Why Can’t I Follow People on Instagram? (Explaination)

So you’re wondering: Why can’t I follow people on Instagram?

You’re not alone.

Many Instagram users have reported that they are unable to follow anyone on Instagram, and some of them have also contacted us for help. 

That’s why we thought, why not create a detailed blog post on this issue?

In this post, we will figure out the main reasons why you can’t follow accounts right now on Instagram and how you can easily fix this issue.

So let’s understand the main root cause of this problem.

7 Reasons Why Can’t I Follow People On Instagram & How to Fix It

If you can’t follow people on Instagram, there could be several different reasons behind it.

You have to examine each of these causes to determine the real culprit that is stopping you from following other users on Instagram.

1. Unstable Internet Connection

Like most Instagram issues, the common reason you’re unable to follow anyone on Instagram is because of a poor internet connection.

If your internet connection is weak or if you’re currently in a remote area where finding a decent network is tough, you’ll often encounter these types of Instagram glitches.

See, Instagram is an internet-dependent platform. It needs at least some decent uninterrupted internet speed to function properly.

If you try using the platform without the basic internet speed requirement, it will act like a madman, and you will have to face plenty of glitches like this one.

How to Fix It?

It’s easy.

To eliminate the “Why can’t I follow people on Instagram” issue, you must switch to a better, high-speed internet connection.

If you’re using a WiFi connection, try switching to a different WiFi provider (if available), or if you’re using mobile internet, try connecting to your WiFi (if you already have access to a WiFi connection).

2. You Have Reached The Follow Limit

You might not know this, but Instagram limits the number of people you can follow per day.

As of now, each user is only allowed to follow up to 7,500 people to reduce spam and protect the community.

But remember, that’s not a daily limit.

It’s an overall limit for your entire Instagram account.

So, if you have followed 7,500 over the course of your Instagram journey, you won’t be allowed to follow anyone beyond that, and you’ll get an error saying you have hit the limit.

It doesn’t matter how many followers you have; this upper limit applies to every account on the platform.

Besides that, Instagram also has a daily limit on how many people you can follow (even though they don’t say this publicly).

If you Google about the daily follow limit of Instagram, you will get a quite mix answer.

Some articles will claim that you can only follow 200 accounts, and some will claim 100.

But the truth is Instagram does not have any exact daily follow limit.

Your activity mostly determines the number of people you can follow each day on Instagram.

For example, if follow 100 accounts without taking a break, Instagram’s algorithm will find it suspicious, and they will put up a temporary follow ban on your profile.

How to Fix It?

So, how do we fix it then?

To be honest, we all have to follow the 7,500 upper limit set by Instagram. 

And there is no workaround for that.

But when it comes to daily limits, do not follow hundreds of accounts at a time.

Try taking small breaks between each of the 5-10 people you follow. This way, Instagram won’t impose any temporary ban, and you can utilize your daily follow limit to the fullest.

3. You Are Using a Bot or Automation Software

If you’re using a bot or automation software to follow other accounts, you’ll quickly exhaust Instagram’s follow limit.

And eventually, Instagram will restrict you from following more accounts.

So even though using an automation software or bot saves you time, but it can lower your overall follow potential and put your account at risk of getting completely banned from the platform.

How to Fix It?

Stop using any automation software or bot.

Instead, try following manually with constant breaks in between.

4. You Have Been Blocked By The Specific User

Another reason why you can’t follow people on Instagram is because the other person has already blocked you on the platform.

As you can’t follow blocked accounts, you’ll get an error every time you try to follow that account.

How to Fix It?

If the other person has blocked you on Instagram, you can’t do much. 

You also have to respect their choice and move on.

5. It’s a Technical Glitch

Instagram has over 2 billion active users monthly, and around 500 million people use it on a daily basis.

Due to this high usage numbers, you might encounter a few technical glitches on the platform.

And one of the common glitches is you can’t follow on Instagram.

How to Fix It?

If this issue is caused by a technical glitch on Instagram’s end, you can only wait.

Instagram is already pretty quick to solve these sorts of issues, so their team will mostly resolve this within a few hours.

Once it’s fixed, you can try following accounts once again.

6. You Have Been Using an Outdated Instagram App

If you’re trying to follow someone on Instagram but you’re unable to do so, it could be due to an outdated Instagram app.

Outdated apps are generally filled with bugs and security threats that can lead to various glitches and issues within the platform.

How to Fix It?

So, if you have an outdated Instagram app, the first thing you should do is update the app as soon as possible.

Updating the app might solve the issue and you can once again start following people on Instagram.

7. The Account You’re Trying to Follow Has Been Deleted or Deactivated

Another reason why you can’t follow people on Instagram is that the person you’re trying to follow has recently deleted or deactivated their account.

If you have engaged with the person before, you can still see their profile sometimes, but you won’t be able to follow them until they reactivate their account.

How to Fix It?

At this point, there is nothing you can do.

You can either wait for them to reactivate their account or simply move on.

If you know the user personally, you can even give them a quick call to see if they’re all right.

8. You Are Using a VPN

Even though Instagram is not against the use of VPNs, it can still create issues sometimes.

When your IP changes quite frequently (due to the usage of VPN), Instagram finds it suspicious, and sometimes, they can impose certain restrictions on your account, such as limiting your ability to follow other Instagram accounts.

How to Fix It?

If the VPN is turned on in your device, turn it off, close the Instagram app or device, and try following someone once again.

If this solves the issue, congrats, you have found the fix.

How Long Does Instagram Restrict You From Following?

Instagram generally imposes the following restrictions on a daily cycle.

So, if your account is restricted, Instagram will usually lift the restriction after 24 hours.

Final Thoughts on Why Can’t I Follow People On Instagram

We hope now you know clearly why you can’t follow people on Instagram and the main root cause behind it.

If we find out the reason reason behind the issue, it becomes much easier to solve it.

So, if you can’t follow people on Instagram, don’t panic. 

Stay calm, find out why it’s happening, and then react accordingly.