Despite many smartphones featuring 120Hz screens for silky-smooth scrolling, users often notice Instagram slowing down and face lag in apps like Facebook and Snapchat. Instagram lags particularly, undercutting the user experience.
However, there are a few steps you can take to optimize your Instagram experience and address any slowdowns you may be encountering. By implementing these tips and taking advantage of the Instagram feature, users can look forward to a faster and more responsive app.
Here’s a quick guide to fix Instagram slowing down on both iPhone and Android devices.
Why is My Instagram Slowing Down?
If your Instagram is lagging, it’s often due to one of these issues:
- Your internet connection might be slow.
- Your phone’s RAM could be low.
- The Instagram app may need an update.
- The data saver mode could be on.
- You might be uploading high-quality content.
- The app’s cache may have corrupt data.
To summarize, either your phone acting is slow, the Internet is slow, or the application is slow. All problems lie on one plane or another. However, if you can determine why Instagram is lagging, you can fix the problem faster.
For example, think about whether your smartphone works fine in other applications. Or maybe your video is slow everywhere now. We will list tips that can help, and you choose based on which culprit of the problem is more likely in your case.
How Can I Address Instagram Slowing Down?
Addressing Instagram slowing down requires identifying and tackling the root cause. Here are steps you can take to optimize your Instagram experience:
1 Restart Instagram
When you notice Instagram slowing down, a quick fix often works. Close and reopen the app. It’s simple. On any iPhone or Android phone, swipe up and then swipe away the Instagram app. If problems persist, Android users can force stop Instagram. This action stops all app processes. Here’s a user-friendly guide:
- Go to Settings.
- Click on Apps or Apps & notifications.
- Scroll to and select Instagram.
- Press Force Stop.
- Confirm by tapping OK.
2 Clear Smartphone Memory
If you need to boost your phone, you can remove unnecessary data from memory and get a performance boost. When you clean up more memory on your device, the battery and RAM consumption of background processes will be reduced.
You can do this manually or run CleanUp, an automatic cleaning application. The CleanUp app has a smart cleaning function that searches for various garbage in memory and removes it. Personal data is not affected.
3 Test Your Internet Connection
Instagram requires an online connection to display content such as photos and videos. If it’s slow on your phone, your internet might be the culprit. See if YouTube, which also demands substantial data, runs smoothly. This could indicate the quality of your connection.
Is the internet sluggish? Switch to stable Wi-Fi for better speed. When Wi-Fi isn’t an option or doesn’t solve the issue, consider these quick fixes to boost your mobile data speed.
4 Update Instagram
If you notice Instagram slowing down on your iPhone or Android, an old version could be the cause. Updating to the latest Instagram version can smooth out these issues.
How to update Instagram using the Google Play Store:
- Launch Google Play Store.
- Click your profile icon in the top-right corner.
- Select “Manage apps & devices.” Apps needing updates show “Update available.”
- Choose “Update.”
Also Read: Why Won’t My Instagram Update?
5 Check Instagram Servers
Sometimes, Instagram is the problem, not your device or internet connection. The app can struggle due to server outages or technical glitches on Instagram’s side, causing issues for many users at once.
How to Check if Instagram’s Servers Are Down:
- Visit sites like Downdetector or others that monitor online services, including Instagram. These sites give you real-time updates based on user reports to tell you if the issue is widespread.
- Keep an eye on social media and forums. People usually post on Twitter or Reddit when big services like Instagram have problems.
- Look for updates from Instagram itself. Their Twitter account or blog will often provide the latest news on server problems or maintenance work.
6 Disable Data Saver Mode on Instagram
Instagram’s Data Saver mode helps reduce your mobile data consumption. When turned on, the app stops pre-loading videos, saving data when your feed loads. However, this could result in Instagram slowing down on both Android and iPhone devices. To turn off Data Saver mode on Instagram, just follow these simple steps:
- Open Instagram on your iPhone or Android device.
- Head to your profile, tap the top hamburger menu, and select ‘Settings and Privacy’.
- Scroll to ‘Data usage and media quality’ and switch off the Data Saver option.
7 Clear Instagram Cache Files
Sometimes, your Instagram app may start to lag due to a build-up of temporary cache files. Here’s how you can swiftly clear the cache on both Android and iOS devices to smooth out your app experience.
For Android Users:
- Launch the ‘Settings’ app and scroll to find ‘Instagram’ in your apps list.
- Tap on ‘Instagram’ and then select ‘Storage Used’.
- Hit ‘Clear Cache’ to eliminate all the temporary files linked with Instagram on your Android device.
- Open Instagram again to check if it’s running smoothly.
For iPhone Users:
Clearing Instagram cache on an iPhone isn’t as straightforward as on Android, but a quick app deletion does the trick—removing cache and fixing bugs simultaneously.
- Begin by opening ‘Settings’ and tapping on ‘General.’
- Scroll to select ‘iPhone Storage’ and find Instagram in your apps list.
- Press ‘Delete App’ to remove Instagram and its cache from your iPhone.
- Head over to the App Store, look for Instagram, and install it afresh.
Should the initial fix fail, consider deleting Instagram’s storage on your device. This action resets the app by erasing all local data, so you’ll have to sign in once more. However, don’t worry about losing any content such as photos, videos, or stories; Instagram stores them safely on its servers.
8 Disable High-Quality Uploads on Instagram
Instagram now supports uploading top-notch videos via mobile or Wi-Fi. Expect a longer processing time for the larger files, and you might experience some slowness in the app when posting high-quality content.
Want to switch off high-quality uploads on Instagram? Here’s what to do.
- Access your Instagram profile on your iPhone or Android device.
- Tap the three lines (hamburger icon), select ‘Settings and privacy.’
- Hit ‘Data usage and media quality’ and turn off the ‘Upload at highest quality’ option.
9 Switch to Instagram Lite
Contemporary apps demand more from your phone’s internals, mainly the RAM. This crucial piece of memory lets your phone do several things at once. It also runs complex apps smoothly, such as Instagram.
Most new smartphones come with enough RAM to run Instagram seamlessly. Yet, if your phone is older, you may see Instagram slowing down. However, there’s good news for Android users. You can use Instagram Lite. It’s a simplified form of Instagram. It works well on phones with less power.
10 Reinstall Instagram
Experiencing persistent issues with Instagram? A fresh installation might be the solution. Here’s how you can reinstall Instagram on both iPhone and Android devices.
For Android Users:
- Touch and hold the Instagram icon.
- Tap the ‘i’ symbol to see the app information.
- Choose ‘Uninstall’ and affirm your choice.
For iPhone Users:
- Press and hold the Instagram icon.
- Select ‘Remove Instagram’.
- Confirm by tapping ‘Delete Instagram’.
11 Check Your VPN
Using a VPN can resolve issues such as your Instagram photos not loading because it assigns you a different IP address. If Instagram has blocked your usual IP, connecting through a VPN effectively sidesteps this obstacle by using an alternative IP that’s not on the block list.
Once you connect to Instagram through a VPN, the service recognizes a new IP address, granting you trouble-free access. Your Instagram photos should now load without difficulty.
It’s important to consider the security of your connection when using a VPN. We recommend choosing only VPNs with a strong reputation for safety.
12 Turn on App Permissions
To ensure your app functions correctly, make sure to allow Instagram access to photos and check its permissions by following these steps:
- Launch the Settings app on your device.
- Scroll to and tap “Apps” or “Application Manager.”
- Choose “See all apps” or “Manage apps.”
- Locate and select “Instagram” from the app list.
- Go to “Permissions.”
- For any permission listed as “Not Allowed,” tap it and enable access to grant the necessary permissions.
13 Turn Off Low Power Mode
In Low Power Mode, iPhone limits the resources it uses and operates in saving mode. If you have enough charge, you can disable this mode and switch to high-performance operating mode:
- To configure your battery settings, launch the Settings app and select the Battery option.
- Then, deactivate the Low Power Mode by switching off the toggle.
- Alternatively, access the action center and tap the Low Power Mode toggle to disable it.
14 Free Up RAM on iPhone and Android
Use this trick if your phone has 4GB of RAM or less. When your phone slows down because many apps and games are running at once, it’s likely due to using up all the RAM. This can make apps like Instagram lag when you’re scrolling through.
Here’s what you can do, whether you’re on an iPhone or Android: Start by swiping up from the bottom to show all the apps you have open. Then, swipe up on each app to close it and clear them from running in the background. This action frees up RAM. After doing this, open Instagram and see if it runs more smoothly.
15 Contact the Instagram Support Team
If your Instagram pictures aren’t loading, contact the support team immediately. Describe the issue clearly so they can determine whether a restriction on your account or an identifiable bug is causing the problem. Before reaching out, quickly look at Instagram’s communications on Twitter to see if other users are experiencing similar issues.
Regular Maintenance Tips
Keep your device’s operating system current to unlock performance enhancements and crucial bug fixes, boosting all your apps, including Instagram. Regularly test your internet connection speed to make sure it’s fast and reliable, which will help Instagram and other apps run better.
Clearing your app cache frequently can prevent crashes and Instagram slowing down, particularly in often-used apps like Instagram. This routine maintenance stops old data from clogging up your device.
Conclusion
Software applications will become increasingly potent and will demand more resources as time progresses. If Instagram continues to drag on your phone even after you’ve tried all the suggested tips, you should think about whether it’s time to upgrade your device. While this may not be crucial—if slow applications don’t bother you too much—it’s advisable to weigh your options.
FAQs
In the following, we’ve compiled answers to common queries about Instagram’s performance issues. Whether you’re facing slowdowns, buffering videos, or concerns about cache size, these explanations will help you navigate and optimize your Instagram experience.
Q1. Why is Instagram Slowing Down?
If Instagram is giving you issues, first reboot your phone or tablet. If that fails to fix it, test Instagram on Wi-Fi and mobile data to check if a poor signal is the culprit.
Q2. Why is Instagram Videos Buffering?
If your video isn’t playing smoothly on Instagram, it might be due to a sluggish or unreliable internet connection. Also, high-resolution videos demand more loading time, which can lead to playback issues. And remember, Instagram might not play nice with videos encoded in formats it doesn’t recognize.
Q3. Why is Instagram Cache So Big?
Instagram’s app speeds up loading times by caching data like photos, texts, and designs. Yet, a bloated or old cache may slow the app and lead to problems. Regularly clearing Instagram’s cache is beneficial.
Q4. Should I Clear Instagram Cache?
Instagram improves its performance and user experience by storing cached data. However, this data builds up and consumes valuable storage space on your device. Regularly clearing the cache can fix Instagram slowing down and glitches, and free up space.
Q5. What does Clearing Instagram Cache Do?
When you clear the Instagram cache, the app might take a bit longer to load initially, but the change is barely noticeable. This process removes potentially corrupted saved data, resolving any related issues.
Q6. What Happens If I Clear Data on Instagram?
When you clear data in the Instagram app, it logs you out, and you’ll have to sign in again with your username and password. This action deletes all your saved searches, any data you’ve downloaded, and drafts saved within the app. Please confirm you want to do this because it’s irreversible.
