How to Fix "Add external link" Not Working on Instagram

Why Won‘t Instagram Let Me Add a Link to My Bio?

As a social media expert passionate about mobile internet technology, one of the most common questions I get is: "Why won‘t Instagram let me add a link to my bio?"

Many Instagram users, from casual posters to aspiring influencers to small business owners, want to take advantage of their bio space to drive traffic to their website, blog, YouTube channel, or latest product offering. But due to Instagram‘s strict policies around external linking, it‘s not always possible to simply add a URL to your bio.

In this post, we‘ll explore the reasoning behind Instagram‘s linking restrictions, common issues users face when trying to add bio links, and some potential solutions and workarounds. Whether you‘re a longtime Instagram user or new to the platform, read on to gain a deeper understanding of how linking works on Instagram in 2024.

Why Does Instagram Limit External Linking?

From the outside, Instagram‘s policies around linking can seem arbitrary and unnecessarily restrictive. After all, other social platforms like Twitter and TikTok allow users to freely add links to their profiles. So why does Instagram make it so difficult?

The answer lies in Instagram‘s fundamental identity as a photo and video sharing app. Unlike other networks that are based around short-form text (Twitter) or have a broader focus (Facebook), Instagram‘s core purpose is visual content. The company wants to keep users engaged on the platform, scrolling through their feeds and Stories, not leaving to visit external sites.

According to Instagram‘s official policies, the ability to add "a link to a website in your bio is only available to Instagram accounts that have been verified or that have a high likelihood of being authentic." In other words, only high-profile public figures, celebrities, and big brands are able to freely add external links.

For the average user, the only way to "earn" the ability to add a link is to either get verified (a challenging process reserved for accounts of public interest) or grow your following to over 10,000 followers. Once you cross that 10k follower threshold, Instagram grants you access to the "swipe up" feature in Stories, which allows you to add links that users can visit by swiping up on your story.

Instagram‘s linking restrictions serve two main purposes:

1. Preventing the spread of spam and unsafe content. By limiting external links to verified and high-follower accounts, Instagram reduces the risk of users being exposed to malware, scams, explicit content, and misinformation. This maintains the safety and integrity of the platform.

2. Keeping users on the app. The longer users stay on Instagram consuming content, the more ad views and revenue the company generates. Allowing unrestricted outbound links would make it easier for users to leave the app, detracting from Instagram‘s business model.

While these policies can be frustrating for users looking to drive traffic to their other online properties, they‘re ultimately designed to create a safer, higher-quality, more engaging Instagram community. And for users dead-set on adding that link, there are still some options available.

Common Link Issues and Error Messages

Even for accounts that meet Instagram‘s linking criteria, adding a URL to your bio isn‘t always a seamless process. Many users encounter bugs and glitches when trying to add or update a link, especially after a new version of the app is released. Some common issues include:

• The "add external link" option not appearing in settings
• Getting an error message that says "We‘re sorry, but something went wrong" when trying to add or save a link
• Having a link randomly removed from your bio with no ability to re-add it
• Trying to add a link and getting a message that you‘ve reached the max number of links, even if you haven‘t added any

If you encounter one of these issues, the first step is to check for a new version of the Instagram app. Often, the developers will release bug fixes and patches shortly after a major update to resolve glitches like broken linking. Head to the App Store (for iOS) or Google Play Store (for Android), search for Instagram, and see if there‘s an "Update" option available.

If updating the app doesn‘t resolve the issue, try fully logging out of your account and logging back in. This will often prompt the app to refresh your account privileges and may restore linking capabilities.

As a last resort, you can try uninstalling and reinstalling the app entirely. This will clear the app‘s cache and stored data and may help if a file was corrupted during an update. Just be aware that you‘ll need to log back in with your account info after reinstalling.

If none of these troubleshooting steps work, the linking issue may be on Instagram‘s end. In this case, the only solution is to wait until the developers push out a new update addressing the bug. Whenever Instagram experiences a widespread technical issue, the company is usually prompt about acknowledging it and deploying a fix.

Workarounds for Accounts That Can‘t Add Links

Maybe you don‘t have 10,000 followers yet, or you do but you‘re encountering a nasty linking bug that just won‘t resolve no matter what you try. Don‘t worry – you still have a few options for linking out from your Instagram profile! Here are some of the most effective workarounds:

1. Use a link sticker in your Stories. If you have a Business or Creator account (which is free to set up), you can add links to your Stories using link stickers. When users tap on the sticker, they‘ll be redirected to the URL you‘ve chosen. While this still requires navigating to your Stories (rather than your bio being a one-tap portal to your link), it‘s a great option to have in your linking toolbox.

2. Add a "link in bio" note to your post captions. Even if you can‘t technically put a clickable link in your bio, you can still alert your followers to visit the link in your bio within your post captions. Just write something like "Check out the link in my bio to shop this look!" or "Head to the link in my bio to read the full article!" This primes users to visit your profile and manually navigate to your bio link.

3. Use a third-party link service. Tools like Linktree and Linkin.bio essentially serve as middlemen between your Instagram bio and the links you want to feature. You add a single link to your Linktree in your Instagram bio, and when users tap it, they‘re taken to a mobile-optimized landing page containing all the links you want to showcase. This is a great solution for accounts aiming to promote multiple links at once.

The Bottom Line on Instagram Linking

Ultimately, while Instagram‘s linking restrictions can be a point of frustration, they serve an important purpose in preserving the quality and integrity of the platform. By making it more difficult to add external links, Instagram reduces the spread of unsafe content, keeps users engaged on the app, and maintains its core focus on photo and video.

As the platform continues to evolve, it‘s likely that linking privileges may expand – we‘ve already seen the follower threshold for adding Stories links reduced from 15,000 to 10,000 in recent years. But for now, the key for marketers and creators is to work strategically within the existing system. Whether that means leveraging the linking options available to you, focusing on growing your follower base to unlock more features, or getting creative with external linking workarounds like Linktree, a solid Instagram marketing strategy is all about adaptability and perseverance.

Have you struggled with the "add external link" feature on Instagram? What creative solutions have you found for driving traffic via your link in bio? Let me know in the comments below, and feel free to reach out with any other questions about Instagram marketing in 2024!