---
title: "Instagram Error Messages Explained: What Each One Means"
description: "\"User not found\", \"Try again later\", login requests, ID checks, disabled accounts: what common Instagram messages mean and the official next step for each."
url: https://takebackmyinsta.com/blog/instagram-error-messages/
language: en
updated: 2026-10-27
publisher: takebackmyinsta (https://takebackmyinsta.com/)
---

# Instagram error messages explained: what each one means and what to do

Published 27 October 2026 8 min read [By the takebackmyinsta team](https://takebackmyinsta.com/about/)

**In short:** Most Instagram warnings fall into five groups: login and security alerts (a login request from a device Instagram doesn't recognise, a prompt to change a password that may be at risk, an email-change notice), identity checks (a video selfie or an ID upload), restrictions (Try again later, a data-scraping restriction), account decisions (suspended or disabled) and login errors (an email that can't be found, an expired reset link, an unknown username). The table below lists each message, what Instagram's Help Center says it means and the official next step. Two rules hold for all of them: Instagram never contacts you about account security through Direct messages, and no official step asks you to send your password or a login code to anyone.

## The messages at a glance

Exact wording changes between app versions and languages, so match the message by its meaning rather than word for word.

| What you see | What it means | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| An alert about a login from a device you don't recognise | Someone tried to log in from a device or browser Instagram doesn't recognise | Approve it if it was you; otherwise deny it and reset your password: [suspicious login attempts](https://takebackmyinsta.com/blog/instagram-suspicious-login-attempt/) |
| A prompt to change your password because your account may be at risk | Instagram thinks your password is weak or may have been exposed outside Instagram | Change it; that logs out every other device |
| An email saying your email address was changed | Someone changed the email on your profile | Use the link from security@mail.instagram.com in your original inbox: [undo an email change](https://takebackmyinsta.com/blog/instagram-email-changed-by-hacker/) |
| "User not found" | The profile can't be shown: deactivated, pending deletion, disabled, renamed, or you may be blocked | [What "User not found" means](https://takebackmyinsta.com/blog/instagram-user-not-found/) |
| "Try again later" or a notice that certain actions are limited | Instagram is restricting some of your activity | [Why actions get blocked](https://takebackmyinsta.com/blog/instagram-try-again-later/) |
| Your account is restricted for data scraping | Instagram may have detected automated access or collection of information | Remove suspicious third-party apps, change your password, turn on two-factor |
| A request to take a video selfie | Instagram wants to check you're a real person and confirm your identity | [How video selfie checks work](https://takebackmyinsta.com/blog/instagram-video-selfie-verification/) |
| A request to upload an ID | To confirm the account is yours, confirm your age, process payments or prevent abuse | Follow the on-screen instructions; you usually get at least two attempts |
| Your account is suspended or disabled | Instagram says the account doesn't follow its rules | Log in and follow the on-screen instructions to request a review: [suspended or disabled account](https://takebackmyinsta.com/guides/instagram-account-suspended/) |
| Your email address can't be found during a password reset | You may have signed up with a different address or mistyped it | Try your username or phone number, or Reset using Facebook if your accounts are linked |
| The link in a password reset email doesn't work | The email may have expired | Request a new one and use its reset-password option, not the login option |
| A login code or reset email never arrives | Delivery, filter or contact-detail problems | [What to check when codes don't arrive](https://takebackmyinsta.com/blog/instagram-code-not-received/) |
| Something isn't working in the app | No single published cause | Update the app, try instagram.com in a browser, then Report a problem |

## Login and security alerts

**Login requests.** With [two-factor authentication](https://takebackmyinsta.com/glossary/#two-factor) on, Instagram alerts you when someone tries to log in from a device or browser it doesn't recognise, and shows the device and its location. Approve it if it's you. If you deny it, Instagram asks you to reset your password. The full routine, including This Was Me and This Wasn't Me in your login activity, is in [our guide to suspicious login attempts](https://takebackmyinsta.com/blog/instagram-suspicious-login-attempt/).

**"Your account may be at risk."** Instagram asks you to change your password when it notices the password is weak or may have been exposed or compromised outside Instagram, for example when you used the same password on another site that had a data breach, or when the account is synced with an unauthorised third-party app. Instagram says it never stores a copy of your password. After the change you're logged out of all other devices.

**Email-change notices.** When the email on your profile changes, Instagram emails both the new and the original address. If you didn't make the change, the message to your original address, from security@mail.instagram.com, lets you reverse it.

## Identity checks: video selfie and ID

A **video selfie** request asks you to film yourself turning your head in different directions so Instagram can check you're a real person and confirm your identity. Instagram says the video is never visible on Instagram and is deleted within 30 days.

An **ID request** can have four purposes, according to Instagram: confirming that the account you're trying to access is yours, confirming or editing your age, processing payments and preventing abuse such as scams or phishing. Instagram says it won't make your ID visible to other users and that in most cases you get at least two attempts. Know the stakes before you ignore it: during the review you may temporarily lose access, if you choose not to confirm your identity your content may get reduced distribution or you may not be able to log back in, and if you don't pass the review Instagram may disable the account and delete its data.

## Restrictions: Try again later and data scraping

**Try again later** messages mean Instagram is limiting some actions for a while. The common causes and what helps are in [our article on Try again later](https://takebackmyinsta.com/blog/instagram-try-again-later/).

A **data-scraping restriction** means Instagram may have detected [data scraping](https://takebackmyinsta.com/glossary/#data-scraping): automated access or collection of information that breaks its Terms of Use. Instagram names typical triggers: automating access or collecting information without permission, giving your username and password to a third-party app or website, for example one that offers likes or followers, and using a service to interact with Instagram in unauthorised ways. If you can still log in, Instagram suggests removing logins you don't recognise, removing suspicious third-party apps, changing your password (which logs out all devices) and turning on two-factor authentication.

## Suspended and disabled accounts

If your account was disabled, Instagram says you'll see a message telling you when you try to log in, and if you think it was a mistake you may be able to ask for a review by following the on-screen instructions. If you **don't** see a disabled message but still can't get in, Instagram lists three possibilities: a login issue, someone else gaining access, or the account having been deleted by you or someone with your password.

Appeals and their deadlines: [Instagram account suspended or disabled](https://takebackmyinsta.com/guides/instagram-account-suspended/), [Request a review and the Oversight Board](https://takebackmyinsta.com/blog/instagram-request-review-oversight-board/) and [all official Instagram deadlines](https://takebackmyinsta.com/blog/instagram-deadlines-waiting-times/).

## Password reset and username errors

- **Email address can't be found.** Instagram says you may have registered with a different email address or mistyped it when you signed up. Try your username or phone number instead; if your Instagram and Facebook accounts are linked, use **Reset using Facebook**. If you can't access the email you registered with and the accounts aren't linked, Instagram says it can't give you access that way.
- **Reset link doesn't work.** The previous email may have expired. Request a new one and choose to reset your password from the email; Instagram specifically says not to choose the login option there.
- **Username not recognised.** You can log in with your email address or phone number instead. If you think the username was changed because the account was hacked, check for an email from Instagram saying your account information was changed, and ask a friend to screenshot your current username.

## "Something went wrong" and other app errors

For general app errors Instagram doesn't publish a list of causes. Its advice: update the app, since some older versions are no longer supported; try instagram.com in a mobile or computer browser; on Android, Instagram Lite uses less data. If a feature still doesn't work, report it with **Report a problem**: [all official ways to contact Instagram](https://takebackmyinsta.com/blog/contact-instagram-support/).

## Messages that never come from Instagram

- A Direct message about your account's security. Instagram says it never contacts you about profile security through Direct.
- Anyone asking for your password, a login code or a backup code.
- Security emails from any domain other than @mail.instagram.com, @support.instagram.com, @facebookmail.com, @support.facebook.com or @global.metamail.com. You can check which emails really came from Instagram under **Recent emails** in your settings (the last 14 days).
- Offers to restore, unban or verify your account for a fee. Those are [recovery scams](https://takebackmyinsta.com/guides/instagram-recovery-scams/).

## Frequently asked questions

### Why does Instagram say "User not found"?

The profile can't be shown to you. Instagram documents several reasons a profile stops being visible: temporary deactivation, a pending deletion, a disabled account or a changed username. You may also have been blocked, which Instagram doesn't announce.

### Is an Instagram security message in my DMs real?

No. Instagram says it never contacts you about profile security through Direct messages. Official security messages go to your email, and you can check them under Recent emails in your settings.

### What does "Your account may be at risk" mean on Instagram?

Instagram thinks your password is weak or may have been exposed outside Instagram, for example in another site's data breach. Change it to a password you don't use anywhere else; doing so logs out every other device.

### What should I do when Instagram says "Something went wrong"?

Update the app, try instagram.com in a browser and check your connection. If the problem stays, use Report a problem in the app so Instagram gets your device details.

## Seeing a message that isn't on this list?

Send us a screenshot of the message. We'll tell you for free what it means and which official route fits. We never ask for your password or any code.

[Start your free case check](https://takebackmyinsta.com/#start)

[Free analysis on WhatsApp](https://wa.me/447308693453?text=Hi%2C%20I%20found%20you%20on%20takebackmyinsta.com%20and%20I'd%20like%20a%20free%20analysis%20of%20my%20Instagram%20account.)

## Key terms in this article

- [Login request](https://takebackmyinsta.com/glossary/#login-request)
- [Data scraping](https://takebackmyinsta.com/glossary/#data-scraping)
- [Video selfie](https://takebackmyinsta.com/glossary/#video-selfie)
- [Disabled account](https://takebackmyinsta.com/glossary/#disabled)
- [Restricted account](https://takebackmyinsta.com/glossary/#restricted)

## Sources

1. [Turn login requests on or off on Instagram (Instagram Help Center)](https://help.instagram.com/154776793259282/) help.instagram.com
2. [Why Instagram tells you your account is at risk (Instagram Help Center)](https://help.instagram.com/273359857992105/) help.instagram.com
3. [What to do if the email address for your Instagram account was changed (Instagram Help Center)](https://help.instagram.com/1682636905358680/) help.instagram.com
4. [Why you're being asked to upload an ID to Instagram (Instagram Help Center)](https://help.instagram.com/293775921768331/) help.instagram.com
5. [If you think your Instagram profile has been hacked (Instagram Help Center)](https://help.instagram.com/149494825257596) help.instagram.com
6. [Why your account has been restricted for data scraping and what can you do (Instagram Help Center)](https://help.instagram.com/740480200552298/) help.instagram.com
7. [About disabled Instagram accounts (Instagram Help Center)](https://help.instagram.com/366993040048856/) help.instagram.com
8. [What you can do if your email address can't be found during a password reset for your Instagram account (Instagram Help Center)](https://help.instagram.com/372185676193504/) help.instagram.com
9. [Links in password reset email from Instagram aren't working (Instagram Help Center)](https://help.instagram.com/158807987592157/) help.instagram.com
10. [What to do if you forget your Instagram username (Instagram Help Center)](https://help.instagram.com/1645522102409931/) help.instagram.com
11. [Something's not working with the Instagram app (Instagram Help Center)](https://help.instagram.com/518372316681740/) help.instagram.com
12. [Review recent emails sent from Instagram (Instagram Help Center)](https://help.instagram.com/760602221058803/) help.instagram.com

## Related guides

- [Instagram account suspended or disabled: what to do](https://takebackmyinsta.com/guides/instagram-account-suspended/)
- [Instagram account hacked: how to get it back](https://takebackmyinsta.com/guides/instagram-account-hacked/)

## From the blog

- [Instagram "We suspect automated behavior on your account": what it means and what to do](https://takebackmyinsta.com/blog/instagram-automated-behavior/)
- [Instagram "User not found": blocked, deactivated, deleted or disabled?](https://takebackmyinsta.com/blog/instagram-user-not-found/)
- [Instagram "suspicious login attempt": what it means and what to do](https://takebackmyinsta.com/blog/instagram-suspicious-login-attempt/)
- [Instagram "Try again later": why your actions are blocked and what to do](https://takebackmyinsta.com/blog/instagram-try-again-later/)
- [Instagram deadlines and waiting times: every official figure in one place](https://takebackmyinsta.com/blog/instagram-deadlines-waiting-times/)

---

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