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3 Ways to Fix “Sorry there was a problem with your request” on Instagram

Are you getting a “Sorry there was a problem with your request” error when you try logging in to Instagram?

Many Instagram users encountered this error since 2018, and it’s still ongoing at the present.

The worst thing about this error is that Instagram doesn’t give you any information on how you can fix it.

Moreover, if you’ve tried contacting Instagram support before, you’ll know that it’s almost impossible to reach them.

In this guide, you’ll learn 3 simple ways to fix the “Sorry there was a problem with your request” error on Instagram.

Why does it keep saying “Sorry there was a problem with your request”?

Sorry there was a problem with your request Instagram

You got the “Sorry there was a problem with your request” error because Instagram has temporarily blocked your IP address.

This happens because you’ve most likely logged in and out of Instagram too fast.

Otherwise, Instagram might be down and you need to wait for it to be back up.

You can check if Instagram is down on https://downdetector.com/status/instagram/.

Either way, you still have to go through the same process to fix the error.

Instagram aims to mitigate bots and automation in its platform.

As such, they introduced a lot of temporary blocks and bans in the app such as the action block, shadowban, and the error that you’re facing right now.

Even if you’re not using a third-party app or automation tool, Instagram might still block you because the blocks aren’t functioning as intended.

But don’t worry, the error message is not permanent and can be fixed.

How to fix “Sorry there was a problem with your request” on Instagram

To fix “Sorry there was a problem with your request” on Instagram, you can either try switching to mobile data, connecting to a Wi-Fi or resetting your password.

If Instagram is down, you need to wait for a few hours before you try to log in again.

You can also try logging into your account using Facebook (if you’ve connected it in the past).

The reason why you keep getting the error is that your IP address has been temporarily blocked.

In most cases, the error can be fixed by switching your network.

For example, if you’re using local data, you can try connecting to Wi-Fi.

On the other hand, if you’re connected to Wi-Fi, you can try switching to local data.

Lastly, selecting “Forgot password” fixes the error for most people if they managed to get the confirmation code from Instagram.

Method #1: Switch to mobile data

Switch to mobile data

The first way to fix the “Sorry there was a problem with your request” error on Instagram is to switch from Wi-Fi to mobile data (and vice-versa).

You got the error message because your IP address has been temporarily blocked by Instagram.

Hence, switching to mobile data can lift the error.

If you’re connected to Wi-Fi, turn it off and use your mobile data instead.

On the other hand, if you’re using mobile data, you can try connecting to a Wi-Fi network.

If you’re using an iOS device, go to your home screen, swipe up, and turn off the Wi-Fi by tapping on the icon.

For Android devices, go to your home screen, swipe down, and turn off the Wi-Fi by tapping on the icon.

It turns out that the network is the root cause of the error for most people.

If you don’t have local data, you can try asking someone to lend you their mobile hotspot instead.

Once you’re connected to their hotspot and not the Wi-Fi, you should be able to log in to Instagram again.

Method #2: Connect to Wi-Fi

iPhone Wi-Fi

The second method is to try connecting to Wi-Fi to fix the “Sorry there was a problem with your request” error on Instagram.

In the event that you’re using mobile data and not Wi-Fi, connecting to a Wi-Fi network can fix the error.

If you’re already connected to Wi-Fi, try connecting to a different one.

Here’s how you can connect to Wi-Fi for both iOS and Android devices:

  1. Go to your phone’s settings.
  2. Tap on “Wi-Fi”.
  3. Connect to a nearby Wi-Fi (if you’re prompted for a password, key it in).

After you’re connected to Wi-Fi from local data, force close the Instagram app and try logging in again.

You should be able to log in to your Instagram account this time.

Method #3: Reset your password

Instagram forgot password

The last method to fix the “Sorry there was a problem with your request” error on Instagram is to reset your password.

Firstly, open Instagram and tap on “Forgot password?” under the login form.

Then, enter your email address/phone number/username.

After you’ve entered them, you’ll receive a code via a text message/e-mail.

Enter the code in the app and you should be able to log in to your Instagram account.

If you didn’t get the code after entering your phone number, enter your email address instead and check your inbox.

Make sure to check your junk/spam inbox as well because the mail might have landed there.

Conversely, if you didn’t get the code after entering your email address, enter your phone number again and you should receive a text message of it.

The majority of users who’ve used this method managed to log in to their accounts.

If you didn’t receive the confirmation code, move on to the next section.

Why am I not getting the confirmation code from Instagram?

Phone number Instagram

If you didn’t receive the confirmation code from Instagram, you need to verify your phone number first by logging into Instagram on a browser.

  1. Go to instagram.com on a browser (e.g. Safari, Chrome).
  2. Log in to your Instagram account.
  3. Go to your profile and tap on “Edit Profile”.
  4. Scroll down and enter your phone number under “Personal Information”.
  5. Tap on “Submit”.
  6. Go to your profile and tap on “Confirm Phone Number”.
  7. A confirmation code will be sent (via text).
  8. Enter the confirmation code and tap on “Done”.
  9. Open the Instagram app and tap on “Forgot password?”.
  10. Enter your phone number and tap on “Next”.
  11. Tap on “OK”.
  12. Enter the confirmation code that is just sent to you (via text) and tap “Next”.
  13. Tap on “Log In” to log in to your account.

You’ve successfully logged in to your account via the confirmation code!

When I log into Instagram it says sorry there was a problem with your request?

When Instagram says “Sorry there was a problem with your request”, that means your IP address is temporarily blocked.

To fix this, you can either try switching your network (Wi-Fi to local data/local data to Wi-Fi) or selecting “Forgot password?” on the login screen.

If you haven’t received the confirmation code after selecting “Forgot password?”, you need to verify your phone number by logging into your Instagram account on a browser first.

Why can’t I get back into my Instagram account?

You can’t get back into your Instagram account either because you’re banned for violating one or more of Instagram’s guidelines or because Instagram is down.

If you didn’t violate any of Instagram’s guidelines, that means that you can’t get back into your Instagram account due to a glitch.

Why is Instagram giving me an error when I try to log in?

Instagram is giving you an error when you try to log in because your IP address has been temporarily blocked.

It could also mean that Instagram is currently down.

Otherwise, your account may be banned for violating Instagram’s community guidelines.

In most cases, you might have gotten the error by mistake.

Conclusion

In this article, you’ve learned how to fix the “Sorry there was a problem with your request” on Instagram.

To recap, here are all the methods that are mentioned in this article:

  • Switch to mobile data if you’re connected to Wi-Fi.
  • Connect to Wi-Fi if you’re using mobile data.
  • Select “Forgot password” on the login screen and follow the instructions.
  • Log in to Instagram with Facebook.

In the event that you’re not getting the confirmation code from Instagram, you need to verify your phone number by logging into Instagram on a browser.

Further Reading

How to Fix “Please wait a few minutes before you try again” on Instagram

How to Remove Someone From a Group Chat on Instagram

101 TikTok Fairy Comments to Copy and Paste

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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.