Of late, Instagram users are facing a very annoying bug that makes it very difficult for them to watch content on the platform that is shared with them on a different instant messaging platform. You may have faced this problem yourself after clicking on a link to a Reel sent by a friend on WhatsApp but landing on a completely different Reel altogether on the Instagram app. We have tackled this issue in the past but thought we’d bring you some more ways of handling this situation. So, without further ado, here are the top 12 ways to fix the ‘Instagram opening the wrong link’ problem on your smartphone.
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In This Article
Why aren’t Instagram links working correctly on your device? Some possible answers
Sometimes, the most basic problems are the hardest to diagnose. This is because there could be a multitude of reasons causing them. In this scenario, you’re left with the hit-and-trial approach to getting to the bottom of the issue. To ease your task, here are some of the most common culprits that may be causing Instagram to open wrong links.
The Instagram link is broken: Links go rogue all the time. Sometimes, clicking on a link may throw a 404 error, which means that it redirects to an empty page with no content. It is also possible that the person who sent you the link may have accidentally mistyped it.
The content may have been taken down: Instagram users and creators take down their content all the time. If your friend sent you a post or a Reel that has since been deleted, Instagram may either show an error or open a recommended post.
Instagram took down the content: If the link sent to you had objectionable content that violated Instagram’s Terms of Service, it is possible that the platform took it down.
You are blocked from viewing the content: If the account that posted the content has blocked you on Instagram, you won’t be able to view it from your account.
Corrupt cache: Instagram occupies a large portion of cached memory on your phone. These temporary files are prone to corruption. A corrupt cache can lead to malfunctions within the app.
Software glitches: It is possible that the issue doesn’t lie with Instagram, but your device. The easiest way to check this is by loading the link on another device.
Disable Instagram from opening supported links
Since this is an app-related issue, you can fix it by opening the link in a web browser. If your phone opens the Instagram app as soon as you click on a link, here’s how you can disable it.
Step 1: Go to Settings and select Apps.
Step 2: Select Default apps.
Step 3: Tap on Opening links.
Step 4: Scroll down and select Instagram.
Step 5: Turn off the toggle switch next to Open supported links.
Load the link on a web browser
If you don’t want to disable Instagram from opening supported links, you can simply copy the link that your friend sent to you and open it in a web browser. Press and hold the link (not the card) to copy it to your phone’s clipboard. Now, launch the Google Chrome (or your preferred browser) app and paste the link in the address box. Hit enter. The correct Reel or Video will load in the active tab.
Clear Instagram’s app 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 toolbar at the bottom of the screen.
Remove Instagram from the app switcher
The main reason why Instagram loads a different video or Reel every time you click on a link is because of its faulty temporary memory. Clearing the cache fixes this to some extent, but if you’re still experiencing the issue, simply remove Instagram from the app switcher. Doing this will force the app to refresh once you click on a link. Use the gesture controls or tap the app switcher icon on the bottom controls and swipe up on Instagram’s card to remove it from the list of active apps.
Force Stop the Instagram app
If removing Instagram from the app switcher doesn’t work, try force-stopping it instead. This will stop all background operations for the app. Here’s how you can go about it.
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.
Hit the back button
If you have already been watching Reels on Instagram before clicking on a link sent to you by a friend, it is possible that Instagram picks up from where you left off instead of loading the Reel from the link. One of the quickest ways to load the correct Reel is by hitting the back button. If this doesn’t work, try swiping up and down. This will refresh the app and land you on the Reel that was sent to you.
Swipe down on the Reel
A common bug in Instagram opens the next recommended Reel instead of the Reel you clicked. You can bypass this issue by swiping down on the Reel that opens up on the screen. This will play the previous Reel, the one that was sent to you.
Use Instagram Lite
The ‘Lite’ version of Instagram does not have the bug that keeps the main Instagram app from loading the correct video. To make sure you land on the right video every time you click on a link, switch to the Instagram Lite app. This stripped-down version of Instagram also saves your mobile data by not pre-loading the content beforehand. The downside is that you may not get a seamless content-watching experience as every Reel and Story will load only when you swipe to it.
Update the Instagram app
Oftentimes, an older version of an app can create issues that are no longer prevalent in the updated version. This applies to Instagram as well. Try updating the app and see if the issue still persists after that. Go to the Google Play Store and search for Instagram. On the app page, hit Update.
Uninstall and Reinstall the app
If you are already using the updated version of the Instagram app, try uninstalling and then reinstalling it. To uninstall the app go to Settings>Apps>Instagram and hit Uninstall or simply long press its icon on the app drawer and tap on Remove.
Restart your phone
If the fixes mentioned above did not work for you, it is possible that the issue lies with your phone. Software glitches are all too common on smartphones. Luckily, they can be resolved with a quick restart. Press the side button along with the volume-up key to access the power menu. Hit ‘Restart’. Once your phone has rebooted, tap the link again to check if it redirects you to the correct post or Reel.
Ask your friend to share the content within the Instagram app
To bypass the issue of Instagram opening the wrong Reel or Video link, you can simply ask your friend to send you the content within the Instagram app itself. Instagram makes it really easy to share posts, Reels, Stories, and Videos via DMs. All one needs to do is hit the arrowhead icon next to the post and hit the Send button next to the name of the person they want to share it with.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Why does Instagram keep opening the wrong link every time I click on it?
Due to a recent bug within the app, Instagram sometimes does not load the correct content corresponding to the link that is sent to you on a different platform. You may have noticed it when someone sent you a link to a Reel on WhatsApp or Telegram. To bypass this issue, you can load the link on a web browser or the Instagram Lite app.
How do I make Instagram load the correct link?
To fix the issue of Instagram not loading the correct link, try clearing its cache and force-stopping it from settings. If that doesn’t work, update the app.
Why are my Instagram links not working?
Instagram links may stop working due to a corrupt cache, bugs within the app, software glitches, and unresponsive servers.
How do I clear my Instagram cache?
Go to Settings>Apps>Instagram>Storage and tap on ‘Clear Cache’.
How do I share a post or a Reel on Instagram?
To share a post or Reel via Instagram DMs, simply tap the arrowhead icon next to the content and hit the Send button next to the follower you want to share it with.
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Conclusion
These are the top 12 ways to fix the ‘Instagram opening the wrong link’ issue on your smartphone. If these fixes didn’t work out for you, try contacting Instagram support. If you found this article helpful, let us know in the comments!
