How to Restart Instagram

Instagram, the social media giant of photo-sharing, can sometimes act up. Glitches, freezes, and slow loading can disrupt your scrolling and leave you wanting a refresh. But how exactly can it be done?

Well, there are several ways to restart Instagram and get it functioning smoothly again, and in this article, we’ll tackle a few of them.

The Quick Fix: Closing and Reopening the App

The simplest solution is often the most effective. Here’s how to close and reopen Instagram on both Android and iPhone:

Android:

• 1. Swipe up from the bottom of the screen to access your recently used apps.
  2. Find the Instagram app preview and flick it upwards to close it completely.
  3. Relaunch Instagram from your app drawer and see if the issue persists.

iPhone:

• 1. Double-click the home button (or swipe up from the bottom of the screen on iPhone X and later) to bring up the app switcher.
  2. Swipe left or right to locate the Instagram app preview.
  3. Swipe the Instagram app preview upwards off the screen to close it.
  4. Tap the Instagram icon on your home screen to relaunch the app.

This quick refresh can clear minor bugs and memory glitches that might be causing problems.

Rebooting Your Device for a Clean Slate

If closing and reopening the app doesn’t solve the issue, restarting your entire device can be a powerful troubleshooting technique. Here’s how to do it:

Android:

• • Hold down the power button until a menu appears.
  • Select “Restart” or “Power off” depending on your device model.
  • Wait for your device to shut down completely and then power it back on.

iPhone:

• • For iPhone X and later: Press and hold the side button and either volume button until the power off slider appears. Drag the slider to the right to turn off your phone. Then, hold down the side button again to power it back on.
  • For iPhone 8 and earlier: Press and hold the power button until the power off slider appears. Drag the slider to the right to turn off your phone. Then, hold down the power button again until you see the Apple logo.

A device restart clears temporary system files and frees up memory, which can often resolve app-related issues.

Updating the App: Keeping up With the Latest

Outdated apps can sometimes malfunction. Here’s how to ensure you’re running the latest version of Instagram:

Android:

• 1. Open the Google Play Store app and search for Instagram.
  2. There should be an “Update” button beside the app name if your app is out of date.
  3. Tap on the Update button to install the latest version of the app.

iPhone:

• 1. Locate and tap the App Store icon on your home screen.
  2. Tap on the search icon at the bottom right of the screen. Input Instagram in the text box that appears at the top of the screen to find the app.
  3. Find the Instagram app in the search results. If an update is available, an “UPDATE” button will appear next to it. Tap the button to download and install the update.

Keeping your apps updated ensures you have access to the latest bug fixes and performance improvements.

Conclusion

By following these steps, you should be able to restart Instagram and get back to scrolling through your feed and connecting with friends and followers.

If none of these restarting steps work, it’s always a good idea to contact Instagram’s support team directly. They can provide further assistance and investigate the issue on their end.