How to Fix “Failed to send” Error Message on Instagram?

Instagram’s DMs are one of the most-used features on the platform, allowing you to share text, photos, Reels, and posts with one or more people. Many even refer to it as their own “personal space” to spark unique conversations with people of similar interests and even close business leads. However, several users have reported the “Failed to send” error while trying to send a message through this in-app messaging feature. 

If you’re a regular user of Instagram DMs, you may wonder why does Instagram say “Failed to send” a message? How to fix “Failed to send” error message on Instagram Android? 

This comprehensive guide has all the answers you’re looking for. Let’s get started without further ado.

Why Does My Message Fail to Send on Instagram?

Why am I seeing message send failure on Instagram? There can be many reasons why your messages fail to send on Instagram, such as:

• Poor internet: If the Wi-Fi (or mobile data) you’re connected to while sending messages isn’t stable, it’s the primary reason why your DMs aren’t getting delivered to the recipient. 

• App glitches: In case your app is having troubles, probably due to bugs or glitches, this can be another reason why you’re facing the “Failed to send” error on Instagram. 

• Outdated app version: Instagram regularly rolls out version updates to ensure a smooth functioning of the app. If you’re still running an old version of the app, it might also be causing issues in delivering your messages. 

• Server: The Instagram server status (up or down) plays a crucial role in its operations. If the servers are down in your region or globally, the app won’t function properly. This also includes difficulties in messaging, too. 

• Restrictions by Instagram: In some cases, it’s also possible that Instagram may have restricted you from messaging for a short period due to community guideline violations. 

• Blocking: While it may not always be the case, you’ll still get the “Failed to send” error on Instagram if the other person has blocked you.

How to Fix “Failed to send” Error Message on Instagram?

How to fix “Failed to send” error message on Instagram iPhone or Android? We tried a lot of workarounds from both Google and YouTube, and here are the top nine worth trying.

Check Your Internet Connection 

The first fix for the “Failed to send” error message on Instagram is to check your internet connection; a stable and working connection is required to access the app and its features. Run an internet speed test to ensure your Wi-Fi is up and running. If not, we recommend turning off the router and turning it back on. You may also switch to mobile data to see if it works for you. 

Update Your Instagram App

If it’s been a while since you last updated your Instagram app, give it a quick update (if available) from the Play Store or App Store. This is a straightforward fix for many app-related problems, including Instagram can’t send message to someone and Instagram message failed to send and cannot be retried. 

But how do I update my Instagram app? You just need to follow the given steps:

• Go to your Play Store (Android) or App Store (iOS). 
• Search for Instagram in the search bar.
• Tap the Update option if it’s available for the app.

Uninstall Instagram and Reinstall

If your Instagram is already updated, as ours is, here’s the next thing you can try: uninstall Instagram and reinstall it. What happens if I uninstall and reinstall Instagram? This will remove the app from your device, log you out of your account, and may delete the posts saved as drafts. You won’t lose any posts, videos, custom settings, or DMs.

Clear App Cache

While cache improves your experience with Instagram by loading the content faster each time you visit it, allowing it to build up too much may result in poor, sluggish performance and unexplained issues. For example, your app may start lagging or DMs won’t send through in one go. That’s why it’s important to clear your Instagram app’s cache regularly to avoid this issue. 

How do I clear the cache for Instagram? Follow these steps: 

• Open your device’s Settings > Apps > Instagram. 

• Go to Storage under the Usage section.

• Tap Clear cache. 

Note: The above steps will change based on your device’s manufacturer.

Ensure Instagram isn’t Down

Why isn’t my Instagram working today? This may be due to server issues. Go to Downdetector to see if there’s any real-time problem with Instagram. If users have reported outages on the website, then it’s likely that the server is temporarily down and you’re not alone. So, just wait a while or check back later for updates. 

Check Account Status

Why is Instagram restricting me from sending messages? If everything else looks good with Instagram, including the server, maybe the problem is with your account. You may have violated IG’s Community Standards or sent too many messages despite a warning, which restricted you from sending more direct messages for a period of time. Again, you can’t do much in this case except for wait for your access to messaging to resume. 

You can check your account’s status by following these steps:

• Open Instagram’s Settings.
• Scroll down and select Account Status under More info and support.

• Go to Features you can’t use and ensure you’ve access to features like commenting, following, going Live, liking, or messaging. 

Check If You’re Not Blocked

If Instagram failed to send message to one person, there’s a possibility that the person has blocked you. Now, you may ask, “How do I know if I’m blocked or not on Instagram?”

Try any of these ways to confirm if someone has blocked you on Instagram:

• Visit the profile of the person you want to message (open chat > View Profile), and if you can’t see their profile picture, post count, follower count, or following count, and the photo grid reads “No posts yet,” you’ve been blocked.
• If you can’t see your chat history with the person, it’s also a sign (not confirmation!) that they have blocked you.
• Ask a common friend to see if they can find the account. If they can, it indicates you’ve been blocked.
• Check out the person’s previous interactions with your posts, such as Instagram likes, comments, or tags. If they’ve also disappeared, this confirms that they have blocked you.

Also Read: What Is the “We Limit How Often You” Instagram Warning Message?

Restart Your Device

If the “Failed to send” issue persists, you may want to restart your device. Sometimes, a quick restart can solve small glitches in the app or your phone’s system. Just turn off your phone, wait a few seconds, and turn it back on. Then open Instagram again and try sending the message. This simple step often clears temporary issues and helps the app work smoothly again without any errors.  

Contact Instagram Support Team

In case you’re still unable to send direct messages on Instagram, reporting the problem to Instagram’s support is your last resort. If you want to know how do I contact Instagram support team, you can contact them through the Help section within the app or simply shake your phone to see the reporting menu. Then, tap Report a problem and follow the on-screen instructions. 

You May Also Like: How to Hide Chat on Instagram Live?

Conclusion

Here you go, guys. That’s everything about how to fix “Failed to send” error message on Instagram, which is very straightforward with these nine simple solutions. Start by checking your internet, updating the app, or restarting your device. If these don’t work out anyhow, clear the app cache, log out and back in, or reinstall Instagram if needed. Ensure your account isn’t restricted and check Instagram’s server status. If nothing works, contact Instagram support. 

These steps should get your DMs working again, so you can chat with friends without any hassle!