Going Live on Instagram has become a great way for all types of users, from everyday people to brands and creators, to connect with people in real time. You can even have a Q&A session, present a new product, share a moment from an event, or just connect with your followers. It’s great for all of those things.
But what do you do when you open the Instagram app and the Live feature is missing, is disabled, or just doesn’t work?
This is a more common scenario than people think. Users have all kinds of different devices, go from all kinds of different locations in the world, and have different kinds of accounts, and they all face difficulties with going Live on Instagram for a range of different reasons, and some of them are more complex than others.
This guide has all the reasons you might not be able to go Live and how to properly identify the problem, fix it step by step, and stop it from happening again so that you understand all the different factors that affect the Live feature.
How Instagram Live Works?
To examine the Live issue in question, it helps to understand the features available on the site. Live Instagram has the following features.
Real-time Video Streaming
- From one to any number of participating users.
- From any number of invited users.
- From any participant in the Live.
- From any participant location.
- From any location.
To use these features, you must have the following:
- Stable and strong internet connection and access to real-time video broadcasting.
- Proper camera and microphone permissions on the device you want to use.
- Dependable device and state-of-the-art operating system.
- Updated Instagram.
- Agreement with Instagram’s policies and guidelines.
- A fully functional, unrestricted account with broadcasting capabilities.
If any one of these features are compromised, Live may not show up or function on the device.
Why You Can’t Go Live on Instagram?
The most genuine, frequent, and documented reasons for Live Instagram issues are the following:
1. Weak or Unstable Internet Connection
Inadequate or insufficient internet access and connection are leading causes for Live Instagram not to show or even reach the starting point.
How Connection Speed Affects Live On Instagram?
If you are on a network with real-time video broadcasting, access to streaming on the network may become inaccessible due to a slow, congested, or unstable internet setting. It may become disabled to prevent an overload of streaming opportunities on the network, especially when an upload speed is needed.
Trouble with Internet-related Issues
- The Live option is missing from the Camera icon or the Create menu.
- Live starts, but then abruptly ends.
- The app shows “No Internet Connection.”
- Videos are very pixelated, and the screen freezes.
Trouble With Connections
- Change from mobile data to Wi-Fi or the other way around.
- Make sure to restart the Wi-Fi router.
- SIngle other devices that are using the data.
- Move to a position that is closer to the Wi-Fi.
- Do a speedtest and look for an upload speed that is at least 5 to 10 Mbps.
2. Old Version of Instagram
An older version of the app could be missing some features, or could be crashing and failing to load the Live video.
- Signs that Tell You an Outdated App is the Situation
- Other app features are still glitching
- The Camera menu is taking a long time to load
- Reels, Stories, or Messages act strangely
The Solution
- Make sure to update Instagram on the App Store and Google Play
- If updating the app isn’t making a difference, try uninstalling the app and then reinstalling it
- Look for updates on your device’s operating system
3. Instagram App Bugs or Cache Issues
Temporary issues or corrupted data might cause problems with features, for example, the Live option.
What Causes This?
Instagram updates and maintains their interface and features regularly. Following a change in the app version, it is possible that the app might be carrying around a lot of outdated cache data, causing things to act glitchy.
How to Fix App Bugs and Cache Problems
For Android Devices:
Go to Settings → Apps → Instagram → Storage → Clear Cache.
For Apple Devices:
iPhones do not have a clear-cache button. The simplest solution is to uninstall and reinstall the program.
Other options include:
- Restarting the device
- Logging out and then back in
- Switching to another account to check if the problem continues
4. Camera or Microphone Access Blocked
For Instagram Live, access to the camera and microphone is necessary. If the permissions are blocked, you won’t be able to use the Live option.
Here are the Symptoms of Permission Problems
- Trying to go live and there is a black screen
- Nobody can hear you
- The Live button is there but nothing happens
Here is How to Restore Permissions
For iPhones
Settings → Privacy → Camera → Enable Instagram
Settings → Privacy → Microphone → Enable Instagram
For Android
Settings → Apps → Instagram → Permissions → Allow Camera and Microphone
After permissions are Restored, close the app and open it again.
5. Account Restrictions or Policy Violations
Users who go against the community guidelines may find that Instagram Live, among other features, is not usable.
Potential Causes for Account Restrictions
- Copyright infringement.
- Three or more reports or blocks on content.
- Hate speech and other inappropriate or threatening content.
- Posting misleading or harmful content.
- Use of automation tools or bot services.
Checking Your Status
Go to:
Profile → Menu → Settings → Account → Account Status
If you have a restriction on going Live you may see a note that states:
“Your ability to go live may be temporarily disabled due to a violation.”
How to Fix It
If available follow the appeal steps.
- Delete any recently posted content that would violate guidelines
- Refrain from posting any content that would lead to further violations
- Typically the restrictions will lapse after a certain amount of time, barring any severe violations
6. New or Recently Created Account
Instagram often imposes restrictions on accounts that are very new or that have little activity.
Why Instagram Does This
In order to prevent spam and malfeasance, the platform imposes restrictions on live streams and other functionalities to recently created accounts that are deemed to be of low activity.
Signs Of Reliability That Instagram Searches For
- Having a profile picture
- Having a filled-out bio
- Verifying emails and phone numbers
- Being active and consistent on the platform by sharing posts, liking, and commenting
- Steering clear of dubious activities like following and unfollowing users en masse
If your account was newly created, just continue behaving normally for a few days or weeks without doing anything suspicious.
7. Age Cap
For some users, Instagram Live is capped for some regions due to legislation.
Steps For You To Take
- When in the Instagram settings, verify your age
- If age verification is necessary, provide it
- If Instagram is improperly tagging your account as under the age of 18, please select “Review” or “Proof of Age” for resolution.
8. Regional Limitations Or Government Policy
For some countries, features on Instagram like Live may be restricted, or controlled because of legislation, censorship, or filtering.
How To Know If This Applies To You
- Look for local news with restrictions on the internet or social media
- Verify with local friends if they have Live access
- Change to a different cellular service provider
Using a VPN may provide a temporary solution to restrictions, but it is crucial to consider local laws and Instagram’s terms of service.
9. Device Compatibility Problems
Older devices or devices with out-of-date operating systems may not be able to handle Live on Instagram.
Common Problems with Devices
- Low RAM
- Not enough storage
- Outdated Operating System
- Battery saver affecting overall performance
- System camera problems
Fixing Device Problems
- Update your device operating system.
- Clear up storage.
- Close any apps running in the background using RAM.
- Ensure other apps on your device can access the camera and microphone.
10. Instagram Server Outages or Issues on the Entire Platform
Sometimes, it isn’t your fault.
Instagram Outage Symptoms
- Hashtags and Stories are glitchy
- You’re unable to send messages
- You cannot load any reels
- There are widespread complaints on the internet
What You Should Do
- Be patient and wait for the problem to get fixed.
- Follow Instagram on other social media accounts.
- Use Downdetector and look for Instagram outages.
11. When the Instagram server is down, the Live feature is one of the first to stop working.
Third Party Streaming Tools Not Working Correctly
Sometimes creators using other apps like OBS, Streamlabs, or Instagram Live Producer have problems with Live, and it is usually because of poor or misconfigured settings.
Frequent Problems with Other Tools
- Wrong stream key
- Resolution is not supported
- Bitrate is not supported
- Firewall is blocking the internet
Fix
- Check settings of the stream in both the tool and Instagram Live Producer
- Restart the streaming application
- Check to see if your network has firewalls or is blocking the internet
Step-by-Step Troubleshooting Guide
If you’re looking to resolve the Live feature in the most straight forward way possible, follow through in this order:
Step 1. Check your Internet
Switch networks, restart your router, or do an upload speed test.
Step 2. Update Instagram
If the problem continues, try uninstalling and reinstalling the app and then update to the newest version.
Step 3. Check your Permissions
Make sure your camera and microphone permissions are set to On.
Step 4. Restart or Update your Device
Make sure to restart your phone, not just the app; close background apps, and/or update the Device’s operating system.
Step 5. Check account status
Make sure that your account does not have any restrictions and that it does not have any violations to the guidelines.
Step 6. Try another account
If the problem still persists, try logging in with different accounts to see if the problem is isolated to your account.
Step 7. Reach out to Instagram Support
If you’ve done all of this and your problem still isn’t fixed, just use the “Report a problem” feature.
Instagram Live Problems and How to Avoid Them
Live features are always going to need some care. Live features need to perform some of the following:
- Stay up to date on the latest version of Instagram
- Make sure you’re not running low on storage. At least 2-4 GBs worth of open storage is good
- Keep a consistent, good quality internet connection
- Make sure you are following Insta’s community guidelines
- It helps to reinstall your Instagram app about once every few months
- Update your phones operating system regularly
- Stay away from any questionable third-party apps or automated systems
Doing these things should help you avoid running into issues and should help your access to Live.
Problems with Instagram Live not working
Why is the Live option gone from my Instagram?
There can often be internet issues, you may need to update your app or there may be restrictions that have not been lifted on your account.
How can I fix Live if every time I try to use it it turns off?
Make sure to check your upload speed and close any apps running in the background. Also, you should restart your device and check if your phone is really hot.
Why can’t I use Instagram Live if my app is already updated?
There are some restrictions with your account, your region, your device and the permissions associated with it.
Does a brand new Instagram account have to wait a while before going Live?
This is not always the case, more often than not Instagram is trying to prevent spam or abuse when giving accounts these delays.
Can Instagram users lose the ability to go live?
Yes, users can lose Live privileges if they violate the platform’s community guidelines.
Why does Live on Instagram get frozen or buffer?
No network connection, online devices low on memory, or server problems can all lead to buffering or freezing.
Conclusion
Not being able to go live on Instagram can be frustrating, especially if you rely on the platform to grow an audience, broadcast content in real-time, or connect with followers. Although most problems are usually due to connection problems, old versions of the app, new version updates, or minor bugs in the software.
Completing the troubleshooting steps in this guide should save you the hassle of going live. You are a creator, business owner, influencer, or casual user. It’s key to be able to use the full Live feature whenever you want to interact with your followers.