Instagram Reels should start playing almost immediately, so it is frustrating when you only see a spinning circle, black screen, frozen thumbnail, endless buffering, or a message saying the Reel cannot be loaded.
The problem can come from the Instagram app, your internet connection, temporary cached files, an outdated app version, a VPN or network filter, an account restriction, or a Reel that is no longer available.
The fastest way to fix it is to work out whether the problem affects every Reel, only your phone, only one network, or just one specific Reel. That prevents you from changing settings that have nothing to do with the actual problem.
Quick answer: Close and reopen Instagram, restart your phone, switch between Wi-Fi and mobile data, update Instagram, and clear Instagram's cache if you use Android. If Reels still fail, check your Instagram Account Status, temporarily disable VPN or network-filtering tools, and test Instagram on another device or browser. Reinstall Instagram only after protecting any drafts you want to keep.
First: Find Out What Is Actually Failing
Before reinstalling Instagram or changing your phone's network settings, spend a minute identifying the pattern.
| What Is Happening? | Where to Focus |
|---|---|
| All Reels keep buffering | Internet connection or Instagram app |
| Reels work on Wi-Fi but not mobile data | Cellular connection or data access |
| Reels work on mobile data but not Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi/router connection |
| Feed works but Reels do not | Instagram app, account, or Reels-specific problem |
| Only one Reel will not open | That Reel or its account |
| Instagram itself freezes or crashes | App or phone software |
| Reels fail on several devices | Account, network, or Instagram-side issue |
Instagram's own troubleshooting guide recommends testing the app on both Wi-Fi and mobile data when something is not loading properly. You can see Meta's current recommendations in the official Instagram troubleshooting guide.
1. Close and Reopen Instagram
Start with the least disruptive fix.
Completely close Instagram and then open it again.
On Android
Open the Recent Apps screen, find Instagram, and swipe it away. The exact gesture or button depends on your phone.
On iPhone
Open the App Switcher, find Instagram, and swipe up on its preview.
Then reopen Instagram and try several different Reels.
Apple also recommends closing and reopening an app as its first step when an iPhone app stops responding or does not behave correctly. See Apple's official app troubleshooting instructions.
2. Restart Your Phone
If reopening Instagram does not work, restart the phone.
A restart gives Instagram and the phone's networking services a fresh start without deleting your account or app data.
- Restart your Android phone or iPhone.
- Wait until it reconnects to the internet.
- Open Instagram.
- Test several Reels.
Instagram currently lists restarting the phone or tablet as one of its first recommended troubleshooting steps.
If Instagram does not merely buffer but repeatedly closes or freezes on Android, use our Android apps keep crashing troubleshooting guide.
3. Switch Between Wi-Fi and Mobile Data
This is one of the most useful tests because it immediately tells you whether the problem follows your internet connection.
If you are using Wi-Fi
- Turn Wi-Fi off.
- Make sure mobile data is working.
- Open Instagram.
- Try several Reels.
If you are using mobile data
- Connect to a trusted Wi-Fi network.
- Open Instagram again.
- Test the same Reels.
Meta specifically recommends testing Instagram on both Wi-Fi and cellular data when investigating connection-related problems.
If Instagram works on one network but not the other
You have narrowed the problem down considerably.
If Wi-Fi is the problem and other apps are also slow, see our Wi-Fi connected but slow internet guide.
If your Wi-Fi connects but nothing online works, follow our router connected but no internet troubleshooting guide.
If mobile data shows good signal but Instagram and other apps cannot access the internet, see our mobile data not working despite full signal guide.
4. Update Instagram
Before doing anything more aggressive, make sure Instagram itself is current.
Meta specifically tells users to use the latest version of Instagram when troubleshooting technical problems.
Android
- Open Google Play Store.
- Search for Instagram.
- If you see Update, install it.
- Reopen Instagram and test Reels.
iPhone
- Open App Store.
- Open your account page.
- Look for available updates.
- Update Instagram if available.
If the problem began immediately after an Instagram update, restarting the phone after installing any newer available update is also worth trying.
Do not download modified or unofficial Instagram APKs as a troubleshooting shortcut.
5. Clear Instagram Cache on Android
Android lets you remove temporary app cache without deleting the entire Instagram installation.
On many Android phones:
- Open Settings.
- Tap Apps.
- Select Instagram.
- Tap Storage or Storage & cache.
- Tap Clear cache.
- Reopen Instagram.
Menu names vary slightly between Samsung Galaxy, Google Pixel, Motorola, OnePlus, Xiaomi, and other Android phones.
Google explains that Clear cache removes temporary app data, while Clear storage permanently removes the app's stored data. See Google's official Android cache and storage guidance.
Important: For this troubleshooting step, tap Clear cache, not Clear storage or Clear data.
For detailed instructions across different Android phones, use our guide to clearing Android cache without deleting your data.
What about Instagram cache on iPhone?
Do not follow Android instructions on an iPhone. Apple's normal troubleshooting path for a misbehaving app is to close and reopen it, restart the iPhone, check for updates, and then delete and redownload the app if necessary.
Because reinstalling Instagram has an important draft warning, we cover that separately below.
6. Check Available Phone Storage
If your phone is almost completely full, give it some breathing room before troubleshooting further.
Apps need working storage for updates, temporary files, downloaded media, and normal operation.
Android
Open your phone's Settings > Storage area. The exact location varies by manufacturer.
iPhone
Open:
Settings > General > iPhone Storage
If space is very low, remove downloads or files you no longer need before reinstalling Instagram or installing system updates.
Do not randomly delete Instagram content you still want to keep.
7. Temporarily Disable VPN or Network Filtering
If you use a VPN, proxy, Private DNS service, firewall, or network-level ad blocker, temporarily turn it off as a test.
Then:
- Reconnect to the internet.
- Close and reopen Instagram.
- Try several Reels.
If Reels immediately begin working, the issue may involve that network-routing or filtering setup rather than Instagram itself.
Turn the service back on afterward and troubleshoot its configuration rather than leaving an important privacy or workplace security tool disabled permanently.
If Instagram fails only on your home Wi-Fi but works immediately on cellular data, also try another Wi-Fi network before changing DNS or advanced router settings.
Avoid changing router DNS, MTU, IPv6, or other advanced settings just because Instagram Reels are buffering. First prove that the home network is actually responsible.
8. Check Your Instagram Account Status
If the Reels section itself is missing, publishing features do not work, or one account behaves differently from another account on the same phone, check Instagram's Account Status.
Instagram says Account Status can show restrictions and features you can no longer use.
Inside Instagram, open your profile and look in the menu/settings area for Account Status. Instagram's interface can move options over time, so use Instagram's search/settings tools if the menu wording differs.
You can read Meta's official Account Status documentation for the current procedure.
If Account Status shows a restriction, follow Instagram's review or appeal options rather than repeatedly reinstalling the app.
9. Test Instagram on Another Device or Browser
This is a diagnostic step rather than a reset.
Try one of these:
- Open Instagram on another phone.
- Open Instagram in a mobile or desktop browser.
- Try the same account on another trusted device.
Then compare the results.
Reels work elsewhere
The problem is more likely limited to your phone, app installation, or network.
Reels fail everywhere on the same account
Check Account Status and consider reporting the problem to Instagram.
Instagram fails for multiple accounts and devices
That pattern makes an app-wide, network-wide, or service-side problem more plausible. In that case, avoid repeatedly reinstalling or resetting your devices while you investigate.
10. Reinstall Instagram Carefully
Meta recommends uninstalling and reinstalling Instagram when restarting the device and testing the internet connection do not solve the problem.
However, there is one important warning.
Save any Instagram drafts you care about before uninstalling the app.
Instagram states that Reel drafts are saved on your device and will be lost if you uninstall Instagram. You can confirm this in Instagram's official Reel drafts documentation.
Before uninstalling
- Check whether you have Reel drafts.
- Save important videos to your phone where possible.
- Make sure you know your Instagram password.
- Make sure you can complete two-factor authentication if enabled.
Then reinstall
- Uninstall Instagram.
- Restart your phone.
- Install Instagram again from Google Play Store or App Store.
- Sign in.
- Test Reels before changing additional settings.
Your published Instagram photos and profile information remain associated with your Instagram account, but locally stored drafts require special attention before uninstalling.
11. Update Android or iOS
Meta recommends using the latest version of both Instagram and your phone or tablet's operating system when troubleshooting Instagram.
Android
Open Settings and look for System update, Software update, or the equivalent option used by your manufacturer.
iPhone
Open:
Settings > General > Software Update
Install an available stable update and restart the phone if required.
There is generally no reason to jump immediately to a factory reset because Instagram Reels are not loading.
12. Report the Problem to Instagram
If Reels still fail after you have:
- Restarted the phone.
- Tested Wi-Fi and mobile data.
- Updated Instagram.
- Cleared cache on Android.
- Checked Account Status.
- Tested another device or browser.
- Reinstalled Instagram when appropriate.
the next useful step is to report the broken feature to Instagram.
Meta's current path in the Android and iPhone app is:
- Open your Instagram profile.
- Tap the menu in the top-right corner.
- Under More info and support, tap Help.
- Tap Report a Problem.
- Follow the instructions.
Instagram recommends including useful details such as your phone model, what you were doing when the issue appeared, and a screenshot where possible.
See Meta's official guide for reporting a technical problem on Instagram.
If the option to include logs and diagnostics appears and you are comfortable sending them, those diagnostics can provide Meta with additional technical information about the failure.
Instagram Reels Not Loading on Android
If you are using Android, use this order:
- Close and reopen Instagram.
- Restart the phone.
- Switch between Wi-Fi and mobile data.
- Update Instagram in Google Play Store.
- Clear Instagram's cache.
- Check available phone storage.
- Temporarily disable VPN or network-filtering apps.
- Check Instagram Account Status.
- Update Android.
- Reinstall Instagram after protecting your drafts.
Do not start by clearing Instagram's entire app storage. Google's Android documentation distinguishes cache from storage: clearing storage deletes the app's stored data, while clearing cache only removes temporary data.
If several Android apps are crashing or freezing in addition to Instagram, the issue may be broader than Instagram. See our Android app crashing guide.
Instagram Reels Not Loading on iPhone
For iPhone, try this order:
- Close Instagram and reopen it.
- Restart the iPhone.
- Switch between Wi-Fi and cellular data.
- Update Instagram from App Store.
- Check available iPhone storage.
- Temporarily test without a VPN or network filter.
- Check Instagram Account Status.
- Install an available iOS update.
- Reinstall Instagram only after saving important drafts.
Apple's current app troubleshooting guidance follows a similar escalation: close and reopen the app, restart the device, check updates, and delete/redownload the app if the problem continues.
Because Instagram says uninstalling removes locally saved drafts, protect those before using the reinstall step.
Reels Not Loading on Wi-Fi
If Instagram Reels work perfectly on mobile data but keep buffering on Wi-Fi, test whether the Wi-Fi connection is the real issue.
Try:
- Move closer to the router.
- Open other websites or streaming services.
- Restart the router if multiple devices are affected.
- Try another Wi-Fi network.
- Temporarily disable a VPN or network filter.
If everything connected to the router is slow, follow our slow Wi-Fi troubleshooting guide.
If devices remain connected to Wi-Fi but nothing can reach the internet, use our router connected but no internet guide.
Do not immediately change DNS servers simply because one app has a playback problem.
Reels Not Loading on Mobile Data
If Reels work on Wi-Fi but fail on cellular data, first check whether the issue affects Instagram only.
Turn Wi-Fi off and try:
- Opening a website.
- Using another video app.
- Refreshing another internet-based app.
If nothing works correctly on mobile data, troubleshoot the cellular connection rather than Instagram.
Our mobile data not working with full signal guide covers that situation.
If other apps work normally but Instagram does not, update Instagram, restart the phone, and check whether Instagram has been restricted from using cellular data in your phone's settings.
Why Does Only One Instagram Reel Not Load?
If hundreds of Reels play normally but one link says it is unavailable, repeatedly clearing cache or resetting your network probably will not help.
The content itself may no longer be available to you.
For example, Meta explains that content can become unavailable when it was recently deleted or when it belongs to a private account that the viewer cannot access.
You can read more in Instagram's official guidance about unavailable Instagram content.
Try several unrelated Reels. If everything else plays normally, treat the problem as content-specific rather than a phone-wide failure.
What If the Reels Tab Is Missing?
A missing Reels tab is different from Reels buffering.
Start by:
- Updating Instagram.
- Restarting the app and phone.
- Checking your Instagram Account Status.
- Testing the same account on another device.
Instagram notes that some features may not be available to every account at the same time, and Account Status can show features that your account is currently unable to use.
If the feature is missing without an explanation, report it to Instagram rather than repeatedly resetting your phone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are Instagram Reels not loading?
Possible causes include an unstable internet connection, a temporary Instagram app problem, outdated Instagram software, corrupted temporary cache on Android, a VPN or network filter, an account restriction, or a specific Reel that is no longer available.
Why do Instagram Reels keep buffering?
First test another internet connection. Switch from Wi-Fi to mobile data or vice versa. If the problem only occurs on one network, troubleshoot that connection before changing Instagram settings.
Why are Instagram Reels not loading but posts work?
If the rest of Instagram works normally, close and reopen the app, update Instagram, clear its cache on Android, and test your account on another device or browser. If the issue follows your account, check Account Status and report the problem to Instagram.
How do I clear Instagram cache?
On many Android phones, go to Settings > Apps > Instagram > Storage or Storage & cache > Clear cache. Menu wording varies by Android manufacturer. Do not tap Clear storage unless you intentionally want to remove stored app data.
Can I clear Instagram cache on iPhone?
iPhone troubleshooting is different from Android. Apple recommends closing and reopening the app, restarting the iPhone, updating the app and iOS, and deleting/redownloading the app if necessary.
Will reinstalling Instagram delete my account?
Uninstalling the app does not delete your Instagram account or published profile content. However, Instagram specifically warns that locally saved drafts are lost when the app is uninstalled.
Will uninstalling Instagram delete my Reel drafts?
Yes. Instagram's Help Center states that drafts stored on your device are lost if you uninstall the Instagram app. Save anything important before reinstalling.
Why do Reels work on mobile data but not Wi-Fi?
That strongly suggests checking the Wi-Fi connection. Test other apps, restart the router if multiple devices are affected, and try another Wi-Fi network before changing advanced router settings.
Why do Reels work on Wi-Fi but not mobile data?
Test other apps using cellular data. If mobile data itself is not working, fix the cellular connection first. If only Instagram fails, restart and update Instagram and confirm the app is allowed to use cellular data.
Can a VPN stop Instagram Reels from loading?
A VPN or other network-routing/filtering service can be tested by temporarily disabling it. If Reels begin working immediately, investigate the VPN or filtering configuration before turning it back on.
Should I change DNS to fix Instagram Reels?
Not as an early troubleshooting step. First restart Instagram, test another network, update the app, clear Android cache, and test without VPN or filtering. Changing DNS is unnecessary when the problem is limited to the Instagram app or a single Reel.
Should I reset network settings?
Not just because Instagram Reels are buffering. Network reset affects broader device connectivity and is more appropriate when you have persistent connection problems across multiple apps and networks.
Why does one Instagram Reel say unavailable?
The Reel may have been deleted or may belong to a private account you cannot currently access. If every other Reel plays normally, the problem is probably specific to that content.
How do I know if my Instagram account is restricted?
Check Instagram's Account Status. Meta says it can show removed content, restrictions, and features that your account can no longer use, along with available review options.
What should I do if nothing fixes Instagram Reels?
After restarting, changing networks, updating Instagram and your phone, checking cache and Account Status, and carefully reinstalling the app, report the technical issue through Instagram's Help section.
Final Thoughts
If Instagram Reels are not loading, avoid jumping straight to network resets, custom DNS servers, or a factory reset.
Start with the fixes Instagram itself recommends: restart the app and phone, test Wi-Fi versus mobile data, and make sure Instagram and your phone's operating system are up to date.
Android users can then safely clear Instagram's temporary cache. If only your account appears affected, check Account Status. If only one Reel fails while others play normally, the content itself may no longer be available.
Reinstall Instagram only after saving any drafts you want to keep, because Instagram confirms that locally saved drafts are lost when the app is uninstalled.
If the problem survives all of those tests, use Instagram's built-in Report a Problem option so the issue can be investigated as a technical fault rather than continuing to change unrelated phone settings.