Stories are a great addition to the type of media we share with our friends and family on social media accounts as they give updates about our daily life activities. And what better platform to post them on than Instagram.
This was also the main reason behind Instagram coming into existence, although the initial idea of stories came originally from Snapchat. These snaps disappear automatically after 24 hours, allowing you to post content for a limited time.
But what if you can no longer view the stories of people added to your account? Don’t fret, as you’re not alone in this. Many Instagrammers took to their Twitter and reported that their Stories timeline appears completely blank. In such a situation, the best option you have is to go through this guide and learn what causes the issue and ways to fix it.
So what are you waiting for? Let’s get started!
Why Can’t I See My Followers Stories on Instagram
Initially intended solely as a photo-sharing platform, it’s safe to say that Instagram has come a long way. Today, you can not only post photos and videos on your feed but also add them to your Stories and Highlights, promote your brand, keep up with the latest news, go Live, and so much more.
For this reason and more, the platform has become widely popular not only among common people but also among celebrities, artists, entrepreneurs, and so on. You would expect such an application to provide you with an amazing user experience, but Instagram too can become a target of numerous issues from time to time.
When everything is working smoothly, you should be able to view all the uploaded stories in your timeline. They should also load up perfectly when you tap to view them. However, things can go a little wrong sometimes. This causes many issues, such as your story timeline being blank, a delay in playing media, or content not being loaded at all.
The issue frequently arises due to technical issues either in your device or in the Instagram app itself. However, glitches or bugs in the Instagram servers may also result in various features lagging or not working entirely. Also, we can’t ignore the fact that poor or delayed internet also causes Instagram content not to load properly.
Furthermore, your device may have to encounter multiple other problems as well if you put an incorrect date and time. Last but not least, Instagram stickers, especially the Music sticker, are known to create several problems for users when they’re trying to view stories.
Now that you have the answer to why can’t I see my followers stories on Instagram, it’s time to move on and take a look at how to fix the error. Fortunately, you’ve landed on just the right page. Below we’ll walk you through the various remedies for this exact issue.
So without any delay, let’s head straight to it!
Fixes For Followers Stories Not Showing Up on Instagram
To stay updated with what your followers are onto, watching their stories is important. It is also an excuse to increase engagement on your profile. Hence, bringing the stories back to your feed is essential. For that, we’ve listed below some of the very common and effective solutions for the issue.
So let’s get going!
1. Set Your Device Date And Time To Automatic.
If you’ve recently changed the date and time on your smartphone, this may be why you’re having trouble viewing your followers Instagram Stories. This is because setting your device’s clock to the incorrect time zone will force it to sync with a wrong time reference, resulting in various types of problems.
Even if you haven’t made any changes in the phone’s clock recently, it may lag behind the correct time due to the seasonal impact of Daylight Savings Time. For that reason, the best way to avoid such problems is to set the clock to change automatically. That way, your clock will always be according to your location, and you won’t need to adjust it frequently.
In order to fix your issue about why can’t I see my followers stories on Instagram on an iPhone, here’s what you need to do:
- Begin by launching the Settings app from your Home Screen.
- Then, go to General.
- Next, tap on Date & Time.
- Finally, switch on the toggle for Set Automatically.
To do the same on an Android, follow these steps:
- Open the Settings app on your device.
- Once there, go to General management.
- Then, tap on Date and time.
- Lastly, turn the toggle on for Automatic date and time.
Now that that is done, your followers’ stories should return to your timeline.
2. Restart Your Device.
If the previous method doesn’t work, the error may have occurred due to some unknown glitch on your device. If the glitch is temporary, you can quickly eliminate it with only a simple reboot of your device.
This method also differs for iPhones and Androids. If you’re an Android user, here’s what you need to do:
- Press and hold the Lock button for a couple of seconds.
- Release when a few options pop up on your screen.
- Choose Restart.
Now to reboot your iPhone, follow these steps:
- Press and hold the Side button of your device.
- Release when the slider appears on your screen.
- Next, drag the slider in the direction it asks.
- When your iPhone shuts down completely, press and hold the Side button again.
- Release once the Apple logo screen appears.
3. Check Your Network Strength.
The Instagram Stories may fail to appear or load properly due to your device receiving weak Wi-Fi signals or a poor internet connection overall. In this case, there’s nothing you can really do other than wait for the network to gain strength or contact your internet service provider.
But before that, ensure that the problem is really in your network strength and not something else. You can do this easily by utilizing any online service.
Here’s how:
- Visit the official page of Ookla Speedtest or any other service you trust.
- Click on the Go button at the center of the page.
The results will show whether the speed of your Wi-Fi is slow. If it’s not, move to the following methods to continue resolving your issue.
4. Check If Instagram Is Down.
Due to high user traffic, Instagram servers usually go down. When that happens, Instagram stops responding and fails to load activities on your feed. When you ask yourself why can’t I see my followers stories on Instagram, verify if the site is actually down.
You can do so by following the steps mentioned below:
- First, go to DownDetector from any browser.
- The site will ask you to use cookies to continue. Click on Agree and Access Site.
- Then, either select Instagram if it is suggested below or search for it in the Search bar.
- Go through the results to see if Instagram is down.
5. Quit Instagram And Clear Its Cache.
Most sites and applications you use on a daily basis store cache in your device. The goal behind this is to improve the user experience. Because your device is set to store an indefinite amount of cache, it often results in excessive cache build-up, hindering the overall performance and resulting in bugs in the system.
Therefore, you are advised to clear the cache whenever you experience lags or poor performance. Sadly, the option to clear cache for apps is only available in Androids. Follow the steps below to do so:
- To start, open the Multitasking screen.
- Swipe up on the Instagram app to force close it.
- Then, launch the Settings app and go to Apps.
- Scroll down the list of installed apps and select Instagram.
- After that, tap on Storage.
- At last, tap on the Clear cache or Clear data option at the bottom.
6. Disable Power Saving Mode.
In a few places, users have reported that they were able to solve their query why can’t I see my followers stories on Instagram by disabling the Power Saving mode on their device. This works because when you turn on Power Saving, your phone starts to block many activities in order to lower battery consumption.
This is why whenever you’re having a hard time playing your followers’ stories, turn off this feature immediately. Here’s how to do it on an iPhone:
- Firstly, go to Settings.
- Scroll down and tap on Battery.
- There, turn the toggle off for Low Power Mode.
To do the same on Android:
- Open Settings on your device.
- Then, go to Battery and device care.
- From there, tap on Battery.
- Finally, toggle off Power saving mode.
7. Contact Instagram Support.
Hopefully, at least one of the methods listed above would have been able to solve the issue for you. In case it doesn’t, your last resort is to contact Instagram Help Center and report the problem there.
You can do this by following the steps below:
- Open your Instagram app and go to your profile.
- From there, tap on the three horizontal bars at the top right corner of your screen.
- Then, select Settings.
- Once there, go to Help.
- Next, tap on Report a Problem.
- Choose Report problem without shaking.
- Alternatively, you may shake your phone while being on any screen on the Instagram app and tap on Report a problem.
- Type the issue in the given field, attach screenshots, if any, and tap on Next.
- Lastly, tap on Send report to submit it to the Instagram team.
How to Prevent Stories From Not Showing Up
1. Avoid Using Stickers.
If you’re only unable to view a couple of followers’ stories, it could be possible that they’ve added stickers on their photo/video. Sometimes, Instagram story stickers are glitched and prevent your followers from viewing the content.
In case your followers are complaining about the same issue, it is recommended to avoid using stickers for the time being. Wait for Instagram to look into the issue so you can get back to adding questions, polls, and music to your stories.
2. Keep Instagram Up-To-Date.
Outdated applications develop issues more frequently. Hence, you are advised to keep your Instagram updated at all times to reduce the possibility of facing issues related to app glitches and bugs.
When you install the update, the Instagram app will start working faster and better. However, sometimes issues arise only due to updating the program. In such times, it’s best to downgrade and get rid of the errors you may be facing.
3. Don’t Change Time And Date on Your Device.
Changing the date and time will get you questioning why can’t I see my followers stories on Instagram. In fact, several other issues arise as well with no proper fix other than setting your device back to the correct time zone.
If you’re frequently traveling, the best option for you to avail is to enable the date and time on your phone to change automatically. This way, you won’t ever have to worry about issues related to the wrong time and date.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
Why am I unable to view someone’s story on Instagram?
Suppose you’re failing to view the Instagram stories of most people added to your account. In that case, it can be concluded as an error in the application, your device, or Instagram servers altogether. But if you’re unable to open stories of only one or two users, the chances are that they’ve restricted you from viewing their stories.
How do you know if someone hides their story from you on Instagram?
When someone hides their story from you, it will not appear in your story timeline. You can only verify this by going to their profile from another account that they haven’t restricted. If the story is visible from that account but not yours, it means the user has hidden their story from you.
Wrapping Up: Why Can’t I See My Followers Stories on Instagram
Now that you have the answer to why can’t I see my followers stories on Instagram, it’s time for you to fix the problem. You can follow any of the methods listed below and become successful in solving the error.
Most commonly, the issue is caused by the incorrect date and time and adding stickers to stories. For this reason, you are to avoid making both mistakes in order to avoid having to face trouble loading and viewing stories.
If you still have any confusion left, feel free to let us know through the comment section below. We’ll respond to you as soon as possible.
Similar Topics:
Further reading:
Similar Posts:
- What Happens When You Unarchive A Post On Instagram
- Why Can’t I Repost on My Instagram Story
- If You Unarchive a Post on Instagram Does It Repost? Find Out Now
- Instagram Story Text Animation Not Showing
- Why Can’t I See Who Viewed My Instagram Story
