Instagram Feed is not refreshing at some point of the day. Normally, Instagram users scroll the app up to 1 hour a day. It’s normal that an application may face some issues while refreshing the feed with the new images and videos. Why is my instagram feed not refreshing? It’s the daily questions millions of people ask every day. We discovered reasons why Instagram feeds are not refreshing. Also, a SocialWick  journalist found how to fix Instagram Feed.

Top-tier reasons why IG feed is not refreshing

Who does not love new photos and videos? Scrolling the app means that we want news, updates and fresh content from the platform. Sometimes algorithms can not refresh the IG feed and it could mean various factors. 

Internet connection issues while refreshing IG feed

Internet connectivity issues can affect your Instagram experience in several ways, particularly by preventing your feed from refreshing properly. 

Weak Signal Strength: 

If your device has a weak Wi-Fi signal or poor cellular reception, it might struggle to maintain a stable connection to Instagram's servers. This can result in slow loading times, partial content display, or a feed that doesn’t refresh at all. Moving closer to a Wi-Fi router or switching to a location with better cellular coverage can help.

Network Congestion

High traffic on your network—whether it's a public Wi-Fi hotspot or your home internet—can slow down your connection speeds. This congestion can happen during peak usage times or if many devices are connected to the same network, hogging bandwidth. Trying to access Instagram during less busy hours or disconnecting other devices temporarily might resolve the issue.

Data Throttling

Some internet service providers or mobile carriers throttle data speeds after you've reached a certain limit on your data plan. If your speeds have been throttled, Instagram might not be able to refresh your feed efficiently. Checking your data usage and understanding your carrier’s policy can clarify if this is the cause.

Router Issues 

Occasionally, routers may encounter errors that disrupt internet service or limit access to certain online services, including social media platforms like Instagram. Restarting your router can sometimes resolve these issues by clearing any errors and re-establishing a fresher connection to your ISP.

VPN or Proxy Interferences

If you are using a VPN or a proxy server, it could also interfere with your Instagram connectivity. These services might route your internet traffic through servers that are slow or located far away, increasing the response time. Temporarily disabling VPN or proxy services might help you determine if they are the cause of the problem.

To mitigate these issues, ensure your internet settings are optimized, avoid data-heavy activities during peak times, and maintain regular checks on your network equipment. If problems persist, reaching out to technical support can offer more personalized troubleshooting and solutions.

Outdated Instagram version (and how to update it)

Using an outdated version of the Instagram app can lead to various issues, including problems with refreshing your feed. Here's a detailed explanation of why this happens and what you can do about it:

Compatibility Issues

As Instagram updates its platform, new features and fixes are introduced that may not be compatible with older versions of the app. This can cause glitches or prevent the app from functioning properly, including issues with loading new content in your feed. The app may fail to communicate effectively with Instagram's servers, leading to a feed that doesn't refresh.

Bug Fixes and Improvements: 

Each update of an app typically includes bug fixes that resolve known issues and optimizations that improve performance. If you're using an outdated version, you're missing out on these improvements, which could be vital for ensuring the app runs smoothly. For instance, if there was a specific bug that caused feed refresh issues, only the updated version would have the fix.

Server-side Enhancements: 

Instagram continuously updates its server-side technology to improve performance and introduce new functionalities. Older app versions may not be optimized to work with these newer server technologies, resulting in poor performance or failed data fetches.

How to fix outdated version issues not refreshing feed

Update Your App: Go to the App Store (iOS) or Google Play Store (Android), search for Instagram, and see if there's an update available. If there is, download and install it. This should resolve any issues caused by using an outdated version.

Check App Compatibility: Ensure that your device's operating system is compatible with the latest version of Instagram. If your device is too old, it might not support the newer app versions, in which case you may need to consider upgrading your device.

Reinstall the App: If updating doesn't work or if the app is behaving erratically, uninstalling and then reinstalling Instagram can help. This process removes old data and settings that could be causing the problem and installs the latest app version afresh.

Regularly updating your apps is a good practice for maintaining security, performance, and access to the latest features, thus ensuring the best user experience.

Server downtime while IG refreshing the feed

Server downtime is another significant reason your Instagram feed might not be refreshing. Here’s a detailed explanation of why server downtime occurs and its impact on your Instagram experience:

Scheduled Maintenance: Instagram periodically undergoes maintenance to update its systems, fix bugs, or upgrade server capabilities. During these maintenance windows, servers may be temporarily offline, and users might experience disruptions, including the inability to refresh the feed. Instagram usually tries to schedule these during off-peak hours to minimize disruption.

Unexpected Outages: Sometimes, Instagram experiences unexpected technical issues that can cause server outages. These could be due to hardware failures, software glitches, or problems with data centers that host Instagram's servers. Unexpected outages are usually unforeseen and can result in widespread problems for users globally.

High Traffic Volume: Instagram has millions of active users, and during peak times or when a popular event occurs (like a celebrity going live or a major social event being covered), the servers can become overloaded. This high traffic can strain the infrastructure, potentially leading to slowdowns or temporary outages, affecting how content is loaded and refreshed on the platform.

Cyber Attacks: Instagram, like any major platform, is a target for cyber-attacks, such as Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks, where attackers overwhelm the servers with excessive traffic. These attacks can temporarily cripple the infrastructure, preventing the servers from handling legitimate requests, including feed refreshes.

Use Instagram's Status Page: Some services provide a status page where they report on the current state of their servers and any ongoing issues. Checking here can confirm if there is an ongoing problem with Instagram servers. If the issue is indeed with Instagram's servers, there's little to do but wait until they resolve the issue. These issues are typically prioritized and resolved as quickly as possible.

How to fix Instagram not loading the feed

If you're encountering issues with Instagram not loading properly, here are several troubleshooting steps you can take to try and resolve the problem:

Restart Your Device: Sometimes, simply restarting your device can resolve underlying issues that might be causing the app to malfunction.

Update the App: Make sure your Instagram app is updated to the latest version. Outdated versions can have bugs and compatibility issues that might prevent the app from loading correctly.

Clear Cache and Data: On Android, you can clear the app’s cache and data through the settings menu. This can help fix loading issues by removing corrupted data. On iOS, you may need to delete and reinstall the app to achieve a similar result.

Reinstall Instagram: Uninstalling and then reinstalling Instagram can often fix loading problems as it ensures you have the most recent version of the app and clears out potentially corrupted data.

Disable VPN Services: If you are using a VPN, try disabling it to see if Instagram loads properly without it. VPNs can sometimes interfere with your connection to Instagram’s servers.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

why does my instagram keep saying couldn't refresh feed

Your Instagram might say "couldn't refresh feed" due to connectivity issues, outdated app versions, or server problems. Ensure you have a stable internet connection, update your Instagram app, and check for any announcements of server downtime to resolve this issue effectively.

Instagram messages won’t load, why?

Instagram messages may not load due to several reasons: a weak internet connection, outdated app versions, server issues, or cache problems. Ensure your connection is stable, update the app, clear your cache, and check if Instagram servers are down to resolve the loading issue effectively.

Couldn't refresh my instagram feed am i blocked?

If your Instagram feed couldn't refresh, it's unlikely due to being blocked. This issue generally stems from internet connectivity problems, outdated app versions, or Instagram server outages. Check your internet connection, update your app, and verify server status to ensure smooth functionality.

how to fix instagram that couldn't refresh the feed?

To fix the "couldn't refresh feed" error on Instagram, ensure your internet connection is stable, update the Instagram app to the latest version, clear the app's cache, or reinstall the app. Additionally, check if Instagram's servers are down, which could also cause this issue.