Is Instagram saying, “Sorry, we couldn’t update your profile picture. Please confirm you have an internet connection and try again in a moment”?
If you’ve received this error message, that means you’re unable to update your profile picture on Instagram.
Many Instagram users are facing this issue (as of late Oct 2021) and it’s very frustrating.
This is because you might want to change your profile picture but you’re unable to.
Especially if you have an old profile picture, you might want to change it.
However, you might have tried every trick in the book (e.g. clearing cache, reinstalling Instagram) but it still doesn’t fix the error.
If you’re still finding ways to fix the error—look no further.
In this article, you’ll learn how to fix “Sorry we couldn’t update your profile picture” on Instagram in 3 simple steps.
- Why can’t I update my profile picture on Instagram?
- How to Fix “Sorry we couldn’t update your profile picture” on Instagram
- Conclusion
Why can’t I update my profile picture on Instagram?
You can’t update your profile picture on Instagram either because of a glitch, or you don’t have an internet connection.
The “Sorry, we couldn’t update your profile picture” error is typically caused by a glitch on Instagram’s end, so you might have to wait until Instagram fixes it.
The “Sorry we couldn’t update your profile picture” error claims that you don’t have an internet connection.
However, this is usually not the case.
The error is caused because of a glitch on Instagram’s end—not yours.
If you’re on Instagram, you should already have an internet connection, so this is out.
There are lots of discussions online (e.g. Reddit, Quora) of people seeking assistance because they can’t update their profile picture.
So you’re definitely not the only one facing this issue.
Some people said that they haven’t solved this issue in years.
One of them resorted to creating a new Instagram account to change their profile picture.
Another decided to do a factory reset on their device, and it fixed it.
Although these methods work, you shouldn’t use them unless you have no other options left.
Fortunately, there is a simple workaround for the “Sorry we couldn’t update your profile picture” error that you can use below.
How to Fix “Sorry we couldn’t update your profile picture” on Instagram
To fix “Sorry we couldn’t update your profile picture” on Instagram, log in to Instagram from a mobile browser (e.g. Safari/Chrome), and change your profile picture there.
Once you’ve changed your profile picture from the web version of Instagram, go back to the Instagram app, and refresh your profile.
After which, your profile picture should be successfully updated.
Instead of using the Instagram app, log in to Instagram from a mobile browser (e.g. Safari/Chrome), then change your profile picture there.
The error is known to affect the Instagram app only.
So, if you’re using Instagram from a mobile browser, you won’t encounter the “Sorry we couldn’t update your profile picture” error.
An alternative is to try contacting Instagram support.
However, the problem is that Instagram support is practically unreachable.
Instagram has priority over other things (e.g. disabled accounts, trademark infringement).
So contacting Instagram is out of the question.
Next, you need to check whether you have an internet connection.
Make sure to check if you have an internet connection.
Even if you do, your internet speed might be too slow for you to update your profile picture on Instagram.
Even if you have an internet connection, your internet speed might be too slow for you to update your profile picture.
If that’s the case, you can try switching from mobile data to Wi-Fi, and vice-versa.
Then, try updating your profile picture again.
If it still doesn’t work, read the next section.
Below are the 3 steps to fixing the “Sorry we couldn’t update your profile picture” error on Instagram.
Step 1: Open Safari/Chrome
Firstly, open the Safari (iOS) or Chrome (Android) browser.
The first step is to open Safari (iOS) or Chrome (Android).
The Instagram app is known for causing updating issues for profile pictures.
This means that you might not be able to update your profile picture from the Instagram app.
In order to fix this, you need to use Instagram on a browser instead.
If you’re using an iOS device, you can use Safari.
On the other hand, if you’re using an Android device, you can open Chrome.
The vast majority of users managed to update their profile picture from Instagram web.
Step 2: Go to Instagram.com
Next, you need to visit Instagram on your browser.
Go to Instagram.com on your mobile browser.
Once you’re there, log in to your Instagram account.
Search for https://instagram.com or Instagram on Google.
If the browser prompts you to open Instagram, tap on “Cancel”.
Once you’re on Instagram web, you’ll see a login form.
As you’re using Instagram from a browser, you’ll need to log in to access your account.
Type in your username/password and log in to Instagram.
Step 3: Change your profile picture
The final step is to change your profile picture.
After you’ve logged in to Instagram on a mobile browser, go to your profile.
Updating your profile picture on Instagram Web is similar to how you’d do it on the Instagram app.
Your profile > Edit Profile > Change Profile Picture.
Here’s a step-by-step guide on how you can change your profile picture on Instagram web:
- Tap on the extreme-right icon on the bottom navigation bar.
- Tap “Edit Profile” under your bio.
- Select “Change Profile Picture” to update your profile picture.
- Select “Choose From Library” to choose an existing photo from your camera roll.
- Tap on “Done” to change your profile picture.
Once you’ve changed your profile picture on Instagram Web, your profile will be changed on the Instagram app as well.
To confirm this, log out of Instagram from your browser and open the Instagram app.
Then, tap on the extreme-right icon on the bottom navigation bar to visit your profile.
Refresh your profile by pulling down your screen.
After you’ve refreshed your profile, your profile picture should be updated to the new one.
You’ve successfully fixed the “Sorry we couldn’t update your profile picture” error and updated your profile picture!
Conclusion
It’s important to update your profile picture because you don’t want a picture that’s 5-10 years ago.
From a social media standpoint, updating your profile picture tells people that you’re active.
However, some users face the “Sorry, we couldn’t update your profile picture” when they’re trying to update their profile picture on the Instagram app.
If you’re one of those users, you need to use the three steps mentioned in this article to change your profile picture.
Unfortunately, the “Sorry, we couldn’t update your profile picture” is a known bug that hasn’t been fixed on Instagram yet.
To recap, the only workaround is to log in to Instagram on a browser instead and change your profile picture from there.
If you still can’t update your profile picture, you need to create a new account or do a factory reset on your device.
However, these couple of solutions should be your last resort.
Further Reading
Is WhatsApp Considered Social Media?
How to Fix Instagram Stories Not Showing Up
How to Fix “We’ll Try Again Once There’s a Better Connection” on Instagram
