6 Easy Fixes for Instagram Not Showing Camera Roll Photos

Imagine you’ve just clicked a perfect picture and are eager to post it on Instagram, but it doesn’t appear when you try to upload it. It’s a frustrating situation, isn’t it? But there’s no need to worry. This guide offers straightforward steps to solve this issue. 

We’ll explain why Instagram is not showing camera roll photos, provide easy fixes to get your photos to appear, and share tips on preventing this problem. We aim to help you share your photos without any hassle.

Why is Instagram not showing camera roll photos?

Sometimes, Instagram can’t show your camera roll photos, which happens for a few simple reasons. Knowing these can help you quickly determine what’s wrong and how to fix it.

• Permissions issue: The most frequent problem is that Instagram hasn’t been given permission to see your camera roll. Your phone needs you to allow which apps can access certain things, like photos. If you haven’t allowed Instagram to access your pictures, it can’t show them.
• App glitches: Sometimes, Instagram might have small errors or bugs that stop it from correctly seeing or showing photos. These problems can often be fixed by closing and reopening the app or turning your phone off and on again.
• Outdated app version: Using an old version of Instagram might cause problems because it’s not current with the latest improvements or fixes. Updating Instagram can make sure it works well with your phone’s system.
• Storage problems: If your phone’s storage is nearly complete, it might affect how apps work, including Instagram’s ability to find and show photos.
• Format and compatibility: Instagram might be unable to show photos in formats it doesn’t understand or if the photos are damaged. Ensure your photos are saved in a standard format like JPEG or PNG that Instagram can handle.

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How to fix Instagram not showing camera roll photos?

Having trouble with Instagram not showing your camera roll photos can be annoying, especially when you want to share important moments. Thankfully, there are easy solutions to this problem, such as getting your photos to appear again and letting you post whatever you want.

1. Restart Instagram and your device

The first and easiest step to fix the issue of Instagram not showing your camera roll photos is to restart the Instagram app and your phone. Doing this can often fix many problems by refreshing how the app works and eliminating any minor errors that might make it act up.

Turning your phone off and back on gives the whole system a fresh start, which could solve the issue of Instagram being unable to show your photos. This simple action can often fix any problems, making your camera roll photos appear on Instagram once again.

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2. Download an older version of Instagram

Sometimes, new updates to Instagram can bring small problems that stop your camera roll photos from showing. Returning to an earlier app version can help you overcome these problems. This approach is especially useful if you realize the issue began after updating Instagram recently.

Note:  If you use an iPhone, Instagram doesn’t let you clear the app’s cache in the settings, and you can’t download older versions of the app like APK files. This is only for Android users.

↪ Step 1: Clear Instagram’s data

Before you try to fix anything, it’s important to get rid of Instagram’s saved data to prevent any mix-ups. Here’s what to do:

1. Go to your phone’s Settings. Tap on “Apps” or “Application Manager” (the name might change depending on your phone).
   

   

2. Look for “Instagram” on the list and select it.
   

   

3. Choose “Storage.”
   

   

4. Tap “Clear data” and “Clear cache.”
   

   

↪ Step 2: Uninstall the current version of Instagram:

1. Go back to the “Apps” section in your settings and find Instagram.
   

   

2. Tap on “Uninstall.”
   

   

3. Select “OK” to make sure you want to uninstall it.
   

   

↪ Step 3: Download and install an older version of Instagram:

1. Open the internet browser on your phone and visit a safe APK download website like Uptodown.
   

   

2. Type “Instagram old version” in the search bar and choose the version you want from the options.
   

   

3. Hit the “Download” button.
   

   

The app will be downloaded and installed on your phone. Log in to your account and see if Instagram shows camera roll photos.

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3. Share photos through the gallery

If Instagram doesn’t show your photos from the camera roll, you can share them directly from your phone’s gallery. This way, you use the sharing feature with your phone, avoiding any problems with finding photos on Instagram.

1. Open your phone’s “Photo Gallery” app instead of Instagram and find the photo you want to share.
   

   

2. Tap on the “Share” button (it looks like three connected dots or an arrow pointing to the right).
   

   

3. Select “Instagram” from the list of ways to share.
   

   

4. Choose if you want to post it on your Feed, in a Chat, or as a Reel.
   

   

Then, share your photo like you normally would.

4. Check Instagram’s permissions

If your camera roll photos aren’t showing up on Instagram, it might be because the app doesn’t have permission to see your photos or videos or use your camera. The privacy settings on your device decide what an app can access. Giving Instagram the permissions it needs lets it easily find and show your photos.

↪ For Android:

1. Go to your phone’s settings and look for “Apps” or “Application Manager.”
   

   

2. Scroll to find “Instagram.”
   

   

3. Tap on “Permissions” within the Instagram settings.
   

   

4. Ensure permissions for “Camera,” “Photos and Videos” are allowed.
   

   

Open Instagram to see if your photos are showing up.

↪ For iOS:

1. Open the “Settings” app on your iPhone or iPad and scroll until you find “Instagram.
   

   

2. Make sure the “Camera” option is turned on (green) under “Allow Instagram To Access.”
   

   

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5. Move pictures from the SD card to internal storage (Android only)

Instagram users may have issues seeing photos on an SD card because of certain restrictions on how the app works. To fix this, you can move your photos to your phone’s built-in storage, which lets Instagram access them easily. This way, you can upload pictures whenever you want without trouble.

1. Start by opening your phone’s “File Manager.”
   

   

2. Go to the “SD card” section.
   

   

3. Look through and find the folder with the photos you want to move. Finding the right folder might take some time, depending on how your files are sorted.
   

   

4. Choose the photos you’d like to move. You may see a “Select” button or need to press and hold on a photo to pick multiple ones. After selecting them, tap “Move” (you might find this as a menu option or an icon).
   

   

5. Go to “Internal shared storage” and decide where to put the photos. You can make a new folder or use one that already exists.
   

   

6. Finish the move by tapping “Paste” or “Move here.”
   

   

6. Report an issue to Instagram

If you’ve tried fixing the issue on your own and Instagram still doesn’t show your camera roll photos, it’s a good idea to let Instagram know. Informing them can help their tech team discover if there’s a glitch or something wrong with the app that they need to fix. Here’s how you can report a problem:

1. Open Instagram and tap on your profile picture at the bottom right to go to your profile.
   

   

2. Select the menu (the three lines) at the top right.
   

   

3. Go down to “Help.”
   

   

4. Choose “Report a Problem.”
   

   

5. Explain your problem, say that your camera roll photos aren’t showing up, and mention what you’ve tried to do about it. You can also attach screenshots showing the issue. Then, hit “Send.”
   

   

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How to prevent such issues from happening again?

To avoid the hassle of Instagram not showing your camera roll photos again, you’ll need to take some steps ahead of time. Here’s how to keep your Instagram working smoothly:

• Update regularly: Make sure both Instagram and your phone’s software are always up to date. Updates often include fixes for problems and improvements that help everything run better together.
• Check app permissions: Always check that Instagram can access your photos and camera. Without these permissions, it can’t show your pictures.
• Check your storage: Keep an eye on how much space you have left on your phone. Too little space can cause problems with how apps work.
• Restart your phone regularly: Turning your phone off and on again occasionally can help fix small issues before they get bigger.

READ MORE: How To View Instagram Without Account in 2024 [2 Methods] ➜

Final thoughts

Fixing the issue of “Instagram not showing camera roll photos” can be straightforward if you follow some simple steps. Keeping your app and phone’s operating system updated, making sure Instagram can access your photos and camera, managing your device’s storage, and restarting your phone can help avoid this problem. 

From moving photos to checking app permissions, each step is designed to make your Instagram use smooth. With a bit of attention, you can continue sharing your favorite moments without any hiccups.