Expert Advice: How to Quickly Get Rid of Instagram Couldn’t Refresh Feed Message

Imagine you need to see more new posts and for that, you need to refresh your home page, it’s a fact. The moment you swipe down to refresh the feed, you see the “Couldn’t Refresh Feed” error on your Instagram app, you keep refreshing the home page, and still can’t see the latest Instagram posts. 

This error can make it impossible to scroll through your feed, like and comment on posts, or even upload new content.

Many users have experienced this frustrating issue where they keep trying to scroll through their feeds and nothing happens. Have you heard about Instagram Wrapped? If not, read this guide to learn about it in depth on how to create your own wrapped report.

Like any other social media app Instagram is prone to the occasional glitches. It can literally break a commonly used feature, or even prevent people from using the platform entirely.

Get to Know Instagram Couldn’t Refresh Feed Error

Like any other app, Instagram can encounter errors or glitches from time to time. One common error that users may encounter is the “Couldn’t Refresh Feed” error. 

This error can occur when the app is unable to load new content on the user’s feed. It can be frustrating for users who are trying to view new posts from their friends or favorite accounts.

To better understand this error, let’s dive into the possible causes and solutions.

Reasons for Instagram Feed Not Refreshing

The moment you come across issues like “Instagram can’t refresh feed” when accessing Instagram, the first problem that comes to mind is “a poor internet connection”. It is because when Wi-Fi or data signal is weak, it can prevent new content from loading properly.

But, there are still some other reasons that prevent the app from working properly. Here are some of them:

• One simple yet effective course of action is to close the app completely and then reopen it. This action often helps kickstart the refresh process.

• There could be an issue with the Instagram app itself. So, if there are bugs or glitches in the application, it may hinder the feed from updating.

• Outdated software can also cause problems with refreshing your Instagram feed. Considering this, make sure both the app and your operating system are up-to-date to avoid any compatibility issues.

• Excessive caching on the app can slow down the refresh process and cause delays in displaying new posts.

• Account-related issues such as being banned or restricted by Instagram could also lead to difficulties in refreshing your feed. So, adhere to their community guidelines and policies to prevent any disruptions in accessing fresh content.

8 Solutions to Resolve the “Instagram Couldn’t Refresh Feed” Error

In case, you too are facing such an error, then here are a few common solutions you can try first:

Logging out and logging back into your Instagram account can sometimes help resolve feed refreshing issues. Here are the steps to do so:

1. Open Instagram and tap on the profile icon at the bottom right corner of the screen.
2. Tap on the three horizontal lines to open the menu.
3. Scroll down and tap on “Settings”.
4. Now, tap on “Log Out” at the bottom of the list.
5. Confirm by tapping “Yes” when prompted.
6. Close the Instagram app completely by swiping it away or using your device’s task manager.
7. Reopen the Instagram app and tap “Log In”.
8. Enter your login credentials (username/email and password) and tap “Log In”.

Your feed should now refresh properly.

Clearing the cache on your Instagram app can help resolve feed refreshing issues. Here’s how to do it on both Android and iPhone devices:

On Android:

1. Open the Settings app on your device.
2. Scroll down and click on “Apps” or “Applications”.

   

3. Click on “Manage apps”.

   

4. Find and tap on the Instagram app from the list of installed apps.

   

5. Tap on “Storage” or “Storage Usage”.

   

6. Tap on “Clear Cache” and confirm by tapping “Yes”.

   

On iPhone:

1. Just like you do on Android devices, head towards the Settings app on your iOS device.
2. Scroll down and tap on “General”.

   

3. Tap on “iPhone Storage” (or “iPad Storage” if using an iPad).

   

4. Find Instagram and tap on it from the list of installed apps.

   

5. Scroll down and tap on “Offload App”. This will delete the app but keep its documents and data.

   

6. Once offloaded, tap again to reinstall the Instagram app.

Having incorrect time and date settings on your device can cause feed refreshing issues on Instagram. Here’s how to set automatic time and date on both Android and iPhone devices:

On Android:

1. Open Settings and scroll down and tap on “System” or “General Management”, depending on your device model.
2. Tap on “Date & Time”.
3. Toggle on the option for “Automatic Date & Time”.
4. If this option is already turned on, toggle it off and then back on again to refresh the setting.

On iPhone:

1. Open Settings on your device.
2. Scroll down and tap on “General”.
3. Tap on “Date & Time”.

   

4. Toggle on the option for “Set Automatically”.

   

5. If this option is already turned on, toggle it off and then back on again to refresh the setting.

If your feed still does not refresh properly after setting an automatic time and date, try restarting your device before moving on to more advanced troubleshooting steps.

Here’s how to restart your phone on both Android and iPhone devices:

On Android: 

1. Press and hold the power button on your device.
2. Tap on “Restart” or “Reboot” when the option appears.
3. Wait for the device to turn off and then back on again.

On iPhone:

1. Press and hold the power button on your device.
2. Swipe right on the “Slide to power off” slider when it appears.
3. Once your device is turned off, press and hold the power button again until the Apple logo appears, indicating that it is restarting.

On Android:

1. Open the Google Play Store app on your device.
2. Tap on the menu icon (three horizontal lines) at the top left corner of the screen.
3. Tap on “My apps & games”.
4. Find and tap on “Updates”.
5. If there is an available update for Instagram, tap on “Update” next to the app.

On iPhone:

1. Open the App Store app on your device.
2. Tap on your profile icon at the top right corner of the screen.
3. Scroll down and find Instagram from the list of installed apps.
4. If there is an available update, tap on “Update” next to the app.

Sometimes, the issue with feed refreshing on Instagram may not be on your end but rather with the app’s servers. This can happen when there is a widespread outage or technical difficulties on Instagram’s end.

To check if this is the case, you can visit websites such as DownDetector or Is It Down Right Now? These sites track user reports and monitor the status of popular apps and websites. If there is a significant spike in reports for Instagram, it could indicate that there is a problem with their servers.

In this case, all you can do is wait for Instagram to resolve the issue on their end. You can also check their official social media accounts or websites for any announcements or updates on the situation.

Here’s how to force quit the Instagram app on both Android and iPhone devices:

On Android:

1. Open the Recent Apps menu by tapping the square navigation button or swiping up from the bottom of the screen.
2. Find the Instagram app in the list of recent apps.
3. Swipe left or right on the Instagram app to close it completely.

On iPhone:

1. Swipe up from the bottom of the screen and hold for a moment until all open apps appear.
2. Find and swipe up on the Instagram app to close it completely.

Once you have force quit the app, reopen it and try refreshing your feed to see if the issue has been resolved. If not, move on to more advanced troubleshooting steps. Sometimes, Instagram gets frozen or unresponsive. Forcefully quitting the app and then reopening it can potentially resolve any issues with feed refreshing. 

If none of the previous steps have resolved your feed refreshing issue on Instagram, it may be necessary to report the problem to Instagram’s support team. 

It may take some time for Instagram’s support team to respond, but this is often the best way to resolve more complex issues with feed refreshing on Instagram.

Final Take

Encountering the “Instagram Couldn’t Refresh Feed” error can be frustrating, but with the right troubleshooting steps and prevention tips in place, you can overcome this issue and enjoy a seamless Instagram experience. 

Remember to stay updated with the latest app version, clear your cache regularly, check your internet connection, and follow the advanced troubleshooting suggestions if needed. 

By staying proactive and informed, you can minimize refresh feed issues on Instagram and make the most of your social media interactions.

Also Read: Instagram Notes – What is this & How to Share Effective Tips