Creating fresh and exciting content is already a complicated affair. It doesn’t get any easier when you craft a post, finish up the details, and tap to publish, only to find “Try Again Later” or “Sorry, there was a problem with your request” popping up on your screen.
When you see this error, you’ll be left pondering, “Why isn’t Instagram letting me post?”
As frustrating as it can be, posting errors are frequent on Instagram. You won’t be the first or the last to experience this problem. Fortunately, the issue is solvable. You can handle it quickly and resume publishing on your Instagram.
This tutorial explains why Instagram won’t let you post and how to fix the problem:
Why Is Instagram Not Letting Me Post?
Many Instagram users experience this problem at some point in their Instagram journey. Understanding why this issue occurs can help you troubleshoot and fix the issue, without needing to directly contact Instagram about it.
Here are the reasons and how to fix “why isn’t Instagram letting me post?”
Outdated Instagram App
If you’ve been using your Instagram app for a while, but suddenly Instagram won’t let you post, it’s time to update your app. You might experience posting errors because your mobile app is obsolete and requires the latest version.
Instagram provides app updates frequently with the release of new features, enhancements, and security patches. These updates are usually automatic, but you must turn on automatic updates on your device to receive the latest version. If not, you will have to update the app manually.
Here’s how to turn Instagram auto-updates on for Android:
- Open the Instagram app on your device
- Log into your account
- Tap the profile icon or profile photo at the bottom-right
- Tap the More button (three horizontal lines)
- Tap the gear icon to go to Settings And Privacy
- Tap About
- Tap App Updates
- Tap the toggle next to Auto-Update Instagram to turn it on
If the App updates option is not available on your phone:
- Go to your phone’s settings
- Tap Apps or Application Manager
- Tap Meta App Installer
- Tap Enable to turn App updates on
Note: Auto-updates are only available on Android devices with Meta App Manager.
For iOS devices, you may have to update the app manually:
- Go to Apple App Store
- Tap your account icon
- Log into your Apple account
- Search for the Instagram app
- Tap update
- Follow the on-screen instruction to complete the update process
Cache Memory Issues
Your phone and the installed Instagram temporarily store data on your device’s memory to reduce load times. The stored information is called cached data. As you continue using the Instagram app, cache memory builds up in the background. Over time, it might overwhelm your device and cause posting errors on Instagram.
As such, you can fix challenges posting on Instagram by resolving cache memory issues. The only practical solution is to clear your device’s cache.
For Android:
- Tap the gear icon to go to Settings
- Tap Apps or Application Manager
- Tap Instagram
- Tap Storage & Cache
- Tap Clear Cache
For iPhone:
- Open the Settings app
- Tap General
- Tap iPhone Storage
- Find the Instagram app
- Tap Delete App
- Re-install Instagram from Apple App Store
Software Bugs & Glitches
Like all electronics, your smartphone might develop software bugs and glitches, causing you not to post on Instagram. Fortunately, these bugs are minor and easily repairable. You can fix the issue by:
- Rebooting your phone or tablet
- Updating your phone’s firmware
- Uninstalling and re-installing the Instagram app
Instagram Server Outages
Instagram might not let you post because of server outages. You’ll see a “cannot publish post” message or something similar because Instagram servers are down or getting too much traffic.
According to Hootsuite, most people are active on Instagram between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. You could experience challenges publishing your posts during this time because of the excessive web traffic. The only solution, in this case, is to try later.
If Instagram has a server outage, they’ll inform affected users promptly and tell them when to expect the resumption of services. Fortunately, server outages don’t take long, so you should try to post again after a few minutes.
Network Downtimes
If you can’t post on Instagram, consider checking your connection. Network downtimes and connectivity issues can lead to posting errors on Instagram. Try using the app when connected to your Wi-Fi network to see if that solves the problem. If not, switch to mobile data to post your content. You may have to contact your network provider if the problem persists.
Image Resolution or File Size Issues
You might be unable to post on Instagram because your photo or video is too large or small. Instagram has varying upload requirements for photos and videos. Your post must meet these requirements before posting.
If uploading a reel (video), it must have a minimum aspect ratio of 1.91:1 and a maximum of 9:16. The minimum frame rate is 30 fps, and the maximum is 60 fps. The resolution should not be less than 720 pixels or more than 1080 pixels. The maximum video file size is 4 GB.
The resolution can remain the same for images as long as it has an aspect ratio of 1.91:1 to 4:5. The maximum photo file size for regular posts is 8 MB, while that for Instagram stories is 30 MB.
Check the aspect ratio, resolution, and file size of your photos and videos to determine if they are the reason Instagram won’t let you post.
Terms of Service Violations
Like all social networks, Instagram has its terms of service and community guidelines. Violating these regulations one too many times can land you in trouble. Instagram can temporarily ban or suspend your account for a few hours. You might access your account but won’t be able to post until Instagram lifts the ban, or the suspension expires.
Instagram monitors all your activities on the platform to ensure your actions are authentic and you aren’t using bots or automated apps. Liking over 100 photos in a minute or following several accounts in seconds makes your account suspicious. Instagram may suspend your account for a few hours, preventing you from posting on the platform.
Other factors that can get your account blocked and prevent you from posting on Instagram include the following:
- Sending multiple unsolicited DMs (spamming)
- Spamming the comment section of other users
- Spreading misleading information
- Using third-party apps to gain likes and followers
- Harassing other community members
- Hate speech and using offensive language
- Posting similar comments on multiple posts
- Impersonating other Instagram users
You can confirm your account status to determine if Instagram blocked your account by following these steps:
- Open the Instagram app on your device
- Log into your account
- Tap the profile icon or profile photo at the bottom-right
- Tap the More button (three horizontal lines)
- Tap the gear icon to go to Settings And Privacy
- Go to More Info And Support
- Tap Help
- Tap Account Status
From your Account Status page, you can do the following:
- See removed content
- View features you can’t use
- Request a review
Copyright/Trademark/Intellectual Property Right Issues
You can’t just publish someone’s original work or use their logo as your own on Instagram. Even if you appear in a photo, you must seek permission to repost the content on your feed or story.
Instagram has different guidelines for trademark, copyright, and intellectual property rights. These rules protect the original works of creators from illegal use and distribution. If someone reports you to Instagram, you might be unable to post any content until Instagram resolves the issue.
Geographical Restrictions
Some features on Instagram are in the development stage, while others are unavailable to some accounts because of geographical restrictions. You might have access to a geo-restricted Instagram feature, but experience challenges posting your content because that particular feature is not fully available to you.
To fix this issue, avoid using new features until you confirm it is available in your area. Remove the feature from your post and try posting again to see if this solves the problem.
Activated Data Saver
Sometimes, you can’t post on Instagram because of your device’s settings. You or someone else might have misconfigured your phone settings or activated a feature on your device, preventing you from posting on Instagram.
The main culprits include Data Saver, Battery Saver, and Airplane Mode. These settings turn off background apps and restrict the amount of data your phone uses when uploading photos or videos to social media apps. You might get posting errors when uploading high-resolution images to Instagram. Turning off these features is the quickest way to solve the issue.
Corrupt Device Firmware
Posting errors might emerge because of firmware issues. A phone running on outdated firmware can cause software problems. Your phone or tablet requires frequent software updates to unlock new features and correct minor bugs.
Ensure your device has the latest firmware version to solve the issue. Go to your phone’s system settings and check if there’s a new update available. Once updated, reboot your device and verify if you can post on Instagram.
FAQs
Why won’t my Instagram post multiple photos?
You might experience this issue if your app is outdated. Update the Instagram app to the latest version to fix the error. You might also see a posting error message if you try to combine more than 10 photos in a single post. You can only add up to ten photos to your Instagram carousel.
What posts can get me banned on Instagram?
Instagram can suspend or ban your account for posting nudity, sexual images, and copyrighted content. Other prohibited content includes posts that promote terrorism, hate groups, and organized crime. You cannot also post non-pharmaceutical drugs, firearms, ammunition, and weapons to sell on Instagram.
How long until I can post again on Instagram after a temporary ban?
Instagram bans do not last more than 48 hours, allowing you to resume posting after the period elapses. However, some bans can take up to two weeks for repeat violations. The duration you must wait before posting again on Instagram after a ban depends on your actions. Instagram might terminate your account for good if you continue violating community guidelines.
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