Instagram Couldn’t Refresh Feed? Here Are 9 Ways To Fix It

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If you get the refresh feed error on Instagram then it’s possible that your Instagram login session is the cause of the problem. This issue stops the app from getting new content, which results in an error message. The solution is to log out and back into the Instagram app.

Is your Instagram feed stuck and won’t refresh? I know how frustrating it can be to be on Instagram scrolling or trying to refresh your feed, realizing that nothing is happening. 

I’ve unfortunately experienced this issue a few times and it prompted me to do some research on what causes it and how to fix it. Read on as I explain what causes your Instagram feed to not refresh and the different solutions you can employ to fix it. 

First, you can watch our videos showing what you can do to fix the problem:

  1. Restart your phone (iPhone):
YouTube player
  1. Clear Instagram cache on Android (see iPhone below):
YouTube player

Clear Instagram cache on iPhone:

  1. Reinstall the Instagram app on iPhone:
YouTube player

What to know about other fixes? Keep reading!

Instagram Couldn’t Refresh Feed? 9 Ways To Fix It

Couldn't refresh feed error on Instagram app

According to the marketing company, Buffer, I learned that Instagram is the fourth most popular social media platform, with 2 billion monthly active users (MAUs). This is no surprise, as Instagram has great features for both individuals and businesses alike. 

That being said, Instagram is not without its faults, and one of the issues many users, including myself, run into is a refresh feed error. This is when the Instagram feed won’t show you the latest Instagram posts but instead continues to show the same posts over and over again. 

During my research, I learned about the possible reasons why you can’t refresh your Instagram feed. I also learned about some solutions and why you don’t need to contact Instagram support to get them rectified. 

Check Your Internet Connection

Wi-fi on off toggle turned on

One of the most common reasons for your Instagram feed not refreshing could be a poor internet connection

In my experience, if the Wi-Fi is giving problems, it’s best to restart the router. I learned from HowToGeek, a trusted tech website, that restarting your router works because it clears the memory and reloads the firmware.  

If you’re using mobile data, you can turn it off and on again to resolve possible issues. 

Reboot Your Device

Slide to power off option

When my internet connection is fine but my Instagram feed won’t refresh, I restart my phone to fix any possible issues. According to the telephone company, T-mobile, restarting your phone can fix common issues. In this case, it could fix Instagram’s refresh issue. 

Update The Instagram App

In my experience, when the internet connection is fine and a reboot doesn’t work, then it’s likely that I need to update my Instagram to be able to refresh my feed. 

It will take you about 3 minutes

Here’s how to update your Instagram app on an Android device:

  1. Open the Google Play Store and search for Instagram.

    Search bar on Google Playstore

  2. If your Instagram needs to be updated, you’ll see an Update button beside the search result. Press it to begin updating Instagram.

    Green update button to update the Instagram app

Log Out & Back Into Instagram

I’ve found that sometimes logging out and then logging back into Instagram can allow your Instagram feed to refresh. 

Here’s how to do it:

  1. Open Instagram and tap your profile picture in the bottom right corner.
Profile icon in the bottom right corner on the Instagram app
  1. Next, tap the three horizontal lines in the top right corner.
Three horizontal bars menu icon in the top right corner
  1. Tap Settings.
Settings option in the menu
  1. Scroll to the bottom and tap Log Out.
Logout option at the bottom of the screen inside settings
  1. Next, tap Log out again to log out of Instagram.
Blue log out button at the bottom of the screen
  1. Close the app then open it again and log back into your Instagram account
Instagram login screen

Check If Instagram Is Down

Down detector website homepage

If your Instagram feed isn’t refreshing, there’s a possibility that the Instagram servers are down. I’ve experienced a few outages before and I usually use Downdetector to confirm my suspicions

Disable Data Saver For Instagram

I learned more about Instagram’s data saver via the Instagram Help Center. It allows you to reduce how much data the app uses. Unfortunately, this can sometimes be the reason why your feed won’t refresh. I found that disabling the data-saving mode can fix Instagram couldn’t refresh feed.

Here’s how to do it:

  1. Open Instagram on your phone and tap your profile picture in the bottom right corner.
Profile picture icon in the bottom right corner on the Instagram app
  1. Next, tap the three horizontal lines in the top right corner. 
Three horizontal bars menu icon in the top right corner
  1. Afterward, tap Settings
Settings option in the menu
  1. Select Account. 
Account option in settings
  1. Tap Data Usage.
Data usage option in Account settings.
  1. If “Use Less Mobile Data” is toggled on, toggle it off.
Use less mobile data option is turned off

Set The Correct Date & Time

I learned from Samsung that ensuring you have the correct date and time on your phone is important for your phone to function properly. I’ve experienced the incorrect date and time affecting apps, such as WhatsApp, so that could be why you’re receiving the Instagram feed refresh error. 

Delete Instagram Cache Files

Another reason I learned that Instagram couldn’t refresh feed is due to full cache storage. If you’re not familiar, cached data is temporary files stored on your device, which makes it easier to load a website or app when you’re using it, according to G2, a software marketplace. 

Android

Clearing cache data can fix Instagram couldn’t refresh error. Here’s how you do it on Android:

  1. Open the Settings app on your Android phone. 
Settings icon inside app drawer on Android
  1. Tap Apps to view the installed apps on your device.
Apps option in settings on an Android device
  1. Select Instagram from the list of apps. 
Instagram option inside app settings on Android
  1. Afterward, tap Storage
Storage option on Instagram Application Info screen
  1. Tap Clear Cache to delete the stored cache. 
Clear cache button on Instagram storage info screen

Instagram

There’s no option to clear the cache of an app on iPhone. Instead, you’ll have to uninstall and reinstall it.

Uninstall & Reinstall The Instagram App

Besides full cache storage, I learned that sometimes Instagram couldn’t refresh feed due to an error with the app itself. This isn’t limited to only not being able to refresh feed, but also due to other common errors such as Instagram not posting photos

iPhone

When this happens, I find it’s best to uninstall and then reinstall the app. Here’s how to do it on iPhone:

  1. Press and hold the Instagram app until the popup menu appears. 
Instagram app icon inside social menu
  1.  In the popup menu, tap Remove App.
Remove app option on top of the menu
  1.  Afterward, tap Delete App
Delete app option in the popup menu
  1. Tap Delete again to confirm and delete the Instagram app from your iPhone.
Delete Instagram final confirmation popup
  1.  Now that Instagram has been uninstalled, open the App Store.
App Store icon on iPhone
  1.  Tap the search icon at the bottom right corner.
Search icon in the bottom right corner of the App Store
  1.  Type Instagram in the search bar to search for the app.
Search bar in App Store
  1.  Tap download to reinstall the Instagram app
Instagram app download button on App Store

Android

Since I demonstrated how to uninstall and reinstall Instagram on iPhone above, here’s a video showing you how to do it on Android:

YouTube player

FAQs

Why is Instagram not loading my feed?

Instagram is not loading your feed because of several possible reasons. The Instagram app could be outdated, which is why the feed isn’t loading. If this is the case, then you need to go to the app store on your phone, search for Instagram, and update the app.

How do I clear my Instagram cache?

You can clear Instagram cache on Android devices by opening the Settings app, going to Apps, and finding Instagram from the list. Tap Instagram, tap Storage, and tap clear cache to delete the Instagram cache on your device. For iPhone, you’ll need to uninstall and reinstall Instagram.

Instagram Couldn’t Refresh Feed – Wrapping Up

What’d you think of this article?

I know how annoying it is when you get the Instagram refresh feed error, especially if you use Instagram a lot. Thankfully, I found out that there are a number of solutions you can employ to fix Instagram refresh feed error. 

I love that the solutions are easy too, if the cause is the Instagram app, you can uninstall and reinstall it to fix Instagram. There’s also a chance that there may be full cache storage that can be cleared. Other possible reasons are a faulty internet connection which needs to be rectified or your phone needs to be rebooted to fix Instagram refresh feed error. 

If you’re having other problems such as you can’t follow anyone on Instagram, then check out our guide for a solution. 

Leave any questions you may have for me in the comments below and be sure to share this article with your friends, family, and followers too.

About The Author

  • Hemant Mendiratta

    Hemant Mendiratta is a co-founder of TechUntold and a passionate tech blogger, avid gamer, and social media guru who keenly monitors useful apps and gadgets. He is the ideator of our Instagram tool StoryHoot which allows watching Instagram stories anonymously. You can connect with him on: Facebook, Twitter.

Photo of author

Hemant Mendiratta

Hemant Mendiratta is a co-founder of TechUntold and a passionate tech blogger, avid gamer, and social media guru who keenly monitors useful apps and gadgets. He is the ideator of our Instagram tool StoryHoot which allows watching Instagram stories anonymously. You can connect with him on: Facebook, Twitter.

5 thoughts on “Instagram Couldn’t Refresh Feed? Here Are 9 Ways To Fix It”

  1. This page is a copy&paste of other pages.
    It doesn’t solve the problem “Couldn’t refresh feed” of Instagram at all.

    On the other hand, Instagram doesn’t have a customer service, don’t answer the issues I sent from my wife’s Instagram App (settings + help) or the e-mails I sent to [email protected] (obviously they don’t read these e-mails).

    It’s frustrating.

    Reply
  2. This is just a copy paste of other solutions. It doesn’t work for me, under help (if I can even get there as the screen goes berserk) there’s no “Report a problem” as it shows “An unexpected error occurred. Please try again later”. Anyone found another solution? Mailing support does give you the reply it’s not available with a link to their FAQ base which does not describe anything about this issue.

    Reply
  3. I still cannot scroll through the comment sections. THIS MESSAGE IS MADE ON April 13, 2022. I cannot seem to find a support email to Instagram–only some lame leave a comment but we will not return any answer, jut a kind of comments section!

    Any suggestions?

    Reply

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