How to use it
- Read the live status above. It tests Instagram from outside your network.
- Open the official Meta Status (business products) page for confirmed incidents.
- If Instagram is up, work through the fixes below, cheapest first.
- Press the report button if it still fails, so other visitors see it.
Is Instagram down for everyone or only for you?
Instagram is mostly used through its phone app. The app talks to Meta servers for the feed, Stories, Reels, direct messages and uploads, and each can fail without the others. The website uses the same account but a different front end, which makes it a useful comparison when the app misbehaves.
Our check requests instagram.com and the mobile API host from outside your network. A not found reply from the API host is normal and still shows the server is up. If both answer, the trouble is likely your app version, cache or connection. Meta's status page covers business products, not the consumer app.
The live check on this page requests www.instagram.com and i.instagram.com from our servers every few minutes. A normal answer from those addresses means the service is reachable from outside your network. It does not prove that every feature inside Instagram works, which is why the problem reports and the fixes below matter.
What usually breaks with Instagram
Feed and Reels will not refresh
The app shows a blank feed or fails to load new posts. This often clears within minutes if it is a short load problem.
Stories and uploads
A Story or post stays on uploading, then fails. Uploads need a stable connection and are heavy on mobile data.
Direct messages
Messages do not send or conversations are empty, while the feed works.
Login and verification
You are logged out, the code does not arrive or the app asks for repeated checks.
App crashes and old versions
Instagram's help notes the app may not work on an unsupported older version.
How to fix Instagram when it only fails for you
Start at the top. The first steps are the cheapest and fix most cases that are not a real outage.
- Compare app and website. Open instagram.com in a phone browser. If it works there, the problem is the app, so update it or clear its cache.
- Update the app. Install the latest version from the App Store or Google Play. Instagram's help says old versions can stop working.
- Restart the phone. Power the phone off and on, then reopen Instagram.
- Switch Wi-Fi and mobile data. Toggle between them to test whether one connection is the cause.
- Clear the cache on Android. Open Settings, Apps, Instagram, Storage and tap Clear cache. On iPhone, delete the app and reinstall it.
- Turn off VPN or proxy. Disconnect and test, since they can trigger checks or break uploads.
- Report a problem. Go to your profile, open the menu, tap Help, then Report a problem. You can shake the phone or report directly. Menu names change, so check your app.
- Use the Help Center. Open help.instagram.com for login recovery. Use official recovery only and never share your password.
If none of this helps and the live check above shows the service as up, read our guide on why a website is not loading, or see how to flush DNS.
Common Instagram error messages
| Message or code | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Couldn't refresh feed | The app could not load new posts. Third-party guides tie it to connection or short server problems, not an official Instagram article. | Check your connection, update the app and retry after a few minutes. |
| 404 Not Found (i.instagram.com) | Our check receives this from the mobile API host without a request. It means the server answers. | Nothing to fix on your side. |
| 502 Bad Gateway | A standard HTTP code meaning a server in front got a bad reply from another server. | Wait a few minutes and reload. |
Official Instagram status and support
The company itself has the final word on outages. Check Meta Status (business products) for confirmed incidents and use Instagram Help Center if your account has a problem that is not an outage. We are not affiliated with Instagram.
Facts and menu names on this page were checked against the official sources below on October 25, 2026. Apps change their menus, so a setting may sit in a slightly different place in your version.
Other services people check
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if Instagram is down or if it is just me?
Run the live check above. If it answers from our server but not for you, open instagram.com on another network. If it works, update or reinstall the app.
Does Instagram have an official status page?
Meta publishes metastatus.com for business products. We could not verify an official public status page for the consumer Instagram app.
Why does Instagram work on Wi-Fi but not mobile data?
Your carrier connection or data saver setting may be the cause. Check that mobile data is allowed for Instagram in your phone settings.
How do I report a bug to Instagram?
Use Report a problem from the Help section in the app. Include what you were doing and a screenshot.
Do Instagram and Facebook go down together?
They share Meta infrastructure, so some problems hit both, but each can also fail alone.