Instagram profile error 'couldn't refresh feed'

👤 Diwas Poudel 🕒 10 Mar 2023 📁 TECH

Instagram, you know it, you love it. The infinite-scrolling app seems to be able to take away hours of my time. And the worst (or maybe the best) part is I don’t even notice it. It’s a good app. But, like every other thing in existence, it has a few problems. One of them being the “couldn’t refresh feed” problem. Logging on to Instagram, only to see this error is frustrating. But before fixing it, let’s get to understand the enemy first.

What is this error?

The Couldn’t refresh feed error means that there is an error on the server side of Instagram. Sometimes, it can also be because of your own internet connection. Let’s explore some causes of this error. Some, you can try to fix, and some, you may not be able to.

What causes this error?

There are some general reasons for this error. Here are the causes.

Your Internet Connection
Instagram Maintainance
Instagram Server Error

How to fix the “Couldn’t Refresh Feed” Error?

There are multiple reasons for this error. Let’s get right into why this error might be seen.

Internet Connection
As mentioned before, your internet connection can be causing the issue. Therefore, restarting the internet will be the first step. You can also try your neighbor’s internet because that might help. 👀
Log Out and Log back in
Sometimes, logging out and logging back in solves the issue you’re facing. And by sometimes, I mean most of the time. Why does this work? I don’t know. It’s the equivalent of turning your phone off and on. It just works. Worth a shot.

These are the generic solutions to the problem. However, if you want to get into more specific solutions, here’s how to fix it in the IG app.

Restart the Instagram app
Close the Instagram app completely and then reopen it. This includes removing it from the background processes as well. Make sure that you close it completely. After that, if opening the app fixes the problem, you’re good to go. Otherwise, take a look at the other fixes we have.
Update the Instagram app
Make sure you have the latest version of the Instagram app installed. The latest version can come with some updates that won’t be supported by the older version. Therefore, this can end up being an important step. You can check for updates in your device's app store.
Clear app cache and data
Go to your device's settings, find the Instagram app, and clear the cache and data. This will reset the app and may resolve the issue.
Reinstall the Instagram app
If none of the above steps work, you can try uninstalling and then reinstalling the Instagram app. This can help to resolve any issues related to the app's installation.

These are all the fixes related to the mobile app. However, if you’re seeing this issue in the web version of Instagram, there are some fixes. We have listed them below.

Clear your browser cache: Clear your browser's cache and cookies. This can help to refresh the page and resolve any temporary glitches. To clear the cache and cookies, go to your browser's settings, find the option to clear browsing data, and select the appropriate options.
Restart your browser: Close your browser completely and then reopen it. This can help to refresh the browser and resolve any temporary glitches.
Use a different browser: Try accessing Instagram on a different browser. This can help to determine if the issue is specific to one browser or if it is a more widespread issue.
Wait for Instagram to resolve the issue: If none of the above steps work, the issue may be on Instagram's end. Wait for a few hours and try again later.

Also read: What is a black profile picture on Instagram?

Does this error mean that someone blocked me?

It's unlikely that the "couldn't refresh feed" error message is related to being blocked by someone on Instagram. When you're blocked by someone on Instagram, you will typically see a different error message, such as "User not found" or "This account is private." Additionally, if you're blocked by someone, you won't be able to view their profile or see any of their posts, and the error message you receive will be specific to the action you're trying to take, such as viewing their profile or liking a post.

The "couldn't refresh feed" error message is more likely related to an issue with the Instagram app or web service, such as a temporary glitch, a problem with the network connection, or an issue with Instagram's servers. If you're seeing this error message, try the troubleshooting steps mentioned earlier to see if you can resolve the issue. If the issue persists, you can try contacting Instagram's customer support for further assistance.

Conclusion

Being greeted with a couldn’t refresh feed error can be really annoying. These above steps can help you get rid of the issue. But sometimes, there’s nothing more that you can do than suck it up and wait for Instagram to fix the issue.

This issue is horrible and can ruin your mood. However, if I helped you fix it, you can uplift mine. Consider buying me a coffee by clicking the link below. Glad to have been of any help. Have a good day.