Is Instagram down? Why app isn’t working for some users, has my account been suspended, how to recover account

Some users have noted that the popular photo-sharing app has been down with their accounts showing as ‘suspended’
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Instagram users are experiencing problems with the app today, with some unable to log in.

The popular photo-sharing app and website has crashed, affecting millions of users across the globe. Millions of users have woken up to notifications that their accounts have been locked or suspended.

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It comes after problems with Whatsapp, which is also owned by Meta. But what is actually going on with the app, and when can those affected expect a fix? Here’s everything you need to know.

A bug on Instagram has led to millions of accounts being locked or suspended with no reason. (Credit: Adobe)A bug on Instagram has led to millions of accounts being locked or suspended with no reason. (Credit: Adobe)
A bug on Instagram has led to millions of accounts being locked or suspended with no reason. (Credit: Adobe)

Is Instagram down?

Technically, no, Instagram is not down. The app itself is still accessible to a proportion of users unaffected by the bug.

However, the app is not accessible for a large number of people. This is because they have had a notification telling them that their account is suspended or locked.

As a result, they have not been able access the app and have been hit with the same screen a suspended account is usually given. This screen explains that Instagram has locked the account because it didn’t follow the community guidelines.

Has my account been suspended?

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The bug has meant that users who have not broken the community guidelines are being falsely suspended. Therefore, your account may not actually be suspended.

The company confirmed this situation, updating followers on Twitter, saying: “We’re aware that some of you are having issues accessing your Instagram account. We’re looking into it and apologise for the inconvenience.”

Millions of accounts have been affected. This can be seen in the follower counts of everyday users and celebrities, which show a much lower follower count than normal. For example, Instagram’s own account has dropped around one million followers in a day.

However, it may also be the situation that an account has been purposefully locked in the process of the bug taking place.

How do I unlock my Instagram account?

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If you believe that your Instagram account has been locked because the community guidelines have been broken, there are ways to try to unlock your account.

In the same screen in which locked accounts are told that their account has been suspended, there is a button in which you can dispute the decision with Instagram. This does not guarantee that your account will be unlocked, but you can start the dispute process if you believe your account has been wrongfully locked.

It may also be beneficial for those who have been unexpectedly hit with a suspended account to do the same. This is because Instagram has not commented on whether these accounts will remain suspended after the bug is fixed, nor has there been an update on when the bug is expected to be fixed by.

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