Instagram Automated Behavior: What Is It & How To Fix It?

Instagram is the world’s third most widely used social media platform. With over 2 billion monthly active users, it’s a perfect place to share videos and pictures with others. 

However, you may often notice that Instagram temporarily disables a profile, and you can’t comment on or like a post. In such cases, you’ll see an “Instagram automated behavior detected” message on your screen. 

This warning can be confusing and frustrating as many IG users don’t know what they did wrong. If you’re one of the many users who experience this, fret not!

This article will walk you through what IG automated behavior means, how to fix this issue, and more. 

What Is Automated Behavior on Instagram?

Your IG account may experience automated behavior when a third-party app, bot, website, or platform takes automatic actions on it. 

Instagram often calls it data scraping—the automated access and gathering of data from the app or website. 

For instance, you can purposely employ automated behavior to attract more comments on a post or followers to your account. 

However, there’s a likelihood that third-party sites may get unauthorized access and start scraping without you knowing it. 

Now that you know what automated behavior on Instagram is, let’s find out how to fix it.

How To Fix ‘Instagram Detected Automated Behavior’ Warning

Do you experience the ‘Instagram detected automated behavior’ warning offer? It pops up when IG flags your account activities as suspicious or automated. 

If you ignore this warning, Instagram may permanently restrict your account, shadowban, or even ban it. So, it’s important to act quickly and protect the account.

Besides limiting your activity for a couple of days, listed below are a few easy-to-follow ways to fix this problem:

Review Apps Linked To Your IG Account

Do you rely on third-party apps to view or post content on Instagram? If so, it may be why you may face this warning message. 

Particularly if you employ these apps to perform automated actions such as liking posts or following accounts. 

Review websites and apps connected to the account and remove access for ones you no longer recognize or use. 

Here’s how to do it:

1. Open the IG app and tap the ‘Profile icon.’
2. Hit the three horizontal lines (menu icon) and choose ‘Settings and Privacy.’
3. Tap the ‘Website permissions‘ and pick ‘Apps and websites‘ in the subsequent menu. 
4. In the ‘Active’ tab,’ identify any websites or apps that may automate tasks and tap ‘Remove.’

Review Login Activity

Check your IG account login activities to ensure it isn’t compromised. Follow the steps below to check login activity:

1. Open the Instagram app and tap your Profile icon and menu icon. 
2. Select ‘Settings and Privacy’.
3. Then, go to ‘Accounts Center’ and choose ‘Password and Security’. 
4. Tap ‘Where You’re Logged In’ and select the account.
5. Choose ‘Select Devices to Log Out’ to pick unrecognized devices.
6. Tap Log Out and Confirm.

Change Password

If the warning persists or you notice suspicious login attempts, change your Instagram password. It helps protect the account from any unauthorized access and deter potential problems. 

Use the following steps to change your IG account password:

1. Tap your Profile icon.
2. Click the menu icon and select ‘Settings and Privacy.’
3. Go to ‘Accounts Center’ and choose ‘Password and Security’.
4. Tap ‘Change Password’.
5. Enter the current password. Then, place your new password and tap ‘Change’ to confirm.

When you complete these steps, IG will log you out of all devices except the one you use. 

Don’t Engage in Spammy Behavior

Instagram might warn you about automated behavior if you recently engaged in spammy actions. It includes rapidly following or unfollowing people or sending DMs (direct messages). 

Instagram may identify this as spam. So, you should refrain from such activities.

Turn-Off VPN

Using a VPN can also trigger warnings. If your VPN frequently changes servers, Instagram might see it as suspicious. 

You can disable the VPN temporarily to check if this resolves the automated behavior warning message.

Update Your App

Believe it or not, outdated or buggy Instagram apps can also cause warnings. 

If you’ve disabled automatic updates, go to the App Store or Play Store, depending on your device. Search for Instagram and tap ‘Update’ if a newer version is available. 

Instagram Automated Behavior: Is Automation or Instagram Bot Allowed?

When people first learn about bots, their immediate concern is often, “Is it legal?” Well, it depends. 

Some types of Instagram automation and bots break Instagram’s terms of service and may get your IG account removed. It’s the worst thing that can happen to your Instagram presence. 

So, you must do everything to avoid it. 

However, not every form of automation or bot will result in a ban. For instance, you can use services to automate posting schedules, but using like or follow bots can lead to a ban. Bots that comply with IG platform policies are legal.

Nevertheless, you must be careful when using an Instagram bot or automation for your account. 

What Does Restricting on Instagram Mean?

Having a social media business or influencer profile doesn’t mean you have to put up with spam, bots, or harassment. Instagram provides features to control who sees and interacts with your content. 

In addition to blocking and muting, there’s another option to reduce interactions with trolls, bullies, and bots: restricting.

Both blocking and restricting can affect how others engage with your IG profile, but in different manners. When you block a user, they can neither find, interact with, or view your content/profile nor message you.

In contrast, restricting on Instagram means you won’t see their tags, comments, or messages. 

Here’s how restricting works:

• Comments: A restricted user can comment, but only they can see it. You won’t even get a notification. However, you can make their comments visible by tapping ‘See Comment > Approve.’ 
• Tags: Restricted users can tag you, but you won’t get a notification. However, Instagram will notify you if they mention you.
• Messages: Restricted people can message you, but it goes to the ‘Requests’ folder without notification. They won’t know if you’ve read the message or see online status.

Restricting someone makes it appear normal to them, making it unlikely for them to realize they are restricted.

How Do You Restrict a User on Instagram?

There are various ways to restrict other users on Instagram. First, go to their profile, tap the three dots in the upper-right corner, and select Restrict.

If you have communicated through direct messages, tap the top-right icon and select chat history. Then, click the username, tap Options, and choose Restrict > Restrict Account.

However, if you wish to restrict a user from commenting, tap or hold (on Android) or swipe left (on iPhone). This will open a ‘chat bubble’ icon, so tap ‘Restrict.’

Lastly, you can also restrict people from the account settings. Here’s how to do it:

1. Open your IG profile.
2. Hit the menu icon.
3. Tap Settings and Privacy and hit ‘Restricted Accounts.’
4. Enter the individual’s name you wish to restrict. 
5. Now, tap ‘Restrict’ next to the username. 

To undo restrictions, follow the same process as above. This time, you’ll have to choose ‘Unrestrict’ instead.

Use Instagram Automation the Right Way With Path Social To Elevate Your IG Presence

Like other social platforms, Instagram values genuine behavior and interactions. The automated behavior warning message helps protect people from spam and other harmful actions. 

Follow the tips to the T to avoid receiving these warnings and enjoy the platform safely. You should never grant access to your IG account to any third-party app or website. Chances are they may misuse it or hack your account. Choose an app or a site with a reliable track record and proven results.

Do you want to accelerate your Instagram growth using Instagram automation and fix the ‘Instagram automated behavior’ warning? Consider Path Social. 

Marketers should always explore new automation tools to better engage with customers and enhance their toolbox. At Path Social, we have extensive experience in Instagram automation for brands and influencers alike.

We have an in-house platform for influencers and an AI targeting algorithm. This helps you connect with genuine and engaged users, resulting in a lasting Instagram community.

So, sign up and start growing your Instagram followers today for excellent results.