Step one: rule out an outage
DMs run on their own part of Instagram. They can break while the feed still works. Run our live Instagram status check. If our servers cannot reach Instagram, it is an outage. Wait it out. Your messages are safe on Instagram’s side.
If Instagram is up, the problem is on your phone, your network, or that one chat.
Fixes, in order
1. Pull down to refresh the inbox
Simple, but it fixes the “stuck” inbox more often than you would think.
2. Check your connection
Switch between Wi-Fi and mobile data. Open a website to confirm you are online. Turn off any VPN.
3. Close the app fully and reopen it
Swipe Instagram away from your recent apps. Wait ten seconds. Open it again and go back to the chat.
4. Update Instagram
DM features change often. Old versions break. Update from the App Store or Google Play.
5. Clear the cache
- Android: Settings → Apps → Instagram → Storage → Clear cache. Google’s Android storage page shows the same steps.
- iPhone: Delete and reinstall the app, or offload it from iPhone Storage. Your messages stay on Instagram’s servers.
Our guide to clearing the Instagram cache has screenshots for both.
6. Check message requests
If a message you expect is missing, tap Requests at the top of your inbox. Messages from people you do not follow go there. Hidden requests sit in a second folder inside Requests.
7. Check if you were restricted or blocked
If one person’s messages never arrive and yours to them show no “seen”, they may have restricted or blocked you. There is no sure way to check. Instagram does not tell you. Our guide to how to know if someone blocked you lists the signs.
8. Free up space
Instagram needs room to load media in chats. If your phone is nearly full, delete a few large videos and try again.
Specific problems
“Failed to load earlier messages.” A connection or cache issue. Do steps 2, 3 and 5.
Message stuck on “Sending…”. Tap and hold the message, then choose retry. If it fails again, check the live status. If it fails for one person only, see step 7.
DM button does nothing. Usually an app bug. Update the app. If that fails, reinstall.
“Something went wrong” in the inbox. Instagram’s catch-all error. Do steps 2 to 5. If it shows all over the app, see our something went wrong guide.
Voice messages or photos will not send. Instagram needs microphone and photo permissions. Check them in your phone’s settings for the Instagram app.
Messages out of order or duplicated. This happens after an outage ends. It sorts itself out within a few hours.
Things that do not help
- Logging out and in over and over. It can trigger a temporary block.
- Third-party “DM recovery” apps. They cannot see your messages. Many ask for your password. Never give it.
Keep your inbox healthy
Turn on two-factor login. Review Where you’re logged in in Accounts Center now and then. And never give your password to any service. Famoid, for example, only needs a public username or post link to run an order.