Why Can't I Follow People on Instagram? Reasons + Easy Fixes

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Learn more about the "Try again later" error

Co-authored by Rain Kengly Reviewed by Anyah Le Gilmore-Jones

Last Updated: April 15, 2025 Fact Checked

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• Reasons
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• Troubleshooting
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• Reporting to Instagram
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• Video

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Are you seeing an error on Instagram when trying to follow other profiles? This may look like "You can't follow accounts right now." If you try to follow a lot of people in a short amount of time, you may be restricted for a short amount of time. Here's what to do when Instagram is not letting you follow people on Instagram.

Why won't Instagram let me follow accounts?

Instagram may block you from following accounts if you have exceeded the limit or if your profile has been marked as spam. The best way to fix this is to not use Instagram for a few days and then try following again.

Steps

Section 1 of 3:

Why can't I follow people on Instagram?

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1. 
   Instagram may have marked your account as spam. When you try to follow a lot of people in a short period of time, your account may get flagged. While there's no official way to get your account unflagged immediately, some users have reported the issue solving itself after their account has been inactive for a week or two. This includes not liking posts, sending chats, or interacting with the app.

   • Other reasons include being blocked by the user you're trying to follow, internet or server issues, and even software bugs with the app or your device. If you don't think your account has been marked as spam, see our troubleshooting section for more fixes.
   • If the ability to follow isn't restored after a few days of inactivity, you can try reporting the issue to Instagram.
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Section 2 of 3:

Troubleshooting Instagram Follows

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1. 
   1
   Check your Internet connection. If you can't seem to follow anyone on Instagram, make sure you have a stable internet connection. App actions will seem like they're not working when they're actually failing to load properly.
2. 
   2
   Restart the Instagram app. Sometimes, a simple restart can fix software bugs. Force-close the Instagram app, open it, and then try again.
3. 
   3
   Sign in and out again. If there's trouble with authenticating your account, this can help fix it. If you're signed into more than one account, log out of all of them.
4. 
   4
   Check if you're blocked. When someone on Instagram blocks you, you won't be able to follow them or see their profile. Use a browser while logged out to look up the user's profile. If it shows up there but not when you're logged in, you're most likely blocked by the user.
5. 
   5
   Unfollow some people. You can only follow up to 7,500 users at a time, so you'll also be blocked from exceeding that amount. If you have hit the maximum, unfollow some users and try again.
6. 
   6
   Check Instagram's status. You can use DownDetector to determine if there's an issue with Instagram's servers. If you see a lot of reports within the last few hours or days, it's most likely an error on Instagram's end, and you'll need to wait for them to resolve it.
7. 
   7
   Check your account status. If you have violated Instagram's Community Standards, certain features may be blocked on your account. To check, do the following:

   • Go to your profile page.
   • Tap ☰.
   • Tap Settings.
   • Tap Account Status underneath More info and support.
8. 
   8
   Disable your VPN. If you use a VPN (Virtual Private Network), it may be interfering with the Instagram app or website. Turn it off, restart the app, and then try again.
9. 
   9
   Clear your cache. There may be corrupted data saved in your cache. If you're using the Instagram website, you'll need to clear your browser's cache.

   • On Android, open Settings > Apps > Instagram > Storage and cache > Clear cache.
   • On iPhone, delete the Instagram app, and then download it again from the App Store.
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Section 3 of 3:

How to Report the Problem to Instagram

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1. 
   1
   Tap your profile picture in the Instagram app. If your ability to follow people on Instagram isn't restored after a few days, you can report the issue to Instagram.
2. 
   2
   Tap ☰. This is at the top-right corner. A menu will open.
3. 
   3
   Scroll down and tap Help. You can find this underneath the More info and support header.
4. 
   4
   Tap Report a problem. This is the first option.
5. 
   5
   Tap Report problem without shaking. This is near the bottom of the menu.

   • If asked to include complete logs and diagnostics, you can tap Include and continue or Don't include and continue.
6. 
   6
   Type your issue. Explain that you're unable to follow more people without getting an error, and ask Instagram to fix the problem.
7. 
   7
   Tap Send. This will send your report to Instagram.
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