Is Instagram down?

If you’re having problems posting your photos and videos on Instagram, then it could be that there’s an issue with the service. At the time of publishing (4 October 2021) there are indeed problems at Instagram (as well as Facebook, Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp) with users reporting issues when posting and browsing their feeds.

Downdetector shows that users started complaining shortly after 4pm on 4 October and many have taken to Twitter to say that Facebook and Instagram servers are down.

Facebook’s Andy Stone tweeted to reassure people the company is aware of the issue and is working to fix it.

We’re aware that some people are having trouble accessing our apps and products. We’re working to get things back to normal as quickly as possible, and we apologize for any inconvenience.

— Andy Stone (@andymstone) October 4, 2021

Here are a few quick ways you can check to see if Instagram is still down.

Check the Instagram Help site

If you’re having problems, it’s worth checking to see if Instagram itself is suffering any interruptions in its service – that’s what’s happening at the time of writing.

The easiest way to do this is by visiting the Instagram Help page. Here you’ll find various options available in the panel on the left of the page, although ironically, it’s also down at the time of writing.

If you can get onto the site, the one you want to select is Known Issues. This displays, as the name suggests, any problems that Instagram may be encountering.

It’s not quite an ‘is it down’ style page, but you can look through the issues listed to see if any match your current predicament.

Another area to explore is the I’m Getting an Error Message section, if your device is displaying a code of some kind.

Try an independent status checking site

The most reliable recourse is to try one of the many independent sites that monitor website performance. These are free, very easy to use, and can give you a clear answer on whether the problem lies on the Instagram servers or with your device.

Sites we’d recommend include Is It Down Or Just Me, Is It Down Right Now, and Down Detector.

The latter of these features a detailed history of how the site has performed in recent days, plus comments from users who are having problems with the site.

It even has quick links to ways you can complain about an issue on Facebook, Twitter, and the Instagram website.

Make sure you’re running the latest version of the app

With Instagram being almost exclusively a smartphone-based service, it’s always a good idea to check that the app is up to date. (But it is worth checking your phone has a decent, working internet connection via Wi-Fi or 3G / 4G first.)

Android users should visit the Google Play Store and tap on the three lines in the upper left corner. In the menu that appears select My Apps & Games>Updates.

You’ll see a list of the various apps that have newer versions available. If Instagram is there be sure to tap the Update button to the right of its name.

iPhone users will need to open the App Store, tap on the Updates tab at the bottom of the page, then look for Instagram in the list that appears. If it’s present, tap the Update button next to its name.

Once the update is downloaded and installed, launch the app and hopefully your problem will have been fixed.

So there you go, a few ways to check whether Instagram is down or not. Hopefully the problems you’re dealing with will soon be vanquished, and you can return to capturing those cool and interesting images that make Instagram so much fun.

If you’ve yet to try out the Stories feature then why not take a look at our guide on How to use Instagram Stories, as the results can add a bit of life to any social media feed.

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