If you’ve ever tried to look up someone on Instagram, you may feel frustrated when Instagram says user not found. Don’t panic. You’re not alone. There are a few possible explanations for why this happens. In this article, we will cover the reasons and tips to help you manage this situation.
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What does “user not found” mean on Instagram
Most people have ever seen a “user not found” error on the Instagram mobile app, or “Sorry, this page isn’t available” on the browser. It means that the person whose profile you’re attempting to visit is inaccessible to you or others for one of several reasons, as described in the sections below.
What may be the reasons for “user not found”
1. Instagram account has been deleted
If the users deactivate their account, all related data on Instagram will not be able to access anymore. Thus, you will see the “user not found” error message if you try to search them on Instagram.
2. The account is temporarily shadowbanned
Shadowbanned is an official term used by Instagram. As we know, Instagram has the power to deprioritize or delete accounts on the platform. It’s possible that the user you’re looking for has been temporarily suspended, so it’s no longer visible to others.
3. There's a typo in the username
Well, we know this can be a secret between us, but everyone makes mistakes! Try double-checking the spelling of the username before pressing the “search” button, you can find them back in a sec. Good luck!
4. The account doesn't exist
Another reason may be the account you’re looking for has never actually existed, or that they may have created their account after you last checked. Try searching for them again at a later date to see if they’ve popped up.
5. The account is in a different language
If the user’s account is set to a language that you don’t understand, you may see the “user not found” error message. To fix this, try changing the language settings on your device or using a translation tool.
6. The account is set to "unsearchable"
Some users may have their account set to “unsearchable”, which means that they won’t show up in search results. If you think this is the case, you can try asking the user for their username or sending them a direct message.
7. The user has changed their username
If the user has changed their username, you will need to search for their new username to find them on Instagram. If you’re not sure about it, you can ask them directly or find the previous messages you’ve sent to them.
8. The account is hacked
If the user’s account has been hacked, you may see the “user not found” error message. This is because the hacker may have changed the username or deleted the account altogether. If you think this is the case, you can try contacting Instagram’s support team.
9. You've been blocked
Last but not least, the “user not found” error message may be caused by the fact that you’ve been blocked by the user. If this is the case, you will not be able to find them or see their posts and Stories.
Tips to manage the "user not found" situation
If you still can’t find the user you’re looking for, it’s likely that one of the above reasons is the cause. However, there may be a problem with your account. Try the following tips:
1. Restart the app
If you’re using the Instagram app, try restarting it. This may fix any temporary problems with the app.
2. Update the app
If you’re using an outdated version of the Instagram app, the “user not found” message may appear more often. Try updating the app to the latest version.
3. Clear your cache
If you’re using a browser, clearing your cache may help fix Instagram user not found errors.
4. Log out and log back in
If you’re logged into multiple accounts, try logging out of all accounts and then logging back into the one you want to use.
5. Check your internet connection
Make sure you have a strong internet connection. A weak or intermittent connection can cause the “user not found” error.
6. Check with your friends or third-party tools
If you’re still not sure whether or not you’ve been blocked by someone, you can ask a friend to check for you. To do this, have your friend search for the person’s name in the search bar and try to find the profile. If they can see it, it’s possible that you’ve been blocked. Besides, you should be able to see their profile when using the Instagram downloaders or viewers online for free to validate it.
7. Contact Instagram support
If you’ve excluded all these possibilities but still see a “user not found” error, you can try contacting Instagram’s support team. They may be able to help you troubleshoot the problem.
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FAQs
If Instagram has temporarily deactivated the account, you will get the “user not found” message. Also, if you haven’t updated to the newest version of Instagram, you may encounter some technical issues. In this case, please try to update your Instagram and search for the user again.
Yes, you can try updating Instagram to the latest version. If that doesn’t work, you can try clearing your cache or logging out and back in. If you’re still having trouble, you can contact Instagram’s support team.
Absolutely! For more precise search result, we do recommend trying different languages when you look for someone’s profile on Instagram. Since Instagram will not translate the language you type to match the search result, you will likely get the “user not found” error if your search language doesn’t match their profiles.