Instagram Glitchy? What to Try, Step by Step (2026)

A glitchy Instagram is maddening when you're mid-post, replying to a customer or trying to catch a reel before it moves on. The trouble is that 'glitchy' covers a lot: slow loading, buttons that don't respond, stories that stall, screens that jump about. I'm going to stick to what Instagram's own help centre says to do, in the order it suggests, so you aren't poking at random settings.

I'm not going to guess at causes that Instagram doesn't name. Where the help pages are short, I'll say so and tell you what to do next instead of padding the list. If you run a business or a creator account, I've added a short section on keeping your posting going while the app misbehaves.

Start by updating Instagram when it's glitchy

Instagram's troubleshooting page says to make sure you're running the latest version of the Instagram app, and also the latest version of your phone or tablet's operating system, before you try anything else. Its 'something's not working' page repeats the advice for the iOS and Android apps, and mentions that some older versions of the app are no longer supported.

• On iPhone or iPad, open the App Store and check for an update to Instagram.
• On Android, open the Google Play Store and check for an update to Instagram.
• Check your phone's own settings for a pending software update too, because Instagram asks for the latest of both.

Menu names shift between phone makers, so if you can't find the update screen, search your phone's settings for 'software update'. Once both are current, open Instagram again and see whether the glitch has gone before you move on.

Restart your phone when Instagram is glitchy

Instagram says to always try restarting your phone or tablet first if you're having trouble with the app. It sounds too simple, but the help centre puts it at the top of the list, so don't skip it. Switch the device off fully, wait a few seconds, switch it back on and open Instagram.

Checking your connection on Wi-Fi and mobile data

If a restart doesn't help, Instagram's next step is to use the app both on Wi-Fi and on your mobile data connection. The point is to find out whether the problem is a weak Wi-Fi signal or a weak mobile data signal rather than Instagram itself.

1. Turn off Wi-Fi in your phone's settings and use Instagram on mobile data for a few minutes.
2. Turn Wi-Fi back on, switch mobile data off, and try again.
3. Compare the two. If it only glitches on one connection, the connection is the likely culprit, so try moving closer to your router or to a spot with a better signal.

If you're working from a cafe or a shared office, that comparison is worth the thirty seconds.

Deleting and reinstalling the Instagram app

If restarting and checking your connection don't help, Instagram suggests deleting the app and installing it again. Its help page gives these steps.

On iPhone and iPad

1. From the home screen, tap and hold the Instagram app icon.
2. Tap Remove app to delete the app. Instagram says your photos and profile info will be saved.
3. Go to the App Store, reinstall Instagram and log in with your username and password.

On Android

1. Go to your phone or tablet's Settings and tap Apps.
2. Tap Instagram, then tap Uninstall.
3. Go to the Google Play Store, reinstall Instagram and log in with your username and password.

Make sure you know your login details before you start. If you can't log in afterwards, Instagram has a separate help page for login problems, and that's a different job from fixing a glitch.

When Instagram glitches because a feature isn't there yet

This one catches people out. Instagram's troubleshooting page says something might not load as expected because of settings that you or someone else set up, and that you might also be experiencing an issue if a feature isn't available to everyone yet. So a button a friend can see and you can't isn't always a fault with your phone.

Before you reinstall anything for a missing feature, search the Instagram Help Centre for that feature by name. If it's a staged rollout, no amount of restarting will bring it forward.

Using Instagram on the web or Instagram Lite while the app glitches

Instagram points out that you can always go to Instagram.com from a mobile browser or a computer. That's handy if you've got a post to share or a message to answer and the app won't cooperate. Android users can also switch to Instagram Lite, a version that Instagram says uses less data.

For a small business, the web version is a sensible back-up. If you plan your posts in advance, my guide to choosing a free Instagram post scheduler might save you from being stuck on a day the app plays up.

If the glitch shows up when you're editing a carousel, my walkthrough of editing an Instagram post with multiple pictures shows what the editing screen should look like.

Reporting an Instagram glitch to Instagram

If you've updated and the glitch is still there, Instagram says you can report it. Its help page tells you to include as much detail as possible: the kind of phone or tablet you use, what you were doing when the problem happened, and a screenshot if you have one.

1. Tap your profile picture in the bottom right to go to your profile.
2. Tap Menu in the top right.
3. Below More info and support, tap Help.
4. Tap Report a problem.
5. Choose to go back to where you saw the problem and shake your phone, or tap Report problem without shaking.
6. Follow the on-screen instructions.

When you send the report, you can tap Include complete logs and diagnostics. Instagram says this includes things like user activity logs, network logs, crash logs and memory dumps linked to your account, and that you can attach a bug description, screenshot or video. It also asks you not to attach anything unnecessary or irrelevant.

What to write in an Instagram glitch report

A report that says 'it's glitchy' gives Instagram very little to go on. Write one or two plain sentences instead:

• What you were doing (for example, posting a reel or opening a message).
• What you saw (stalled spinner, frozen screen, buttons not responding).
• Your device and whether it happens on Wi-Fi, mobile data or both.

That's the same detail Instagram's page asks for, and it saves you a second round of questions.

If Instagram is still glitchy after all of this

Instagram's pages are honest that if their suggestions don't solve your issue, you should let them know through a report. They don't promise a fix date, so I wouldn't either. In the meantime, use the web version for anything urgent, keep the app updated, and check again after the next update. If your problem is that someone else's behaviour on the app is the issue, such as harassment, report that to Instagram and, if you're in danger, contact the police.

For the rest of the series, see the Instagram Help: 81 Guides to Followers, Hashtags, Money, Accounts and Fixes.

Frequently asked questions

Why is Instagram glitchy?

Instagram's help pages don't name a single cause. They point to an out-of-date app or phone software, a weak Wi-Fi or mobile data connection, settings you or someone else set up, or a feature that isn't available to everyone yet.

What is the first thing to try when Instagram is glitchy?

Update the Instagram app and your phone's software, then restart the phone. Instagram's troubleshooting page puts the restart first.

Will I lose my photos if I reinstall Instagram?

Instagram says that when you remove the app on iPhone or iPad, your photos and profile info will be saved by Instagram. You log in again after reinstalling.

How do I report a glitch to Instagram?

Go to your profile, tap Menu, tap Help under More info and support, then tap Report a problem and follow the instructions. You can also include complete logs and diagnostics.

Can I use Instagram while the app is glitchy?

Instagram says you can go to Instagram.com from a mobile browser or computer. Android users can also try Instagram Lite.