Can’t Receive Messages On Instagram? 7 Ways To Fix It (Solved)

Timothy Mark
Timothy Mark - Writer & Editor
11 Min Read

To fix can’t receive messages on Instagram, switch your internet connection, restart your phone, update the app, or wait for 24 hours.

If you’ve been using Instagram DMs to send messages, but you can’t receive any messages from users.

It means that you either have an internet connection problem, your device, the server is down, or a technical issue with the app.

In this article, you’ll learn how to fix can’t receive messages on Instagram. You’ll also know why Instagram is not allowing you receive DMs.

ALSO READ: Instagram Comments Not Loading? 7 Ways To Fix It

What To Do When You Can’t Receive Messages On Instagram?

If you’re experiencing this problem on your iPhone, Android, or Tablet, you need to first check if other people are seeing this error too.

The error means that you have a poor internet connection, or the Instagram server is down.

Sometimes it may just be a bug in the Instagram app, and if it is, you’ll have to wait for 24 hours, and the issue will fix itself.

To fix can’t receive messages on Instagram, you’ll need to change the network to be able to receive messages on Instagram.

After that, you’ll want to update the app from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store.

If that doesn’t work, deactivate your Instagram account, and then reactivate the account back. Then you’ll be able to see messages again.

If not ask your friend to follow the step and fix Instagram not sending messages.

ALSO READ: Instagram Story Duplicate? 8 Ways To Fix The Issue

Why Can’t I Receive Messages On Instagram?

There are different reasons why you can’t receive messages on Instagram, and it’s not just happening to you.

The major reason why you couldn’t receive messages on Instagram is that there’s a bug in the app.

It could also be that Instagram is down on your location, or the sender has unsent the message he’s trying to send.

It could also be that the person that’s trying to send you the DM has reached his limit, and Instagram is temporarily restricting him to send more messages.

ALSO READ: Instagram Camera Not Working? 8 Ways To Fix It

How To Fix Can’t Receive Messages On Instagram

Since you know the reason why Instagram can’t receive messages, you can now fix it with this guide.

In all, here’s the fix for can’t receive messages on Instagram

Fix 1: Switch Internet Provider

One of the reasons that are causing Instagram not to receive any messages is your internet connection.

There may be a breakout in your internet coverage, and to fix this, you’ll need to change your internet network.

Switch to another internet provider, and check if the message will send.

Check your internet speed with fast.com and see if it’s slow. Turn on and off the mobile data and try again.

If you don’t have another network provider, you can try switching between a Wi-Fi connection and your mobile data.

If you were previously using Wi-Fi as your internet connection, change it to your mobile network.

Fix 2: Log Out And Login

If Instagram is not receiving messages, you can try logging out and logging in back into your account to fix it.

Once you sign out of your account and sign in back, it will allow new messages to appear.

To sign out of your Instagram account on both Android and iPhone.

Open the app > Tap your profile icon at the bottom-right corner > Tap the three horizontal lines at the top-right corner > Tap on Settings > Scroll down to the bottom and tap Log out.

Wait for a few seconds, and then login back into your account. You’ll be able to see that you’ll be able to see DMs.

ALSO READ: Instagram Story Rotation Problem? 6 Ways To Fix The Issue

Fix 3: Restart Your Device

If Instagram can’t receive messages, and you’ve tried changing the network, but it’s not working, you can reboot your phone to fix the problem.

The app may just have a minor glitch, causing it to malfunction and not receive
message.

Once you restart your device and open Instagram DMs, the problem will be fixed, and you’ll be able to receive messages again.

Restarting your iPhone or your Android device can fix the problem.

For Android: Tap on the power button and tap on the restart option. You can power it off and wait for a few minutes before turning it on.

For iPhone: You can soft or force restart your device, this will clear glitches and stop running apps in the background.

You can also tap and hold the power button to turn it off, and then turn it on.

Fix 4: Update Instagram App

If you haven’t updated the Instagram app in a long time, updating the app now is a good time to fix the issues.

The old version of the Instagram app may not be working properly, causing the app not to glitch.

You’ll need to update Instagram to the latest version.

To update the Instagram app on your device, go to the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store, once you see an update, click on it to update right away.

ALSO READ: Instagram Messages Deleted Automatically? 5 Ways To Fix It

Fix 5: Uninstall and Reinstall The App

If you’ve tried updating the app and you still can’t receive messages on Instagram.

You’ll need to delete the app from your device and wait for about 3 minutes before reinstalling it.

This will fix can’t receive messages on Instagram, and you’ll be able to receive DMs again on the app.

To uninstall the app from your phone.

For Android: Tap and hold the Instagram app, and you’ll see the uninstall option at the top, drag and drop and the app will be deleted, for Android.

For iPhone: Tap and hold the Instagram app, and on the small pop-up menu, tap on Delete App. The app will be removed from your device.

Once you’ve deleted the app from your phone, you’ll need to wait for about 3 minutes, then restart your phone before reinstalling the app.

Fix 6: Wait For The Issue To Be Resolved

If you can’t receive messages on Instagram, this can be an app-wide problem, or just for a specific region.

And since it’s a technical problem, there’s nothing you can do to solve the problem. All you can do is just wait.

If you are experiencing this issue, this could also mean that the Instagram server is down, and you’ll not be able to do anything to fix it.

What you can do is wait for 24-48 hours, during this time the error will fix itself, and you’ll be able to receive messages on Instagram.

ALSO READ: Failed To Send On Instagram? 7 Ways To Fix The Error

Fix 7: Tell The Users To Follow This Guide

If the person has been trying to send you messages but it’s not working, it means that there’s a bug.

It could also mean that a problem is causing the message not to send, and to fix it. We have written a guide for it.

Tell the users to follow the step-by-step guide on what to do if Instagram messages are not sent.

Conclusion

Instagram has many errors, and you should do everything you can to fix them. If you can’t receive messages on Instagram

The first thing you should do is check if the Instagram server is down and whether the app has a technical issue.

If it’s a bug on the app, all you can do is wait for a few hours and you’ll be able to send DMs again.

To fix can’t receive messages on Instagram, change the network provider, use Wi-Fi, or buy a router if you’re still not getting a good signal.

If your friend that’s trying to send you DM has been blocked for sending too many DMs in a day.

Tell him to wait for 24 to 48 hours, and he shouldn’t do anything to prolong the temporary block, after this time they can message you.

ALSO READ: Instagram Not Working? 12 Ways To Fix The Problem

Frequently Asked Questions

Why can’t I receive my Instagram messages?

It could also be that Instagram is down on your location, the sender has unsent the message. Instagram has temporarily restricted the person to send more messages.

Why can’t I receive Instagram messages at the time of sending messages?

If you’re not receiving the message at the time the person has sent the message, it means that the app has a technical issue or a problem with the Instagram server.

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By Timothy Mark Writer & Editor
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As a seasoned content writer with 4+ years of experience in consumer technology, Timothy has been a dedicated author and editor at Techvocast.com since its inception. Specializing in addressing user concerns, his articles offer effective solutions for Android, iOS, Windows, and Mac-related issues. Timothy's expertise also extends to crafting content about social media and various applications. Through his daily articles, he consistently aids users in overcoming their technology challenges.
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