How to Fix Instagram Crashing

Nothing brings your content planning to a halt faster than Instagram crashing right as you're about to post. If the app keeps unexpectedly closing or freezing on you, you're not alone, and thankfully, the fix is usually straightforward. This guide will walk you through exactly what to do, from the simplest restarts to more in-depth solutions, to get Instagram running smoothly again.

First Things First: Why Does Instagram Crash?

An app can crash for a handful of reasons, and it often has little to do with your phone being broken. Most of the time, the problem boils down to one of these common culprits:

• Temporary Glitches: Sometimes, apps just have a momentary hiccup. A force-close or phone restart is all it takes to fix it.
• Outdated Software: You might be running an old version of the Instagram app or your phone’s operating system (iOS or Android), causing compatibility issues.
• Corrupted Cache: Instagram stores temporary files (cache) on your device to help it load faster. Over time, these files can become corrupted and cause the app to misbehave.
• Low Storage Space: When your phone's storage is nearly full, apps don't have enough room to operate correctly, leading them to freeze or crash.
• Server-Side Issues: The problem might not be on your end at all. Sometimes, Instagram's own servers go down, affecting millions of users.

We’ll work our way from the easiest and most common fixes to the more advanced ones. Start at the top and see which one gets you back to scrolling and posting.

The Easiest Fixes (Start Here)

These four simple steps resolve the vast majority of app-crashing issues. Try them in order before moving on to more involved solutions.

1. Force Close and Reopen the App

Think of this as a mini-reboot for the app itself. It clears any temporary errors a lot of the time by closing it out of your phone’s active memory completely.

• On iPhone (with Face ID): Swipe up from the bottom of your screen and pause in the middle. This will show you all your open apps. Find the Instagram app preview and swipe it up and off the screen to close it.
• On iPhone (with Home Button): Double-press the Home button to see your recent apps. Swipe up on the Instagram app to close it.
• On Android: Go to Settings >, Apps >, Instagram. Tap Force Stop. This will close the app completely.

Once it's closed, tap the Instagram icon on your home screen to open it again. For many, this is all it takes.

2. Restart Your Phone

The oldest trick in the tech support book still works for a reason. Restarting your phone clears its Random Access Memory (RAM), shuts down background processes that might be interfering with Instagram, and gives everything a fresh start.

• On iPhone: Press and hold the volume button and the side button until the power-off slider appears. Drag the slider, wait 30 seconds for it to turn off completely, then press and hold the side button again to turn it back on.
• On Android: Press and hold the power button until the power menu appears. Tap Restart.

After your phone reboots, try opening Instagram. If it still crashes, head to the next step.

3. Check for Updates in the App Store

App developers are constantly pushing out updates to fix bugs that cause performance issues like crashing. You might be running an older version that has a known flaw that’s already been fixed.

• On iOS: Open the App Store, tap your profile icon in the top right, and scroll down to see your pending updates. If Instagram is on the list, tap Update.
• On Android: Open the Google Play Store, tap your profile icon in the top right, and go to Manage apps &, device. Look under "Updates available" to see if Instagram has a new version. If so, tap Update.

4. Check Your Internet Connection

While a bad connection doesn't usually cause a crash, an unstable one can make an app hang or freeze in a way that feels like a crash. The app might be trying to load content, fail, and get stuck in a loop.

Try switching between Wi-Fi and your cellular data. If the app works fine on one but not the other, you've found an issue with your network, not the app itself. You can also try loading another app or website to confirm your internet is working.

Intermediate Fixes (When the Basics Fail)

If you're still reading, it means the quick fixes didn't work. Don't worry, a crashing app is very rarely a sign of a serious problem. The next steps involve clearing out data that might be causing the conflict.

5. Clear Instagram's Cache (Android Only)

Your phone stores temporary data (images, your profile pic, etc.) in a cache so Instagram doesn't have to re-download them every time you open the app. If this data becomes corrupted, it can cause persistent crashes. Clearing it gets rid of the bad files without removing your account info.

Here’s how to do it on Android:

1. Open your phone's Settings app.
2. Tap on Apps or Apps &, notifications.
3. Find and tap on Instagram from the list.
4. Tap on Storage &, cache.
5. Tap the Clear Cache button. Do not tap "Clear Data" yet, as that will log you out.

Go back and open Instagram to see if that solved the problem. Unfortunately, iPhones don’t have a built-in option to clear the cache for individual apps, but the next step is the best alternative.

6. Reinstall the Instagram App

If clearing the cache didn't work (or if you're on an iPhone), uninstalling and reinstalling the app is the ultimate fresh start. This removes the app and all its related files from your device, so when you reinstall it, you get a clean, uncorrupted version.

Heads up: Your photos, DMs, followers, and profile are all perfectly safe. They are stored on Instagram's servers, not your phone. You will, however, need to log back in after reinstalling.

• On an iPhone: The best way is to "offload" the app. This removes the app but keeps its documents and data, which can save you from having to log in again. Go to Settings >, General >, iPhone Storage. Find Instagram in the list, tap it, and select Offload App. Once it's offloaded, tap Reinstall App right from that same screen. If that doesn't work, go back and uninstall it fully by long-pressing the app icon on your home screen and choosing Remove App >, Delete App. Then, download it again from the App Store.
• On Android: You can either long-press the Instagram icon and tap Uninstall, or go back to Settings >, Apps >, Instagram and select Uninstall. Then, head to the Google Play Store to reinstall it.

Advanced Troubleshooting

In the rare event that Instagram is still crashing, the problem likely lies outside of the app itself. Here’s what to check last.

7. Update Your Phone’s Operating System

App updates are designed to work with the latest versions of iOS and Android. If your phone’s core software is out of date, it can cause serious compatibility problems with newer apps.

• On iOS: Go to Settings >, General >, Software Update. Your phone will check for an update and prompt you to download and install it if one is available.
• On Android: Go to Settings >, System >, System update (the exact path may vary slightly by phone manufacturer). Check for updates and install any that are available.

8. Free Up Phone Storage

Apps need breathing room to run. If your phone storage is at 95% or higher, things will start to break down. Instagram needs space to cache files and operate smoothly.

Go to your phone’s storage settings (Settings >, General >, iPhone Storage on iOS, or Settings >, Storage on Android) to see what’s taking up the most space. Often, it's photos, videos, or other apps you no longer use. Deleting a few old video files or unused apps can often solve mysterious crashing issues immediately.

9. Check If Instagram Is Down

If you’ve tried everything and nothing is working, it's time to consider that the problem might not be you. Every so often, Instagram experiences widespread outages. If its servers are down, your app might not be able to load, causing it to freeze or crash on startup.

The quickest way to check is to pop over to another social media site like X (formerly Twitter) and search for "#instagramdown." If there's a problem, people will be talking about it. You can also use third-party sites like Downdetector to see real-time outage reports. If Instagram is down, all you can do is wait it out.

Final Thoughts

Dealing with a crashing Instagram app is disruptive, but the solution is almost always within your reach. By methodically working through these steps - from a simple restart to a full reinstallation - you can generally squash the bug and get back to business in just a few minutes.

When you rely on social media to build a brand, any interruption can throw off your strategy. We understand what it's like to wrestle with tech when you should be connecting with your audience - it’s why we built Postbase. We’re focused on making a social media management tool that is simple, modern, and - most importantly - incredibly reliable. We make sure that your scheduled posts actually publish and that your accounts stay connected, so you can spend less time guessing if your tools are working and more time focused on your content.