How to Fix Unable to Send Instagram Messages Issue

Over two billion people actively use Instagram every month, scrolling through and sharing countless videos (brain rot) with their friends and family. But what if Instagram suddenly tampers with your ability to send DMs? If you find yourself in such a situation, don’t worry. We’ve listed all the possible reasons why your Instagram message isn’t working and how you can easily fix it.

Like all other social media platforms, Instagram is not immune to technical issues. Many users have often reported that they are unable to send Instagram messages on various occasions. If you have landed on this page to fix your Instagram message issue, we are here for you.

Reasons Why You Can’t Send Messages on Instagram

• Your internet connection is slow
• The version of the Instagram app you are using is outdated
• Technical issues/bugs on the application
• The person you are trying to message has blocked you on Instagram
• The message you are trying to send is not available
• There is too much data on your device

How to Fix “Unable to Send Messages on Instagram” Issue

1. Check your internet connection

Let’s start with the basics. A poor internet connection is hampering your ability to navigate the app, including sending or receiving Instagram messages. Switch from your mobile data to Wi-Fi or vice versa and see if that helps. Or refresh your device’s internet connection by putting your phone in Airplane mode and turning it off after a few seconds.

2. Check Instagram for downtime

Sometimes it’s not you, it’s Instagram. If Instagram’s server is down, there’s nothing you can do but wait. The platform often experiences such technical outages, when thousands of users report problems with their Instagram not working. To check if there’s an outage, you can visit the Downdetector website on your browser, type Instagram in the search bar, and it will show you if there’s been a recent outage issue. Usually, the Instagram team quickly fixes the problem so that your app is working again.

3. Update your Instagram to the latest version

Instagram detects bugs/technical issues and is constantly looking for improvements for the user experience. Updating your Instagram not only allows you to enjoy the latest advancements but also frees the app from bugs. Updating the app can also fix the Instagram DMs issue.

4. Log out and log in to your Instagram

Sometimes, temporary issues can be resolved by logging out of your current Instagram session and logging back in. Once logged in, there’s a good chance the new session will be problem-free and you’ll be able to send Instagram messages again.

5. Clear Instagram cache

Sometimes, the Instagram app cache on your device can get overloaded or corrupted. Basically, a cache is a form of temporary data that many apps store on your device’s local storage. This helps to load a few items quickly, rather than downloading them every time you open the app.

In some cases, cache overload can lead to issues and bugs like inability to send Instagram messages. Therefore, clearing the cache regularly is a great practice. The option to clear the cache is only possible on Android devices and not on iOS.

Follow these steps to clear cache on Android:

• Go to Settings and open the Apps tab
• Select Instagram and go to Storage
• Tap “Clear Cache”

6. Uninstall and reinstall the application

If the message issue persists, try uninstalling and reinstalling Instagram from the official stores like Google Play Store or App Store. Android users, before reinstalling the app, make sure to clear the cache by following the above-mentioned steps.

7. Use Instagram on your web browser

As an alternative to the app, use Instagram on the web browser. There is a good chance that your messages will be sent successfully on the browser in case the app is experiencing bugs at the moment. Log in with your credentials on the desktop version and you are good to go.

8. Contact Instagram Support

After trying all the possible options, your last resort should be to contact the Instagram support team. You can describe the issue in detail and even include screenshots so that the team understands your problem better. Instagram is known to respond quickly to such reports and will fix your message issue in a timely manner.

Hope this guide solves your “Can’t send Instagram messages” problem!

(Hero image credit: cottonbro studio/ Pexels)

(Photo credit: Anna Shvets/ Pexels)

This article was first published on Lifestyle Asia Hong Kong

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

– Why doesn’t Instagram allow me to send messages?
There are several reasons why you may be unable to send Instagram messages. These could include a poor internet connection, issues with Instagram servers, using an outdated version of the Instagram app, or the recipient blocking you.

– What is the Instagram DM limit per day?
Instagram has set DM limits to prevent people from spamming other users, but this limit has not been revealed. However, Instagram says that you can only forward a message to up to five chats at a time.

– Can updating the Instagram app fix my “DM not sent” issue?
Yes, the Instagram app update probably fixes bugs as well as issues, allowing users to send DMs successfully.

– Why does Instagram limit me?
Instagram may limit or even suspend your account if you do not follow its community guidelines.