Many of us are those who, at some point, have had a problem with our Instagram account. From simple glitches on a technical level to, unfortunately, worse problems like spam and even harassment. If at any time you have tried to contact the social network, you will have realized that it is not an easy task. Therefore, today we want to show you what is the best way to contact them and also the best solution for the main problems that can arise in our day to day.
What if the mistake is not ours?
Surely you are eager to fix any problem that has to do with a malfunction of your Instagram. The first thing to keep in mind is that same thing the error is not on your phone but there is something more general, that concerns the servers of the social network that are down or have partial or general cuts. So before going crazy trying to contact technical support, the first thing to do is check that everything is fine on the platform.
For this, the best and simplest tool available is Downdetector. This service, which is consulted via the web, informs in real time what is the state of the servers and if the error is general (even if it is global or local) and therefore for all accounts, or only for you. So entering this website is a good way to first locate the place where you can find the error and act accordingly. That you are the only one who suffers from it? Well, then it's time to move on to the next point.
The error seems mine, contact Instagram?
If Instagram and its servers are fine, The next thing we will think is that all problems come from our smartphone But be careful, it's still not the time to go ask the social network for explanations. Because? Well, because our phone works with mobile data or a wireless network connection (Wifi) that could be failing.
So to the question of "contact with Instagram?" for now we answer no. We are going to see that it is not the mobile or wireless network to which we are connected that is causing problems. And how do we verify it? Well, very simple: open any other app that also requires internet connection to verify that they are working correctly and that it loads everything we ask for. The browser and a web page also works, so access and look to see. Have you loaded?
If yes, then it seems that we are getting closer and closer to the possibility of contacting Instagram. But first, we are going to remember some important information, such as whether the mobile you have works with the latest version of the app.
Is your mobile compatible with Instagram?
It could happen that Instagram has updated the application and has decided at its own risk modify the specifications necessary to put it into operation. Normally, on the pages of the App Store and the Play Store, they indicate the version of the operating system for both iOS and Android, which we must have installed on the mobile, so any release lower, it will not be able to work correctly and will give us errors.
These are the versions you should have:
- iPhone: iOS 12.4.
- Android: At this point, Instagram is a bit vague and doesn't provide precise information on which OS versions are error-free. Right now, there seems to be agreement in stating that all devices with Android 4.0 have it impossible to make the social network work.
Now yes: contact Instagram
We have already told you on other occasions that trying to locate a telephone number or contact email for companies such as Facebook or Twitter is (almost) an impossible task and in the case of Instagram it is not so easy either. But not impossible, of course.
- Telephone: there is a number you can call to contact technical support (+1 650 543 4800), although we do not guarantee immediate attention. Or they may not even serve you. What you will hear is a recorded speech, in English, which will guide you through different help contents.
- Email address: although an email circulates on the internet (support@instagram.com), this already is NOT operational. Therefore, there is currently no way to contact the technical service of the platform via email.
As with the rest of social networks, respond to the problems of more than 1.000 million active users in a month that has Instagram would be impossible having a direct contact channel with them. So what can we do?
The best option in these cases to help those users who have an error, failure or problem to report about the service to obtain assistance, is to go to the help Center online that Instagram has enabled and that you can access from its website. It has the typical system of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) or frequently asked questions where they give solutions through "tutorials" or simple explanations to all those common problems that (they imagine) that their users usually suffer from. These are the general consultation sections that you will find:
- Instagram Features
- Manage your account
- Security
- Privacy, security and complaints
- Conditions and policies
Within each of them you have endless Options much more specific related to the selected topic. For example, in the Instagram Functions, you will find assistance for issues related to your profile, browsing photos and videos, Stories or direct from the platform. In Safety, you'll find everything from advice (including a special section for parents) to how to deal with abuse and what to do in such cases, while in Manage your account it helps you adjust your preferences and settings, how to get a verified badge and to how to delete your profile, if that's what you need.
The page also has a search engine that also you can make your own searches on the subject that does not let you sleep and also suggests some common problems that are either searched for very frequently (such as the information center on the pandemic or how the Reels work) or that have just been added (for example the articles digital collectibles).
Contact through other social networks
It is possible that all of the above does not work for you or that the response may be delayed through traditional channels. One solution is to go to other social networks (yes, you read that right) to check if the support is still just as slow or if they are a little faster, because the complaint is visible to other users on the competing platform (only Twitter because Facebook... everything stay home).
So if you need to amplify your request, We recommend you go to the so-called official profiles of Instagram both on the social network owned by Meta and on Twitter.
Common problems and how to fix them
Now that you know where you can get in touch with the social network, it's time to solve your problems. We have listed the main failures or drawbacks that you can have in this social network and, together with them, we show you the possible solution that they officially contemplate.
Contact from the Instagram app on the mobile
One of the easiest ways to report a problem to Instagram is from your app. To do so, you just have to follow the following steps:
- Access your profile and, here, enter the settings from the sandwich menu in the upper right corner.
- Once there, access the Help menu. From it you will have access to a multitude of solutions to common problems with the platform and its use.
Problems logging in to your profile
Some of the most common errors on Instagram are usually related to login or with your own profile. The most common within this social network are:
- Report a problem with sign-in: This section lists all those problems related to login, email or your own username.
- Something doesn't work: If you find something that doesn't work, an error within the Instagram app itself, here is the process to follow to try to fix it. The most common errors of this type are some such as the app getting blocked and not responding, the impossibility of sharing a photo or a link, an error when creating or deleting a comment either on your own profile or on that of others, etc.
- Account disabled: If your account has been deactivated or blocked due to an error, or because you have carried out an inappropriate practice in accordance with Instagram standards, this is the channel you must follow to request its activation again. Of course, we already put you on notice that if your profile has been blocked because you have violated the conditions of use of the social network, it is most likely that your request to use it again will be rejected.
- Hacked account: If you believe or know for sure that your user account has been hacked by another user, follow this process. Although, yes, we recommend that change your email password to which your profile was associated. Who assures you that if they have entered your Instagram account they do not also have access to your linked email?
Privacy-related issues and abuse
Unfortunately, social networks are a reflection of society and, therefore, we will be very lucky if, over the years, we do not come across problematic people who need the attention of a specialist but who, unfortunately, and while that happens, are causing inconvenience to the profiles that fall within the scope of its influence. So It is important that you know the risks you face and that are not only limited to Instagram, but can extend to other areas of your digital life, including company profiles, personal or work emails and even your bank.
In this section, these are all the scenarios that we can find when using the platform:
- Phishing or spamming: In the event that you detect that a user is trying to scam you to send you unwanted content, the best thing you can do is report this problem directly to Instagram. You can do this from the link of the form to its website that we leave you, or from the app itself. To do the latter, whether you want report is a person, a post or a comment, locate the menu with the three points in each case and then click on “Report”. After this, tap on "It's spam" or "It's inappropriate" to clarify your specific case to the help service. This is the best way to try to put an end to this type of practice on social networks and, by reporting it, it is not only a benefit for you, but you will also be helping to prevent it from happening to other people.
- Impersonation: If you know for sure that someone is impersonating another person on the social network, this is the method you must follow to report it and for the original owner to regain control of what is published on their profile.
- Privacy issues: in the specific case that you want to file a complaint that affects the rights of image privacy, this form will allow you to detail everything and contact the platform directly to claim what you consider fair.
- Another user is impersonating you: If you find a profile or page that pretends to be you, impersonating your identity, follow the advice given by the social network itself.
- Do you suffer some kind of blackmail?: From Instagram they invite us to report these cases quickly and confidentially, through the application itself, but above all, directing you to the local authorities, who are the ones that can really nip these dangerous practices in the bud.
These are the main problems you can find on Instagram at the level of failures or general problems. If you have other questions, such as blocking other people from tag you or prevent certain users from seeing your stories or publications, you can consult the rest of the articles that we have published on our website in relation to these topics.