How to Fix the Instagram App Not Working on Windows 11 PCs

Is the Instagram app not working on your PC, or the website won’t load in your browser? On Windows 11, users often face black screens, stuck logins, or endless loading when using the Microsoft Store app or accessing Instagram via Chrome or Edge. This step-by-step guide will help you fix the issue.

How to fix Instagram not working on PC app or browser

Fix Instagram Windows App Not Working

1. Run Windows troubleshooter on the Instagram app

1. Press Windows key + I keyboard shortcut to open Settings.
2. Choose Update & Security.

   

3. Select Troubleshoot from the left pane.
4. Expand the Microsoft Store Apps troubleshooter.
5. Click Run the troubleshooter.

   

2. Reinstall the app

1. Open Start and find Instagram under the application list.
2. Right-click on Instagram and uninstall it.
3. Restart your PC.
4. Open the Microsoft Store and install Instagram again.

   

If you want to entirely uninstall the app from your PC without leaving any leftovers, it’s a good idea to look for the best uninstaller software on Windows.

3. Reset the Instagram app to factory values

1. Open Settings.
2. Choose Apps.

   

3. Select Instagram under the Apps & features section and open Advanced options.

   

4. Scroll down and click Reset.

   

Another viable option is resetting the app to default values and starting from scratch. This action will erase all cached data and allow you a clean slate to start with.

4. Clear Microsoft Store Cache

If your Instagram app is stuck loading, clearing the Store cache may help:

1. Press Windows + R, type wsreset.exe, and press Enter.
2. The Command Prompt will flash briefly; wait for the Microsoft Store to relaunch.
3. Check if Instagram is now working.

5. Disable VPN, Proxy, or Security Software

Seeing “Check your connection” when your internet is fine? That may be due to:

• VPNs or proxies masking your IP (Instagram flags unusual traffic).
• Windows Firewall blocking the app.
• Fix it by disabling VPN/proxy, or going to Windows Security > Firewall & network protection > Allow an app through firewall and ensuring Instagram is allowed.
• Also, disable third-party antivirus temporarily and test again.

6. Switch to a New Local Profile

If nothing loads in the app or login doesn’t work:

1. A corrupted user profile may be the cause.
2. Go to Settings > Accounts > Other users > Add account, create a new local user, and test Instagram there.

Fix Instagram Not Working in Browser (Chrome, Edge, etc.)

1. Clear Browser Cache and Cookies

If Instagram is not loading on browser, or shows “Oops, something went wrong”:

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Delete in Chrome or Edge.
2. Clear Cookies and Cached images/files.
3. Restart your browser and try again.

2. Disable Extensions or Try Incognito

If DMs don’t work, buttons won’t respond, or the feed keeps spinning:

• Disable all browser extensions—especially ad blockers or privacy tools.
• Or use Incognito Mode (Ctrl + Shift + N) to bypass cached sessions and conflicting scripts.

3. Enable JavaScript and Turn Off Hardware Acceleration

If the site won’t load properly or certain features are missing:

• Ensure JavaScript is enabled:
  In Chrome: Go to Settings > Privacy and security > Site Settings > JavaScript → Select “Sites can use JavaScript.”
• Disable hardware acceleration:
  Go to Settings > System > Use hardware acceleration → toggle it off → restart the browser.

4. Update or Switch Browser

If Instagram won’t load page, or uploads and Stories fail:

• Check for updates in Chrome, Edge, or Firefox under Settings > About.
• Switch browsers to see if the problem is isolated to one. A good error free Option we highly recommend is Opera.

5. Flush DNS Cache

For browser errors like “This page isn’t available” or random loading failures:

• Open Command Prompt as Administrator.
• Type ipconfig /flushdns.
• Press Enter.
• Wait for the process to complete and restart Instagram.

Common Problems & Why They Happen

Symptom	Likely Cause
App shows white/black screen	Cache corruption, driver conflict
“Check your connection” on app	VPN interference, bad DNS, firewall blocks
Can’t upload or post via browser	File size/format not supported, limited permissions
Messages not sending in browser	Server bugs or app/browser restrictions
Login keeps looping	Expired session, bad cookies, or stuck tokens
Feed won’t refresh on app or web	Cache issues or server problems
Page isn’t available in browser	DNS fail or content removed

Conclusion

If you’re struggling with Instagram not working on PC, whether it’s the app or browser, this guide covers all the likely causes and proven fixes. Whether it’s a black screen, login errors, or a browser version that won’t load, applying these steps should restore access. If all else fails, access Instagram Web via a different device until the issue is patched.

FAQs