Can‘t Refresh Your Instagram Feed? Here‘s How To Finally Fix This Annoying Error

Tired of seeing the "Couldn‘t Refresh Feed" error on Instagram? I feel your frustration.

As an avid Instagrammer myself, I know how annoying it is when the app refuses to load new posts or stories no matter how many times you force close and restart it.

But don’t delete Instagram just yet! The good news is this refresh feed issue can usually be fixed with a few simple troubleshooting steps.

In this detailed guide, I’ll walk you through how to troubleshoot and resolve Instagram feed refreshing failures so you can get back to stalking influencers and peering into your friends’ lives.

Here’s what we’ll cover:

Common causes of the dreaded “Couldn’t Refresh Feed” error message
Step-by-step solutions to fix Instagram refresh issues
Advanced troubleshooting tips from a social media pro
Answers to frequently asked questions about the Instagram feed not refreshing

By the end of this guide, your Instagram feed will be working flawlessly again. Let’s get started!

Why Does Instagram Keep Showing "Couldn‘t Refresh Feed"?

Before we dig into fixes, let’s quickly run through the possible causes of the “Couldn’t Refresh Feed” error occurring in the first place:

Outdated app – If you don‘t have the latest version of Instagram, bugs can prevent proper feed refreshing.
Connection issues – Poor WiFi or cellular data signal leads to refresh failures.
Temporary outage – Overloaded Instagram servers affect feed loading globally.
Corrupted cache – Too much cached data causes app performance issues.
Account restrictions – Breaking Instagram‘s rules can block your feed refreshing ability as a penalty.
Software conflicts – Problems with your device, OS or other apps disrupt Instagram.
App glitches – Bugs in the app code can simply cause refresh issues randomly.

Now that you know why this happens, let’s get your Instagram feed working again!

10 Ways to Troubleshoot and Fix Instagram Refresh Feed Problems

Follow these 10 troubleshooting steps to solve most cases of the Instagram “Couldn’t Refresh Feed” error:

1. Update to the Latest Instagram Version

Always make sure you‘re running the newest version of the Instagram app:

iOS – Upgrade Instagram in the App Store. Current version as of March 2022 is 244.1.
Android – Update Instagram in the Play Store. Current version is 238.1.0.37.119.

Updating provides bug fixes, eliminating any version-specific issues preventing feed refreshing.

2. Check Your Internet Connection

Refresh failures are often caused by connection problems. So first confirm your WiFi or mobile data is working properly.

Turn WiFi off and on to reconnect. Switch between WiFi and cellular data. Restart your wireless router if needed.

Also monitor your signal strength. Instagram may struggle on 1 bar of WiFi or LTE. Move closer to your router or network cell tower if possible.

3. Reboot Your Phone

Give your phone a fresh start by powering it off completely, waiting 30 seconds, then powering back on.

Rebooting clears up system-level issues, memory leaks, overactive apps, or background processes that could be interfering with Instagram.

4. Update Other Apps Too

Don’t just stop at updating Instagram itself. Make sure ALL your apps are upgraded to their latest versions:

Facebook
Facebook Messenger
WhatsApp
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube
Gmail
Any other apps you use frequently

Old app versions can conflict with Instagram‘s code and cause indirect refresh issues.

5. Reinstall the Instagram App

If updating Instagram didn‘t work, uninstall and reinstall a fresh version:

On iPhone:

Delete the app from your home screen
Go to the App Store and re-download Instagram
Log back into your account

On Android:

Go to Settings > Apps & Notifications > Instagram and select Uninstall
Open the Play Store to download Instagram again
Enter your login info when launching the newly installed app

Reinstalling gives you a clean slate eliminating any underlying bugs.

6. Wipe the Cache and App Data

Over time, outdated Instagram cache/data on your phone can cause performance issues. Here‘s how to clear it:

iPhone

Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage
Find Instagram and tap Offload App
Reinstall Instagram from the App Store

Android

Go to Settings > Apps & Notifications > Instagram
Tap Storage & Cache > Clear Cache and Clear Data

With the corrupted cache/data wiped, open Instagram and see if your feed refreshes now.

7. Log Out and Back Into Your Instagram Account

If the issue seems account-specific, try fully logging out and logging back in:

Go to your profile and tap the menu
Select Settings > Log Out
Confirm by choosing Log Out when prompted
Enter your username and password to log back in

This resets your account which can fix refresh issues tied to your specific profile.

8. Try Instagram on Other Devices

See if you can load your Instagram feed through:

The Instagram website on a desktop computer
A tablet like an iPad or Galaxy Tab
A friend’s phone

If your feed works on other devices, it indicates the refresh issue is isolated to your phone‘s app install versus a wider outage or account limitation.

9. Report Feed Issues to Instagram

If you’ve tried everything, report the problem directly to Instagram:

Go to Settings > Help > Report a Problem
Select Feed and describe the issue in detail

Instagram can then investigate and resolve errors on their end affecting your account.

10. Contact Instagram Support

If you still see the “Couldn’t Refresh Feed” error after troubleshooting, reach out to Instagram Support:

Request help via live chat in the Instagram app itself
Send a direct message to @Instagram on Twitter
Consult Instagram‘s help articles for refresh issues

The Support team can further assist if you‘re still stuck with a feed that won‘t refresh after following these steps.

Beyond the basics above, as a social media manager here are some additional tips I use to tackle stubborn Instagram feed refreshing issues:

Check Instagram‘s status page – Look for official announcements of outages preventing feeds from loading globally.
Toggle Airplane Mode – Turn Airplane Mode on, wait 30 seconds, then turn it off to reset connectivity.
Update phone software – Refresh issues can stem from outdated iOS/Android versions needing upgrades.
Monitor over time – Note if refreshing works intermittently (suggesting a temporary glitch).
Check app background refresh – Ensure it‘s enabled for Instagram in Settings so it refreshes when closed.
Check storage space – Low storage can negatively impact app performance. Delete unused files/apps if needed.
Remove and re-add account – As a last resort, add your Instagram account again to fully reset it.
Use another phone – Borrow a friend‘s phone to see if your account works there (indicates an issue isolated to your device).

With a mix of basic and advanced troubleshooting techniques, you should be able to get to the bottom of most Instagram feed refresh failures.

But if you still can‘t fix it after trying everything, your best bet is to have the Instagram Support team investigate and resolve the issue for you.

Why Does My Entire Instagram Feed Keep Stopping?

If your entire Instagram feed is down and not loading any posts at all, it‘s likely caused by one of these issues:

Internet outage – Your home WiFi or cellular data network is totally down. Check with your ISP or carrier.
Phone crashed – A serious software glitch or crash can take down phone connectivity and apps. Reboot your device.
Instagram server outage – Massive spikes in traffic can overwhelm Instagram‘s servers. Check their status page during outages.
Account deactivated – Your account was disabled, either by you or Instagram for Terms violations. Appeal if it was by mistake.
App crashed – The Instagram app may totally freeze or crash if a phone update corrupts it. Reinstall the app from scratch.
Blocked by Instagram – Severe or repeated ToS violations can get your account completely banned from the app.

So in summary, whole feed outages tend to stem from much larger connectivity, app or account-related catastrophes versus typical feed refresh issues. Getting to the root cause takes patience and systematic troubleshooting.

Just See the Instagram "News Feed" – Not Posts You Care About?

If your Instagram feed only shows recommended posts from accounts you don‘t follow, and none of your friends’ stuff, the algorithm’s suggest posts have overridden your true feed.

Here‘s how to return a personalized Instagram feed:

Tap the Instagram logo to access the Following section of your feed instead just Favorites.
Actively Like, Comment on, and Save posts you‘re interested in to retrain the algorithm.
Mute accounts you have no interest in to stop seeing their recommended posts.
Check that Close Friends are still listed as such in your settings.
Limit your use of the Explore page so Instagram doesn‘t prioritize its content in your feed.

With some tuning, you can reclaim your authentic Instagram feed that‘s unique to your usage and interests.

Experiencing Lag or Delays Between Feed Posts Loading?

If you‘re noticing your Instagram feed lagging with delays between posts appearing, it could be caused by:

Slow internet – Weak WiFi or cellular data connections will slow feed load times.

High-res images/videos – Large media files naturally take longer to load into your feed.

Poorly optimized content – IG profiles with unoptimized images tend to load slower.

Restricted data usage – Limiting Instagram‘s background data can affect feed speed.

Bandwidth throttling – Some networks intentionally limit bandwidth during peak usage times.

Server congestion – During traffic spikes, Instagram‘s servers get bogged down causing delays.

App needs restart – A memory leak or runaway process in the app itself can induce lag over time.

Too many followings – Following thousands of accounts means thousands of posts to potentially load.

OS or Instagram needs update – Outdated software tends to have performance decreases over time.

So in summary, reducing bloat slowing down the app, tuning your connectivity/data settings, and keeping your devices updated can all help minimize Instagram feed lag.

Instagram Feed Stuck on Old Posts or Not Showing New Ones?

If your Instagram feed seems permanently stuck on old content and refuses to show the newest posts from people you follow, try these fixes:

Pull down to force a manual refresh and load latest
Close and reopen the app to reset it
Update to the newest Instagram version
Check your internet connection
Toggle WiFi or cellular data off and on
Clear the app cache and data
Log out and back into your account
See if any accounts you follow are having refresh issues themselves
Check Instagram‘s status page for outages
Try viewing your feed in chronological sort rather than algorithmic sort

An Instagram feed frozen in time is super frustrating. But a combo of restarting your app, resetting your account, upgrading the software, and monitoring connections should get new posts flowing again.

FAQs About Fixing Instagram Feed Refresh Problems

Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions around resolving Instagram feed refresh issues:

Why does my Instagram feed keep stopping?

If your Instagram feed keeps stopping mid-scroll, it’s typically caused by internet connection problems, disruptive apps, software conflicts, caching issues, or temporary Instagram server outages preventing normal refreshing.

Why does it say “Couldn’t refresh feed” on Instagram?

The “Couldn’t Refresh Feed” error appears when the Instagram app encounters a problem loading your latest feed posts and stories from people you follow. Underlying issues range from glitches to restrictions.

How can I reset my Instagram feed in 2022?

To reset your Instagram feed in 2022, uninstall and reinstall a fresh version of the app and wipe cached data. Also log out and back into your account. Updating the app and phone software can help too.

Why is my Instagram feed not updating posts?

If your Instagram feed stops updating with the latest posts, it’s commonly caused by connectivity issues, outdated app versions needing upgrades, server outages, or your account specifically being restricted temporarily.

Why am I only seeing Instagram recommended posts?

If your feed is overrun by recommended posts you have no interest in, actively Like and Comment on posts you do care about to retrain the algorithm to show content relevant to your tastes.

How do I get my old Instagram feed back?

Unfortunately there is no way to retrieve your exact previous Instagram feed. But you can refresh your current feed to start loading the newest relevant posts again with the steps outlined above.

Why won‘t my Instagram feed load at all suddenly?

An Instagram feed failing to load entirely suggests a wider outage or major software/account issue like a crashed app, deactivated profile, phone connectivity failure, or getting blocked by Instagram for violations.

Get Your Instagram Feed Working Again!

Hopefully with the comprehensive troubleshooting advice in this guide, you‘ve squashed the pesky Instagram "Couldn‘t Refresh Feed" error for good and can once again view all the latest stories and posts on your feed.

As you saw, this problem can stem from a variety of issues – some simple, some more complex. But systematically working through connectivity checks, app reinstalls, account logouts, cache clearing, software upgrades, and requesting Instagram‘s help directly should get your feed refreshed in no time.

Here‘s a quick recap of the key fixes covered to bring your Instagram feed back to life:

Update the Instagram app itself
Check for internet connection problems
Reboot your phone
Update other apps causing potential conflicts
Reinstall Instagram fresh
Wipe the Instagram app cache and data
Log out and back into your account
Try loading your feed on other devices
Report feed refreshing issues to Instagram
Contact Instagram Support if still not fixed

With these troubleshooting steps, you should be able to successfully answer the question: “Why won’t my Instagram refresh?” for most users.

Now get back to creeping on celebrities, laughing at memes, and stalking your crush‘s Instagram stories!