Why Can’t I Follow People on Instagram?

So, are you wondering ‘Why can’t I follow people on Instagram?’ We all like to keep updated on social media, but what if you encounter difficulties and can’t follow on instagram? Around 69.9% of users log-into the platform solely to share photos and videos. If you’re unable to follow on instagram, you could miss out on updates from loved ones.

Instagram sometimes does not allow users to follow accounts. It could be due to the platform’s restriction or a glitch in your phone. This problem has multiple causes, each demanding a resolution.

Stay with us until the end to learn why you can’t follow people on Instagram and how to fix it. 

So, Why Can’t I Follow People on Instagram? 

It can be annoying when you keep tapping the follow button, only for Instagram to show an error message. There are different reasons why you can’t follow people on instagram. In order to resolve them, it’s important to learn the root cause. Here are some reasons why you can’t follow other users on Instagram:

An Unstable Internet Connection

Check your internet if you have an Instagram follow problem. It should be stable as Instagram consumes 2-3 MB of data per minute. If your internet connection is bad, Instagram won’t be able to process your request to follow a user.

Moreover, an unstable internet connection prevents you from refreshing your feed, posting stories, and adding new posts.

In such cases, if you’re using Wi-Fi or cellular data, check your settings. You can turn on Airplane mode, toggle it off, and then reconnect to the network.

Check if Instagram is Down

If your internet is working fine, your Instagram follow problem may be due to an issue with the Instagram app. You can check if Instagram is down on sites like OutageReport and Downdetector. You can also check the news to confirm if there is a problem with Instagram.

In this case, you can’t do much except wait for Instagram to fix the servers. Once the platform works, you can follow new users without a hitch.

Why Isn’t Instagram Working?

Instagram has a great support team that is always available to help users. Mostly, crashes are due to monetary glitches, which users can easily fix with a quick refresh. If the Instagram app continues to crash, you can fix it by contacting the Support Team on Instagram. 

No matter what the problem is, you can fix most of them with easy tricks. So, if you’re wondering, ‘Why isn’t Instagram working?’, here are some quick troubleshooting tips:

Log In With Other Devices

Try logging in with other devices and see if the problem resolves. If you can follow people from the new device, the issue may be with a mobile device. But if you can’t follow instagram users after you change your device, the app may have issues. 

Try Instagram for Browser

If changing the device doesn’t help, try using a browser for Instagram. Check with your desktop and see if Instagram prevents you from following people. If you are already using Instagram on your browser, change the browser. Move to Firefox from Chrome and vice versa.

Have You Updated Your Instagram?

Instagram provides users with regular automated updates, improving its existing features and rolling out new ones. If you’re using an older version, technical issues like an Instagram follow problem is inevitable. 

Update your Instagram regularly, checking for updates. Tap the update button in the Play Store (Androids) or App Store (iPhones) or turn on automatic updates. With automatic updates turned on, you can avoid manually checking. Instagram will update and get the latest version itself.

Why Can’t I Follow People Back on Instagram?

Are you wondering, “Why can’t I follow people back on Instagram?”

Instagram may restrict follow-backs due to many reasons. This includes privacy settings or limits on daily actions. Ensure your account is public, and try again later if you’ve hit the following limits.

Here are some common reasons why you can’t follow back on instagram:

Loaded Cache

If your Instagram is acting slowly or unusually, before you report a problem, try clearing the cache. On Android, you can clear the Instagram cache in the settings. This will get things running smoothly again. Meanwhile, iPhone users need to uninstall and then reinstall the app. After clearing the cache, reopen Instagram and check if the follow button is working.

Account Authentication

The authentication of personal or business accounts is another technical issue that affects Instagram’s features. This may be because you recently changed your password or due to an issue with two-factor authentication.

Here’s how you can fix this:

1. Open Instagram on your phone.
2. Hit your profile icon, then the menu button up the top right.
3. Choose ‘Settings and privacy‘ from the menu.
4. Scroll to ‘Login‘ and tap ‘Log out.’
5. After logging out, tap ‘Login.‘ Insert your new password and the 2FA code.

Exceeded Follower Count Limit

If your follow count number exceeds 7,500 users, the issue isn’t with your phone or the app. Instagram does not allow users to follow more than 7,500 profiles. 

You can resolve this problem by unfollowing some accounts. Here’s how to do it:

1. Tap your account avatar in the lower-right corner of the Instagram app.
2. Tap ‘Following‘ at the top right of the screen.
3. Scroll through the list and tap ‘Following‘ next to a few accounts you no longer want.
4. Now, the ‘Following‘ button turns into a ‘Follow‘ button, making space for new followers.

What Is Instagram Follow Limit?

Instagram follow limit is a cap Instagram uses to reduce spam. Users can only follow up to 7,500 accounts on Instagram. If you exceed the limit, an error message will appear and you will be unable to follow people on Instagram. But have you ever wondered why Instagram’s daily limits exist?

Instagram prefers quality over quantity, encouraging genuine interactions and engagements. By capping your followers, they encourage you to pick followers more carefully. This way, your feed stays more personalized and filled with content you like.

While these limits can sometimes be annoying, they’re here to keep Instagram enjoyable. And who knows? Playing by these rules might make your Instagram game stronger.

Why Can’t I Follow Certain People on Instagram?

Many Instagram users vent, “Why can’t I follow certain people on Instagram?” Why does it happen? It’s time to find out.

• Using a VPN Service: Are you using a VPN? Although great for privacy, Instagram gets suspicious if it sees your IP address change. Restrictions on your account activity, may mean that you’re unable to follow accounts on Instagram while using a VPN. So, turn off your VPN while using the app if you experience the Instagram follow button not working. 
• Instagram Has Blocked Your Account: Instagram’s on a mission to keep bots at bay. If you’re on a follow/unfollow spree or using third-party apps to automate likes or comments, it’s a code red. Instagram’s algorithms will flag your account as suspicious. The solution here is patience. Restrictions like these are usually temporary and do not last for a long time.
• Certain Users Have Blocked You: Instagram allows you to block users if you want to avoid certain accounts. So, if you’re unable to follow on instagram, it may be that certain users have blocked you. Accounts can also have restrictions that prevent you from following them. 

How To Check Your Blocked List on Instagram?

You have the power to block accounts on Instagram should you need to. You can access the blocked list on Instagram by taking the following steps:

1. Go to your Instagram profile.
2. Tap on the three horizontal lines at the top-right corner.
3. You’ll see a menu pop up. Tap on ‘Blocked.‘
4. Here, you’ll find your blocked list on Instagram.

There is also the option of making your account private, if you haven’t done so already. Simply go back to the ‘Settings and activity’ tab and head to ‘Account privacy’. Here you can toggle on or off the private account feature.

How To Know if Someone Blocked You on Instagram

Finding the people you blocked on Instagram is easy. But how do you know if someone blocked you on Instagram? There are a number of ways to check if someone has blocked you on Instagram. Here are the five easiest ways of finding out.

1. Start with a simple search. Head over to the search bar in the app and type in their username. If you can’t find their account, it could mean they’ve blocked or deleted you.
2. If you’ve ever exchanged comments or DMs with a user, search for the user through their old comment or chat. If you see messages like User Not Found or No Posts Yet, it’s a hint that they’ve blocked you.
3. What if there has been no exchange of messages? No worries! You can still play detective. Go to the web, type www.instagram.com/, and then their username. If you can see their profile on the web but not in your app, the user has blocked you. If their profile doesn’t appear on the web, they have deleted it.
4. Watch for their likes and comments on mutual friends’ posts or in groups. If you see their activity popping up, it’s clear they haven’t vanished from Instagram. They’ve blocked you.

Increase Your Following on Instagram With Path Social

Instagram is about sharing content with followers and viewing content from the following. So, if you can’t follow on Instagram, try the troubleshooting tips in this blog. If fixing your internet connection, updating your app, and following limits doesn’t work, reach out to Instagram’s Support Team. 

That’s a wrap to our guide. Now that you can answer the question, “Why Can’t I Follow People on Instagram?” you may want to increase your following. If you need help growing your Instagram, Path Social is the place to go. We use AI algorithms to target the right followers who are truly interested in your content.

Our team is highly skilled with ample experience—ready to help you take your Instagram account to the next level. Path Social is the place to be to boost engagement and solve your Instagram issues.

FAQs

Still looking for something? Check out our most frequently asked questions about following on Instagram below!

How many people can I follow in a day on Instagram?result in a block?

There is a limit to how many people you can follow per day on Instagram. The limit is typically around 200 a day, but this can vary depending on your account.