If you are an avid user of Instagram and are facing the app not working issue, don’t fret! We will explain the reasons behind the problem. Moreover, you will learn the methods to fix the issue and access your Instagram account again.
Reasons Why the Instagram App Can Stop Working on Windows 11
The Instagram app for Windows can stop working due to one or more of the following issues.
Instagram servers are currently down or under maintenance. You are running an outdated version of the app on your system. The app installation has become corrupt. Other apps are interfering with the normal working of the Instagram app.
How to Fix Instagram App Not Working on Windows 11
Here are the following fixes you can try to restore the Instagram app to its normal working state on your system.
1. Restart Your PC
If Instagram is crashing and not working on your system, do a system restart before moving on to other methods. Apps and programs rely on many system services to work properly. Oftentimes, apps cannot access all the necessary services required to launch the app.
Restarting your system will free up system resources and restart all the services. Save up your work in any open apps and then restart your system using the Power options menu. After the system restarts, relaunch the Instagram app and check if you are able to log in.
2. Check the Instagram Server Status
The Instagram app requires an internet connection to work. It fetches your account data from the servers and allows you to use the app. But if Instagram servers are down, you won’t be able to log in and use your account.
The servers could be down due to a technical issue or scheduled maintenance sessions. Unlike Discord which has a dedicated server status webpage, Instagram doesn’t offer the same. You have to rely on third-party websites like DownDetector. It monitors outages of major apps and services and can tell you if Instagram is down or not. In such cases, all you can do is patiently wait while Instagram fixes the issue.
3. Run the Windows Store Apps Troubleshooter
Windows 11 offers dedicated troubleshooters for all system components. You can use the system store apps troubleshooter to check for any underlying problems. If the troubleshooter finds any issues with the Instagram app, it will try to fix them.
To run the inbuilt system store apps troubleshooter, repeat the following steps:
Press Win + I to launch the Settings app. Then navigate to the right-hand side section and locate the Troubleshoot option. Click on the Troubleshoot option and then select the Other troubleshooters option. You will see a list of all the available troubleshooters on your system. Scroll down the other section and locate the System Store Apps troubleshooter. Click on the Run button next to it to launch the troubleshooter. Wait while the troubleshooter scans for issues with Microsoft Store Apps. Once the scan completes, the troubleshooter will recommend an action (if any) to fix the issue. Perform the suggested action and then close the troubleshooter. Restart your system and launch the Instagram app. Try to log in to your account and check if the issue persists.
4. Perform a Clean Boot
Instagram may stop working when a background program interferes with it. You need to perform a clean boot of Windows 11. It will load only essential drivers and programs and stop the rest. So, you will know if a background program is causing trouble with the Instagram app.
To perform a clean boot, repeat the following steps:
Press Win + R to launch the Run command box. Type msconfig in the text box and press the enter key. The System Configuration utility will launch. Select the services tab and then click on the Hide all Microsoft services checkbox. Then click the Disable all button. Move to the Startup tab and click on the Open Task Manager button. Task Manager will open the Startup programs section. Find all the programs which run at startup. Right-click on one program and select disable. Repeat the step for all the programs and close the Task Manager. Click on the OK button in the System Configuration window. Restart your system and launch the Instagram app to check if the issue is still there.
5. Update the Instagram App
If you haven’t updated Instagram app in a while, it could encounter problems while launching. Along with Windows updates, you need to update the Microsoft apps as well. Older app versions can have bugs that impede their working and usability.
To update the Instagram app, do as follows:
Press the Win key and search for Microsoft Store. Click on the first search result. Navigate to the bottom-left section and click on the Library button. Check if any app updates for Instagram are available. Click on the Update button to download and install the update. Now, restart your system and launch Instagram to check if it works.
6. Repair the Instagram App
Windows 11 offers an app repair feature for some installed apps. Fortunately, Instagram does have the option to repair the app installation. Repairing the app will fix common issues and restore missing/corrupt files.
To repair the Instagram app, repeat the following steps:
Press Win + I to launch the Settings app. Navigate to Apps > Installed apps. Scroll down and locate the Instagram app in the list. Click on the three dots (. . . ) and select the Advanced options. Scroll down and click on the Repair button. Wait for the process to complete. Relaunch Instagram to check if it works now.
7. Reset the Instagram App
If repairing the app doesn’t solve the issue, then try resetting the Instagram app. The reset option will restore the app to its original state and settings. You will lose all the app data if you perform this action.
To reset the Instagram app, repeat the following steps:
Press Win + I to launch the Settings app. Navigate to Apps > Installed apps. Scroll down and find the Instagram app in the list of installed apps. Click on the three dots (. . . ) and select the Advanced options. Scroll down and click on the Reset button. Confirm your decision and click on the reset button again. Wait for the process to complete. Relaunch Instagram to check if it works now.
8. Reinstall Instagram
The last resort is to reinstall the Instagram app if all the above methods fail to resolve the issue. Here’s how to do it.
Press the Win key and type Instagram in the search box. Click on the App Settings option listed under the app name. Scroll down and locate the Uninstall option. Click on it and then confirm your choice by clicking the Uninstall button in the popup. Now, close the Settings app and launch the Microsoft Store app. Search for Instagram and click on the Install button. Wait for the app to download and install on your system. Open Instagram and log in using your account credentials. Check if it works properly now.
Use Instagram On Your Windows 11 PC Again
These were the methods to fix the Instagram app not working issue on Windows 11. Try with a normal restart and a clean boot. After that run the System store apps troubleshooter to fix the issue. If that doesn’t do the trick, try using the Advanced options menu for the app.
