How to Fix "Couldn't refresh feed" on Instagram

Are you trying to view your Instagram feed but this error message pops up, “Couldn’t refresh feed”?

The error message prevents you from viewing your feed (the homepage of the app).

In other words, you won’t be able to see the posts from the users that you’re following.

If you pull down to refresh, the error message will pop up again.

In this article, you’ll learn why Instagram keeps saying “Couldn’t refresh feed“, how to fix it, and other frequently asked questions.

Why does my Instagram keep saying couldn’t refresh feed?
How to fix “Couldn’t refresh feed” on Instagram
How to prevent “Couldn’t refresh feed” on Instagram

Why does my Instagram keep saying couldn’t refresh feed?

Instagram keeps saying “Couldn’t refresh feed” error is most likely because Instagram is down.

It can also happen because you’ve used a third-party app, your date and time settings are wrong, or because of a glitch.

To check if Instagram is down, visit https://metastatus.com/ and check for service disruptions.

Instagram is known for falsely “blocking” people for reasons they did not do.

For example, another common error on Instagram is the action block.

Some people get action blocked falsely by Instagram even though they didn’t spam their actions.

They might have only liked a few posts on their feed, and an action block is imposed on them.

In most cases, the error might be a glitch and there’s nothing you can do about it.

Going back to the “Couldn’t refresh feed” error, you may have received it due to a glitch.

However, you should read the next few points and find the reason that applies to you.

That way, you’re able to determine whether the error is indeed a glitch or not.

1. You’ve used a third-party app

Firstly, you might have received the “Couldn’t refresh feed” error on Instagram because you’re using a third-party app or automation tool.

Instagram will temporarily disable your feed if you’ve been carrying out actions (e.g. liking, commenting) using a third-party app or an automation tool.

If you’ve used a third-party app or an automation tool, Instagram might temporarily block you from viewing your feed.

Instagram is very strict on the usage of third-party apps and automation tools.

This is because they’re trying to reduce the number of bots and automation on their platform.

If you get the “Couldn’t refresh feed” error, Instagram might think that you are a bot and temporarily block you from viewing your feed.

Typically, this happens if you’re using a third-party app to like others’ posts.

As such, Instagram’s AI will block you from viewing your feed to limit your actions.

Instagram only allows certain third-party tools on its platform. These tools are mainly scheduling tools that you can use to schedule your posts.

So, if you use tools that are not certified by Instagram, your account may be at risk of getting temporary bans.

2. Your date and time is wrong

If your date and time are incorrect, you might get the “Couldn’t refresh feed” error when you try to view your Instagram feed.

Instagram syncs the date and time with the settings on your device.

If the date and time on your device don’t match with Instagram’s, it may cause errors in the app.

Make sure to check whether the date and time on your device are correct. Otherwise, it might cause other issues as well.

For example, Instagram stories might not load if your date and time are wrong.

3. Instagram is down

The final reason why you got the “Couldn’t refresh feed” error is that Instagram is down.

Instagram has been down multiple times throughout the years.

Hence, it’s not uncommon that Instagram is currently down.

On Oct 4, 2021, Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp were down for approximately 6 hours due to a server outage.

To check whether Instagram is down, you can visit https://metastatus.com/.

You can also check Instagram’s official Twitter account for updates.

In most cases, Instagram is not down, and the error is either due to previous reasons or because of a glitch.

In addition, you need to check your internet speed.

Sometimes, your Instagram feed cannot refresh because your internet speed is too slow.

You can use a free speed test online to test your internet speed.

If your internet speed is lower than 20 Mbps, your feed might not be able to load as it is too slow.

If that’s the case, then you should try switching to mobile data if you’re using WiFi, and vice-versa.

How to fix “Couldn’t refresh feed” on Instagram

To fix the “Couldn’t refresh feed” error on Instagram, you need to wait until Instagram is back up.

You can also try setting your date and time to automatic or using another device.

Alternatively, you can try updating, reinstalling, or clearing Instagram’s cache.

If Instagram is down, you need to wait until the issues are fixed on Instagram’s end.

1. Wait it out

The best way to fix the “Couldn’t refresh feed” error on Instagram is to wait it out.

The “Couldn’t refresh feed” error typically lasts for a few hours (up to 24 hours).

In most cases, you might have gotten the error by mistake, and it’ll be lifted with time.

Most Instagram users who got the error message managed to get their feed back to normal in a day.

The “Couldn’t refresh feed” error is meant to be imposed on people who used a third-party app or automation.

If you haven’t used these, you’ve most likely received the error because of a glitch or Instagram is down.

Nevertheless, the error is a temporary one, and it will eventually take care of itself.

2. Set your date and time automatically

The second method is to set your date and time automatically.

If you modified your date and time in the past, you need to set it back to normal again.

An incorrect date and time can cause a lot of issues on Instagram. It might even prevent your Instagram feed from refreshing.

Here’s how you can set your date and time automatically for an iPhone:

Go to your settings.
Scroll down and tap on “General”.
Under “General”, tap on “Date & Time”.
Turn “Set Automatically” on.

Here’s how you can set your date and time automatically for an Android device:

Go to your settings.
Tap on “Date & Time”.
Turn “Automatic” on.

Setting your date and time automatically will update it to the present date and time.

You must have the right date and time on your device to prevent errors on Instagram.

3. Use another device

Lastly, you can try using another device.

If you’re using Instagram on a mobile device, try accessing it on a desktop instead.

Conversely, if you’re using Instagram on a desktop, try accessing it on a mobile device.

Accessing Instagram via another device can help fix the “Couldn’t refresh feed” error.

In addition, if you’re accessing Instagram on a desktop, try switching to incognito mode.

Switching to incognito mode will clear your browsing history, data, and cache, which can get rid of the error.

How to prevent “Couldn’t refresh feed” on Instagram

Preventing errors on Instagram is important as you don’t have to spend your time fixing it.

If your feed is back to normal, you can follow the next steps to prevent the error from happening again.

Though the “Couldn’t refresh feed” error might be caused by a glitch, it’s best that you follow the next steps.

This is to ensure that the error isn’t caused by your end. In addition, it might mitigate other errors on the app.

1. Stop using third-party apps

If you’re using a third-party app or an automation tool to like, follow, unfollow, etc., you should stop using it.

Instagram is very restrictive on the third-party apps you can use.

Third-party apps that are not partnered with Instagram pose a huge risk to your account.

If you’re using a third-party app to carry out actions, you may be blocked from using certain features on Instagram.

The most prominent block on Instagram is the action block which prevents you from liking, following, unfollowing, etc., on the platform.

Moreover, Instagram might prevent your feed from refreshing as a restrictive measure.

The thing with third-party apps and tools is that they give you the ability to carry out actions at a faster rate.

Instagram can easily detect this and block you from carrying out that action.

Here’s how you can remove third-party apps, tools, or websites on a mobile device:

Go to your profile and tap on the menu.
Tap on “Settings”.
Select “Security”.
Under “Data and history”, select “Apps and websites”.
Tap on “Active”, then “Remove”.

Alternatively, you can change your Instagram password which will sign you out from all third-party apps.

However, if you don’t want to delete the third-party app(s) that you’re using, you need to take certain measures to prevent getting blocked by Instagram.

The most important measure to take is to not carry out actions directly in the third-party app that you’re using.

Instead, you should only carry out actions (e.g. liking, commenting) in the Instagram app.

All in all, you should not spam any action on Instagram. Instead, carry them out in intervals to mitigate future errors.

2. Don’t change your date and time

Next, you shouldn’t change your date and time on your mobile device.

Having the wrong date and time on your device can cause many issues on Instagram.

It might prevent your feed from refreshing, or stories from loading.

To mitigate these errors from happening, you need to ensure that your date and time is set to automatic.

That way, your date and time will always be up to date.

3. Keep Instagram updated to the latest version

Lastly, you should always update Instagram to the latest version.

Always check for updates on Instagram on the App Store/Google Play Store.

Updating Instagram is important as it can help fix issues in the app.

This is especially so if you see an update description along the lines of, “Bug fixes and performance improvements”.

At times, Instagram might have released an update that contains some bugs.

If that’s the case, you have to check for a subsequent update and update the app once more.

This will help mitigate any possible issues that might arise in the app.

Why is my Instagram feed not loading?

If your Instagram feed is not loading, it’s typically due to slow internet speed, or you’ve been using a third-party app/automation tool.

Firstly, when your Instagram feed is not loading, your internet speed might be too slow.

You can use an online internet speed test to test your internet speed.

However, if your upload/download speed is over 20 Mbps, then your internet is fine.

If that’s the case, your feed might not be loading because of a glitch.

Another common reason why your feed is not loading is that you’ve used a third-party app or automation tool.

Instagram will temporarily disable your feed if you’ve been using a third-party app or automation tool to carry out actions (e.g. liking/commenting).

But don’t worry, your feed will return to normal after 24 hours.

How do I refresh my Instagram feed?

To refresh your Instagram feed, simply pull down your screen and release.

Refreshing your Instagram feed will rearrange the posts on your feed.

If you liked all the posts on your feed previously, refreshing it will show posts in chronological order.

On the other hand, if you don’t like all the posts on your feed, refreshing it will display the posts that you’re most likely to interact with first.

How to Fix “Couldn’t refresh feed” on Instagram