We have hundreds photo sharing sites and apps today, but Instagram stands out for its amazing array of features and simplicity.
Instagram is a free platform that almost everyone uses these days. The site allows you to share photos, videos, Reels, send DMs (Direct Messages), etc.
Direct messages are an essential part of the photo-sharing site, as they allow having private, one-on-one chats with other users. However, many Instagram users have recently encountered issues with the Direct Messages (DMs) feature.
Like any other similar site, Instagram can sometimes get into trouble due to bugs, glitches, server failures, etc. At that point, the app may prevent you from using certain features. Recently, users have reported that their Instagram DM is not working.
According to the users Instagram DM is not fetching messages and cannot send, receive or view them. If you’ve landed on this page, chances are you’re already having problems with Instagram posts.
Why doesn’t Instagram DM work?
There are not one but many different reasons that can lead to Instagram DM not working. Below are some common reasons to look for and fix it.
- Instagram is experiencing a server outage.
- Your device is connected to an unstable internet.
- Corrupted Instagram cache and data.
- Account related issues.
8 ways to fix Instagram DM not working
Since the actual reason why Instagram DM is not working is unknown, we need to go through some basic troubleshooting methods to fix it. Here are the best things you can do fix Instagram DM not working problem.
1. Check your internet
If Instagram DMs aren’t loading or you can’t view them, make sure your internet is working.
Instagram posts not loading are often a sign of no/unstable internet connection. Not only the DMs, but you will also have trouble using other app features.
If the internet is not working, the photos are not showing, videos are not loading, etc. If you are already experiencing such problems, go to fast.com and check if your internet is working.
2. Check if Instagram is down
When Instagram’s servers are down, the app’s DM feature won’t work. Even if you open the private messages, you cannot reply to the messages.
The next best thing to do is to check if Instagram is experiencing a server outage. You can use this web page to check Instagram server status in real time.
If the servers are down, wait and then check the Direct messages. You can also check the Instagram Twitter handle for possible server issues.
3. Force close the Instagram app
If your internet is working and the servers are working, you still can’t check the Instagram posts, it’s time to force quit the application.
Instagram DM may not work due to a bug in the app. You can remove such apps by force quitting the application on your Android. Here’s how to force quit the Instagram app.
1. Long press the Instagram app icon on your home screen and select ‘App information‘.
2. Tap the ‘Force stopoption on the App info screen.
That is it! This will immediately force stop the Instagram app on your phone. Once stopped, relaunch the Instagram app and check the DMs.
4. Disable the VPN/Proxy Services
Instagram does not recommend using VPN/Proxy services to unlock the website. However, if you use it to access the app, it’s time to disable it.
When you use a VPN or proxy service, the Instagram app tries to connect to a different server far from your actual location.
This increases the connection time and causes issues like Instagram DM not working, video playback issues, etc. So it is recommended to disable all VPN/Proxy services and use the app again.
5. Update the Instagram app
If the Instagram app hasn’t been updated in a while, it’s more likely that the app version you’re using has a bug that prevents posts from loading.
When the server connection fails, users face various issues. Many users have claimed to resolve Instagram DMs not working issue by updating their Instagram app from Google Play Store/Apple App Store.
You can also try it especially if all other methods failed to fix the Instagram DM not loading issue.
6. Clear Instagram cache and data
Clearing the Instagram cache and data can help if the app update fails. Like any other social media and instant messaging app, Instagram uses cached data to provide a smooth user experience.
When this cached data gets corrupted for any reason, the DMs don’t work. Therefore, you need to clear the cache and data of the Instagram app on your device to clear all possible issues.
1. First long press the Instagram app icon on your home screen and select ‘App information‘.
2. On the App Info screen, tap ‘Storage usage‘.
3. Under Storage usage, tap ‘Clear cache‘and then on’clear data‘
That is it! Now open the Instagram app and log into your account again. This time, you can access the Instagram DMs without any problem.
7. Reinstall the Instagram app
If clearing the cache of the Instagram app doesn’t fix the problem, reinstalling the app is the next best thing to do. Re-installation deletes all stored corrupted data and downloads a new copy from the Internet.
To uninstall the Instagram app, long press the Instagram app icon and select “Uninstall.” Once uninstalled, reinstall it on your phone from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.
8. Contact Instagram support team
While there are several ways to contact the Instagram Support team, the easiest way is to open the Instagram DM and shake your phone to report a problem.
The goal is to reach the Instagram DM and shake the phone to report a problem. Then, on the report a problem screen, follow the onscreen instructions to complete the reporting process.
You need to follow the process and describe the problem you are facing and the things you have tried so far to troubleshoot. Then Instagram support team will investigate your problem and fix it automatically.
Also Read: Save Instagram Story With Music/Song
Instagram DMs are not working can be frustrating, especially if you use it to communicate with others. Until the problem is fixed, you can use other messaging apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal, etc. for communication. Let us know if we missed important troubleshooting methods.
