If Instagram Reels isn’t working, it’s usually one of four things: a temporary Instagram glitch, a weak or filtered internet connection, a bugged app cache, or an account/feature limitation (age, region, restrictions, or an update not installed yet). The good news is you can usually fix it in 5–10 minutes by doing the right checks in the right order.
Fast answer
Try these in order (most people fix it by step 3 or 4):
- Restart Instagram and your phone, then switch networks (Wi-Fi ↔ mobile data).
- Check if Instagram is down (outage) and wait 10–30 minutes if it is.
- Update Instagram from the App Store / Play Store.
- Clear cache on Android (or reinstall on iPhone if it’s badly broken).
- Turn off VPN / Private DNS / ad blockers temporarily and retry Reels.
- If Reels is missing only on your account, check Account Status and try a different account on the same phone.
Fix 1: Restart the app and your phone (simple but effective)
A restart clears stuck background services and app glitches. Close Instagram fully (remove it from recent apps), restart your phone, then open Instagram and try Reels again. Instagram’s own troubleshooting starts with a restart + connection check for general app problems.
Internal link placement #1 (App Fixes Hub): Add this link at the end of this paragraph:
App Fixes Hub: Fix Apps Not Downloading, Not Installing, or Not Updating (Android + iPhone)
Fix 2: Switch internet (Wi-Fi ↔ mobile data) and disable VPN for 2 minutes
Reels is video-heavy, so it shows network problems faster than normal posts.
- If you’re on Wi-Fi, switch to mobile data and test Reels.
- If you’re on mobile data, test a different Wi-Fi network.
- If you use a VPN, Private DNS, firewall, or ad blocker, turn it off briefly and retry.
If Reels loads on one network but not the other, your issue is your network setup, not your Instagram account.
Fix 3: Check if Instagram is down (don’t waste time troubleshooting)
If Reels suddenly fails for everyone, it’s likely an outage. In that case, your best move is to wait and retry later instead of resetting everything.
A quick way is to check a live outage tracker in your country, or compare with friends on different networks. (If the outage is widespread, the reports spike fast.)
Fix 4: Update Instagram (this fixes a surprising number of Reels bugs)
A lot of Reels issues are version-specific. Instagram recommends updating the app when something isn’t working correctly.
If your Play Store update button is missing or stuck, use:
Play Store Apps Not Updating (Update Missing / Stuck): 15 Fixes That Work
Fix 5: Log out and log back in (especially if Reels is missing on one account)
This refreshes session tokens and sometimes restores missing features.
- Instagram → Profile → Menu → Settings and privacy → Log out
- Restart phone
- Log back in and test Reels
If you have multiple accounts, test a second account. If Reels works on the other account, your device is fine and the problem is account-specific.
Part 2: Fix Reels that won’t load, freezes, or crashes
Fix 6: Free up storage (low space breaks video apps)
When storage is low, Instagram struggles to cache and process Reels. Aim for at least 1–2 GB free.
On iPhone, check iPhone storage and consider offloading unused apps if you’re tight on space (Apple documents this feature in iPhone storage settings).
Fix 7: Clear Instagram cache (Android) or reinstall (iPhone)
Android (recommended):
- Settings → Apps → Instagram → Storage
- Tap Clear cache
Then reopen Instagram and test Reels.
Instagram notes you can clear cache/data and adjust app settings on Android when troubleshooting.
iPhone: iOS doesn’t offer a true “clear cache” button for most apps, so the cleanest method is:
- Delete Instagram → Restart iPhone → Reinstall Instagram → Log in
(If you’re worried about drafts, see the Drafts section first.)
Fix 8: Turn off Data Saver / Low Data Mode (it blocks background video)
Reels often fails when background data is restricted.
- Android: Turn off Data Saver, and allow background data for Instagram.
- iPhone: Settings → Cellular → Cellular Data Options → Low Data Mode OFF (or on Wi-Fi network settings, disable Low Data Mode if enabled).
Then retry Reels on a stable network.
Fix 9: Fix “Wi-Fi connected but nothing loads” issues
If Instagram loads only partially or Reels stays stuck on “loading,” your Wi-Fi might be connected to a router but not truly reaching the internet (DNS/VPN/router issues).
Wi-Fi Connected but No Internet on iPhone: 11 Fixes That Work
Fix 10: Force stop Instagram (Android) and reopen clean
On Android, do:
- Settings → Apps → Instagram → Force stop
- Open Instagram again and test Reels
This helps when a background process is stuck.
Part 3: Reels-specific problems (not showing, no audio, upload fails)
Fix 11: Reels tab missing or Reels not showing at all
If Reels is missing, it can be because:
- You’re on an old Instagram version (update first)
- Your account has restrictions or limited features
- Instagram is rolling features out slowly (it happens)
Check your Account Status and see if anything is limiting your account.
Then test Reels on another account on the same phone. If the second account has Reels, your device is fine.
Instagram Couldn’t Refresh Feed + “Sorry, There Was a Problem”: 16 Fixes
Fix 12: Reels audio not working (no sound, music missing, audio muted)
Try this in order:
- Turn up your phone volume and confirm silent mode is off.
- Test audio on regular videos (not Reels).
- Toggle Bluetooth OFF (audio sometimes routes to earbuds).
- Close Instagram and reopen.
- If the music library is missing, it can be region or account type related (business accounts sometimes see different music options).
If only one Reel has no sound, the creator may have used copyrighted audio that got limited in your region, or it may be removed.
Fix 13: Can’t upload a Reel (stuck on “Processing” or fails)
This is usually caused by network instability or a corrupted upload queue.
Do this “clean upload” method:
- Switch to a strong network (prefer stable Wi-Fi)
- Turn VPN off
- Restart phone
- Reopen Instagram
- Upload again, but test with a shorter video first (10–15 seconds)
If the short test uploads but the long one fails, your file size/format or connection stability is the problem.
Fix 14: Drafts missing or can’t save drafts
Draft issues usually happen after:
- reinstalling Instagram
- logging out
- running low on storage
Before reinstalling, open Reels → Drafts and see if they still show. If drafts are important, back up your video file in Photos/Gallery before doing any “delete and reinstall” steps.
Fix 15: Reels sharing to Facebook not working
If Reels won’t share to Facebook, Instagram’s guidance is to check the account connection, toggle sharing off and on, restart the app, and ensure there are no restrictions.
Also confirm:
- Instagram and Facebook are linked correctly
- You’re logged into the correct Facebook account
- Both apps are updated
FAQs
Why are Instagram Reels not loading but everything else works?
Because Reels needs more bandwidth and stable connections than photos. If your network is slow, filtered (VPN/Private DNS), or in Low Data mode, Reels often fails first.
Why did my Reels tab disappear?
It’s often an outdated app version, a feature rollout delay, or an account limitation. Update Instagram, restart, and check Account Status.
How do I clear Instagram cache?
On Android: Settings → Apps → Instagram → Storage → Clear cache. Instagram acknowledges cache/data can be cleared via Android settings.
On iPhone: the practical equivalent is reinstalling the app.
Why does Reels upload fail at the end?
Usually unstable internet, VPN filtering, or a corrupted upload queue. Switch networks, restart, and upload a short test video first.
Is Instagram down right now?
If many users report issues at the same time, it’s likely an outage. Check a live outage tracker and retry later.
Sources
- Instagram Help Center: Troubleshooting basics (restart device, check connection, update app) (Instagram Help Center)
- Instagram Help Center: Android settings and cache/data options (Instagram Help Center)
- Instagram Help Center: Reels sharing troubleshooting (Instagram Help Center)
- Apple Support: Manage iPhone storage (including offloading unused apps) (Apple Support)
