How To Fix Instagram Action Block Error (2024): "We're sorry, but something went wrong. Please Try again."
In this article, you’re going to learn how to fix your Instagram account after you’ve been action blocked, what you need to know to avoid getting flagged in the future, and what could have caused your account to be blocked in the first place.
Why does Instagram keep saying “Try Again Later, we restrict certain activities to protect our community”?
Unfortunately, if you’re experiencing any variation of this message… it means your account is temporarily action blocked on Instagram.
What does this mean?
Instagram’s AI has concluded that it’s possible you could be a bot and want to test you… so they freeze your account from being able to like, follow, comment, save, post, et cetera… just to see if you freeze up or keep trying to carry out functions over and over (like a bot would do).
Here’s what you need to know:
It’s 2022… and Instagram has over 1.074 billion users worldwide.
In order to protect it’s platform from spammers, bots, and other malicious 3rd parties, Instagram and Facebook rely on artificial intelligence to monitor and enforce it’s rules.
Unfortunately…
Instagram’s AI is still learning and does make mistakes.
We’re going to go through the top 13 most important things you need to know about fixing your IG account below and what you need to know going forward so this doesn’t happen to you again.
How to fix “We’re sorry, but something went wrong. Please try again” action block error on Instagram in 2024:
1. Clear the cache on your Instagram app
Sometimes all it takes to beat an action block is to simply clear your Instagram’s app’s cache, close the app, and reopen it.
Here’s how to clear your Instagram cache on your iPhone:
Open the “Settings” app on your phone
Tap “General"
Tap “iPhone Storage”
Scroll down and select Instagram"
Select “Delete App”
This will clear your Instagram app’s cache completely.
Important note:
You won’t actually have to log back into your accounts… this is just clearing the cache and clearing up space on your phone.
2. Delete the App and reinstall the latest version
Instagram and Facebook are constantly split testing different aspects of their apps on your phone.
For example, whenever you download Instagram on your phone, you’re actually downloading several versions of the app all at once and Facebook is then making changes and optimizing the app directly on your phone using these different versions.
Why this matters:
Because of that, if you’re ever having issues with your Instagram or Facebook apps, some of the time… you can just delete and re-install the apps from the App Store and your issues will be fixed when you log in.
3. Take a break for a while
Before you go to the time and effort of trying all of the different tactics below, consider simply staying off of the Instagram app for 24 to 72 hours or so.
Meaning…
Don’t try to DM, comment, like, save, or anything for a few days… don’t even open the app.
More often than not, a few days or so off of the app will fix all of your issues.
Important note:
Before you decide to take a break… be sure to do #4 and #5 and let support know that there is an issue.
4. Contact the help Instagram center
Be sure to fill out a form on Instagram’s official help page:
Explain that you are experiencing issues with your account and let them know you’re unable to like, comment, make reels, et cetera (whatever your issue is).
Important note:
You need to explain that you rely on Instagram / Facebook for your business and this account issue is directly affecting your revenue and your ability to generate an income.
You need to also try to take this one step further and contact the official Facebook pages for IG and FB (see below).
5. Contact the Instagram and Facebook Business pages
Here’s how to get in contact with Facebook or Instagram support:
This is something a lot of people dont realize… but you can actually get a hold of a real person at Facebook or Instagram by messaging the official Business pages on Facebook.
If you’re lucky, you’ll even get directed to a human phone support agent who you can talk to and explain your issues.
Important note:
The support team who run the business pages are generally only online during work hours monday-friday.
Feel free to use this tactic of messaging the IG/FB business pages for other issues as well - they’re generally very responsive and will work with you to solve your issues.
Quick note:
I run an Instagram Planner app called PostBuilder (free for iPhone).
You can schedule posts and stories, use custom fonts for your IG bio / captions
Store unlimited drafts
Preview your posts before you post them on Instagram
and more.
6. Reconnect your Instagram and Facebook together
Reconnecting your Facebook and Instagram is a common solution to a number of different account issues you could be experiencing.
If you’re having issues reconnecting your two accounts together, be sure to try on desktop - this usually fixes any issues.
7. Factory reset your phone / update your phone to the latest iOS
There are cases where people have completely fixed their action blocks on Instagram by simply resetting their phone.
Important note:
You do not have to do a hard reset to your phone for this to work.
There are numerous cases where just a soft reset fixed the issues.
8. Log in to your Instagram on desktop or on another friend’s phone to see if it’s a device ban
9. Remove the link in your Instagram bio
One tactic that a lot of people have found is that when they remove the link in their bio, log out, then log back in… this instantly fixes their account.
One common question we frequently are asked:
Is Linktree safe to use for Instagram?
The answer?
Yes. Absolutely.
Linktree is 100% trusted by Facebook and Instagram.
In fact, the official Facebook Instagram account uses linktree in their bio.
10. Change your Instagram account from a personal to a business page (and vice-versa)
Changing from a personal page to a business or a creator page has also fixed the action block for people.
However:
Once you switch your Instagram account to a personal page… you lose your analytics from your account and you start fresh again when you switch back.
If you’re trying this tactic… be sure you have tried everything else discussed in this article first.
11. Show Instagram you’re not a robot
Verify your phone / email address
Link your Facebook with your Instagram
Enable two-factor authentication
Change your password
12. Stop using bots or automation and remove 3rd party apps
It’s 2022 and we’ve already gone over that artificial intelligence now runs and maintains Instagram’s algorithms.
If you’re using bots or automation… you might not get caught in the short term… but you’re eventually going to get caught and get your account either permanently shadow banned or suspended indefinitely.
Instagram’s artificial intelligence is smarter than all of us and it gets smarter and smarter (as it learns) every single day.
If you were using bots… stop. Go into your app settings and unauthorized all of the sketchy 3rd party apps that may have access to your account as soon as possible.
Why this is important:
Instagram has done mass bans from accounts who simply had certain 3rd party apps authorized to their accounts.
Some people were banned just because they allowed an app to have access to their account one single time (regardless if they used the services or not).
Instagram has demonstrated time and time again that they do not tolerate automation and bots… just don’t do it.
13. Stop using any of Instagram’s banned hashtags
Instagram has a large list of banned hashtags that they do not want their users to be promoting.
Instead of Instagram outright banning these hashtags, they quietly hide your account from being found in search if you are caught using any of them.
What you need to do:
Go through your past posts on Instagram and make sure you aren’t accidentally using any from the updated banned hashtags list.
If you find posts with banned hashtags:
Simply remove the offending hashtags - you can still keep the post active.
14. You’re doing too many actions at once
Meaning:
You’re following/unfollowing, liking, commenting, posting, DMing too fast all at once.
Remember:
Instagram’s rule enforcers are artificial intelligence.
Don’t give the AI a reason to suspect that you could be a bot.
Until Instagram’s AI gets better… we’re confined by what they allow us to do.
So if we all have to move slower and get randomly action blocked for no reason sometime… all we can do is wait for the technology to catch up.
