- What Instagram says to do first when it crashes on opening
- Restarting your phone when Instagram crashes at launch
- Testing Instagram on Wi-Fi and on mobile data
- Removing and reinstalling Instagram on iPhone and iPad
- Uninstalling and reinstalling Instagram on Android
- Getting into Instagram while the app keeps crashing
- Telling Instagram that the app keeps crashing
- Checking whether the crash is only on Instagram
- Why Instagram crashes when you open it, and what's not in the help pages
- Frequently asked questions
If Instagram keeps crashing when you open it, Instagram's help centre says to update the app, restart your phone, test on Wi-Fi and mobile data, then delete and reinstall it. On iPhone, tap and hold the icon and choose Remove app; Instagram says your photos and profile info are saved. If it still crashes, report the problem from Help in Settings.
A crash on opening is a different headache from an app that merely lags, because the app shuts the moment you tap it. You can't read a thing, you can't reply to a customer, and you can't even reach the settings screen to look for a fix. So the useful question is what you can do from outside the app.
I've put the steps below in the order Instagram's own help centre gives them, and I've added a short plan for keeping your business account running while you sort it out. Where Instagram doesn't say why a crash happens, I won't make something up.
What Instagram says to do first when it crashes on opening
Instagram's troubleshooting page opens with a reminder: make sure you're on the latest version of the Instagram app and the latest version of your phone or tablet's operating system. A separate help page for the iOS and Android apps recommends updating if something isn't working, and notes that some older versions are no longer supported. That makes an out-of-date app the first thing to rule out.
You don't need to open Instagram to update it. Go to the App Store on iPhone or iPad, or the Google Play Store on Android, search for Instagram and see whether an Update button is waiting.
Restarting your phone when Instagram crashes at launch
The help centre says to always try restarting your phone or tablet first if you're having trouble with Instagram. Do this even if you've already closed the app a few times. Close Instagram, switch the whole device off, wait a moment, switch it back on and open Instagram once. Don't keep tapping the icon repeatedly, as it makes it harder to tell whether anything changed.
Testing Instagram on Wi-Fi and on mobile data
If the crash continues, Instagram suggests trying it on both a Wi-Fi connection and your mobile data, to see whether a weak connection is behind the problem. A crash on opening can feel like it has nothing to do with a connection, but Instagram lists this step before reinstalling, so it's worth the two minutes.
- Connect to Wi-Fi only and open Instagram.
- Turn Wi-Fi off, rely on mobile data and open Instagram again.
- Note which one, if either, behaves better and move on to the next step if both crash.
Removing and reinstalling Instagram on iPhone and iPad
When the earlier steps don't help, Instagram says to delete the app and install it again. Here's the iPhone and iPad version from the help centre:
- From the home screen, tap and hold the Instagram app icon.
- Tap Remove app. Instagram says your photos and profile info will be saved.
- Open the App Store, install Instagram again and log in with your username and password.
Have your username and password to hand before you remove the app, because you'll need them straight away.
Uninstalling and reinstalling Instagram on Android
- Open your phone or tablet's Settings and tap Apps.
- Tap Instagram.
- Tap Uninstall.
- Open the Google Play Store, install Instagram again and log in with your username and password.
If you have trouble downloading the app, Instagram's advice is to check your internet connection and, for best results, connect to Wi-Fi before you download.
Getting into Instagram while the app keeps crashing
Instagram's help page reminds you that you can always visit Instagram.com in a mobile browser or on a computer. If you're running a shop or a client account, this is your lifeline: you can still check messages and post while the app is out of action.
- Open a browser on your phone or computer and go to Instagram.com.
- Log in with your usual details.
- Keep going from there while you wait for the app to behave.
Android users can also switch to Instagram Lite, a version that Instagram says uses less data. If you also run campaigns elsewhere, my guide to Instagram apps that help small business owners covers a few other tools worth knowing.
Telling Instagram that the app keeps crashing
If the app is up to date and reinstalled but it still crashes, Instagram says to report it. The catch is that the Report a problem option lives inside the app, so you can only use it if the app stays open long enough to reach it. If you can get in even briefly:
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- Tap your profile picture in the bottom right.
- Tap Menu in the top right.
- Below More info and support, tap Help.
- Tap Report a problem and follow the on-screen instructions.
Instagram says reports can include complete logs and diagnostics, which covers things like crash logs, and that details like your phone model and what you were doing when the problem happened help the team. If you can't get into the app, use the web version of Instagram to look for the help centre route to report a technical problem.
Once the app is back, it's worth a look at your numbers to see whether the outage affected anything. My guide to reading your Instagram dashboard numbers explains what you're looking at.
Checking whether the crash is only on Instagram
A quick sanity check: does every app crash, or only Instagram? If your phone is struggling generally, that's a phone issue rather than an Instagram one, and the manufacturer's support pages are the right place for help. Instagram's help pages don't go into phone hardware, so I'll leave it there.
Why Instagram crashes when you open it, and what's not in the help pages
Instagram's help pages don't list a catalogue of crash causes. What they give you is a short, sensible order: update, restart, check your connection, reinstall, then report. That's honest, and it means any website promising a single secret fix for your Instagram crash is guessing. Please don't download anything from a site that offers a modified version of the app, as that opens you up to real security trouble.
If you're locked out of your account at the same time as the crashing, Instagram has a separate page for login problems, so deal with that on its own.
Frequently asked questions
Why does Instagram keep crashing when I open it?
Instagram's help pages don't list a specific cause. They suggest checking that the app and your phone's software are up to date, restarting, testing your connection, and reinstalling the app.
Will I lose my account if I delete and reinstall Instagram?
No. Instagram says that when you remove the app on iPhone or iPad, your photos and profile info will be saved. You'll log in again after reinstalling, so keep your login details handy.
How do I reinstall Instagram on Android?
Go to Settings, tap Apps, tap Instagram and tap Uninstall. Then install it again from the Google Play Store and log in.
Can I use Instagram if the app won't open?
Yes. Instagram says you can go to Instagram.com from a mobile browser or computer. Android users can also try Instagram Lite.
How do I report an Instagram crash?
In the app, go to your profile, tap Menu, tap Help and then Report a problem. Instagram says you can include complete logs and diagnostics, which covers crash logs.
