Can’t log into Instagram? With 1.3 billion daily users, thousands of people have this exact same issue every hour. Insta – like every site – can go down, experience network issues or disable accounts.
If you’ve tried a few times to log into Instagram and it keeps failing, you know how frustrating it can be.
We don’t know why your specific account is giving you problems, but we will share the top 7 reasons why people are stuck out of their accounts and how to fix them.
1. Your Network is Buggy📶
If you’re on Wi-Fi or using your cell data to log into Instagram, you may have a buggy network issue. We’ve had odd issues on Android and iOS where the network seems to glitch out and be “reset.”
Solution: Go Into Airplane Mode
Instead of fiddling with a router or calling your cell service provider (who will not help you), simply turn your phone on airplane mode. You can do this easily:
- Android: Settings > Network & Internet > Airplane mode
- iOS: Swipe up > airplane icon
Wait a few seconds and toggle airplane mode off before trying to log in again.
2. You Entered the Wrong Password
A slip of the finger or tap on the wrong key can lead to you entering the wrong password on your account. You might also forget your password, which happens when you haven’t had to log in forever.
Solution: Recover Your Password
Open the app and on the “login screen,” you can tap on Forget Password? Follow the directions on the screen to reset your password so that you can log back into your account.
You will need access to the email or phone number that you signed up with for this to work.
If you lost access to the sign-up account, you may be able to contact Instagram and see if they can assist you.
3. The App Isn’t Working Properly
You may have trouble logging into your Instagram account if your app stops working properly. It could be a glitch, a bug or some other issue that makes your app stop functioning normally.
Solution: Force Stop and Restart
The simplest way to fix this issue is to force-stop the app and restart it.
Here’s how:
Android
- Find the Instagram app icon.
- Long-press the icon and tap the “App info” button.
- Tap the “Force stop” button.
iPhone
- Open the app switcher by swiping up from the bottom of your screen or pressing the Home button twice.
- Find the Instagram app and swipe up to close it.
Once you’ve force-stopped the app, try opening it and logging in again.
4. Your App is Outdated
When was the last time you updated your Instagram app? If your apps don’t update automatically, it’s easy to push this important task off until later. Before you know it, your version of the app is obsolete.
If your app is really outdated, you may have trouble logging into your account.
Solution: Update the Instagram App
The great thing about this problem is that it’s easy to fix. Just update your app, and you should be able to log into your account.
Here’s how:
Android
- Open the Play Store app.
- Tap your profile icon.
- Tap “Manage apps & device.”
- Apps with available updates will have an “Update available” label.
- Tap the “Update” button and you’re good to go.
iPhone
- Open up the App Store.
- Tap your profile icon at the top of the screen.
- Tap the “Update” button next to the Instagram app.
- You can also tap the “Update all” button to update all of your apps.
As a general rule of thumb, it’s good practice to keep all of your apps up to date.
5. Your VPN is the Issue
Instagram doesn’t have any restrictions on VPNs, so you’re free to use them when logging into your account and using the platform.
But sometimes, there’s an issue with the VPN that may stop you from logging in.
Solution: Turn Off Your VPN and Try Logging In
If you think your VPN may be the problem, try disabling it and logging into your Instagram account. Make sure that you’re connected to a safe network when you try this fix.
If you can log into your account, then you know that your VPN was causing the issue. In this case, try using a different VPN server or location to see if that fixes the problem.
6. Your Account was Deleted or Disabled 🗑
If your account was deleted or disabled either by Instagram or yourself, you won’t be able to log in.
Maybe you forgot that you deleted the account, or you didn’t know that Instagram banned your account.
Solution: Create a New Account or Appeal a Permanent Ban
If your account was banned temporarily, you should be able to log back into your account after a few days. But if your account was permanently banned, you will need to appeal the decision to get your account back.
If you deleted your account, there’s no way to recover it. Once it’s gone, it’s gone for good. You’ll need to create a new account. You can use the same email address, but your old username may no longer be available.
7. Your Instagram Account Was Hacked
Hackers love to target people’s Instagram accounts. If a hacker gets into your account, one of the first things they’ll do is change your password. You can check your account profile from a friend’s account or on your web browser to see if someone is posting on the account.
But a lot of hackers will send DMs, so you might not even see malicious posts.
What can you do?
Solution: Reach Out to Instagram Support
Instagram has a support team that can help you with a hacked account. Before going this route, try resetting your password and then logging back into your account. Otherwise, you can contact support for help.
You will be asked to verify yourself.
If you have photos on your account, you’ll need to submit a video selfie, which will be used to verify that you’re truly the owner of the account. You can read more about this process on Instagram’s help page.
Summary
If you can’t log into your Instagram account, it’s probably due to one of the reasons above. Or the problem is a simple one: the servers are down. With billions of users around the world, Instagram has a massive audience to cater to. Keeping servers up and running 24/7 can be a challenge. From time to time, servers may go down, and you may not be able to log in.
Try using our free Is Instagram Down Checker to see if it’s a server issue or one of the reasons listed above.
