Why Can’t I Like Posts on Instagram

You’re on Instagram and you start liking some pictures that are on your feed. While you’re liking a few photos, the red heard turns back to white. Even when you try and like the post again, the pictures are unlike themselves. This problem can be frustrating because it stops you from liking your friends’ pictures.

If you’re experiencing this problem now, it means that Instagram has blocked you from liking posts because you’ve been violating their guidelines. This block is temporary, and you should be able to start liking pictures in a few hours once they have removed your account from the list.

This can take Instagram up to 24 hours. In this article, I’m going to show you how you can fix this problem, so you can start liking pictures again. If you think Instagram has made a mistake and you don’t think you’ve violated their guidelines, you can try the solutions.

Why Can’t I Like Posts on Instagram?

The action blocked message means that Instagram has blocked you from liking other people’s posts. The reason you can like pictures on Instagram is that you have spammed this action too much, so Instagram thinks you’re a bot, therefore, they have temporarily banned you from completing this action since it’s against their guidelines.

1. You’re Temporarily Blocked

If you have been blocked from liking photos, you’re going to see a message.

This says, ‘It looks like you were misusing this feature by going too fast. You’ve been blocked from using it. Learn more about blocks in the Help Centre. We restrict certain connect and actions to protect our community. Tell us if you think we made a mistake’.

2. Poor Internet Connection

Another reason why you can’t like posts on Instagram posts is that you aren’t connected to the wi-fi. Instagram requires a good internet connection for Instagram to function properly. You’ll need to make sure that your internet connection is strong before you can try and like the post again.

If your router isn’t accessing the internet properly, this could stop your device from having good network coverage which means that you may be unable to like other people’s posts.

3. Servers Are Down

If the Instagram servers are down, then this could be a reason why you’re unable to like other people’s posts. The servers Instagram use to host the Instagram app is down and this allows you to like posts. When the servers are down in your specific location, it means that people near you can’t like photos as well.

In this situation, you’ll have to wait for the servers to come back up and this can take a few hours. If you know people that are having issues with Instagram at the same time as you, this is how you know that there’s an issue with the Instagram server.

There’s a website called downdetector that allows you to see when Instagram is having an issue with its server. All you have to do is search, ‘is Instagram down?’.

It tells you when there’s a surge in the number of complaints people are making in regards to Instagram not working properly. If you see that the live outrage is concentrated around your location, it looks like you’ll have to wait for the server to come back up again.

4. The Post Has Been Deleted

If the post has been deleted, you won’t be able to like it. You’ll usually notice that the heart appears then disappears. The only reason the post is still there is that you haven’t refreshed your Instagram feed. To check this, visit their profile again and check if the post is there.

5. Instagram Has A Bug

If you can’t like on Instagram, it might be that there’s a bug going on within the app. When there’s a glitch within Instagram, it can cause unexpected errors. A glitch is a failure within the software and when this happens, you’ll see posts on your feed but you won’t be able to like them.

To fix this glitch, then you need to get rid of the error within the app and this can be done in your settings.

1. Open the Settings app. The app icon resembles a gear that is kept against a gray background.

2. On the Settings menu, scroll down to “Apps” and tap on that option.

3. When you’re on the Apps menu, select the “Instagram” app from the list of the apps on your device.

4. Once you click on the app, you’ll have to select the option on the screen that says “Storage.”

5. At the top of the storage screen, you’ll see the Clear Data and Clear Cache options.

6. Select each of those options, one by one.

Can’t Like Posts On Instagram? Try These Fixes

1. Wait for 24 Hours

Instagram usually only blocks you for 24 hours, sometimes even less. In my experience, I was blocked for a few hours, so you may not even have to wait for the full 24 hours.

One of Instagram’s main priorities is to block out spam and bots so that other accounts can be protected.

So, you’ll need to show Instagram that you can restrict this behavior for a few hours before they can unblock you again from liking other people’s posts again. This is especially important because they think you’ve been spamming so to correct yourself, you’ll need to make sure that you take a break from it.

Once you come back to Instagram in 24 hours after pretty much only being able to view pictures and do nothing else, you’ll finally be able to like, follow/unfollow, message and comment on people’s pictures.

2. Use Another Device and Switch to Data

Since your IP address has been blocked by Instagram, this means that your best bet would be to switch to a different device and use data instead of WIFI. When Instagram blocks you, they don’t block your account, they block your IP address.

Every device using the Internet has two IP addresses: a public and a private one. In your home, your router uses your public IP address—assigned by your ISP to connect to the Internet.

On your mobile device, you have a public IP address. So, if you use data and switch to a different device, your actions would be unblocked because you’re not associated with the blocked IP addresses anymore.

3. Delete Third-Party Apps

If you’re using a third-party app, you’ll need to uninstall it right away.

The ‘unfollowing non-followers’ apps seem to be a very popular third-party app within the Instagram community.

There are also apps that credit your pictures with likes as long as you buy coins – if you’re guilty of having this, you’ll need to uninstall it.

Many apps that use Instagram API usually don’t restrict their users from abusing the features on the apps, therefore, these apps are usually the reason you’re going to get certain actions blocked by Instagram.

4. Link Instagram Account with Facebook

Since Instagram thinks that you’re a bot, you’re going to have to prove to them that you’re a genuine person by linking to another social media account such as your Facebook account.

This adds credibility therefore, there’s a very high chance that Instagram will unblock you from liking posts within the 24 hours.

To link your Instagram to your Facebook:

1. Tap on the 3 lines on your profile
2. Tap on settings
3. Scroll down to linked accounts
4. Select Facebook and sign in

After you’ve done this, you need to close the app and restart your device so that the changes can be implemented.

After you’ve done this, you should be able to use Instagram just like you did before.

5. Use Instagram.com

If you want a chance to like Instagram posts, just use Instagram.com. Since the app version and desktop version of Instagram are different, you can check to see if the website version of Instagram has the same problem. To do this, go on Instagram.com, login, and scroll through your feed. When you see a post you’re interested in, like it and see if it works.

6. Space Out Your Likes

If you’ve been spamming Instagram posts with likes in a short period of time, this could raise your eyebrows and prevent your Instagram likes from going through. This term is also known as shadowbanned and it can prevent you from liking posts for a while.

If you’ve been spamming likes too fast in a short period of time, you may also have been hit with an error message. If you’ve exceeded Instagram’s limit for liking within a certain time period, you’ll be hit with an error that says you’re blocked from liking.

This feature was left there to fight spam likers as well as bot likers but some users who leave genuine likers and don’t spam have been slapped with this error by mistake. So if you’ve received this error by mistake, then taking a break from liking is going to be your best bet. Usually, with this error, you’ll need to wait up to 24 hours before it goes away.

7. Use a VPN to Like An Instagram Post

Perhaps you find that you can’t like posts. This could mean that you’ve been temporarily IP banned. Sure, you could just wait it out, which could take up to a day.

However, for a quick workaround, you can try using a VPN. With a quality VPN, you can mask your IP address, making it seem like you’re using a different device. Hence, your other accounts may be unaffected by the ban as well.

Nonetheless, not all VPNs may be successful in lifting the IP ban. Especially if you’re using a free VPN, which assigns a generic IP address to numerous devices and clients.

8. Check Your Internet Connection

One of the main reasons you won’t be able to like photos apart from being banned is because your internet connection is poor.

Instagram requires a strong internet connection to function properly and if your Wi-Fi connection is poor, you’re going to experience problems.

If this is an internet problem, you’re likely to see a message saying, ‘No internet connection’ or ‘We’re sorry but something went wrong’.

If you can see this, then it’s very likely that you haven’t been banned from liking, you just need to fix your internet connection.

You can try and switch from WIFI to data vice versa.

If this doesn’t work, you need to restart your router and wait for the internet option to turn green.

After you’ve done this, you can try and like pictures on Instagram again and if this doesn’t work, go to the next step.

9. Log in and out

The next thing you need to try and do is log out then back into Instagram.

If a glitch is stopping you from liking people’s posts, logging out then in again may fix the problem.

A glitch is a short failure in the system that causes unexpected problems.

Once you’ve logged out then back in again, you can check if you’re able to use it properly.

10. Stop Using Bots

If you use bots to automate things such as likes and comments, then this is a sure-fire way to get banned from liking.

Using automating software is against Instagram’s guidelines and this is because you’re not using the app to like pictures, you’re using a bot.

If you are using a bot, you need to pause it and wait for Instagram to unblock you.

You may say to yourself, “I don’t even use bots and I still can’t like pictures”.

If you’ve been liking too many pictures at once or following too many people at once, Instagram is going to see this as a bot and block you anyway.

11. Clear the Instagram Cache

The last option you have is to clear your Instagram cache and eliminate the option that this is a glitch. The cache files are a set of temporary files that are stored to help the app run faster.

Deleting the cache files is one way to get rid of a bug that’s causing the problem you’re having with Instagram. You need to delete and then reinstall the app in order to get rid of its cache files if you’re using an iPhone.

After you’ve done this, you need to reinstall the app and then try to like posts again.

12. Update Instagram

Since the main reason for this problem would be a bug, the best thing you can do to try and combat this problem would be to update Instagram.

The main reason why an update would be released is to be able to get rid of a bug. If you look at the features of an update, you’ll usually see the term bug fixes. If you’ve been unable to like posts, this update would fix the bug that’s causing it.

13. Close then Re-open the App to Get Rid Of Bugs

Since there’s an issue within Instagram, you should restart the app to see if you can get rid of the bug. When the app is restarting, things like a bug in the system of the app can be removed simply because it was restarted.

It’s also an easy first step to take and it’ll let you know if there’s a deep issue within the app. After you’ve closed the app from the multitasking switch, you can open it and check if the problem has gone away.

14. Delete Instagram

If you still can’t like on Instagram, you’ll need to delete and reinstall Instagram again. This only works if the app has a bug that’s causing you not to like Instagram posts. To delete an app, hold down on it, press the x, then select delete and confirm your decision.

15. Reset Network Settings

When you reset your network settings, this will fix any network problems that is causing you not to like posts. Resetting the network settings clears any setting that relates to a network which could fix the liking problem. When you do this, your settings will go back to how there were when you first had your device.

To reset your network settings:

Android:

1. Go to the Settings app on your Android.
2. Scroll to and select General management or System
3. Tap either Reset or Reset options
4. Tap on Reset network settings.

A confirmation will pop up, tap on ‘Reset Network Settings’ again to confirm your decision. This will reboot your device and once it’s back on, go back into Instagram and check if you can like posts.

iOS:

1. Go to the Settings app
2. Tap on General
3. Click on Reset
4. Click on Reset Network Settings

16. Contact Instagram Support

App developers frequently release new versions of their apps that include a variety of bug patches and new features. You should return to the Google Play Store or the App Store and see if an update is available. If you still can’t like people’s posts on Instagram, you should contact Instagram support. If an update for the program is available, make sure you install it as soon as possible. Often, this is sufficient to resolve the situation.

How Long Will Instagram Block You From Liking Photos?

If Instagram has blocked you from liking other people’s posts, the duration of a temporary Instagram ban lasts from few hours to 24-48 hours. This duration also depends on how you act after the ban. If you continue the same actions that caused the ban, it’ll last a lot longer than if you stop the action completely.