Instagram Messages Deleted Automatically? 7 Ways To Fix It (Solved)

Timothy Mark
Timothy Mark - Writer & Editor
11 Min Read

To fix Instagram messages deleting automatically, turn off vanish mode, restart your phone, update the app, or wait for 24 hours.

If you use Instagram to send a DM, but the message gets deleted after you close chat, or you can’t see old messages.

This problem may occur because of your device, the server is down, you turn on vanish mode, or a technical issue.

In this article, you’ll learn how to fix Instagram messages deleting automatically. And you’ll also know why messages delete automatically on Instagram.

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What To Do When Instagram Messages Deleted Automatically?

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 enabled vanish mode on the Instagram chat, or the server is down.

Sometimes it may just be a glitch in the Instagram app, and if it is, you’ll have to wait.

To fix Instagram messages deleting automatically, you’ll need to turn off Instagram vanished mode

If that’s didn’t work, delete the app, restart your phone and then redownload the app from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store.

If it doesn’t work, go to Instagram web on your browser and see if the message and DMs show on the web.

ALSO READ: Instagram Messages Not Sending? 11 Ways To Fix It

Why Does Instagram Messages Delete Automatically?

There are different reasons why Instagram messages are deleted automatically on your account.

If you try to view a previous message on Instagram DM and you can’t see any of them, it means there’s a problem.

The reason why messages deleting automatically on Instagram is that the app may be having a server downtime.

It could also be that Instagram has a technical error in the app.

You’ll likely see this problem occur on your account if you have enabled the Instagram vanish mode feature.

So once you send a message to the recipient, or the person sent you a message in vanish mode, it’ll disappear after you or the person has seen it.

If the person has also unsent the message then the message will be removed, and you’ll fix it.

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How To Fix Instagram Messages Deleted Automatically

Since you know the reason why Instagram messages are deleted automatically, you can now fix it with this guide.

In all, here’s the fix for messages deleting automatically on Instagram.

Fix 1: Disabled Vanish Mode

If you can’t see a message on Instagram because it automatically deletes, it’s because you have enabled the vanish mode.

This will delete each message on your account for the individual once they’ve seen the message.

When you send a message in vanish mode, it will automatically delete the message once you leave the chat.

To fix messages deleting automatically on Instagram, you’ll need to disable vanish mode for the account.

Step 1: Open Instagram

On the Instagram app, then go to Instagram Direct Message, which is at the top right corner of your screen.

Step 2: Open The Chat

On Instagram Direct page, find the chat that the message has disappeared.

Step 3: Tap On Info Icon

Once you open the person chat, you’ll see the info icon at the top right corner of your screen.

Tap on the info icon at the top right

Tap on the icon, you’ll see some personal chat settings for the account.

Now, tap on the toggle near vanishes mode to turn it off for the chat. After you’ve done that.

Toggle off vanish mode

Messages will not be automatically deleted, once they’ve seen them.

Fix 2: Restart Your Device

Instagram messages are deleted automatically, you can reboot your phone to fix the problem on your account.

The app may just have a minor glitch, causing it to malfunction and delete messages automatically.

Once you restart your device and open Instagram DMs, the problem will be fixed, and you’ll be able to see the previous message.

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.

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Fix 3: 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.

Fix 4: Uninstall and Reinstall The App

If you’ve tried updating the app and the Instagram messages are still deleted automatically.

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

This will fix messages to stop deleting automatically, and you’ll be able to the previous message.

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.

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Fix 5: Check Instagram Web

If you’re having trouble with the mobile app, you can try using the Instagram web version and see if you’ll see the message.

Head over to your favorite browser, go to Instagram.com, and login to your account.

If you can’t see the messages, it means that your Instagram has a technical issue, or it’s in vanish mode.

Fix 6: Wait For The Issue To Be Resolved

If Instagram automatically deletes a message, 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 to wait for 24-48 hours, during this time the error will fix itself.

ALSO READ: Instagram Video Call Camera Not Working? 7 Ways To Fix It

Fix 7: Deactivate And Reactivate Your Account.

If Instagram messages are deleted automatically, you can try deactivating your account.

You can deactivate your account and then wait for a few hours before reactivating the account back.

Once you reactivate the account, see if messages will automatically delete.

Conclusion

Instagram has many errors, and you should do everything you can to fix them. If messages delete automatically on Instagram.

The first thing you should do is to check if the Instagram server is down, or the app has a technical issue.

To fix Instagram messages deleted automatically, uninstall the Instagram app, restart your phone, and download the app again.

You can go to Instagram web with your browser, login to your account, and see if the message is still there.

Either way, wait for a few hours and the issue will be stopped, it may be a bug on the app.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did some of my sent Instagram direct messages disappear?

If your sent Instagram messages have disappeared after you send them to a recipient, it means that you have enabled Instagram to vanish mode and the per has seen it.

Why did my whole Instagram DM chat with a person disappear?

If users on your Instagram Direct message chat disappear it means that the person has deactivated his account, or the account has been deleted.

What does it mean when a sent message disappears on Instagram?

When a sent message on Instagram disappears it means that the person has seen the message. The message disappears because you have turned on vanish mode for the chat.

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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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