To report a problem on Instagram, go to your Profile, tap Menu in the top right, tap Help under More info and support, then tap Report a problem. You can then shake your phone on the screen where something broke, or tap Report problem without shaking, and follow the on-screen instructions.
That's the route Instagram's Help Centre gives for the Android and iPhone apps, as of October 2026. It's built for bugs: a broken feature, a crash, something that should work and doesn't. If you need a person to help with a hacked or disabled account, that's a different job, and I've covered it in how to contact Instagram support.
Two things most people miss. Report a problem isn't the same as reporting a post, profile or message, and only content reports can be tracked afterwards. And the optional Include complete logs and diagnostics box is the bit that hands Instagram crash logs and memory dumps, which is exactly what an engineer needs to look at a broken feature.
Try these fixes before you report
Instagram's own advice is to update first. It says some older versions of the app are no longer supported, a change dating from May 2022, so an out-of-date app can look like a bug when it isn't. Make sure both the Instagram app and your phone or tablet's operating system are on the latest version, then work through Instagram's troubleshooting order:
- Restart your phone or tablet.
- Check your internet connection by trying both Wi-Fi and mobile data.
- Uninstall and reinstall Instagram. Instagram says your photos and profile info are saved when you remove the app, so you won't lose them.
To reinstall on an iPhone or iPad, press and hold the Instagram icon, tap Remove app, then reinstall from the App Store and log in. On Android, go to Settings, Apps, Instagram, Uninstall, then reinstall from Google Play and log in. If you're not sure your app is current, here's how to update Instagram.
While you wait for a fix, Instagram suggests using Instagram.com in a mobile browser or on a computer, or switching to Instagram Lite on Android, which uses less data. And bear in mind its warning: you might only be seeing an issue because a feature isn't available to everyone yet.
Report a problem in the app, step by step
If you've updated, restarted and reinstalled and it's still broken, Instagram says that's when to report it. On the Instagram app for Android or iPhone:
- Tap Profile in the bottom right.
- Tap Menu in the top right.
- Below More info and support, tap Help.
- Tap Report a problem.
- Either go back to the screen where you saw the problem and shake your phone, or tap Report problem without shaking.
- Describe what happened, add a screenshot or video if it helps, and follow the on-screen instructions to send.
Instagram's article also lists separate routes for the Instagram Lite app for Android, Instagram.com from a mobile browser and Instagram.com from a computer. The taps above are for the main app, so if you're on one of those, follow the steps under that heading in Instagram's Report a technical problem article.
Shake, or report without shaking?
Instagram gives you both options. Shaking is handy when the problem is on a particular screen, because you go back to where it broke and shake from there. Report problem without shaking is the better choice when you can't reach that screen, or when the app keeps closing before you get the chance.
If crashing is the problem itself, start with what to do when Instagram keeps crashing when you open it and report once you've tried the basics.
What to put in your report
Instagram asks for as much detail as possible, and it names three things that help:
- Your device: the kind of phone or tablet you were using.
- What you were doing: the action you were taking when the problem happened.
- A screenshot: Instagram says a screenshot may help it address the issue, and you can attach a video instead.
It also asks you not to attach unnecessary or irrelevant content. Keep it to the problem. A short description of what you tapped, what you expected and what happened instead is far more useful than a long complaint.
What Instagram attaches for you
Some information goes with the report automatically. Instagram says details about your device and your Instagram account related to the issue are added to help it understand and resolve the error. You don't need to type in your app version or account name.
The optional extra is the Include complete logs and diagnostics box, which you tap when you send. Ticking it adds user activity logs, network logs, crash logs and memory dumps associated with your account. That's a lot of technical detail, and it's what gives a stubborn bug the best chance of being traced.
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On data, Instagram's wording is that the information in your report is stored only for as long as required to resolve the issue, isn't used for other purposes, and may be transferred to and processed in the United States.
Bug reports vs content reports
This is where people get stuck. A bug report and a report about a post, profile or message are two different routes, and they're tracked differently.
| Bug report | Content report | |
|---|---|---|
| What it's for | Broken features and technical problems | Content that breaks the Community Guidelines |
| Where to start | Profile > Menu > Help > Report a problem | A separate reporting route, not Report a problem |
| Can you track it? | Instagram's bug report article gives no tracking route | Sometimes, under Profile > Menu > Help > Reports and violations > Reports |
| Review of a decision | Not applicable | You can request a review for some content types |
Instagram notes that not every report you've made will be viewable under Reports and violations. If you receive a unique reporting number after reporting content, save it in case you need to contact Instagram about that report, and if Instagram emails you, reply directly to that email. For a sense of timing on content reports, see how long Instagram takes to review a report.
Will Instagram reply to a bug report?
Instagram's article doesn't promise a reply or a fix date, so I won't either. What it does say is that report data is kept only as long as needed to resolve the issue. For most other issues, Instagram points people to its Help Centre as the quickest way to find support, and to the Meta Business Help Centre for advertising questions.
My verdict
Report a problem is worth doing, but do it well or don't bother. Update, restart and reinstall first, because those are Instagram's own first fixes. When you do report, shake from the screen that broke, say what you were doing, attach a screenshot and tick the logs box. That's the report that gives Instagram something to work with.
Frequently asked questions
How do I report a bug on Instagram?
Go to your Profile, tap Menu, tap Help under More info and support, then tap Report a problem. Shake your phone on the screen where it broke, or tap Report problem without shaking, and follow the instructions.
Does shaking my phone report a problem?
Yes, once you've opened Report a problem. Instagram says you can go back to where you saw the problem and shake your phone to report it, or tap Report problem without shaking.
What does Include complete logs and diagnostics send?
Instagram says it adds user activity logs, network logs, crash logs and memory dumps associated with your account to the report.
Will Instagram reply to my bug report?
Instagram doesn't promise a reply or a timeline. It says report information is stored only for as long as required to resolve the issue and isn't used for other purposes.
How do I check the status of something I reported?
For content reports, go to Profile, Menu, Help, then Reports and violations. Instagram says not every report will be viewable there, and its bug report article gives no tracking route.
What should I try before reporting a problem?
Update the Instagram app and your phone's operating system, restart your device, try both Wi-Fi and mobile data, then uninstall and reinstall Instagram. Report it if it's still broken after that.
