How to Fix Instagram Suggested Posts Not Loading or Showing Up
If you‘re an avid Instagram user, you may have noticed a relatively new feature called "suggested posts" that appears after you‘ve caught up on the latest posts from accounts you follow. Suggested posts are meant to help you discover fresh content that aligns with your interests, as determined by Instagram‘s algorithm. However, some users have reported issues with suggested posts not loading or showing up at all. If you‘re experiencing this problem, don‘t worry – there are several troubleshooting steps you can try to get suggested posts working again.
What are Instagram suggested posts?
First, let‘s clarify what exactly "suggested posts" are on Instagram. This feature was introduced in August 2020 as a way to keep users engaged on the app even after they‘ve viewed all the recent posts from their followed accounts. Suggested posts appear on your main feed, but they‘re from accounts you don‘t necessarily follow. The selection of suggested posts is automatically curated based on your Instagram activity, like the accounts you interact with and the types of posts you tend to like or comment on.
The idea behind suggested posts is to help users branch out and discover compelling new content and accounts that match their interests. Some people appreciate seeing suggested posts as a way to find inspiration and stay entertained. However, others prefer a more streamlined feed strictly made up of posts from accounts they‘ve hand-picked to follow.
Why are suggested posts not loading or showing up?
There are a few potential reasons why you might encounter issues with suggested posts on Instagram, such as the posts failing to load or not appearing on your feed at all. Here are some of the most common causes:
Instagram is experiencing an outage or server issues. Sometimes the problem isn‘t on your end at all, but an issue with Instagram‘s servers that impacts core functions of the app, like loading content on the feed.
Your app is out of date. If you haven‘t updated the Instagram app on your device in a while, you may be missing important bug fixes and improvements. Older versions of the app are more prone to glitches, like suggested posts not working.
Your internet connection is poor or inconsistent. Instagram is an online platform, so it requires a steady connection to work smoothly. If suggested posts aren‘t loading, it could be due to a weak Wi-Fi signal or spotty mobile data.
Suggested posts may be temporarily unavailable. Like any feature, suggested posts could be turned off or limited during platform updates or to resolve technical issues behind the scenes.
There may be an account-specific block on suggested posts. In rare cases, suggested posts could be restricted on your account due to a technical error or unintended impact of changing your settings.
If any of these issues sound like they could be the culprit behind your suggested posts not functioning, read on to learn how you can troubleshoot and resolve the problem.
How to fix suggested posts not loading on Instagram
Now that you have a better sense of some reasons why you may be having trouble with suggested posts, let‘s go over some steps you can take to get the feature up and running again.
- Check if Instagram is down
Before you assume the issue is specific to your account, do a quick search to see if Instagram is experiencing a widespread outage. You can use a third-party status checker website like Downdetector to view any recent spikes in reports of the app being down. If Instagram is having server trouble, the only solution is to be patient and wait for the platform to resolve it.
- Update your Instagram app
A simple but effective solution to many tech woes is to make sure you‘re running the latest version of the software. If you‘ve been putting off app updates, now‘s the time to head to the App Store (for iOS) or Google Play Store (for Android) and make sure you have the newest release of Instagram. The latest updates often include important bug fixes, security improvements, and feature enhancements.
- Uninstall and reinstall the app
If updating alone doesn‘t do the trick, try uninstalling Instagram entirely and reinstalling a fresh copy from the app store. This can help clear out any corrupted data or files that may be interfering with suggested posts or other features. Just be sure to have your account login information handy so you can sign back in after reinstalling.
- Switch between Wi-Fi and mobile data
Suggested posts (and Instagram in general) may have trouble loading if your internet connection is unreliable. If you‘re on Wi-Fi, see if switching to mobile data makes a difference (and vice versa). You may also try disconnecting from the internet entirely, waiting a minute, and reconnecting to reset the connection.
- Clear your app cache and data
Over time, Instagram collects bits of data and caches to help the app run efficiently – but if this saved data gets corrupted, it can start to cause issues like content not loading. To fix this, you can clear the app‘s data and cache through your phone‘s settings menu. The process varies slightly depending on your device, but generally you can go to Settings > Apps > Instagram > Storage > Clear Data/Clear Cache.
- Log out and log back in
Sometimes simply signing out of your Instagram account and logging back in can help resolve strange glitches with the app, including suggested posts not appearing. Go to your profile, tap the menu icon, and select "Log Out." Close and reopen the app, then log in again with your credentials.
- Check your Instagram settings
It‘s possible that suggested posts aren‘t showing up due to your account settings. In the Instagram app, go to your profile, tap the menu icon, and select "Settings." Scroll down to "Feed" and make sure the "Suggested Posts" option is toggled on. If it‘s already enabled, try toggling it off and on again to reset it.
- Wait it out
If none of the above tips seem to work, the issue may be a temporary system glitch that resolves on its own. Some Instagram users have reported suggested posts starting working again after 24-48 hours with no intervention on their part. While it‘s not ideal, sometimes the best solution is to be patient and simply wait a day or two.
Alternative ways to discover content on Instagram
While suggested posts can be a great way to find new accounts to follow and explore different corners of Instagram, they‘re not the only discovery tool at your disposal. If suggested posts aren‘t working for you, try these other methods to seek out interesting content:
Browse the Explore page. The Explore tab, accessed by tapping the magnifying glass icon, is an endless collage of photos, videos, and stories tailored to your activity on Instagram. It‘s easy to get lost scrolling through the eye-catching content and stumble upon new accounts to check out.
Search for hashtags or keywords. Think of a topic or niche that intrigues you and search for related hashtags or keywords using the search bar at the top of the Explore page. You can sift through the most popular or recent posts and see what users and hashtags keep popping up.
Peek at the Discover People tab. Under the "Discover People" section on your profile page, Instagram suggests accounts to follow based on mutual connections and Facebook friends. It‘s an easy way to grow your network and expand your feed.
Pay attention to who your favorite accounts are following. If you consistently like posts from particular accounts, browse through their following list to see if any other accounts catch your eye. Chances are you‘ll have similar taste and discover some new gems.
The rise of the algorithm and keeping users engaged
Suggested posts are just one example of how Instagram has slowly shifted away from a reverse-chronological feed and towards an algorithmic approach designed to boost the amount of time users spend on the app. By studying your activity and serving up an endless stream of curated content, Instagram aims to keep you hooked and coming back for more.
While some long-time Instagram users feel nostalgic for the days of a more simplistic feed, the platform has continued to introduce new features like stories, reels, and yes, suggested posts, to keep people engaged and attract new users. Instagram‘s parent company, Meta, has a vested interest in maintaining Instagram‘s status as a dominant social media app – and algorithmic recommendations are a key part of that strategy.
Tips for curating your suggested posts
If you‘re a fan of suggested posts but feel like yours are a bit of a mixed bag, there are some simple actions you can take to fine-tune what content and accounts get recommended to you:
Actively engage with posts you like. When a suggested post resonates with you, show it some love by leaving a like or comment. The more you interact with certain types of posts, the better Instagram gets at identifying what content to show you in the future.
Mute or unfollow accounts you‘re not enjoying. If a particular account keeps cropping up in your suggested posts and it‘s not your cup of tea, you can mute the account to prevent seeing their posts without officially unfollowing. Alternatively, if you realize you‘re no longer interested in an account you once followed, go ahead and tap that unfollow button.
Use the "Not Interested" feature liberally. When you come across a suggested post that misses the mark, tap the three dots in the upper right corner and select "Not Interested." This helps signal to Instagram that you don‘t want to see similar content moving forward.
The more you interact with Instagram and give feedback on what you do and don‘t like, the more relevant and engaging your suggested posts should become. It takes a little bit of effort to train the algorithm, but it‘s worth it for a more enjoyable experience on the app.
Conclusion
Suggested posts on Instagram can be a fun way to shake up your feed and encounter new inspiration – but only when they‘re actually working. If you find yourself dealing with suggested posts not loading or appearing, don‘t get too frustrated. As we‘ve covered, there are plenty of easy troubleshooting techniques to try, from checking for app updates to clearing your cache. More often than not, suggested posts will start functioning again after some simple adjustments.
That said, suggested posts aren‘t everyone‘s favorite feature, and there are still other ways to explore Instagram even if you opt out of the recommendations or they‘re not working for you. Whether you‘re a fan of the algorithm‘s suggestions or you prefer to curate your feed yourself, the beauty of Instagram is the broad variety of content and communities to discover. By being an active user, providing feedback, and exploring your interests, you can craft a fulfilling and engaging Instagram experience – with or without suggested posts.
