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Couldn’t Load Users on Instagram (How to Fix)

Is Instagram showing a ‘couldn’t load users’ error when you try and view your following list?

Most Instagram users encounter this issue at least once and it’s extremely frustrating.

If you’re encountering this issue right now don’t panic.

This article will guide you on how to fix and prevent the error from ever happening in the future.

Table of contents

  1. What is the “Couldn’t load users” error on Instagram?
  2. Why did I get the error?
  3. How can I fix the “Couldn’t load users” error on Instagram?
  4. How to prevent the “Couldn’t load users” error from ever happening?
  5. General FAQ: Couldn’t Load Users on Instagram

What is the “Couldn’t load users” error on Instagram?

So, you got the ‘couldn’t load users’ error from Instagram.

Disclaimer: Instagram isn’t down.

The issue is from your end.

It basically means that your following list has been temporarily disabled.

But why and how did you get it?

Why did I get the error?

Wondering how you got the error? Here are a couple of reasons as to why your following list couldn’t load.

1. You probably unfollowed too many users from your following list at one go.

Instagram temporarily blocks your following list if you unfollow users repetitively.

This is because if you unfollow too many users at once, Instagram’s algorithm will think that you’re a bot and block you from unfollowing more users.

This is Instagram’s way of preventing spam and automation in their platform.

You don’t want to be incessantly unfollowing a lot of users because Instagram will think that it’s not a ‘normal human activity’.

Instead, what you want to do is to prevent this is to ‘act’ like a human being. We’ll get more into this later.

2. You’re using a third-party app to unfollow users.

If you’re using a third-party app to unfollow users, your unfollowing list will be disabled in a jiffy.

A third-party app has the ability to quicken the rate of users you are unfollowing.

Therefore, if you’re using an app to unfollow users, Instagram’s algorithm will detect that you’re utilizing a third-party app or automation and your following list will be temporarily disabled.

How to fix the “Couldn’t load users” error on Instagram?

So how exactly can you fix “Couldn’t load users” error on Instagram? Watch the video above or read on to find out how.

1. Wait it out.

The only proven solution you can do to fix the error is to wait it out.

It’s essential to note that if your following list isn’t loading, you’ll have to wait for the timer to re-enable your following list.

Stop trying ways and means to bypass the timer, it might even extend the duration of the disablement.

Trying to bypass the timer like re-installing the app, using another device, disabling WiFi doesn’t work.

The timer depends of varying factors such as your account age.

Your following list might be disabled for 24 hours, 48 hours, up to a week or more.

There isn’t a way that you can find out how the block lasts for. So all you can do is to stop your unfollowing activities for now and wait for the timer to cooldown.

How can I prevent the “Couldn’t load users” error from ever happening?

You should always prevent the error from happening in future as you don’t have to waste your time waiting it out.

Hence, here are a couple of ways you can do to prevent the error from ever happening again in the future.

1. Stop repetitively unfollowing users

The first step to mitigate the ‘couldn’t load users’ error is to stop repetitively unfollowing users from your following list.

If you unfollow a bunch of users, Instagram will disable your following list.

This is because the Instagram’s algorithm will assess it as spam and your following list will be temporarily disabled.

2. Stop using third-party apps or tools

The second step is to stop using third-party apps or tools to unfollow users.

Third-party apps or tools gives you the ability to unfollow users at a faster rate. Instagram can easily find out that you’re using them and disable your following list.

It’s one of the fastest ways you can get your following list disabled.

3. Unfollow users manually and in intervals

The final step to prevent the ‘couldn’t load users’ error from ever happening is to unfollow users manually and in intervals.

Don’t unfollow users in your following list.

Instead, manually search for the user that you want to unfollow from the search menu and unfollow them.

Additionally, you should unfollow a maximum of 5 users in an interval of 10 mins.

General FAQ: Couldn’t Load Users on Instagram

What is the “Couldn’t load users” error on Instagram?

It means that your following list has been temporarily disabled. The block can last for a few hours, 24 hours, or more; so you’ll have to wait it out.

How did I get the “Couldn’t load users” error?

You either unfollowed too many users from your following list at one go or you used a third-party app/automation to unfollow users.

If you unfollow too many users at one go from your following list, Instagram will think that you are a bot and temporarily disable it.

Similarly, using a third-party app or automation allows you to unfollow users at a faster rate, so Instagram will disable your following list for that.

How do I prevent the “Couldn’t load users” error?

1. Stop repetitively unfollowing users in your following list.


2. Stop using third-party apps or automation.


3. Unfollow a maximum of 5 users in an interval of 10 mins.

P.S. If you liked this article, feel free to join our follow for follow community for Instagram: https://www.followchain.org. It’s free!

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Author: Lim How Wei. Lim How Wei is the founder of Followchain, a community that simplifies growth and networking for Instagram users. Feel free to follow him on Instagram.

About the author

Lim How Wei

Lim How Wei is the founder of followchain.org, with 8+ years of experience in Social Media Marketing and 4+ years of experience as an active investor in stocks and cryptocurrencies. He has researched, tested, and written thousands of articles ranging from social media platforms to messaging apps.

Lim has been quoted and referenced by major publications and media companies like WikiHow, Fast Company, HuffPost, Vice, New York Post, The Conversation, and many others. One of his articles about the gig economy was quoted by Joe Rogan who hosts The Joe Rogan Experience (arguably the most popular podcast in the world), in the This Past Weekend podcast by Theo Von.

In his free time, Lim plays multiple games like Genshin Impact, League of Legends, Counter-Strike, Hearthstone, RuneScape, and many others. He creates guides, walkthroughs, solutions, and more on games that he plays to help other players with their progression.