
The primary way to connect with people on Instagram is to follow them. You can follow people you know, people who have followed you, celebrities, or organisations. And similarly, anyone on Instagram can follow you. That is mostly how it works and how it has always worked. So if something disrupts that, it can be a bit annoying.
So we have tried to come up with every possible reason why you could be unable to follow people on Instagram and come up with some solutions that might help. We have categorised all these issues into three. It could happen for account-related, technical, and connectivity issues. We have broken them down into all the specific problems and what can be done about them. This should help you troubleshoot very easily.
Account-related or user-specific issues
Instagram often restricts users from performing certain actions, like following, unfollowing, sending messages, liking, and commenting if they notice suspicious activities from accounts. We have identified some of these “suspicious activities” and their remedies.
You Have Exceeded the Follow Limit
Instagram doesn’t want you treating its platform like a massive networking event where you’re handing out business cards to everyone in the room. So, if you’ve hit the golden number of 7,500 on your following list, you’re officially maxed out. That’s the hard limit.
But it gets even trickier. Even if you’re under that 7,500 cap, going on a “follow frenzy” could still get you flagged. Think of it this way, Instagram’s algorithm is a watchful babysitter. If you’re speedrunning the Follow button, like 250 people in an hour and it starts to think, “Hmm, this is either a bot or someone who really needs to touch grass.” The same applies to mass-unfollowing. Instagram loves its limits, and it’ll restrict you faster than a bouncer at an overbooked club.
Solution? Take it easy. Don’t follow more than 150-200 accounts in a day, and space it out. Following 10 people every hour is way less suspicious than hitting 100 accounts in 10 minutes. And if you do get flagged, breathe. Wait 24-48 hours, let Instagram cool off, and then try again. It’s a marathon, not a sprint.
Your Account Has Been Marked as Spam by Instagram
Instagram doesn’t mess around when it comes to keeping its platform clean (or at least trying to). If your account has been doing anything remotely spammy, like sliding into DMs with sketchy links, copy-pasting the same comment on 50 posts, or mass-liking posts like you’re on a caffeine high, you might find yourself in hot water. And by “hot water,” I mean Instagram restricting your ability to use certain features, including following people.
Instagram’s spam detection has gotten much better over the years. But sometimes, even innocent accounts get flagged because the algorithm thinks you’re behaving like a bot. Maybe you got carried away commenting with fire emojis on every selfie in your feed, or you were running a giveaway for your followers that felt a little too… spammy. Whatever the case, Instagram is often too quick to slap a restriction, which could last anywhere from a few hours to a week (or longer, if it’s serious).
Solution? This one’s a no brainer. But stop all suspicious activity immediately. No links, no mass-actions, no repetitive comments. Give your account a little break and avoid engaging too much for a few days. If you think you’ve been wrongly flagged, head over to Instagram’s “Help” section and report the issue. Be polite when explaining your case because, let’s face it, yelling at an algorithm never works.
You’ve Been Blocked by the User
Being blocked can sometimes feel like having a door slammed on your face. You can’t follow them, can’t see their posts, and in some cases, you might not even be able to find their profile anymore. If you do somehow manage to stumble upon their page (maybe through a friend’s account, link, or a Google search, you’ll likely see something like “User Not Found” or “This Page Isn’t Available.” They’ve sent you to the shadow realm, and there’s no coming back.
They may have some valid reason to block you. Or maybe they’re just being petty. Whatever the case, blocked means blocked. No amount of refreshing the page is going to fix that, so there’s no solution to this. But you can always try to talk things out IRL if there’s a misunderstanding.
You Just Opened Your Account
New account, who dis? Instagram has trust issues with fresh accounts, and honestly, can you blame them? Have you seen the number of bot accounts there are? It’s insane. If you just created your account, you might find that some actions, like following too many people right away, may be temporarily restricted. The platform needs to verify you first.
These restrictions are even tighter if you sign up from a suspicious IP address (like when using a VPN or public Wi-Fi). Instagram wants to make sure you’re not a bot. So, if you’re trying to follow your favourite 100 celebrities in one go, don’t be surprised if you get a pop-up telling you to cool it.
Solution? Patience is key here. Give your account a few days to “warm up” before you start hitting that Follow button. Limit yourself to 20-50 follows per day for the first week or two, and avoid doing anything that screams “spammy behavior,” like liking or commenting excessively. Think of it as a probationary period. Play it cool, and you’ll earn Instagram’s trust in no time.
You’ve Violated Instagram’s Community Guidelines
Instagram takes its Community Guidelines very seriously. They’re like house rules. If you fail to follow them, you could be grounded. Violations can range from minor offences, like spamming comments, to more serious ones, such as sharing inappropriate content or using bots to grow your account. Your account may face temporary or permanent restrictions if caught breaking these rules. And yes, that includes losing the ability to follow people.
Some common violations that could lead to this issue include:
- Using automation tools or bots to follow/unfollow accounts.
- Posting or sharing offensive, hateful, or misleading content.
- Liking, commenting, or following people excessively (yes, even enthusiasm can get you flagged).
- Repeatedly sending DMs with links, especially if they seem spammy or salesy.
When Instagram detects any of these behaviours, it restricts your actions to protect the platform and its users.
Solution? First, cool it. Stop all suspicious activity and let your account breathe for a few days. Next, check your Account Status. Here’s how you can do it:
- Tap your profile picture in the bottom right to go to your profile.
- Tap more options in the top right.
- Below more info and support, tap Account Status
Here, you can see if any violations have been flagged. You can appeal directly through the app if you believe the restriction is unfair. Most importantly, you’ll get to see any and all account violations from the past. Instagram may forgive, but it doesn’t forget.
You’re Trying to Follow a Private Account
Private accounts are the way to go if you want a drama-free life. If the person you’re trying to follow has their account set to private, you can’t just follow them instantly. Instead, you’ll have to send them a follow request and wait for their approval. Until they accept, you’re stuck on the sidelines. If they deny your request (ouch), you can’t follow them at all.
But here’s the kicker: If you’ve sent them multiple follow requests in the past, Instagram might decide you’re being a bit too pushy and restrict you from sending more. They’re telling you to “take a hint.”
Solution? Wait. If they don’t accept your request or keep you hanging, just move on with your life. We know it’s less of a solution and more of an advice. But what else can you do?
Technical or App-Specific Issues
Sometimes, the app doesn’t work the way it is intended. Stuff like these are usually fixed with an update. But when you realise the variations in devices that support Instagram, you’ll probably be a bit more forgiving of these issues.
The App Is Glitching
Sometimes, Instagram just has a bad day. You’re trying to follow someone, and you can’t. It’s not you; it’s the app. Glitches happen, and they’re usually temporary. Maybe the Follow button won’t work, or the app freezes mid-scroll. It’s annoying, we know.
Solution? There is no definite solution to this. Restart the app. Swipe up, close it completely, clean it from the recent apps, and open it again. If that doesn’t work, try logging out and back in. Still no luck? Turn your phone off and on. It’s the universal solution to all tech problems. And if all else fails, take a deep breath and wait. Instagram will eventually get its act together and roll out an update.
You Haven’t Updated The App In a While
If you’re using an old version of Instagram, don’t be surprised if things get wonky. Instagram rolls out updates to fix bugs, improve performance, and add new features, so staying up to date is key.
Solution? Head to the App Store (iPhone) or Google Play Store (Android) and check if there’s an update available. Hit that “Update” button and let Instagram do its thing. Pro tip: Turn on automatic updates to save yourself the hassle in the future.
The App’s Cache is Corrupted
Your phone’s cache is like Instagram’s junk drawer. Over time, it gets cluttered with old data, which can mess up how the app works. If your Follow button is acting up or the app feels laggy, a cluttered cache might be the culprit. While cache helps stuff load faster it can affect performance in other ways too.
Solution? Clear the cache. On Android, go to Settings > Apps > Instagram > Storage > Clear Cache. For iPhones, you’ll need to delete the app entirely and reinstall it from the App Store. We know. Apple does a lot of things right. But giving users more control is not one of them.
You May Be Facing Some Account Authentication Issues
If you’ve been having trouble following people, it could be due to authentication hiccups. Maybe Instagram detected suspicious activity on your account (like logging in from multiple devices or locations), or maybe the app just decided to act moody for no reason.
Solution? Logging out and logging back in can often fix these glitches. And while you’re at it, consider logging out of all other active sessions. Here’s how to Log Out of All Sessions:
- Open Instagram and go to your profile.
- Tap the hamburger menu (three lines in the top right).
- Tap Accounts Center, then tap Password and Security.
- Tap Where you’re logged in to see your recent login activity.
- Tap on one of your accounts, then scroll down and tap “Select devices to log out”.
- Select the devices you’d like to log out, then tap Log out.
After doing this, log back in on just one device and test if the Follow button is back in action.
Connectivity Issues and External Issues
Sometimes, connectivity issues can cause issues with Instagram. Maybe your WiFi is down, or maybe Instagram is. Here are some of the connectivity issues and potential solutions:
You Have Poor Internet Connection
If you don’t have internet, your WiFi may still stay connected. But that doesn’t mean you’ll be able to use Instagram or follow people. And sometimes very slow internet can be worse than no internet. Either way, if your feed isn’t loading and the Follow button feels stuck, it’s probably your Wi-Fi doesn’t have internet or you ran out of data.
Solution? First, check if other apps are working. If everything’s slow, restart your router or switch to mobile data. On mobile? Make sure you’ve got enough data left (those Instagram Reels eat it up fast). For extreme cases, reset your network settings and see if that helps. And hey, if all else fails, moving closer to your router might help. Wi-Fi signals can be shy, especially when behind walls.
Instagram Is Blocked in Your Country
Believe it or not, Instagram isn’t accessible everywhere. Some countries block the app altogether because, well, governments love to have their own ideas about what’s “good” for the public. If Instagram’s completely unavailable where you are, it’s not just your account; it’s everyone in your region feeling the same pain.
Solution? A VPN (Virtual Private Network) can help you bypass those restrictions by making it look like you’re browsing from a country where Instagram is alive and well. NordVPN, Surfshark, and others are great options. But wait! Before you hit download, there’s a catch when using VPNs (see the next point).
You’re Using a VPN
Sure, VPNs help you access Instagram in blocked regions, but if your VPN is bouncing your connection through random servers, Instagram might think you’re up to something shady. When your IP address changes, the app gets suspicious and could restrict your account. Plus, some VPNs just aren’t stable enough for smooth Instagram scrolling.
Solution? If Instagram isn’t blocked in your country, skip the VPN entirely. It’s not worth the hassle. If you need one, go for a premium VPN with a dedicated IP address, like NordVPN or Surfshark. A dedicated IP makes it look like you’re logging in from one steady location, which keeps Instagram’s trust issues in check. And always disable your VPN when it’s not necessary. It’s just good practice.
Meta Servers Are Down
Instagram and other Meta services are often disrupted when the servers go down. When that happens, nothing works, including following, liking, posting, and even refreshing your feed. Sometimes, the app logs you out. It’s not personal; everyone is locked out with you. You’ll know it’s a server issue if other apps work fine, but Instagram is acting like a ghost town.
Solution? Check a site like Downdetector to confirm the outage. If Instagram is indeed down, grab a snack, take a break, or read a book (yes, those still exist). There’s nothing you can do except wait for Instagram to wake up and get back online. It usually doesn’t take long.
Wrapping Up
We’ve tried to cover every possible issue you could have with your Instagram account, app, and connection that could potentially lead to you not being able to follow someone. But make things easy for you, it’s probably happening because you’re past your limit or you’ve violated the community guidelines. But both of those things are temporary.
But almost all of the solutions pretty much sum up to one thing. Wait. If it’s connectivity issues, like the servers are down or your WiFi is down, take some time and check again. The same goes for most account-related restrictions. Unless Instagram is sure that you’re a bot, they will eventually let you follow people again. And always keep the app updated. That usually helps with most technical problems.
But in some extreme cases, you may need extreme solutions. For example, if you’re in a country where Instagram is blocked, you may need to invest in a solid service like NordVPN.