With over a billion monthly active users, Instagram is one of the most popular social media platforms across the world. However, this does not mean that the app is faultless. Oftentimes, users report unnecessary app crashes on Android that diminish an otherwise great social media experience. In this article, we bring you 10 simple methods to fix the ‘Instagram app crashing’ issue on an Android smartphone (2023).
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Table of Contents
Clear Instagram app cache and data
Step 1: Go to Settings.
Step 2: Scroll down and select ‘Apps’.
Step 3: Scroll down and tap on ‘Instagram’.
Step 4: Select ‘Storage’.
Step 5: Select ‘Clear Data’ and ‘Clear Cache’.
Restart your phone
Restarting your phone can fix minor background issues that may be affecting app activity. It is a great way of recognising what might be causing an app to malfunction. Long press the power key and select restart.
Update the Instagram app
If you’re using an older version of the Instagram app, it may come up with an issue that is fixed in the updated version. Sometimes older versions slowly get phased out, which is why regularly updating the apps on your smartphone is important. To update the Instagram app search for Instagram on Google Play Store and then tap on ‘Update’ on the app page.
Force stop and restart the app
Step 1: Go to Settings.
Step 2: Scroll down and select ‘Apps’.
Step 3: Scroll down and tap on ‘Instagram’.
Step 4: Select ‘Force Stop’ from the bottom menu.
You will be logged out of Instagram. To log back in, open the Instagram app and enter your login credentials.
Check the file format
If Instagram keeps crashing while you’re trying to make a post, check the format of the photo or video you’re trying to upload. Instagram does not support certain file formats like MPEG, FLV, and 3GP. Convert your file to an acceptable format using an online tool like online-convert.
Check your phone’s storage
If your phone is low on internal storage, it can keep Instagram from working properly. To minimise the frequency of crashes, make sure there is at least 15-20% free storage on your device. Instagram routinely stores app data on your device, which requires free storage. Go to Settings>Battery and Device Care>Storage to check available memory and clear up some space.
Reinstall the app
If the issue still persists, you can try uninstalling and reinstalling the app. To uninstall the app, long press on the app icon in the app drawer and select ‘Uninstall’. You can also go to Settings>Apps>Instagram and select ‘Uninstall’. To reinstall, go to Google Play Store and search for Instagram. From the app page, select ‘Install’.
Uninstall the beta version of Instagram
Signing up for beta testing gives you early access to new features before they are rolled out for the wider audience. However, this comes with its own disadvantages. Since beta versions introduce new changes, the apps are often unstable and prone to crashes. If you are experiencing a lot of crashes on the Instagram beta app, uninstall it and download the regular version. Go to Google Play Store>Instagram, scroll down to the beta tester window and select ‘Leave’.
Update your phone’s OS
An old OS version may trigger frequent crashes on certain apps. Here’s how you can update the OS on your Android smartphone.
Step 1: Go to Settings and select ‘Software updates’.
Step 2: Tap on ‘Download and Install’. Your smartphone will check for any new updates.
Step 3: If an update is available, tap on ‘Install Now’. You can also schedule the update for a later time.
Check if Instagram servers are down
It is possible that you’re not the only one facing this issue. Instagram servers may be down for maintenance or possibly unreachable due to a blackout. Check the DownDetector for any outage on Instagram’s end.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Instagram keep crashing?
Older versions of apps are more prone to crashes. Make sure to keep your Instagram app updated at all times to avoid any unnecessary crashes or malfunctions. It is also a good idea to update your phone’s OS.
Why is Instagram not refreshing?
If your Instagram feed is not refreshing even after multiple attempts, try clearing the app cache. Go to Settings>Apps>Instagram>Storage and clear the cache. It is also a good idea to check if the Instagram servers are down.
How do I know if my Instagram is banned?
To check if your Instagram has been banned, log out and log into the app again. Upon logging in, you will see a message letting you know that you’ve been banned.
Read Also: Who unfollowed me on Instagram? The simplest and fastest way to find out (2022)
Conclusion
These are the 10 simple methods to fix Instagram app crashing on Android (2023). If the issue still persists, try checking other apps to see if they are affected as well. If other apps keep crashing as well, your phone could likely be at fault. Try restarting your phone in Safe Mode to further diagnose the issue or seek help from a repair centre.
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