How to Fix Instagram Could Not Refresh Feed

As one of the most popular social networks, Instagram offers many great features to its users. Although reliable most of the time, the app isn't perfect. One of the problems you may encounter is the inability to refresh your feed.

If you want to learn how to fix Instagram's "Unable to Refresh Feed" issue, you've come to the right place. This article will explain why this happens and what you need to do to get your Instagram up and running.

Instagram could not refresh the feed

Instagram's "Unable to refresh feed" message is probably one of the least popular errors among the community. The inability to see the latest posts and stories can come on suddenly, happen often, and is always annoying. Let’s start by discussing the possible reasons and solutions for this problem.

Instagram Could Not Refresh The Feed – Possible Reasons

Here are the potential reasons why you can't refresh your Instagram feed:

Internet connection

One of the most common reasons Instagram isn't updating your feed is a slow or "lag" internet connection. As the connection is not fast enough, Instagram cannot load the latest photos and videos. It can also happen if the connection is overloaded due to high traffic volume, such as during a big game or New Year's Eve.

The app is not updated

If you're using an older version of the Instagram app, you might experience a lot of issues, including not being able to load the most recent posts.

Instagram servers not working properly

If the Instagram servers are not working, you will see the message "Failed to refresh feed". This doesn't happen often, but when it does, the issue is usually resolved quickly.

Instagram cache is full

You might experience performance issues if Instagram's cache files are full. These temporary files are stored on your device to speed up loading time. But, if the cache memory is full, the application may malfunction.

Incorrect time and date

You might find it strange, but Instagram may not work properly if you haven't set the correct time and date on your phone. If Instagram's time and date don't match what you selected, the app may encounter conflicting values, which can cause issues.

You have been blocked

Instagram monitors each user's behavior and may restrict usage. This can happen to you if you have made inappropriate comments, but also if your account is new and you have liked or commented on many posts in a short time.

Instagram could not refresh the feed – How to fix it?

Now that we've gone over the possible reasons why you can't refresh your Instagram feed, let's look at the solutions:

Check your internet connection

The first action you need to take is to check your internet connection. If you are using Wi-Fi, check if the signal is strong enough. If you are using cellular data, make sure you have adequate reception and speed. We recommend using Speed ​​Test to check your internet speed, whether you're using Wi-Fi or a cellular network.

If you are having this problem at the end of the month, you may have limited mobile data or your provider is throttling your connection. To resolve this problem, contact your telephone company.

Set automatic time and date

As we mentioned, if the time and date you set manually doesn't match the actual values, you'll run into issues with apps like Instagram. To avoid this, set your phone's time and date to automatic.

If you are using an Android device, follow these instructions:

1. Open your menu and go to "Settings".
   
2. Tap on “General management”.
   
3. Tap "Date & Time".
   
4. Turn on the toggle next to "Automatic date and time."
   

These settings may vary depending on the Android version you have. If you don't see "General management", you will have the "Date and time" option in your settings.

If you have an iPhone, follow the steps below to set the time and date to automatic:

1. Go to your menu and open "Settings".
   
2. Tap "General".
   
3. Select “Date and time”.
   
4. Enable “Set automatically”.
   

Log out and log in

A possible fix for not being able to refresh your Instagram feed is to log out of the app and then log back in.

Here's how to do it:

1. Open the Instagram app.
   
2. Tap your profile picture in the lower right corner.
   
3. Tap the three lines in the upper right corner.
   
4. Tap “Settings”.
   
5. Scroll down and select "Sign out".
   
6. Close the app.
7. Reopen the app and log back into your account.
   

Clear Instagram cache

Try clearing Instagram's memory cache to improve app performance and fix issues.

If you have an Android device, follow these instructions:

1. Open the menu and go to Settings.
   
2. Tap "Apps".
   
3. Find Instagram and select it.
   
4. Tap "Storage".
   
5. Select “Clear cache”.
   

It is essential to keep in mind that you will have to log back into your account once you have cleared the cache. Make sure you know your username and password.

If you have an iPhone, the only way to clear Instagram's cache is to reinstall it:

1. Find the Instagram icon on your home screen or in the menu.
   
2. Press and hold the icon until you see a menu.
   
3. Select "Delete Application".
   
4. Go to App Store and install the Instagram app.
   

Restart your device

Restarting your system can fix temporary glitches and errors.

Android users should hold down the power button and tap on the “Restart” option. If you have an iPhone, press and hold either volume button and side button until you see the power slider on the screen. Then drag the slider, wait about 30 seconds and hold the side button to turn the phone back on.

Update the app

To ensure the best performance, you should regularly update all your apps. Most users have automatic updates enabled. But, if you didn't have enough storage at some point, you might have missed an update or two. Or, you can have automatic updates disabled.

If you're an iPhone user, here's how to check if you're using the latest version of the Instagram app:

1. Open your menu and go to the App Store.
   
2. Type “Instagram” in the search bar.
   
3. If a newer version is available, you will see the "Update" button on the right. Press it. If you see the "Open" button, you are already running the latest version.
   

Android users should follow these steps to update their Instagram app:

1. Open your menu and go to the Play Store.
   
2. Enter "Instagram" in the search bar.
   
3. Select "Update" to the right of the app. If you don't see this button, it means you have the latest version.
   

Reinstall the app

In some cases, uninstalling and reinstalling the Instagram app can fix the problem.

iPhone users should follow these instructions to reinstall Instagram:

1. Find the Instagram app on your iPhone.
   
2. Press and hold the app icon until a menu appears.
   
3. Tap "Delete app".
   
4. Visit the App Store to reinstall Instagram.
   

If you have an Android, follow the steps below to reinstall Instagram:

1. Locate the Instagram app on your device.
   
2. Press and hold the icon until you see a menu.
3. Tap "Uninstall".
   
4. Go to Play Store and install Instagram.
   

Check Instagram Servers

Instagram servers can be overloaded and time out. Although this is usually resolved within a few minutes, you can always check to see if this is the cause of your problems. Visit websites such as Crash Detector to check crash report spikes. If the Instagram servers are down, there is nothing you can do but wait.

Force quit Instagram app

By force closing or force quitting an app, you shut down all app-related activities. The steps vary depending on whether you have an Android device or an iPhone.

Android users should follow the steps below to force stop the Instagram app:

1. Find the Instagram app in your menu, then press and hold the icon until you see the drop-down list.
   
2. Tap "App Info."
3. Tap "Force stop" and confirm it.
   

If you have an iPhone, here's how to force quit Instagram:

1. Go to your home screen and swipe from the bottom to the middle of the screen.
2. Swipe right or left until you see the Instagram app.
   
3. Swipe up to close the Instagram app.
   

Try using Instagram on another device

Although not a solution, it can help you determine if the problem is with the network or with your device. Try logging into your Instagram account from your laptop, tablet or other mobile device on the same network. If you can refresh your feed using another device, the problem may be with your phone's app or the device itself.

Contact Instagram Support

If none of the solutions above work, contact Instagram support and ask for help. Here's how:

1. Open the Instagram app.
   
2. Tap your profile picture in the lower right corner.
   
3. Tap the three lines at the top right and tap "Settings."
   
4. Select "Help" and choose "Report a problem".
   
5. Follow the on-screen instructions and submit your request.

Enjoy the latest Instagram posts

Although the most common cause of the "Unable to refresh feed" message on Instagram is a weak internet connection, there are many other factors that can cause this error. We hope you were able to solve the problem with our help. If not, submit a help request to Instagram Support and you'll be enjoying the latest posts again in no time.

Have you encountered this problem before? How did you solve it? Tell us in the comments section below.