How to Fix Instagram Reels Not Working (10 Methods)

Instagram Reels Not Working

Last updated on March 14th, 2024 at 6:38 pm

Whether you want to follow the latest trends or wish to engage with your Instagram followers, IG Reels can help you with everything. But what if Instagram Reels are not working for you?

Sounds scary! But it is possible. Despite Instagram being one of the most popular photos sharing platforms, it still faces numerous technical glitches that can cause Instagram Reels not to work for you, such as:

  • The IG Reels feature is not showing up on your account. 
  • Unable to watch Reels due to the “Something Went Wrong” error. 
  • IG Reels aren’t posting or uploading. 
  • Reels keep on buffering or freezing. 
  • You can’t see Instagram Reels in the feeds. 
  • Audio for Instagram Reels is not working, and so on. 

Now, whatever problem you are facing with your IG Reels, everything is fixable. We have already shared 10 easy methods to fix Instagram Reels not working for you for your convenience. So, let’s get started. 

How to Fix Instagram Reels Not Working — Quickly and Easily 

Are you missing out on all the latest music videos, dance moves, or social media trends? Then, let’s not waste any more time and fix your Instagram Reels now:

Fix 1. Open Instagram Reels from multiple locations 

Before moving ahead, make sure that the Instagram Reels feature is actually not available for you. For this, you have to access or upload Instagram Reels from different locations on your app, such as: 

  • Navigate to the bottom of your app > Locate Reels Option. 
  • Tap on the + icon on your screen > Check if there is your Reels option available. 
  • Tap on the Search bar to open the Explore page > Check if Public Reels appear in the search results. 
  • Go to your Instagram Stories > Check if you find the Reels option at the bottom of your screen. 
  • Move to someone’s IG profile > Check if the IGTV option is available. 
  • Swipe left to right on your Instagram account > Search for the Reels option at the bottom tab. 

Fix 2. Sign-Out and Sign Back In to your Instagram account 

Instagram account

One of the simplest fixes to make your Instagram Reels work is the Sign-Out and Sign In technique. If Instagram Reels aren’t showing on your screen or you have multiple accounts logged in on your IG app, this method is very helpful for you. 

Simply head over to Settings on your IG account from the hamburger menu in the top-right corner. Scroll to the bottom and tap on the Log Out option. If you have logged in to multiple accounts, select the account with Instagram Reels not working issue. 

Now, you can sign back into your Instagram account using your username and password. In most cases, this will fix the Instagram Reels issue for you. 

Fix 3. Restart or Refresh your Instagram page 

If the simple sign-out-and-in method didn’t work for you, you could try to reboot your IG app or the last session on your web browser. There are chances that the Instagram app isn’t initiated properly, which can lead to the Instagram Reels not working. 

You can press the reload button or press the Ctrl + R keys (for Windows) and the Command + R keys (for macOS) on a web browser. You can also hard reset using the Ctrl + F5 on Windows and Command + Option + R on macOS. 

For the Instagram app, remove your app from your Recent Apps or App Switcher. Then, relaunch the IG app and check if the Reels are working for you now. 

This method will remove some minor cache issues associated with the Instagram page for you. 

Fix 4. Restart your device 

If the refreshing or rebooting Instagram app didn’t work, you could try to restart your device. To do so, Android users should simply hold the power button until the restart option appears and then tap on it. 

For iOS devices, press the volume button and the side button until the power off slider appears on your screen. Then, drag the slider and wait for 30 seconds to turn on your device. Now, just go and check if Instagram Reels are visible to you. 

Fix 5. Change account settings from Private to Public 

If your Instagram Reels are only viewed by your followers, first check who can see your Reels. Here if you have set your account’s privacy settings to not show your Reels to everyone, you have to change it. 

By making your account Public, all your Reels are accessible to anyone. So, if you have a Private account, turn it into Public as follows:

private account

Tap on your profile picture > Hamburger menu on the top-right corner > Settings > Privacy > Disable the toggle next to Private Account, and your account will become public. 

Fix 6. Update your Instagram app 

If you can’t see the Reels feature on your app, you should update your Instagram app. Especially if you have recently updated your device’s OS, you need to install the compatible app version to support it. 

To update your Instagram app, simply head over to Apple App Store or Google Play store, search for the Instagram app. If there’s an update available for your device, tap on the Update button and check if your Instagram Reels not working problem is fixed or not. 

Fix 7. Update your Operating System 

Another reason behind your Instagram Reels not working can be your outdated operating system. If your device’s OS isn’t compatible to support the Reels feature, it can cause a problem. 

To confirm this, log in to your Instagram account using any other Reels compatible device and check if Reels are now working for you. If they are, head over to your device’s system settings and click on the update button. 

Fix 8. Clear the Instagram app or Web Browser Cache 

The more videos, stories, or photos you like, share, or post on your Instagram account, the more cache volume will increase for you. When these caches accumulate, it will consume more space and lead to app bugs that can cause Instagram Reels to not work properly. Therefore, it is recommended to delete the Instagram cache from time to time. 

To clear the cache on the mobile app, follow these steps: 

clear cache

Open the app Settings > Apps & notifications > Select Instagram from the list. 

Here you can also uninstall the Instagram app from your device. This will automatically delete away all the cache files related to the app. 

If you access Instagram on your computer’s web browser, you need to clear the web browser cache to fix the Reels not working problem. Every web browser has different procedures to clear the cache. Let’s say if you are a Google Chrome user, you can clear the web browser cache as: 

  • Press Ctrl + H keys together to access your browsing history. 
  • Click on the Clear Browsing Data button. 
  • Under Basic, make sure that all the options are checked. Also, always select a time range of All-time and then click on the Clear Data button. 

Go to your Instagram account, and you will probably see your Instagram Reels now. 

Fix 9. Wait until Instagram Reels available in your country 

Many Instagram features are restricted to some countries only, like Shoppable, Reels, and others. As of 2020, Instagram Reels were only available for 50 countries worldwide. 

So, here if Reels aren’t available for your country, you probably have to wait until Instagram Reels launches in your area. However, if you really want to watch Reels, you can try two methods: 

  • You can use VPN to access the Instagram app. 
  • Or, you can change the location of your app store. 

There’s no guarantee that these methods will work, but you can give it a shot. 

Fix 10. Add Reels to your profile gallery 

Lastly, if Instagram Reels don’t appear in your feeds, you can fix this by adding them to your profile gallery. To appear Reels in your profile gallery, follow these steps: 

profile gallery
  • Tap on your Instagram profile picture. 
  • Select the Reels tab and then a Reels video. 
  • Tap on the three dots at the bottom of your Reels video. 
  • Select the Add to Profile Grid option.
  •  Now, the Reels video will be part of your profile gallery!

Wrap Up 

There you go, Instagrammers. We have shared 10 awesome methods to fix Instagram Reels not working for you. Now, depending upon your Reels problem, you can implement the fix and enjoy Reels. 

However, it is recommended to start with easy solutions like signing out before trying anything extreme like reinstalling your IG app. 

We hope you find this post helpful! Don’t forget to like and share this post with other Instagrammers.

Author Bio:

Dinesh Lakhwani

Dinesh Lakhwani, the entrepreneurial brain behind “TechCommuters,” achieved big things in the tech world. He started the company to make smart and user-friendly tech solutions. Thanks to his sharp thinking, focus on quality and the motto of never giving up, TechCommuters became a top player in the industry. His commitment to excellence has propelled the company to a leading position in the industry.

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Popular Post

Recent Post

Top 10 Best Password Managers for iPhone In 2024 [Updated]

By TechCommuters / February 22, 2024

Introduction: Having strong and unique passwords for all your online accounts is essential for good digital security and privacy. Reusing the same passwords on multiple sites is a risky practice as a breach on one site puts all your accounts at risk. This is where a dedicated password manager comes in very handy. These apps […]

10 Best Password Manager for Windows 11/10/8/7 for 2024

By TechCommuters / February 21, 2024

Introduction: In today’s digital age, we have loads of accounts – like email, social media, online banking, and shopping sites. That means we’ve got tons of passwords to remember. It’s risky to use the same password for everything, but keeping track of unique ones for each account can be tough. A password manager proves invaluable […]

10 Best Free Android Cleaner Apps for 2024 [Latest List]

By TechCommuters / February 20, 2024

Introduction: A clean and optimized Android device performs better, lasts longer, and runs faster. With time, caches, residual files, and unneeded data can clutter up your Android smartphone or tablet and slow it down. That’s why having a quality cleaner app is essential. The Google Play Store has hundreds of Android cleaner and optimization apps […]

11 Best Free Game Boosters for Android Gamers in 2024 [Updated]

By TechCommuters / February 18, 2024

The mobile gaming industry has experienced exponential growth, with an increasing number of users turning to their Android devices for immersive gaming experiences. With this surge in mobile gaming, the demand for efficient and effective apps to boost Android gaming has also risen.  Game optimizer apps are designed to optimize the performance of Android devices, […]

How to Fix Windows 11 Not Detecting Second Monitor

By TechCommuters / February 12, 2024

Windows 11 not detecting second monitor? find the easiest ways to to fix this problem.

Top 5 Borderless Payments Apps In 2024

By TechCommuters / February 10, 2024

Discover the leading top borderless payment apps reshaping global transactions in 2024. Explore seamless cross-border transfers and innovative features through these apps.

Movavi Video Splitter Online: A Comprehensive Review

By TechCommuters / February 9, 2024

Explore Movavi online Video Splitter for free with our detailed review. Learn how to easily split and customize your videos. Discover its features and usability for all your editing needs.

How to Stop PS5 from Turning on With TV [2024]

By TechCommuters / February 7, 2024

The PlayStation 5 (PS5) is a powerful gaming console that offers an immersive gaming experience. However, one common issue that many users face is the console turning on automatically when they turn on their TV. This can be frustrating, especially if you’re not planning to use your PS5 at that moment. Here, we will explore […]

How to Clear the Delivery Optimization Cache in Windows

By TechCommuters / February 5, 2024

Delivery Optimization in Windows is a feature that helps users save bandwidth and improve download speeds by downloading updates and apps from other Windows devices on the same network or even from the internet. While this feature is beneficial, it can accumulate a significant amount of cache over time, impacting system performance. Here, we will […]

How to Add Multiple Monitors To Your Windows 10/11 Laptop [2024]

By TechCommuters / February 3, 2024

Multitasking and productivity are key factors for many individuals. Adding multiple monitors to your Windows 10 or Windows 11 laptop can greatly enhance your workflow, improving your overall efficiency. If you are wondering how to connect 2 or more monitors to your Windows 10 laptop, you are in the right place. Here, we will discuss different […]