Instagram filters enrich photos and videos shared on the platform and have become an essential component of using Instagram. Filters are great to use when they’re available, but what do you do if you suddenly find that the filters you use have disappeared? In this article, we will go over why filters disappear in the first place and how to get filters back on Instagram.
Why Instagram Filters Disappear
The main reason why you may notice filters are missing is due to an issue with either the app or your device.
The main reasons IG filters disappear include:
- The Instagram app you are using is outdated
- Your phone is unable to support filters
- Your Instagram app has accumulated too much unneeded data
- The IG app is dealing with a bug or glitch
- Your phone’s display settings are causing the filters to not display properly
How to Get Filters Back on Instagram
Filters are often used in posts and stories to enhance them further, be it subtly or transforming them entirely. If you have been using IG filters and suddenly can’t find them anymore, simply follow our guide below on how you can restore them.
With so many great filters available, it can be extremely disheartening to one day find they have all disappeared. If you have this issue, take the following steps:
Clear Your App’s Cache
It’s possible that you are suffering from a cache issue. Clearing out the app’s cache will result in you getting rid of data bloat stored within the app. You will not lose anything you shared on the app, but it can improve your IG experience and potentially restore filters.
Restart Instagram
The quickest and easiest fix could simply be to restart the IG app. This means closing it out and opening it back up again. It could help with resetting certain settings within the app, including filters being restored.
Clear IG Cache on iOS
If restarting Instagram did not help, you can then move onto clearing the app’s cache. To clear the cache on a device running iOS, do the following:
- Open Settings on your device
- Tap on General
- Tap on iPhone storage
- Scroll down until you find Instagram and tap on it
- Tap on Offload App to remove data from your device that is unneeded
Clear IG Cache on Android
To clear the IG app’s cache on an Android device, take the following steps:
- Go to the Settings app and tap to open it
- Tap on Applications
- Tap on Manage Applications or App info
- Find and tap on Instagram
- Tap on Storage
- Tap on Clear cache
Review Location Settings
There are filters that are only available in certain locations. This means that if you suddenly find yourself unable to access certain filters, it could be due to you being in a new and different location than you were previously in.
One common fix for this is to use a VPN and connect to a server that is located in the region you were in the last time you saw filters working.
Another issue is that Instagram is being blocked from accessing your phone’s location, thereby not knowing where you are located. To fix this, do the following:
- Go to your phone’s Settings app
- Search for Location to find location-specific settings for your apps
- Scroll down to Instagram and tap on it
- Change Allow Location Access to While Using the App
Update Instagram
You may end up needing to just update your Instagram app due to becoming outdated. A common issue with filters and other features no longer working is due to an outdated app.
Go to the App Store and find Instagram. Once on the app’s App Store page, tap Update and your IG app will be updated to the latest version.
Reinstall Instagram
Another option if the above fails is to delete the app and then reinstall it. This will also provide you with the latest version of Instagram. Tap and hold the Instagram app icon to remove it. Then, redownload it from the app store on your phone.
Note: Make sure you know your login details before reinstalling.
Upgrade Your Phone
If all else fails, then you will need to upgrade to a different phone. There may come a time where your phone is simply too old to be able to run the latest version of Instagram. While an uncommon reason for IG filters disappearing, there are times where this is indeed the culprit. Once you get a newer and more powerful phone, you should be able to restore filters on the app.
Conclusion
Now that you know how to get filters back on Instagram, you should be able to restore the ones you’ve enjoyed using but lost access to. Filters bring an extra dimension to content you create and share on Instagram, which is why it is a good idea to restore them if you lose access to your favorite filters.
