Fix: Instagram Keeps Crashing on Android & iOS

Instagram may keep crashing mainly due to issues with the Instagram app or the device’s OS. It is very unlikely the issues stem from Instagram’s server side. Issues might range from an outdated app to a corrupt one. This problem occurs when you try to launch Instagram but it crashes instantly.

The error is generally reported after an update of the Instagram app or device’s OS. In some cases, the problem occurred while doing a particular app operation like watching Instagram stories or taking verification selfies. The issue is reported on both, the iPhone and Android versions of Instagram apps. For some, the error occurred while accessing the Instagram website through a browser.  

There may be many reasons for which you may encounter the Instagram keeps crashing issue but the following can be easily marked as the main ones:

1. Force Restart Your Phone (iOS & Android)

A temporary glitch in your phone’s OS modules may cause constant crashing of Instagram and here, performing a force restart of your phone may resolve the issue. For illustration, we will go through the process for an iPhone but the method (steps a bit different) works on Android as well. Before moving on, make sure Instagram servers are not down or going through a rough patch.

1. Tap on the iPhone’s volume up button and quickly, press/release the iPhone’s volume down button.
2. Now press and hold the iPhone’s power or side button. Make sure not to release the side button on the iPhone’s power menu.

   

3. Then wait till the Apple logo is shown on the screen and once done, check if the Instagram crashing error is cleared.
4. If that did not work, unmount/remove the phone’s SD card (if mounted) and check if that clears the crashing of the Instagram app.

2. Update the Instagram App to the Latest Release (iOS & Android)

The Instagram app may keep crashing if its outdated installation has become incompatible with the phone’s OS. In this case, updating the Instagram app to the latest build may clear the crashing issue. For elucidation, we will go through the process of updating the Android version of Instagram to the latest build, although, the approach is the same the process may differ a bit on the Apple version of the Instagram app.

1. Launch Google Play Store and search for Instagram.
2. Now check if an update of the Instagram app is available.
3. If so, tap on the Update button, and once updated, press Open.

   

4. Then check if the Instagram keeps crashing issue is resolved.
5. If not, check if updating Facebook Messenger clears the issue.
6. If that did not work, check if installing the Facebook app (Instagram uses Facebook APIs to perform certain tasks) solves the problem.

3. Wipe Cache Partition of Your Phone (Android Only)

If the data/info in your phone’s cache has become corrupt, then the Instagram app may fail to fetch essential data from the phone’s cache and thus the crashing. In such a case, wiping the phone’s cache partition may solve the problem.

1. Firstly, power off your Android phone.
2. Now simultaneously press/hold the Volume Down and Power buttons of your phone. The combo might differ depending on the manufacturer and Android version of your phone.
3. Now wait till the phone boots into the Recovery Mode and once does, highlight the Wipe Cache Partition option by using the volume up or down keys.

   

4. Then press the Power button to confirm wiping of the cache partition and wait till the process completes.
5. Once done, select Reboot to start your phone into the normal mode and once in the normal mode, launch Instagram to check if its crashing problem is cleared.

4. Update the Phone’s OS to the Latest Build (iOS & Android)

If your phone is missing the latest updates and patches for its OS, then it may become incompatible with the Instagram app and this incompatibility may terminate essential app modules in their execution, leading to the app’s frequent crashes. For illustration, we will go through the process of updating an Apple phone to its latest iOS build and if you have an Android phone, you may update it as per the OEM’s instructions.

1. Firstly, back up your phone, make it fully charged, and connect it to a Wi-Fi network.
2. Now open the iPhone Settings and select General.

   

3. Then open Software Update and check if an update for your phone’s iOS is available.

   

4. If so, download the update and then install the iOS update.
5. Once installed, restart your iPhone, and upon restart, launch Instagram and check if it is working fine.

5. Give the Instagram App its Required Permissions (iOS & Android)

The Instagram app may instantly crash if it does not have any permissions (like the File Writing permission) essential for its operation. Here, giving the Instagram app the required permissions may resolve the issue.

For Android

1. Launch your Android phone Settings and open Apps.

   

2. Now search for the Instagram app and then tap on it.

   

3. Then open Permissions and make sure every required permission is granted to the Instagram app.

   

4. Now restart your phone and upon restart, launch Instagram to check if it is working fine.

For iOS

1. Launch your iPhone Settings and scroll down to the Apps section.
2. Now open Instagram and make sure all the app-required permissions are granted.

   

3. Then restart your iPhone and upon restart, launch Instagram to check if its crashing issue is resolved.

   

4. If not, steer to the Privacy settings in the iPhone’s Settings and check each option to make sure the Instagram app has the required permissions e.g., open Microphone and permit the Instagram app to use your iPhone’s microphone.

   

5. Then restart your iPhone and afterward, check if the Instagram crashing problem is solved.

6. Revert to Stock Android Launcher (Android Only)

If you are using a 3^rd party launcher (like Hex+), then that launcher may have become incompatible with the Instagram app (due to a launcher or app update) and may cause constant crashing of Instagram. In such a case, reverting to the stock Android launcher may resolve the issue.

1. Launch Android phone Settings and open Apps.

   

2. Now select Choose Default Apps and open the Home App.

   

3. Then select your OEM’s default launcher e.g., One UI Home, and afterward, launch the Instagram app to check if its crashing problem is cleared.

   

7. Change Regional and Language Settings of Your Phone (iOS and Android)

If your regional and language settings have recently changed (by you or a 3^rd party app), then that could result in constant crashes of the Instagram app as the app fails to authenticate your credentials from a different region. Here, switching the regional and language settings of your phone to your current location may resolve the issue.

For Android

1. Launch Settings of your Android phone and open Language & Input.

   

2. Now open Language and Region.

   

3. Then make sure the language and region match your current location.
4. Now restart your phone and upon restart, launch Instagram to check if its crashing issue is resolved.

For iOS

1. Launch Settings of your iPhone and select General.
2. Now open Language and Region.

   

3. Then make sure the Region and Language of your iPhone are set correctly (e.g., English UK), and afterward, restart your iPhone.

   

4. Upon restart, launch Instagram and check if it has started to operate normally.

8. Disable Battery Optimization for the Instagram App on Your Phone (Android Only)

If your phone is terminating the Instagram app to optimize its battery, then that could be the root cause of the crashing issue under discussion. Here, disabling Battery Optimization for the Instagram app on your phone may clear the problem.

1. Launch Settings of your Android phone and open Apps.
2. Now look for Instagram and tap on it.
3. Then open Battery and set the Instagram usage to Unrestricted.

   

4. Now restart your phone and upon restart, launch Instagram to check if it is clear of the crashing problem.
5. If not, check if disabling the phone’s dark mode clears the Instagram crashing.

9. Clear Cache and Data of the Instagram App (Android Only)

You may face the crashing of Instagram on your Android phone if its cache or data is corrupt. Due to this corrupt cache/data, the app is failing to access data essential for its operation. In such a scenario, clearing the cache and data of the Instagram app may resolve the issue. You may need to re-log into the Instagram app, so keep the credentials available.

1. Firstly, open the Recent Apps menu of your phone and remove Instagram from there.
2. Then launch the Settings of your Android phone and open Apps.
3. Now search for Instagram and open it.
4. Then tap on Force Stop and afterward, confirm to Force Stop the Instagram app.

   

5. Now open Storage and tap on Clear Cache
   

   

6. Then check if Instagram’s crashing issue is resolved.
7. If not, open the Storage Settings of the Instagram app (by following steps 1 to 5) and tap on Clear Cache.
8. Now press the Clear Data (or Clear Storage) button and afterward, confirm to clear Instagram’s data.
9. Once done, restart your phone, and upon restart, launch Instagram.
10. Now log in using your credentials and then check if the issue is resolved.
11. If that did not work, clear the cache/data of the Instagram app, launch the Instagram app, log in using another account, and check if the app is working fine.

10. Uninstall Updates of the Instagram App (Android Only)

If the latest updates applied to the Instagram app have become corrupt, then that could cause continuous crashing of the Instagram app. In this case, uninstalling updates of the Instagram app may resolve the issue. This method will only work for Android phones where the Instagram app is a system app (which cannot be uninstalled).

1. Launch your phone’s Settings and open Apps.
2. Now find and tap on Instagram.
3. Then open the More menu by taping 3 vertical ellipses (near the top right) and select Uninstall Updates.

   

4. Now confirm to uninstall updates and wait till the process completes.
5. Once done, restart your phone and upon restart, update the Instagram app (as discussed earlier) and check if its crashing issue is resolved.

11. Update Android System WebView to the Latest Build (Android Only)

Instagram (like other apps) uses Android System WebView (based on Chrome) to show its web content. If the installation of Android System WebView on your phone is outdated, then its incompatibility with the latest Instagram modules may cause the crashing of the Instagram app. In such a scenario, updating the Android System WebView to the latest build may solve the problem.

1. Launch Google Play Store and search for Android System WebView.
2. Now open it and if an update is available, tap on Update.

   

3. Once updated, restart your phone, and upon restart, check if Instagram is not crashing anymore.
4. If not, check if updating all the Google-related apps through the Google Play Store resolves the issue.

12. Reinstall Android System WebView (Android Only)

Instagram uses Android System WebView (by using Chrome’s modules) to show its web content. The Instagram app on your phone may keep on crashing if the installation of the Android System WebView has become corrupt. In this context, reinstalling Android System WebView may clear the crashing issue at hand.

1. Launch the Settings of your Android phone and open Apps.
2. Now, near the top right, tap on the three vertical ellipses and select Show System.

   

3. Then look for Android System WebView and tap on it to open it.
4. Now tap on Uninstall and afterward, confirm to uninstall Android System WebView. In some cases, you may see Disable (instead of Uninstall). If so, tap on Disable.

   

5. Then restart your phone and upon restart, launch Google Play Store.
6. Now search for Android System WebView and tap on Install. If you have disabled Android System WebView, then you may have to enable it.

   

7. Once installed, restart your phone, and upon restart, launch Instagram and check if its crashing problem is cleared.
8. If that did not work, uninstall or disable Chrome, restart your phone, launch Instagram and check if its crashing issue is cleared. If so, then you may reinstall or enable Chrome. 

13. Disable Your Phone’s Security Product (iOS & Android)

If your phone’s antivirus is blocking the Instagram app’s access to the essential Instagram modules, then that could also cause constant crashing of the Instagram app. Here, disabling your phone’s security product may resolve the issue. For illustration, we will go through the process of disabling Kaspersky on an Android phone (steps for iPhone are nearly identical except for some exceptions).

Warning:

Advance with utmost care and at your own risk as disabling your phone’s antivirus may expose your phone’s data to threats. 

1. Launch Kaspersky and open its Settings.
2. Now open Internet Protection and then disable it (if enabled).

   

3. Then launch Instagram and afterward, check if the Instagram crashing issue is resolved.
4. If not, uninstall Kaspersky, restart your phone, launch Instagram and check if its crashing problem is cleared.

14. Reinstall the Instagram App (iOS & Android)

The Instagram app may keep crashing if its installation has gone corrupt and essential app modules are failing in execution. In this scenario, reinstalling the Instagram app may solve the crashing problem.

For Android

1. Launch the Settings of your Android phone and select Apps.
2. Now tap on Instagram and clear its cache/storage in the Storage settings (discussed above).
3. Then press the Uninstall button and afterward, confirm to uninstall the Instagram app.

   

4. Once done, restart your phone and upon restart, reinstall Instagram.
5. Now launch/log in to Instagram and check if it is working appropriately.

For iOS

1. Tap and hold the Instagram app’s icon on the iPhone’s Home screen.
2. Now select Remove App or Delete App and afterward, confirm to delete the Instagram app.

   

3. Once done, restart the iPhone, and upon restart, reinstall Instagram.
4. Now launch/log in using your credentials and afterward, check if the Instagram app is clear of the crashing problem.

15. Leave or Join Instagram Beta (Android Only)

Instagram uses its Beta testers to find out bugs in its apps and the latest patches are also released firstly on the Beta channel. If you are a beta tester and encountering the crashing, then a bug in the app could be the root cause of the issue, and leaving the Beta program may clear the issue.

On the other hand, if you are not a Beta tester and encountering the issue, then joining Beta may solve the problem as the bug causing the issue might have been patched in the app’s beta version. Here, joining the Instagram Beta may clear the app’s crashing.

Join Instagram Beta

1. Launch Google Play Store and search for Instagram.
2. Now scroll down to the Beta Testing section and under the Beta Tester option, tap on Join.

   

3. Then confirm to join the Beta testing program and wait till You’re a Beta Tester is shown.
4. Now restart your phone and upon restart, update the Instagram app (discussed earlier) and then check if it is clear of the crashing problem.

Leave Instagram Beta

1. Launch Google Play Store and search for Instagram.
2. Then scroll down to the Beta Testing section and under You’re a Beta Tester, tap on Leave.

   

3. Now confirm to Leave the Beta testing program and then uninstall the Instagram app (discussed earlier).
4. Then restart your phone and upon restart, reinstall the Instagram app.
5. Now launch/login to Instagram and check if its crashing issue is resolved.

17. Reset the Phone to the Factory Defaults (iOS & Android)

The Instagram app may keep crashing if the phone’s OS or data is corrupt and due to this corruption, the essential modules of the Instagram app are being terminated in the execution. In this context, resetting your phone to the factory defaults may resolve the crashing problem at hand.

Before proceeding, make sure to back up the phone’s essential data as it will be wiped clean. Also do not forget to fully charge the phone as the last thing you may want in a reset process is the dying of your phone’s battery.

For Android

1. Launch your Android phone’s Settings and open Backup and Reset.

   

2. Then select Factory Data Reset and afterward, tap on Reset Device.
3. Then confirm to start the process by tapping Erase Everything.

   

4. Now, wait till the process completes and once done, set up your phone as a new device (do not restore from the backup) and install Instagram (if not a system app).
5. Then launch/login to Instagram and hopefully, it will be working fine.

For iOS

1. Launch the iPhone’s Settings and open General.
2. Now open Reset and press on Erase All Contents and Settings.

   

3. Then confirm to reset your iPhone to the factory defaults and wait till the process completes.
4. Once done, set up your iPhone as a new device without restoring from the backup and install Instagram.
5. Now launch/login to Instagram and hopefully, its crashing issue will be cleared.

If the issue persists, then you may use the browser version of Instagram or try Instagram Lite (Android only) till the issue resolves on the back end or with your account. If you are one of those unlucky ones who are failing to load Instagram in a browser like Firefox, then you may try another browser like Edge to clear the problem.

If you must use the Instagram app, then you may try an older version of the Instagram app (strictly not recommended as you will acquire an older version from a 3rd party website that cannot be trusted). If the Instagram app is crashing for you when doing selfie verification, then you may use another Android phone to complete the process as the Instagram server might have marked your device suspicious and causing the crashes. In the end, you may contact Instagram support or its developer to report the problem and get it rectified.