructions:
- Install the Instagram app on your iPhone.
- Hold down the app icon until a menu appears.
- Remove the app by tapping it.
- Reinstall Instagram from the App Store.
Follow these steps to reinstall Instagram on Android:
- Your device should have the Instagram app installed.
- When you see a menu, tap Uninstall.
- Install Instagram from the Play Store.
Check Instagram Servers
It is possible for Instagram servers to become overloaded and time out. In most cases, this is resolved within a few minutes, but you can always check to see if this is causing your problems. Check outage report spikes on sites such as Downdetector. There’s nothing you can do if Instagram’s servers are down.
Force Quit the Instagram App
Force quitting or force stopping an app closes all app-related activities. Depending on whether you have an Android or an iPhone, you will need to follow different steps.
If you want to force stop Instagram on Android, follow these steps:
- Tap and hold the Instagram icon in your menu until you see the drop-down menu.
- To confirm Force Stop, tap App info and then Force Stop again.
Here’s how to force quit Instagram on an iPhone:
- Swipe from the bottom to the middle of your Home screen.
- The Instagram app will appear after you swipe right or left.
- Close Instagram by swiping up.
Try Using Instagram on Another Device
This isn’t a solution, but it can help you determine whether the problem is with the network or your device. Try logging into your Instagram account using a laptop, tablet, or another mobile device on the same network. You may have a problem with your phone’s app or the device itself if you can refresh your feed using another device.
Contact Instagram Support
In the event none of the above solutions work, contact Instagram support. You can do this by following these steps:
- Go to the Instagram app and open it.
- In the bottom-right corner, tap your profile picture.
- At the top-right, click the Hamburger icon.
- Choose Report a Problem under Help.
- Submit your request by following the on-screen instructions.
Enjoy the Latest Instagram Posts
A weak internet connection is the most common cause of the “Couldn’t refresh feed” message on Instagram, but there are numerous other reasons. We hope our assistance helped you resolve the issue. You’ll be back to enjoying the latest posts in no time if you submit a help request to Instagram Support.
Do you have any experience with this problem? What did you do to solve it? Comment below and let us know what you think.