How to Fix "Instagram Couldn't Refresh Feed" Issue

Posted by Brian Davis on Mar 14, 2025 • Category: iOS & iPhone Tips
6 mins read

"It says 'couldn't refresh feed' every time I want to view my Instagram profile. Tried restarting my phone, reinstalling the app. Can anyone help me?"

As Instagram is a popular social media platform, it is designed for allowing users to share photos and videos with others. It provides a great place to contact with those whom you have difficulty meeting in reality. However, when you attempt to see the newest posts but only to find the error notice "couldn't refresh feed", it is definitely unpleasant for most users.

At that time, you must want to know how to fix "Instagram couldn't refresh feed" problem. Luckily, that's what we will discuss in this article. If you are hassled by this problem, you can read the post and search for the most suitable method to get your problem fixed.

instagram couldnt refresh feed

Part 1. Why Does Instagram Feed Not Refreshing?

As people complain that this error frequently occurs when they want to view the latest post, what is causing the problem is stressed and guessed by public. In this part, we list some possible reasons for reference so that you can avoid it in the future.

  • Network Connection

In general, the primary reason is the poor Internet connection. When the Internet is unstable or slow, Instagram is unable to download and refresh the latest posts and photos. Many people don't realize it as the Internet signal seems to be at a good status. However, actually you can't access to the network at all.

  • Outdated Version of Instagram

Although Instagram persists in improving service with fewer bugs and errors, there is no flawless thing, and all platforms have their errors. Especially in the older versions of Instagram, it may carry many errors and bugs which is capable of resulting in app crashing at times and leading to the "couldn't refresh feed on Instagram" problem.

  • Full Cache Files

When the cache files are out of the capacity of Instagram, it may attribute to the refreshing error. Cache files are stored on Instagram often as temporary files on your device. Nevertheless, if the caches are too full to download and refresh any post, it means you need to clear it in time.

  • Errant Actions

As a matter of policy, Instagram needs to monitor users' actions and restrict their behaviors in a legal scope. If your posts, photos, and comments are judged as inauthentic behaviors, Instagram will block errant actions automatically so that the error notice appears. However, when your account is new, or you comment on too many posts within a short period, it will happen occasionally.

Part 2. How to Fix "Instagram Could Not Refresh Feed" Error

To assist you in solving this issue, I enumerate a series of troubleshooting steps that can be helpful. These methods are based on actual scenarios encountered by iOS users and can fix most basic Instagram problems.

Way 1. Check the Internet Connection

Always ensure that your network is turned on and works well before any operations. You can use different applications to check whether your Internet is stable. For instance, you can open a page in browser. If its loading speed is very slow, it represents your network signal is weak. And then you can attempt to search for better Internet environment.

Way 2. Force Quit and Relaunch Instagram

One easy way to solve minor issues with Instagram is to force close the app and then open it. In this process, it will clear temporary memory, specifically after you use Instagram for a long time. When an app runs too long, it can't bear any extra operation and will cause some errors. You can press the Home button twice to bring up the multitasking view, then locate and swipe up Instagram. Launch Instagram again and confirm the situation of it.

Furthermore, you can try to log out of Instagram before you close the app. After running Instagram, log in and enter your account. It probably can help you solve the "Instagram keeps saying couldn't refresh feed" problem as well.

close instagram

Way 3. Clear Caches

When you use mobile apps, they can produce numerous temporary files saved in your device's memory. These cache files take up lots of space and processing efficiency without carrying any important and valuable information. Hence, we need to clear caches now and then. The total procedure is shown below:

Step 1: Open Settings and find Apps option. Then locate the Instagram app and click on it.

Step 2: Choose Storage option and hit on the Clear Cache tab.

Step 3: Reopen Instagram, log into it and refresh the page again.

clear cache on instagram

Way 4. Update or Re-install Instagram

If the above methods still can't take any effect, another method you can try is updating and reinstalling Instagram. As mentioned in the previous part, an outdated version of Instagram can lead to this issue.

So, you should check if you have the latest Instagram. You can update the app by going to App Store. Search Instagram in it. If there is updated version available, click on the Update. Alternatively, you can open settings, select iTunes and App Stores option and then hit on the Updates tab.

update instagram app store

If Instagram is the latest version, you might as well consider deleting and reinstalling it. Just return to the Home screen, press and hold Instagram icon and then choose Remove App option. Open App store and download it once more.

reinstall the instagram

Way 5. Restart iPhone/iPad

There is no better way than restart your device when you come across similar software errors. It won't damage any data and has no harm to try. So, if you face "couldn't refresh feed Instagram" problem, just restart your iPhone or iPad.

Step 1: Press and hold the Power button until the slider appears.

Step 2: Drag the slider to turn off your device.

Step 3: Press and hold the Power button again. Launch Instagram to confirm whether it behaves normally.

restart iphone

Way 6. Delete Sensitive Posts or Comments

Incorrect content posted on Instagram also may cause the issue. However, most people don't know when they send an inappropriate content. As for this, you need to log into a browser, sign in your Instagram account via website. According to different situations, you can adopt diverse acts.

  • Posts: If one of posts you ever sent on Instagram is believed as a sensitive post, you will receive a message to remind you. Then just delete it.
  • Photos: If you put a sensitive photo on Instagram, it will show you can't refresh the feed. You should use a new and proper photo to take the place of the problematic one.
  • Comments: If there are comments with double hashtag (##) under your post, just delete them and things will be normal.

Way 7. Contact Instagram Support

If nothing works, what you can do is report the issue to Instagram so that the app developer may fix it easily. You can follow the steps below:

Step 1: Run Instagram, click on your profile and tap the setting icon on the top screen.

Step 2: Scroll down and choose Report a Problem.

Step 3: Insert the issue you are facing and then submit it.

contact instagram

Way 8. Use TunesKit iOS System Recovery [No Data Loss]

If you find that the above methods cannot fix the issue of Instagram couldn't refresh feed, there may be some deeper iOS system issues that causes that Instagram issue on your iPhone. Now, you can try to use TunesKit iOS System Recovery to fix it. Whether you know or don't know the accurate issue, TunesKit iOS System Recovery can also make your iPhone normal due to its powerful repair feature that allows you to fix 150+ iOS issues.

tuneskit ios system recovery

Characteristics of TunesKit iOS System Recovery:

  • Fix iPhone Instagram couldn't refresh feed without data loss
  • Repair different tvOS/iOS issues by yourself
  • Downgrade iOS 18 to iOS 17 without jailbreaking
  • Easy to use with friendly interface
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Let's start with TunesKit iOS System Recovery. Under the guidance of following steps, you do fix it easily.

Step 1. Connect iPhone to PC

Open the tool on your PC and then connect your iPhone to your PC. If the connection is done, select the iOS System Repair option and then click the Start button to go on.

connect iPod to PC

Step 2.Select Repair Mode

Choose the Standard Repair mode from the two option you see. That mode will fix your iPhone without data loss.

select standard mode

Step 3.Get Firmware Package Downloaded

Check your iPhone infor in this page. After that, click the Download button to download and verify download package.

download firmware

Step 4.Begin Fixing Your iPhone

Once the package is downloaded, you will see the Repair window. Click the Repair button to fix the issue of Instagram couldn't refresh feed.

fix iphone

Part 3. Conclusion

If you are facing "Instagram couldn't refresh feed" issue, keep calm and try these methods one by one. Hopefully, you can fix the error and get Instagram back to normal status. Ifthe common fixes are not working, TunesKit iOS System Recovery would be your saver that can fix most iOS system issues on your iPhone.

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