- Why do Instagram stories keep freezing?
- Check the network
- Check if Instagram is the only app with problems
- Run a speed test
- Reset network settings
- Restart your router
- Restart the application
- Restart your device
- Check the date and time
- Clear internal storage
- Clear cache
- Update the application
- Reinstall the app
- Use Instagram’s “Help” option
- Wait
- Enjoy the stories
Are you trying to view someone’s Instagram story, but it freezes? Not being able to load your story or having a video story stop after a second or two can be frustrating. Fortunately, there are numerous solutions to this problem.
If you are interested in knowing why Instagram Stories keep freezing and what you can do to fix this problem, look no further. This article will explain what you need to know about this problem and offer possible solutions.
Why do Instagram stories keep freezing?
If you can’t see Instagram Stories, it’s likely that one of these things caused the problem.
- Weak connection
- The application is not updated.
- Temporary failures
- Instagram is down
- The system is not updated.
- Cache is not cleared
There are several actions you can take to prevent Instagram Stories from freezing.
Check the network
One of the most common causes of problems with Instagram stories loading is a poor network connection. This could be due to a weak Wi-Fi signal, device issues, or areas with poor service. Here’s what you can do to get to the bottom of the problem and fix it.
Check if Instagram is the only app with problems
If you suspect network problems, the first thing you should do is check if the problem is related only to Instagram. Follow the instructions below.
- Close the Instagram app and open another one. It can be YouTube, Facebook, WhatsApp or any other application.
- Try sending a message or playing a video, depending on the app you choose. If there are no problems, you don’t have network problems. On the other hand, if the content does not load, the Internet connection is probably too weak.
Run a speed test
If you want accurate information about the speed of your Internet connection, you should perform a speed test. This will give you accurate results and let you know if the connection is intermittent. We recommend using Ookla’s Speedtest. This is what you should do.
- Open your browser and visit Ookla Speed Test.

- Press “Go.” Wait until you see the results.

If you see a connection issue, try switching from mobile data to Wi-Fi, or vice versa. You can also restart your phone because this will force it to reconnect to the Internet.
Reset network settings
If you are having ongoing connection problems and can’t seem to resolve them, you can try resetting your network settings. The steps vary depending on your operating system.
If you have an Android device, this is what you need to do.
- Open your menu and go to Settings.

- Tap “System.”

- Scroll down and press “Reset options”.

- Tap “Reset Wi-Fi, Mobile & Bluetooth.”

- Tap “Reset Settings.” Your device will now reboot and the connection issue should be fixed.

iPhone users should follow these instructions if they want to reset their network settings.
- Open your menu and launch Settings.

- Tap “General.”

- Scroll down and select “Transfer or reset iPhone.”

- Tap “Reset.”

- Choose “Reset Network Settings.” After entering your code, the device will reboot.

Restart your router
Your Wi-Fi router may be experiencing a temporary glitch, which is why you are unable to upload Instagram Stories. You can try to fix it by restarting it.
- Unplug the router from the power outlet.

- Wait at least 15 seconds and plug it back in.

- Wait until all the lights turn green and test the Internet connection.
Restart the application
If there is no problem with your Internet connection, the problem may be with the application. The first step is to restart it. Please note that this does not mean simply switching to another app because in such cases the Instagram app will continue to run in the background. You can use the multitasking option and swipe up to close the app. If you have an Android device, you can force quit the app by following these instructions.
- Launch your menu and go to Settings.

- Tap “Application Management.”

- Then choose “Application Settings”.

- Search for Instagram and choose “Force Stop.”

Now open the Instagram app again and check if the Instagram Stories issue has been fixed.
Restart your device
Although your phone probably isn’t the main culprit for not being able to load Instagram Stories, it doesn’t hurt to try restarting it. Random problems and temporary glitches could cause numerous malfunctions like this.
Check the date and time
This may seem unusual, but if the date and time don’t match your time zone, you could have numerous problems with Instagram and other apps. Usually the date and time are updated automatically, so not many people worry about it. But if you accidentally turned off automatic updates or your phone experienced a temporary glitch, the settings could be incorrect.
This is how Android users can check and adjust the date and time on their devices.
- Launch Settings and select “General Management”. If you don’t see this option, type “Date and time” in the search bar.

- Change the toggle button next to “Automatic date and time.”

If you have an iPhone, here’s how to check and set the date and time.
- Open configuration.

- Go to “General.”

- Select “Date & Time” and set it to “Automatic.”

Clear internal storage
If your internal storage is full, the Instagram app may not have enough space to run smoothly, causing numerous malfunctions. Try deleting some files or moving them to the memory card to allow the Instagram app to work properly.
Clear cache
Another thing you can try to solve the problem with your Instagram Stories is to clear the cache. Please note that this option is not available on iPhones, which have the “Download App” feature. Like “Clear Cache”, this feature removes unnecessary data from the app and may fix the problem.
If you have an Android phone, here’s what you need to do to clear Instagram cache.
- Open your menu and go to Settings.

- Choose “Application Management.”

- Tap “App Settings.”

- Search and select Instagram.

- Tap “Storage.”

- Select “Clear cache”.

Those who have an iPhone should follow the steps below to use the “Download App” option.
- Access your menu and go to Settings.

- Press “General.”

- Select “iPhone Storage.”

- Find Instagram and tap “Download app.”

Update the application
An outdated version of the app can cause numerous problems, including the inability to load Instagram Stories. You can quickly fix this issue by updating the app.
If you have an Android device, here’s how to update the Instagram app.
- Launch Google Play on your device.

- Type “Instagram” in the search bar and press it.

- Select “Update.”

iPhone users need to follow the steps below if they want to update the Instagram app.
- Open the App Store.

- Search for “Instagram.”

- Press “Update.”

If you don’t see the “Update” option, you’re already using the latest version of the app.
Reinstall the app
If updating the app didn’t help, you can try reinstalling it.
This is what Android users should do.
- Open configuration.

- Go to “Applications.”

- Tap “Instagram” and choose “Uninstall.”

- Launch Google Play and search for “Instagram.”

- Select “Install.”

If you have an iPhone, follow the instructions below to reinstall the Instagram app.
- Launch Settings.

- Select “General.”

- Choose “iPhone Storage.”

- Press “Instagram” and tap “Delete App.”

- Open the App Store and enter “Instagram” in the search bar.

- Install the app.

Use Instagram’s “Help” option
If you’ve tried everything mentioned above and your Instagram Stories are still freezing, you can use the “Help” option in the app to report the issue. Here’s how to do it.
- Open the Instagram app.

- Select your profile photo in the lower right corner.

- Tap the three lines at the top right.

- Choose “Settings.”

- Select “Help.”

- Tap “Report a problem.” You will see three options. Choose “Report a problem” again.

- Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the report. Once you do, Instagram will send you an email with additional steps you can take to resolve the issue.

Wait
In rare cases, Instagram may experience a server-wide outage that causes issues with Instagram Stories. Although you can fill out a report about it, all that remains is to wait and use down detector to track Instagram related issues.
Enjoy the stories
Instagram is one of the most popular social media platforms, with many interesting options. Since Instagram Story is probably the most used feature, not being able to see them can be annoying. Fortunately, the problem can usually be fixed in just a few minutes.
Have you ever had any problems with Instagram Stories? How did you manage to solve it? Tell us in the comments section below.