How to Update Your Instagram App

How to update Instagram on iPhone

Apps from the App Store update automatically by default on iPhone and iPad, so Instagram is usually already current. If something isn't working, or you've turned automatic updates off, update it manually.

1. Open the App Store.
2. Tap the My Account button or your photo at the top of the screen.
3. Tap App Updates.
4. Tap Update next to Instagram, or Update All to update every app.

If Instagram isn't in the list, you already have the latest version available for your device.

Turn automatic updates on or off on iPhone

1. Open Settings, then tap Apps.
2. Tap App Store.
3. Turn App Updates on or off.

With automatic updates off, the App Store notifies you when an update is released.

How to update Instagram on Android

1. Open the Google Play Store app.
2. Tap your profile icon in the top right.
3. Tap Manage apps & device.
4. Under Updates available, tap See details.
5. Tap Update next to Instagram, or Update all.

Some updates ask you to accept new permissions or restart the app.

Turn on automatic updates for Instagram only

1. In Google Play, tap your profile icon, then Manage apps & device.
2. Tap Manage and find Instagram.
3. On Instagram's details page, tap More (three dots).
4. Turn on Enable auto update.

Turn on automatic updates for all apps

1. In Google Play, tap your profile icon, then Settings.
2. Tap Network preferences, then Auto-update apps.
3. Choose to update over Wi-Fi or mobile data, with limited mobile data, over Wi-Fi only, or not at all.

Devices with Meta App Manager

Some Android phones ship with Meta App Manager, which can update Instagram separately from Google Play. On those devices:

1. In Instagram, tap Profile, then Menu in the top right.
2. Tap About, then App updates.
3. Turn Auto-update Instagram on or off and choose Wi-Fi or mobile data.

If App updates doesn't appear, go to your phone's Settings > Apps (or Application Manager) > Meta App Installer, and tap Disable or Enable. Instagram notes you may also need to change Google Play's update settings to turn all updates on or off.

Can you join the Instagram beta?

On Android

Google Play lets developers offer public betas of apps you already have installed. To check whether Instagram's beta is open:

1. Open Google Play and tap your profile icon.
2. Tap Manage apps & device, then Installed.
3. Tap Instagram to open its details page.
4. Under Join the beta, tap Join, then confirm.

If you don't see Join the beta, Instagram isn't offering a public beta through Google Play at the moment, or the program is full. Google notes that beta apps can be less stable, with crashes or features that don't work properly. To leave, return to the same page and leave the program, then install the public version.

On iPhone

We couldn't find a public Instagram beta program for iPhone documented by Instagram or Apple, so iPhone users should stick with App Store releases.

Why features differ between accounts

It's common to update Instagram and still not see a feature your friend has. Being on the latest version is necessary, but often not enough. Instagram's own help pages point to several reasons:

• Gradual rollouts. Many features launch to a portion of accounts first. Instagram's help pages regularly include notes like "This feature may not be available to everyone" or "isn't available for all accounts".
• Location. Some features are limited by country. For example, Instagram says vanish mode may be unavailable in Japan and in European countries, and Instagram for TV is only available in the United States.
• Account type and settings. Instagram's post scheduler requires a public account, and some professional accounts can't receive certain message types.
• Teen Accounts. Accounts for younger users have default protections, such as sleep mode at night, that change what the app shows.
• Settings migrations. Instagram is gradually moving people from Accounts Center to Meta Account, so menu names can differ between two up-to-date phones.

New creative tools are especially likely to arrive in stages. If you're waiting on a new Reels editing feature, keep posting with what you have and check again after future updates. Our roundup of lesser-known Instagram tips covers features that are easy to miss even when you have them.

How to clear Instagram's cache on Android

If Instagram is slow, shows old content or keeps crashing after an update, clearing its cache is a quick fix to try before reinstalling. Menu names vary by manufacturer.

1. Open your phone's Settings.
2. Tap Apps and scroll to Instagram.
3. Open the app's storage section and tap Clear cache.

Avoid Clear data or Clear storage unless you're troubleshooting a serious problem: it resets the app, and you'll need to log in again. iPhone doesn't offer a cache button for individual apps; reinstalling is the equivalent.

Troubleshooting: Instagram won't update or still misbehaves

Instagram recommends running the latest app and the latest version of your phone's operating system, then working through these steps:

1. Restart your phone.
2. Check your connection. Try both Wi-Fi and mobile data. For large updates, Wi-Fi is more reliable.
3. Free up storage. Updates fail when the phone is nearly full.
4. Reinstall Instagram. On iPhone, press and hold the Instagram icon, tap Remove App, then reinstall from the App Store. On Android, go to Settings > Apps > Instagram > Uninstall, then reinstall from Google Play. Instagram says your photos and profile information are kept.
5. Log back in. Make sure you know your password first, especially if you usually log in with Facebook.

After a big update, check that your notification settings are still how you left them. If your phone can't install the current version at all, use instagram.com in a browser; our guide to using Instagram on a computer shows what the web version can do.