You are stuck in the office or waiting for someone and want to scroll through Instagram posts and reels only to find out that your Instagram app keeps crashing every few seconds. This can be frustrating and might put a damper on your mood. However, don’t give up just yet; we’re here to help. In this guide, we will show you some solutions to fix the issue of Instagram crashing on your iPhone or Android phone.
Table of Contents
1. Basic Solutions
Before we begin with some of the technical stuff, we would like you to first go with some of the common and simple solutions.
Check Your Internet Connection
Have you considered checking your internet connection? Instagram is a social media app that relies on the internet to function, so it is important to make sure that you have a strong and stable internet connection when using the app. You can check your internet performance by visiting a SpeedTest site.
During the test, if you notice poor speed or an unstable internet connection, you can try turning your Wi-Fi router or cellular network off and on if you’re connected to the latter.
TIP: iPhone keep switching from Wi-Fi to Cellular data? Here’s a fix.
Restart Instagram App
Here, I’m not talking about simply closing the Instagram app from the App Switcher screen and then reopening it. If you own an Android phone, you have the option to force-stop an application along with all its associated background processes. This can be a handy feature, as you don’t have to restart your phone to achieve the same result. Here’s how to do it:
1. Open the Settings app and then navigate to Apps > Instagram.
2. Next, tap on the Force stop button and hit OK to confirm your decision.
Now try launching your Instagram app and see if this fixes the crashing issue.
Update the Instagram App
If restarting the Instagram app didn’t resolve the issue, consider updating the app. The most likely cause of the problem could be a bug that is causing your Instagram app to behave abnormally. Updating the app to the latest version often resolves the issue, so it’s a good idea to update your Instagram app on your Android or iPhone.
Restart Your Phone
If the basic solutions didn’t fix the Instagram app’s crashing issue, you can always fall back on the trusty old restarting method. Restarting has proven effective multiple times in fixing the majority of problems with technology products. So, give it a try. If the issue persists, you can move on to more advanced and technical solutions.
2. Reset Network Settings
Earlier we talked about how a bad internet connection can also lead to the constant crashing of the Instagram app. If the issue is not with your cellular or Wi-Fi network, then it’s more likely has do with your phone’s network settings. On your iPhone and Android phone, you have the option to reset the network connection. You can try doing it to see if this resolves the crashing issue.
Note: Resetting network settings will require you to re-enter your Wi-Fi password and reconfigure VPN settings.
For Android Users:
1. Go to Settings and then navigate to General management > Reset.
2. Next, select the Reset network settings option and then hit the Reset settings button.
3. Now enter the phone’s PIN or passcode and hit the Reset button to confirm your action.
That’s it! This will reset the network settings on your Android phone and most likely resolve any issues with the Instagram app, making it work normally.
For iPhone Users:
1. Open the Settings app and head over to General > Transfer or Reset iPhone.
2. Here, tap on the Reset option and select the Reset Network Settings option.
3. Next, enter your iPhone’s passcode and hit the Reset Network Settings option.
Afterward, your phone will automatically restart. When your iPhone is back on, open the Instagram app to check if it is functioning properly.
3. Check Instagram’s Server Status
Since we are on the topic of networking, have you considered checking the Instagram server status? The problem might be on Instagram’s end, and here you could be wasting your time and energy trying to fix the Instagram app. You can check whether the Instagram servers are down or not by visiting the DownDetector website using your preferred web browser.
4. Stop VPN Connection
If you’re using a VPN service on your phone to protect your privacy, you may have to temporarily turn it off. VPNs not only tend to slow down your internet speed but many services also don’t work well with them; one of the primary examples is banking apps. Perhaps you can try disabling the VPN to see if this fixes the Instagram crashing issue.
ALSO READ: Which is better, free or paid VPN?
5. Clear Your Phone’s RAM
You may have already tried clearing your phone’s memory, but if you haven’t already, it’s worth doing. It’s possible that a significant portion of your phone’s RAM is being used by various apps, which may be causing Instagram to crash when you use it.
To clear memory on your Android phone, swipe up from the bottom of the screen and pause to access the App Switcher. From there, tap the Close all button to free up your RAM.
Similarly, on iPhones, you need to swipe up from the bottom of the screen to access the App Switcher. Then, swipe up on each app one by one to close them.
Hopefully, this will resolve the Instagram crashing issue on your mobile.
6. Check Phone Storage
Many of our phones come with 64 GB of storage, which can quickly fill up, especially with 4K video recording or the installation of high-graphics games. It’s a known fact that when your phone’s storage is nearly full, your device’s performance can start to suffer, resulting in overall slowness and apps frequently closing on their own.
That’s why you should consider clearing out unnecessary files from your phone. This action may not only resolve the Instagram crashing issue but also enhance your phone’s overall performance.
7. Clear Instagram App Cache/Data
If even after removing apps, games, or files from your phone, Instagram still crashes frequently, it’s likely related to a corrupted cache. Instagram utilizes cache to enhance loading times and improve user experience by reducing the need to fetch data from the server repeatedly. However, over time, this cache can become corrupt and interfere with the app’s functionality. Therefore, you should consider clearing the Instagram app’s cache for proper functioning.
Android users can follow the below guide:
1. Go to Settings and then head over to Apps > Instagram.
2. Scroll down and tap Storage.
3. Now select the Clear data option and then hit Delete to clear out both the cache and data of the Instagram app.
Tip: Learn how to clear cache for individual or all apps on Samsung Galaxy phones
After that, reopen the Instagram app, re-enter your login credentials, and check to see if this resolves the Instagram issue.
Note: Unlike Android, there’s no option to clear the cache without uninstalling the app.
8. Reinstall the Instagram App
If clearing the cache didn’t work for you, perhaps you can try reinstalling the Instagram app to see if this resolves the crashing problem. This process will also clear the app’s cache on the iPhone, which wasn’t possible using the method mentioned above.
To uninstall Instagram on your Android and iPhone, simply long-press the icon until the menu appears and then hit the Uninstall or Remove App option, respectively.
After that, hit the OK (Android) or Delete App (iOS) option to move forward with your decision.
Once you’re done with that, download Instagram from the Play Store and App Store and then log in again to see if this resolves the Instagram app crashing issue.
TIP: Learn how to log out of Instagram on all devices.
9. Leave Instagram Beta (Android)
Hey, have you by any chance joined the Instagram Beta program? If you have, you might need to leave the beta program and install the stable version of the Instagram app. Why, you ask? Well, beta versions are primarily designed for tech enthusiasts who want to try out new features before they become publicly available. However, since these new features often come with minor or major bugs, maybe that’s why the Instagram app is constantly crashing.
Here’s how to leave the Instagram Beta program on Android:
1. Launch the Play Store on your Android phone and then search the Instagram app.
2. Once found, tap on it and then scroll down until you see the You’re a beta tester heading.
Note: If you don’t see a Beta label next to the Instagram title, it means you’re not in the beta version.
3. Now tap on the Leave link and then again tap Leave to confirm your decision.
10. Use Instagram Lite
Even after attempting all the previously mentioned methods, if the Instagram crashing issue persists, your only remaining option is to wait for Instagram to address the problem in the next update. Alternatively, you can temporarily use the Instagram Lite app on your Android phone. While you won’t have access to the full range of features available in the regular Instagram app, you will still be able to view posts, stories, reels, and other basic stuff.
Stop Instagram Crash Landing
No one likes it when their app crashes frequently, especially if it’s Instagram which serves as an alternate form of entertainment for many people. We hope the above guide has helped you fix the Instagram crashing issue on your iPhone or Android phone. Additionally, ensure that your phone’s operating system (OS) stays updated, as sometimes, due to a bug, certain apps may crash frequently.
Before you leave, you can also learn how to add end-to-end encryption to further protect your Instagram account or how to share your screen on Instagram video calls.
