How-To

How to Fix Instagram Not Letting Me Follow People

By Brian Burgess

Updated December 22, 2023

It can be frustrating when Instagram isn’t letting you follow people. If you’re having trouble, follow this guide to fix the problem.

If you are an Instagram user, it can be frustrating when the Follow option isn’t working. There are different reasons why it won’t work, and you’ll want to fix Instagram not letting you follow people.

You will want to follow friends, family, celebrities, and other users that post interesting content. However, when you select the Follow button, and nothing happens, it can be frustrating.

Reasons for the Follow feature not working can be due to shoddy connectivity, users blocking you, VPN problems, and more. Here’s how to get the feature on Instagram working.

You Reached the Follow Limit on Instagram

Did you know that Instagram has a limit on the number of accounts you can follow? According to the Instagram terms of service, to help reduce spam on the service, you are only allowed to follow 7,500 accounts. You’ll see an error message once you reach the limit and try to follow someone.

If you’re at the limit, you will need to check your list and unfollow some users so you can follow new ones.

To unfollow someone on Instagram:

1. Launch the Instagram app and open the list of users you are following.
2. Tap the account you want to unfollow.
3. Tap the Following button and select Unfollow from the menu that appears at the bottom of the screen.
4. If you want to refollow a user in the future, tap the blue Follow back button.

Check Your Internet Connectivity

If you have a shoddy or non-existent internet connection, you won’t be able to use Instagram features like the ability to Follow users on the platform.

When you don’t have network connectivity, you’ll notice other problems like the inability to refresh feeds, post Stories, and add new posts.

You can quickly check if you have Wi-Fi or cellular connectivity on Android or iPhone using the Quick Settings menu on Android or Control Center on iPhone. Verify you have connectivity and that Airplane Mode is disabled.

If you cannot establish a connection, check out our step-by-step guide for how to fix your connection to Instagram on your computer or mobile.

Clear Your Instagram App Cache

Instagram’s cache is a collection of photos and video history, but it can build quickly over time or become corrupt. When you clear your Instagram cache on Android, it improves the app’s speed and performance.

Once you clear the cache, launch the app, and see if the Follow feature works. While you can clear Instagram cache via settings on Android, if you’re an iPhone user, you need to uninstall and reinstall the app.

Check if Instagram is Down

If you have connectivity and other sites and apps are working, the problem could be because the Instagram service is down. If that is the case, you’ll need to wait until Instagram fixes the problem on their end and it comes back up.

Some good third-party sites to check if Instagram is down include OutageReport or Downdetector.

You Could Be Blocked

If a user has blocked you on Instagram, you won’t be able to follow that account. First, see if you cannot follow other accounts and if the problem persists. If it’s specific to that account, you’ve likely been blocked and can’t follow the user.

Reauthenticate Your Account

Another possibility is there’s an issue with your account credentials. For example, maybe you recently changed your password on another device or had a problem with two-factor authentication.

Whatever the reason, you can log out and log back into your account.

To reauthenticate your Instagram account credentials:

1. Launch Instagram on your mobile device.
2. Tap your profile icon and tap the menu button in the top right corner.
3. Select Settings and privacy from the menu that appears.
4. Scroll down to the Login section and tap the Log out button.
5. Once logged out, tap the Log in button and enter your 2FA code if prompted.

Turn Off Your VPN Service

If you use a VPN service like Private Internet Access (PIA), Instagram may notice a different IP address and flag your account for unusual activity. With a flagged account, it restricts features on your count, including the ability to follow people.

A simple fix is to turn off your VPN while you use Instagram and reenable it. And if you are using a Windows PC, check out how to fix VPN not working on Windows 11.

Start Following Accounts on Instagram

There are several reasons why Instagram isn’t letting you follow people. Most fixes are simple and can be easily explained. Provided the user hasn’t blocked your account, you should be able to use the above workarounds to fix the problem.

Instagram has several other features you might be interested in. For example, you probably know how to upload Reels from your phone, but did you know you can upload Instagram Reels from a computer?

Are you tired of seeing ads on Instagram that are based on your activities? Check out how to turn off targeted ads on Instagram. And Instagram allows you to add music to your posts, but if it stops working, you’ll want to fix Instagram music not working.