7 Working Ways to Fix Instagram Reels Not Working | Lift (2024)

It's quite annoying when you open your Instagram account to enjoy the short reels, and just after pressing the Instagram reel icon, you discover an error has occurred. Well, there is nothing to worry about because this article will enlist some troubleshooting methods to resolve this problem, so you can get back to watching your Instagram reels. Let’s dive in.

Table of contents:

  • How to Fix Instagram Reels Not Working Issue in 6 Ways:
    • Log Out and Log In Back
    • Update the Instagram App
    • Clear the Cache
    • Uninstall and Reinstall Instagram on your Phone
    • Update Your Phone
    • Use a VPN
    • Report the Issue to the Instagram Support

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How to Fix Instagram Reels Not Working

Bugs and glitches in your Instagram account are usually the reasons behind the Reels not working on the Instagram issues. Such bugs and glitches can occur for several reasons that can not be identified. However, you can solve your issue by applying the troubleshooting methods that are mentioned below:

1. Log Out and Log In Back

If this issue is resulting from a temporary glitch, it can easily be resolved by logging out of your Instagram account and then logging in.

Here’s how to fix reels not working by logging out and logging in:

  1. Tap on your Profile icon in the bottom right corner of the screen.
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  2. Tap the Three Horizontal Lines in the top right corner.
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  3. Select the Settings option.
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  4. Scroll down to the end and tap on Log out.
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  5. Then press Log out again to confirm.
  6. After logging out again, log in to your account and see if the issue with Instagram reels is resolved.

Note: Temporary glitches usually occur if multiple accounts are signed in on your Instagram app.

2. Update the Instagram App

Whenever an app offers an update, it often includes security patches & bug fixes that resolve most of the issues in the app. Therefore, if you have a pending update to your Instagram app and you're encountering the Instagram reel error, updating the app might fix the problem.

Follow these steps to update your Instagram to resolve Instagram reels not working:

For iOS

  1. Launch the App Store.
  2. Press your Profile icon at the top right corner of the screen.
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  3. Scroll down to the Instagram app.
  4. Tap the Update button in front of the Instagram app or the Update All button to update all apps.

For Android

  1. Open the Google Play Store and tap on your Profile in the top right corner of the screen.
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  2. Tap on Manage app and devices.
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  3. Select the Updates Available option to see if any updates for Instagram are available.
  4. Press the Update button if an update is available. In case you don't see an update option for Instagram, it means that it is already up-to-date.

3. Clear the Cache

Cache is the data stored in your device when you visit a website or use an app. The purpose of this data is to load the app or website faster the next time you visit it. However, sometimes this cache data can corrupt and cause minor glitches. The only way to get rid of these glitches is to clear the cache. Here’s how you can clear the cache data of your Instagram app to fix the Instagram reels not working Issue:

For iOS

  1. Go to the Settings app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap on General and select iPhone storage.
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  3. Scroll down to the Instagram app and press Offload App.
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For Android

  1. Open the Settings App.
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  2. Scroll down and select the Apps option.
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  3. Now in the app section, scroll down and tap the Instagram app.
  4. Press the Storage option and select Clear cache.

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4. Uninstall and Reinstall Instagram on your Phone

If updating the app or clearing its cache doesn’t resolve your issue, the next thing you should try is to reinstall the app after uninstalling it. If there are any bugs or glitches in the app, they will be resolved in this process. Follow these steps to reinstall the Instagram app properly:

For iOS

  1. Go to the Settings app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap on General and select iPhone storage.
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  3. Select the Instagram app and tap Delete App.
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For Android

  1. Launch the Settings app.
  2. Scroll down and select the Apps option.
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  3. In the App section, tap the Instagram app.
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  4. After this, press the Uninstall option at the bottom of the screen.
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  5. Select OK to confirm the uninstallation.

5. Update Your Phone

If your phone isn’t up-to-date, it can lead to problems with certain apps. So if you have tried every solution mentioned above and still cannot solve the reels not working issue on Instagram, check if there are any updates available for your device. Here’s how to do that in order to fx Instagram reels not working today:

For iOS

  1. Launch the Settings app.
  2. Tap on General.
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  3. Select Software Update.
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  4. Press Download and Install.
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  5. To enable automatic updates on your iPhone, press Automatic Updates and turn on Download and Install iOS Updates.
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For Android
  1. Open the Settings app.
  2. Scroll down and select Software update.
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  3. Now tap on Download and install.
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  4. Press Download to start the update.
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  5. To enable Auto download on your phone, press the back button to go to the previous menu and tap the toggle button in front of Auto download over Wi-Fi.

6. Use a VPN

Till now, the Instagram reel is only available in 150 countries. If you live in one of those countries where Instagram reel hasn’t yet been released, the only way you will be able to use it will be by using a VPN. If VPN is banned in your country, you can only wait for Instagram to release the reel feature in your country.

7. Report the Issue to Instagram Support

If you have tried all the troubleshooting methods above but still had no luck in solving the Instagram reels not working error, then the last resort is to report this issue to Instagram Support.

Here's how to do it:

  1. Open the Instagram app and tap on your Profile icon then press the Three Horizontal Lines at the top right corner of the screen.
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  2. Tap the Settings option and select Help.
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  3. In the Help menu, press Report a Problem.
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  4. Type in your issue. You can also attach a picture of the problem if you want.
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  5. Then press Submit on the top right corner of the screen.

FAQ

How to Fix Instagram Reels Sound Not Working?

If you are unable to hear the sound in the Instagram reels, then restarting the Instagram app, updating it, clearing the app cache, enabling app permissions, and reinstalling the app are some of the solutions that you can use to resolve this issue.

Instagram Reels Music Not Working? Here’s What to Do

People commonly report problems adding music to Instagram reels on their creator accounts. If you're also facing such an issue, you should try updating your app to the latest version or reinstalling it if updating doesn’t solve your problem.

Read more:

  • How to View Private Instagram Accounts Without 3-rd Party Apps
  • What to Write in Instagram Bio: 10 Actionable Tips

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Written By: Hashir Ibrahim

Hashir is a marketing consultant who helps businesses connect with their audiences. In his free time, he goes swimming and boxing with his pals.

7 Working Ways to Fix Instagram Reels Not Working | Lift (2024)

FAQs

7 Working Ways to Fix Instagram Reels Not Working | Lift? ›

Poor performance on your Reel may be due to a lack of visibility. So share your Reels to your story. This may seem redundant, as you're posting the same content in two places. But offering a teaser of your new Reel in your story is a great way to drive more people to it.

Why aren t my Instagram reels doing well? ›

Poor performance on your Reel may be due to a lack of visibility. So share your Reels to your story. This may seem redundant, as you're posting the same content in two places. But offering a teaser of your new Reel in your story is a great way to drive more people to it.

Why are suddenly my reels not getting views? ›

If your Reel views are down, it's probably because Instagram just isn't pushing them on users as much as they used to. You may need to switch things up and start posting more of the second most-popular type of content on Instagram: carousels. Which Instagram Format Performs Second Best?

What is the weakness of Instagram reels? ›

Limited visibility and discoverability of their Reels among a large number of creators. Difficulty in gaining followers and building an audience for their Reels. Lack of robust analytics and insights on their Reels' performance and audience engagement.

Why are my Instagram reels not working? ›

Reels might not play or upload if you're using the data saver feature. To turn it off, tap your profile picture, then tap the three-line menu icon and Settings and privacy. Go to Data usage and media quality and toggle off "Use less cellular data." With this off, you should be able to see Reels.

Why are my reels doing so badly? ›

Maybe your Reel isn't performing because you didn't use top-performing keywords, or you can even just leave it as is and wait a couple of weeks. I've personally had a few Reels that were stuck at a couple hundred views for weeks and then all of a sudden they started getting thousands of views.

How does the Instagram reels algorithm work? ›

The algorithm is much more likely to recommend your Reels to users who have interacted with your content in the past. So, if someone has been searching for your profile, dropping you DMs, or engaging in the comments, your Reels are more likely to appear on their radar.

How to fix Instagram algorithm? ›

Short answer: No, you can't "reset" the Instagram algorithm. However, there are a couple ways you can refresh the content shown in your feed: By clearing your search history. By tapping "Not Interested" on suggested posts.

What are the disadvantages of Instagram reels? ›

A high view count on your Instagram Reels can be a sign of success in the platform. However, when you purchase the views for your content, it can be hard to determine if your content is performing well. Buying Instagram Reel views may also have several negative impacts on your account, including: Inauthentic engagement.

What matters most on Instagram reels? ›

Because the Instagram Reels algorithm prioritizes recent posts, getting fresh content up when the maximum number of your followers are online is crucial.

Why is my reel underperforming? ›

One of the main reasons your Reels might be struggling to gain traction is that they're not optimized for the algorithm. Factors like content quality, posting frequency, and how well you engage with your audience all influence how prominently your Reels appear in users' feeds.

Why aren t my Instagram reels blowing up? ›

If your reel doesn't fall into the educational, inspirational, or relatable category, it most likely isn't going to go viral. Every single reel that you put up should either teach your audience something within your niche, serve as an inspiration for your audience, or be relatable.

Why are my Instagram reels bad? ›

Have you noticed that your Reels appear more glitchy or blurry than before? Instagram video quality loss is a reasonably common issue. This is because the platform may automatically adjust the quality of your uploaded content without your knowledge, whether during recording or editing within the app.

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