Ever scrolled through Instagram and hit that frustrating “Instagram couldn’t refresh feed” error message? This happens to everyone, and users face this problem frequently. Instagram plays a significant role in millions of people’s daily social media routines. Your social media experience takes a hit when your feed stops loading.
This error pops up for several reasons. An unstable internet connection causes most cases, particularly when you try loading data-heavy content like Instagram Reels. Your app might need an update [-5], or technical bugs could trigger this annoying message. The good news? Instagram fixes these problems within a few hours in most cases. But if you need your feed working right now, we have some quick solutions that will get things back to normal.
Why Instagram Couldn’t Refresh Feed Happens
The “Instagram couldn’t refresh feed” error happens because of several technical issues that stop the app from loading new content. You need to understand why it happens to fix this frustrating problem.
Bad internet connection causes this error most often. Your Instagram won’t load the latest posts and photos when your connection is weak or slow. This becomes even more noticeable with Instagram Reels because they need more data and stronger connections. You might face loading problems even when your signal looks strong.
Server problems can trigger this error too. Instagram goes down sometimes for maintenance or unexpected technical issues. Users worldwide face the same problem during these times. DownDetector reports show that server connection problems make up about 23% of Instagram’s reported issues. Users can only wait for Instagram to fix these problems.
Using an old version of Instagram means you’re more likely to run into bugs and glitches. Meta updates the app regularly to make it work better and fix problems. If you don’t update, you might see these feed refresh errors more often.
There’s another reason – your cache might be full. Instagram saves temporary files on your device to load things faster. These cache files can stop the app from working right when they get too full or damaged. Too much stored data slows down the app and causes errors, including feed refresh problems.
Your device itself might cause issues. Instagram might not work right if your phone’s storage is almost full. Wrong date and time settings on your device can also stop Instagram from connecting to its servers properly.
Website users should know that Instagram Basic Display API won’t work for personal accounts after December 4, 2024. You’ll need to switch to a business or creator account to keep your feed working on websites.
How to Fix Instagram Couldn’t Refresh Feed Error
That “Instagram couldn’t refresh feed” message can be frustrating! Here’s how you can fix this common error with some proven solutions.
Check your internet connection before anything else. A weak or unstable connection remains the main cause of feed refresh failures. You can switch between Wi-Fi and mobile data to identify connectivity issues. Your connection might reset if you enable Airplane mode for a few seconds and turn it off.
Clear the Instagram cache to remove corrupted temporary files:
- Android users: Go to Settings > Apps > Instagram > Storage > Clear Cache
- iPhone users: iOS doesn’t allow direct cache clearing, but you can offload the app (Settings > General > iPhone Storage > Instagram > Offload App) and then reinstall it
Log out and log back in to refresh your connection with Instagram’s servers. This simple step works effectively during temporary syncing issues. Head to your profile, tap the menu icon, scroll to Settings, and select Log Out.
Update Instagram right away if you’re using an older version. Outdated apps often create compatibility issues and bugs that show up as feed refresh errors. Check your device’s app store for any pending updates.
Reinstall the app if other solutions don’t work. Remove Instagram completely, restart your device, and download a fresh copy from the app store. A clean installation often fixes persistent problems.
Restart your device as your final option. This simple action refreshes your phone’s operating system and frees up resources that might cause the issue.
The problem might be on Instagram’s end if none of these fixes work. You can check websites like DownDetector to see if others face similar issues. You also have the option to report the problem through Instagram’s Help section (Profile > Settings > Help > Report a Problem).
Note that most Instagram feed errors fix themselves within a few hours as Instagram’s team addresses server-side problems.
Fixing Instagram Feed Not Updating on Websites
Website owners often face frustration when their embedded Instagram feeds stop showing new posts. These website feed problems usually come from authentication and connection issues between websites and Instagram’s platform, unlike the app-based problems we discussed earlier.
Instagram feeds stop updating on websites mainly because of expired access tokens. These tokens act as security keys that allow websites to display Instagram content. Meta’s security measures cause these tokens to expire regularly. Your website loses its connection to Instagram when you change your Instagram password or Facebook resets the token.
Most website platforms need these steps to fix an expired token:
- Delete the current Instagram source from your widget settings
- Add your username and search for your account
- Click “Connect” when found
- Continue with Facebook authentication
- Ensure all requested permissions are approved
- Complete the connection process
Facebook’s “Off-Facebook Activity” setting plays a crucial role in website feeds. Error messages like “Your activity off Meta technologies is currently turned off” appear when this setting is disabled. Here’s how to fix it:
- Log into Facebook and access Settings
- View “Off-Facebook Activity” settings
- Click “Manage future activity”
- Select “Connect future activity” and confirm
WordPress users who face feed update issues typically encounter WordPress cron problems. The solution lies in reconnecting your Instagram account through plugin settings.
Website feeds come with certain limitations compared to the app. Embedded feeds won’t show collaborative posts where another user added you as a collaborator. Pinned posts also lose their pinned status in these feeds.
Instagram’s API changes affect how widgets access your posts regularly. Your widget provider’s updates help maintain properly functioning feeds on your website.
Conclusion
The “Instagram couldn’t refresh feed” error is one of the most annoying problems users face, yet it’s usually easy to fix. These problems often come from basic issues like poor connectivity, old apps, or Instagram’s server glitches. The solutions we’ve outlined above can help you tackle this error head-on.
A quick check of your internet connection solves most cases right away. If that doesn’t work, try clearing your cache files, signing out and back in, or updating your app. Website owners who can’t load embedded feeds should reconnect their Instagram account and check their Facebook settings to allow off-platform activity.
Instagram’s servers sometimes go down and affect millions of users at once. These systemic outages require patience while Instagram’s team fixes the problem. You can check if others are having similar issues on outage reporting sites like DownDetector.
Feed refresh errors might disrupt your social media routine, but they rarely point to serious problems with your account or device. Understanding what causes these errors gives you the ability to fix them instead of waiting around helplessly.
Next time your Instagram feed won’t load, you’ll have practical solutions to get back to your favorite content quickly. A smooth Instagram experience doesn’t need technical knowledge—just these simple fixes anyone can use.
FAQs
Q1. Why is my Instagram feed not refreshing? The most common reasons include poor internet connectivity, Instagram server issues, outdated app versions, or corrupted cache files. Check your internet connection first, then try clearing the app cache or updating the app to resolve the issue.
Q2. How can I fix the “Instagram couldn’t refresh feed” error? Start by checking your internet connection, then try logging out and back in, clearing the app cache, updating the app, or reinstalling it. If these steps don’t work, restart your device or wait a few hours as the issue might be on Instagram’s end.
Q3. Why does my Instagram feed work on one account but not another? This could be due to account-specific issues or temporary glitches. Try logging out of both accounts and logging back in. If the problem persists on one account, it might be experiencing a temporary restriction or technical issue.
Q4. How do I reset my Instagram feed algorithm? To reset your feed algorithm, go to your profile, tap the three-bar ‘More options’ icon, scroll to ‘What you see,’ tap ‘Content preferences,’ then ‘Reset suggested content.’ Follow the on-screen instructions to confirm the reset.
Q5. What should I do if my embedded Instagram feed on my website stops updating? For website feeds, reconnect your Instagram account to the widget by deleting the current source and adding it again. Ensure your Facebook “Off-Facebook Activity” setting is enabled. If using WordPress, check for any cron issues and reconnect your account through the plugin settings.
