Struggling with the frustrating this Story Is Unavailable Instagram error? You’re not a single user. Many users face this issue when trying to view stories, leaving them puzzled about how to resolve it.
We’ll guide you step by step on how to troubleshoot and enjoy hassle-free access to stories. Say goodbye to frustration and unlock the full potential of your Instagram experience by learning how to tackle IG story not available errors.
iGeekbloggers.com – Fix “Story Unavailable” on Instagram expired stories, private accounts, deletions, blocks, glitches, or audience restrictions could cause it. Refresh feed, update app, clear cache, reinstall, check internet to troubleshoot, and view stories.
What Does This Story Is Unavailable Instagram Mean?
Unavailable Instagram story means Instagram story you’re trying to view is not accessible. This could be because the content is blocked in your region, deleted by user or Instagram, or due to a technical problem. You will see this Story Is Unavailable on Instagram error in display.
If you are facing IG story unavailable issue so you can not view the Instagram story, you can try checking if the content is available in another region, viewing it from a different device or network, or waiting a few hours and trying again. Now you are still unable to view IG story, you can contact Instagram support team.
Why Does It Say This Story Unavailable On Instagram?
There are a few main reasons why you might see this story is unavailable Instagram messages when trying to view someone’s Instagram story:
- If their account is private and you don’t follow them, you won’t be able to see their story. Instagram keeps private accounts, well, private.
- Stories automatically disappear after 24 hours. So if you’re trying to watch an old story that has expired, you’ll get that message.
- They may have deleted stories or archived their posts. If so, it’s story unavailable on Instagram.
- You might be blocked If someone has blocked you, you won’t be able to creep on their stories.
- Occasionally it’s just a glitch. Instagram isn’t perfect, so stories may show as unavailable temporarily until the issue is fixed.
- If they limit who can view their story, and exclude you, you’ll be out of luck.
- And if the account was disabled or deleted altogether, then their stories would show as unavailable.
In summary – expired stories or, private accounts, deletions, blocks, glitches, or audience restrictions could all lead to that this story is unavailable on Instagram messages. But it’s usually just because the content is no longer there or you don’t have access.
13 Ways To Fix This Story Is Unavailable Instagram Issue
There are several troubleshooting tips you can try to resolve this Story is Unavailable problem on Instagram. Check out the top fixes below to learn how to troubleshoot this issue and view Instagram Stories smoothly again.
Refresh Instagram Feed
The easiest fix is to pull down and refresh your Instagram feed. This reloads the stories and can resolve temporary glitches preventing them from loading.
Overall, refreshing your feed is the fastest way to fix story not available on Instagram errors by giving Instagram a fresh chance to load the content.
Force Quit And Restart Instagram App
If refreshing your feed doesn’t work, force quit the Instagram app completely by swiping up on its preview from the app switcher screen.
Fully closing out and restarting Instagram forces it to reload stories fresh, which can reset any bugs causing them to be Instagram story is unavailable.
Relaunching the app gives it a clean slate, clearing out stuck processes or data issues that may be preventing that story from loading correctly.
Log Out And Log Back Into Your Instagram Account
- Open Instagram profile.
- Tap the menu button in the top right corner.
- Select the “Logout” option.
- Confirm logging out of your account.
- Enter username and password to log back in.
- This will clear the cache and data, giving stories a clean slate to load correctly.
Logging out and logging back in can help resolve IG story unavailable issues by clearing out any corrupted data or cache that may be preventing the story from loading properly. Resetting the app’s data gives it a fresh start to retrieve the story again.
Update Latest Version Of Instagram App
One potential source of Instagram issues is having an outdated version of the app installed. If the app is not fully up-to-date, that may show IG story not available error on your device.
On an Android device, open the Google Play Store, tap the menu icon, and choose “My apps & games.” This will display all your installed apps. Locate Instagram and check if an update is available.
Download and install the latest update if one is pending. Keeping the app up-to-date ensures optimal compatibility with Instagram’s servers and newest features. The update may resolve this story is unavailable Instagram issue.
Clear App Cache And Data
Here are the steps to clear cache and data to fix story not available on Instagram:
- Go to your phone’s Settings menu.
- Select the Instagram app.
- Choose Storage, Storage & Data, or Storage & Cache.
- Tap “Clear Cache” to delete temporary files.
- Also, tap “Clear Data” to reset the app completely.
- This will force Instagram to rebuild, eliminating any bugs preventing stories from loading.
- It gives the app a fresh start, clearing any corrupted data that caused “IG story not available” issues.
Clearing both the cache and data is an effective troubleshooting step when Instagram stories are not loading properly or are showing as this story is unavailable Instagram.
Uninstall And Reinstall The Instagram App
Here are the steps to uninstall and reinstall Instagram to fix this story is unavailable on Instagram error:
- Hold down on the Instagram app icon until the uninstall option appears.
- Tap uninstall and confirm to delete Instagram.
- Open App Store/Play Store and search for “Instagram.”
- Download and install a fresh version of the Instagram app.
- Log back into your Instagram account in the newly installed app.
- This completely reconfigures the app and resets any corrupted files.
- Stories should now be able to load correctly without unavailable errors.
Uninstalling and redownloading Instagram essentially gives you a brand new copy of the app, wiping any problematic data that may have been causing stories to be unavailable or not load.
Check Your Internet Connection
Before going through intensive troubleshooting, make sure you have a stable and strong internet connection. If you have a weak WiFi signal or limited mobile data, the Instagram servers may struggle to load stories properly.
Try loading the story while connected to a different WiFi network or switch from Wi-Fi to mobile data. If the story loads with no issue, then the problem is likely your connection rather than the Instagram app itself.
Stable and fast internet is required for all of Instagram’s content and features, so rule this out before spending time on other fixes and easily fix this story is unavailable Instagram.
Consider User’s Privacy Settings
One straightforward reason you may be unable to view a story is the user has set privacy settings that prevent you from viewing their content. If the user’s profile is private, their stories will only be visible to approved followers.
Similarly, even if you follow a user, they may have customized their story settings to limit viewership to a smaller group of followers. If you were excluded from that list, you’ll get the story unavailable message when trying to view their story.
Check if you can view other stories on their profile. If none are working, restricted privacy settings may be the culprit.
Story You’re Trying To View May Have Expired
When trying to view an Instagram story that is over 24 hours old, you may see a message that this Instagram story is unavailable because Instagram automatically deletes stories 24 hours after they are posted.
The temporary nature of stories is part of what makes them unique from regular Instagram posts. Even the user who posted the expired story can no longer view it. So if you try to watch a story that is more than a day old, you’ll get Instagram story unavailable problem due to Instagram’s time limit on stories.
User May Have Deleted The Story
In addition to expiration after 24 hours, users also have the option to manually delete their stories before that 24-hour limit. If the user chose to remove a particular story, this would make it unavailable to view.
See if you can view their other stories. If some are visible but the one you want is not, they likely removed that specific story from their profile before the time expired.
Technical Issues With Instagram Servers
In some cases, the unavailable error is caused by technical problems on Instagram’s end rather than anything wrong on your side. If the Instagram server that manages stories is down or glitchy, it can prevent stories from loading properly.
Check third-party sites like Downdetector to see if other users are reporting widespread technical issues with Instagram that could explain your unavailable story. It may be an outage that needs to be addressed by Instagram rather than an account-specific problem.
Report The Issue Directly To Instagram
If you’ve tried all conventional troubleshooting tips and are still unable to view a story, you can report the problem directly to Instagram through their help center. This allows Instagram’s tech team to look into what could be causing stories to glitch for your account specifically.
To report the issue, go to the Settings menu in the Instagram app. Scroll down and choose “Help Center.” Here you can contact Support, select Report a Problem, and detail the specific error you’re experiencing.
Try Using Third-Party Instagram Story Viewer
As a last resort, there are third-party apps designed specifically for viewing Instagram stories, highlights, and profiles. Apps like Story Saver and iSaveGram can sometimes retrieve unavailable Instagram stories, but violate Instagram’s terms and should be used cautiously.
Note – Be aware that third-party apps violate Instagram’s terms of service. Use them at your own risk,
Is It Possible To See Unavailable Story On Instagram?
Sometimes, but not always. An unavailable Instagram story may become viewable if you wait for it to expire after 24 hours. You could also ask a mutual friend to view the IG story unavailable from their account and show you.
However, if the account owner limited access or deleted the story, it may remain unavailable. While some third-party apps claim they can recover expired stories, this violates Instagram’s policies. It’s best not to pursue viewing unauthorized content that the user restricted access to, as that disrespects their privacy.
How Long Until An Instagram Story Is Unavailable?
Instagram stories are only available for 24 hours after being posted. This means that 24 hours after a story is shared on Instagram, it will automatically disappear and become unavailable to view.
There is no way to view an Instagram story after the 24-hour period has elapsed unless the account owner chooses to share it again as a story highlight or post. Instagram stories are available for viewing for exactly 24 hours before becoming this story is unavailable Instagram.
How Do You Know If Someone Has Hidden Their Stories From You?
There is no way to know for sure if someone has hidden their Instagram stories from you. The stories simply won’t show up in your feed or on their profile. Instagram does not send any kind of alert or notification when you are hidden from someone’s stories.
The only indication is their lack of visible stories, which could also mean they just haven’t posted. Without them directly telling you, you can’t definitively know you’ve been hidden.
Does Instagram Show Everyone Who Viewed The Story?
Yes, Instagram shows everyone who viewed your story by default. You can see the list of people who have viewed your story.
Can You Hide Only One Story From Someone?
Yes, you can hide only one story from someone on Instagram. When you hide a story from someone, they won’t be able to see that specific story, but they will still be able to see your other stories.
Does Instagram Notify If You Hide Someone From Your Story?
No, Instagram does not notify users when you hide your stories from them. This allows you to control your privacy, blocking someone from viewing your stories without them realizing they have been hidden.
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