You follow a new account on Instagram, but when you check your following list, the number hasn’t changed. Or perhaps you unfollowed someone, yet they still appear in your following list hours later. The follow count seems frozen, showing an outdated number that doesn’t reflect your recent actions. This frustrating issue—where Instagram’s following list fails to update properly—disrupts the basic functionality of the platform and leaves users confused about who they’re actually following.
This problem manifests in several ways: the following count stays the same despite following or unfollowing accounts, newly followed accounts don’t appear in your following list, unfollowed accounts remain visible in the list, or the following list displays differently across devices. While occasionally just an annoying glitch, a persistently frozen following list can indicate deeper issues with your account, the app, or Instagram’s servers.
Understanding why your following list isn’t updating and how to fix it requires examining both Instagram’s technical infrastructure and the various factors that can disrupt synchronization. This guide explores the root causes of following list issues and provides practical solutions to get your account back in sync.
Understanding How Instagram’s Following List Works
Before troubleshooting, it helps to understand how Instagram manages and displays your following list. When you follow an account, this action registers on Instagram’s servers, which then update your account data. The Instagram app on your device periodically syncs with these servers to display current information, including your following count and list.
The synchronization process: Instagram doesn’t update in perfect real-time. There’s typically a small delay—anywhere from a few seconds to several minutes—between taking an action (following someone) and that change appearing across all aspects of your account. The following count on your profile, the list of accounts you follow, and what other users see about your account all sync independently, sometimes at different rates.
Under normal circumstances, these delays are barely noticeable. You might not see an immediate count update, but within minutes, everything syncs and displays correctly. Problems arise when this synchronization breaks down—when the connection between your app and Instagram’s servers fails, when the servers themselves have issues, or when your app’s local cache becomes corrupted.
App Cache and Data Issues
The most common culprit behind following list problems is corrupted or outdated app cache. Instagram stores temporary data on your device to load content faster and reduce server requests. When this cached data becomes outdated or corrupted, it can display stale information that doesn’t reflect your current following status.
How cache corruption happens: Cache files can become corrupted through incomplete app updates, interrupted sync processes when you lose internet connection mid-action, storage issues on your device, or simply accumulating outdated data over extended use. When your following list relies on corrupted cache, it displays incorrect information even though the server data is correct.
Clearing Instagram’s cache on Android:
- Open your device Settings
- Navigate to Apps or Application Manager
- Find and select Instagram
- Tap Storage
- Select “Clear Cache” (not Clear Data—that logs you out)
- Reopen Instagram and check if the following list updates
Clearing Instagram’s cache on iPhone: iOS doesn’t offer a direct cache-clearing option for individual apps. Instead, you need to offload and reinstall the app:
- Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage
- Find Instagram in the app list
- Tap “Offload App” (this removes the app but keeps your data)
- Tap “Reinstall App”
- Open Instagram and log back in if needed
After clearing cache, give Instagram a few minutes to resync with the servers. Check your following list to see if the count and accounts now display correctly.
Internet Connectivity Problems
Following and unfollowing actions require a stable internet connection to register with Instagram’s servers. If your connection drops during these actions, the app might show that you’ve followed someone locally, but the action never reaches the servers.
Symptoms of connectivity-related issues: You follow an account and see the “Following” button, but the person never appears in your following list. Your following count increases on one screen but not another. Actions seem to complete but reverse themselves after closing and reopening the app. These indicate that your actions aren’t successfully communicating with Instagram’s servers.
Testing and fixing connection issues:
Switch between Wi-Fi and mobile data to determine if one connection works better than the other. If mobile data works but Wi-Fi doesn’t, your Wi-Fi network might be blocking certain Instagram functions—try restarting your router or checking firewall settings.
Test your internet speed using a speed test app. Instagram requires stable connections with reasonable speed. Extremely slow connections or high packet loss can prevent proper syncing.
Disable VPN or proxy services temporarily. While VPNs are generally safe, they can occasionally interfere with Instagram’s server communication, especially if using servers in regions where Instagram has restrictions.
Reset your network settings if connection issues persist across apps:
- iPhone: Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network Settings
- Android: Settings > System > Reset Options > Reset Wi-Fi, mobile & Bluetooth
After resetting network settings, reconnect to your Wi-Fi and check if Instagram syncs properly.
Common Causes & Quick Fixes
Instagram App Version and Update Issues
Running an outdated version of Instagram can cause following list issues, especially if the old version has known bugs or isn’t compatible with current server-side changes Instagram has implemented.
Why app updates matter: Instagram regularly pushes updates that fix bugs, improve synchronization, and maintain compatibility with their evolving server infrastructure. When you delay updating, your app might use outdated code that doesn’t properly communicate with updated servers, resulting in sync failures.
Checking for and installing updates:
On iPhone:
- Open the App Store
- Tap your profile icon in the top right
- Scroll to find Instagram in the list of apps
- If an update is available, tap “Update”
On Android:
- Open the Google Play Store
- Tap the menu icon (three lines) and select “My apps & games”
- Find Instagram in the list
- If an update is available, tap “Update”
After updating, restart your device completely before opening Instagram. This ensures the new version loads fresh without any lingering processes from the old version. Check if your following list now updates correctly.
The nuclear option: Reinstalling completely: If updating doesn’t resolve the issue, try completely uninstalling and reinstalling Instagram. This gives you a fresh installation with no corrupted files or outdated cache:
- Uninstall Instagram from your device
- Restart your device
- Reinstall Instagram from the app store
- Log back in and wait for full sync
- Check following list functionality
Remember that reinstalling means you’ll need to log back in, and any drafts or unsaved content will be lost. However, your account data—including who you follow—is stored on Instagram’s servers, so you won’t lose that information.
Instagram Server Issues and Outages
Sometimes the problem isn’t on your end at all—Instagram’s servers might be experiencing issues affecting following list updates for many users simultaneously.
Identifying server-side problems: If multiple troubleshooting steps haven’t worked, the issue might be with Instagram itself. Signs include widespread reports of similar issues from other users, other Instagram features (posting, messaging, stories) also malfunctioning, or the problem affecting multiple accounts and devices.
Checking Instagram’s server status: Visit websites like DownDetector (downdetector.com) and search for Instagram. These sites aggregate user reports of problems and show when there’s a spike in issues. If thousands of users are reporting following list problems at the same time, it’s almost certainly a server-side issue.
You can also check Instagram’s Twitter account (@instagram) or Meta’s Twitter account for official acknowledgments of issues. During major outages, they sometimes post updates about problems and estimated resolution times.
What to do during server issues: Unfortunately, when Instagram’s servers are the problem, there’s nothing you can do except wait. The issue will resolve when Instagram’s engineers fix the underlying problem. Continuing to follow and unfollow accounts during server issues might create more problems—actions might get queued incorrectly or fail to register properly. It’s best to wait until services stabilize.
Account-Specific Restrictions and Limits
Instagram imposes limits on following activity to prevent spam and bot-like behavior. Exceeding these limits can cause your following actions to fail or delay in registering.
Instagram’s following limits: While Instagram doesn’t officially publish exact limits, the platform restricts how many accounts you can follow within specific time periods. Typical limits include roughly 200 follows per day for established accounts, fewer for new accounts, and temporary blocks for rapid following activity that looks automated.
If you’ve been aggressively following accounts—perhaps following dozens of accounts in a short time—Instagram might have temporarily restricted your ability to follow more. During this restriction, your following list might not update because your actions are being blocked.
Signs you’ve hit a limit:
- You receive an error message when trying to follow accounts
- The “Follow” button doesn’t respond when clicked
- Following appears to work but immediately reverses
- You receive a notification about suspicious activity
Resolving limit-related issues: If you’ve hit Instagram’s limits, you need to wait. Temporary restrictions typically last 24-48 hours. During this period, avoid attempting to follow more accounts—this can extend the restriction. Focus on engaging with content from accounts you already follow rather than expanding your following list.
Once the restriction lifts, pace your following activity more conservatively. Follow accounts gradually over days rather than all at once, and make sure your activity looks organic (engage with posts, view profiles, not just rapid clicking).
Device-Specific Issues and Conflicts
Sometimes the problem is specific to your device rather than your account—hardware issues, operating system problems, or conflicts with other apps can interfere with Instagram’s functioning.
Storage space problems: Insufficient storage space prevents apps from functioning properly. Instagram needs space to cache data, store temporary files, and update. When storage is critically low, these processes fail, causing sync issues.
Check your device storage and free up space if necessary. Delete unused apps, clear photo libraries (after backing up), or move files to cloud storage. Aim to keep at least 1-2GB free for smooth app operation.
Operating system issues: Outdated operating systems can cause compatibility problems with current app versions. Check if your iOS or Android version is up to date:
iPhone: Settings > General > Software Update Android: Settings > System > System Update
If an update is available, install it. After updating your OS, restart your device and check if Instagram works properly.
Conflicting apps: Rarely, other apps—particularly other social media managers or Instagram-related third-party apps—can conflict with the official Instagram app. If you use any third-party Instagram tools, try temporarily uninstalling them to see if conflicts resolve.
Step-by-Step Troubleshooting Guide
iOS: Offload and reinstall the app
Preventive Measures and Best Practices
Once you’ve resolved your following list issues, taking preventive measures helps avoid future problems.
Regular app maintenance: Keep Instagram updated to the latest version. Enable automatic updates in your app store settings so you’re always running the most current, stable version with the latest bug fixes.
Periodically clear your Instagram cache (every few weeks) to prevent buildup of corrupted data. This maintenance takes seconds and can prevent sync issues before they occur.
Mindful following behavior: Avoid rapid-fire following of many accounts in short periods. Space out your following activity throughout the day. This not only prevents hitting Instagram’s limits but also looks more natural and reduces the likelihood of temporary restrictions.
Engage authentically with accounts rather than just following. Like posts, leave comments, and view stories. This pattern of genuine engagement is less likely to trigger Instagram’s spam detection systems.
Monitor your account regularly: Check your following list occasionally to ensure it matches who you actually follow. If you notice discrepancies early, they’re often easier to resolve than if you let them accumulate.
Maintain good device hygiene: Keep your device’s operating system updated, maintain adequate free storage space, and restart your device periodically. These general device maintenance practices improve all app performance, including Instagram.
Conclusion
A following list that won’t update typically stems from correctable issues like corrupted cache, connectivity problems, or outdated apps rather than serious account problems. The troubleshooting steps outlined—clearing cache, checking connections, updating apps, and monitoring for server issues—resolve the vast majority of following list sync problems. Work through these solutions systematically, giving each fix time to take effect before moving to the next.
If problems persist after exhausting all troubleshooting steps, the issue might require Instagram support intervention. Contact Instagram through the app’s Help Center, report the problem with specific details (when it started, what you’ve tried, whether it affects all devices), and be patient while they investigate. Most following list issues resolve within 24-48 hours with proper troubleshooting or as Instagram fixes server-side problems affecting multiple users.
