Instagram DMs may not be the biggest instant messaging platform out there, but they are ideal for sharing video content. Sharing Reels or videos on Instagram DMs is a seamless process. However, sometimes users report that they are unable to view the videos sent to them by their friends. In this article, we bring you the top 11 methods to fix Instagram DM videos not working on Android.
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In This Article
Follow the account
If the video or Reel sent to you via DM belongs to an account that is private, you will not be able to see it. Once a user makes their Instagram account private, only their followers are able to the content on their profile. If a video they posted was DM’d to you, it won’t play unless you follow them. If you do not want to follow the account, you can also ask the sender to download the video and send it to you as a file.
The video has been deleted
If the video that was sent to you was deleted by the original poster, the DM will say ‘Message unavailable’. There is not much you can do in this scenario. If the video belonged to a public user, you can check their Facebook profile and see if the video is still posted there.
Poor network connection
A poor network connection can prevent videos from playing on Instagram. Make sure your network connection (WiFi or data) is stable and fast. Check your internet speed to see if the fault really lies with your network. You can perform an Ookla speed test to carry out this task. To further confirm if a poor network connection is the reason behind this problem, try loading a video on another platform (like YouTube) and see if it plays smoothly.
Is the video region locked?
Like YouTube, Instagram region-locks the videos on its platform as well. Typically, you don’t see these videos on your feed unless you follow the poster. But if a video that isn’t available in your region was sent to you through DMs, it won’t play on your device. The easiest way to fix this problem is by using a VPN. Here is our list of the top 10 VPN services for safe and anonymous browsing.
Update the app
Older versions of apps are more prone to bugs. Instagram is no exception. These bugs are quickly weeded out by developers in the next update. Sometimes, older versions are slowly phased out by developers, leaving them unusable. If you’re unable to play an Instagram video sent to you via DMs, try updating the app. Go to Instagram’s page on Google Play Store and hit the Update button.
Clear app cache
Clearing the cache gets rid of the corrupted temporary files that may be causing trouble. Here’s how you can clear the Instagram app’s cache.
Step 1: Go to Settings and select Apps.
Step 2: Scroll down and select Instagram.
Step 3: Tap on Storage.
Step 4: Select Clear Cache from the bottom of the screen.
Force Stop the Instagram app
Step 1: Go to Settings.
Step 2: Scroll down and select Apps.
Step 3: Scroll down and select Instagram.
Step 4: Select Force Stop from the bottom menu.
Log out and log back in
If the issue is related to your account in particular, logging out and logging back in will fix it. To log out of Instagram, go to your profile and tap the hamburger menu at the top right corner of the screen. Go to the Settings & Privacy page, scroll down and select Log Out. Once you’re logged out, log back in using your Instagram handle or the registered email address. Once logged in, check if the video is working. If it isn’t, the issue does not lie with your Instagram account.
Use Instagram Lite
As the name implies, Instagram Lite is a stripped-down version of the Instagram app. It retains all the essential features of Instagram while offering a faster browsing experience. If a bug is preventing you from loading a video on the main app, switching to Instagram Lite might help.
Use Instagram Web
If you can’t get the two Instagram apps to work on your phone, you might want to try Instagram’s web portal. Once you’re logged in, click on ‘Messages’ in the left sidebar. This is where you’ll find all of your Instagram conversations. Pick a thread and scroll to the video to play it.
Check if Instagram’s servers are down
If you aren’t able to play a video sent via Instagram DMs, the problem may not lie on your end. It is not uncommon for Instagram’s servers to go down from time to time. To check if this is the case, go to DownDetector.in and search for Instagram. If other users are also reporting an outage, it is likely that Instagram’s servers are down. There is nothing much you can do in this scenario other than wait for the servers to gain functionality again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do DM videos disappear on Instagram?
Instagram offers ephemeral messaging. This means a user can choose for a message to disappear once it has been seen by you. If a video sent to you has a bomb icon next to it, it will disappear once you view it.
Can I send videos on Instagram DM?
Yes, you can either send videos from your device to other users on Instagram DM or share videos posted by others on their profiles.
What’s the longest video you can send on Instagram DM?
The time limit for videos sent on Instagram is 15 seconds.
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Conclusion
These are the top 11 methods to fix Instagram DM videos not working on Android. If the issue still persists after trying all these fixes, report the issue to Instagram. It is possible the anomaly may be exclusive to your device, and Instagram will take the appropriate action once they are made aware of the issue.
