Have you ever visited someone’s Instagram page and received the “User not found” error message and wondered why? Then, this article is a must-read for you.
Probably, you might have tried to check someone’s profile by using their username and received the User Not Found message or if you had sent someone, messages in the past and they are still in your Instagram app chat history, you may receive this notification when you attempt to access their profile through the Dm.
There are a few reasons why you can’t find a particular user on Instagram and let us see why we get the error message, user not found, it may be due to the reason that the account has been deleted, the account has been temporarily disabled, the account has been terminated by Instagram, the account holder’s username has been modified, using an outdated version of Instagram, typed username incorrectly, might happen due to a technical error.
User Not Found: Eight Possible Reasons
The “User Not Found” Message simply occurs because the user that we are trying to search through the Instagram app does not appear. The most common causes behind this error message are:
- The account has been deleted
- The account has been temporarily disabled
- The account has been terminated by Instagram
- The account holder’s username has been modified
- You might have typed the username incorrectly
- You might be using an outdated version of Instagram
- You might have been blocked by the user
- This might happen due to a technical error
Let us discuss in brief these causes:
The Account Has Been Deleted
The person may have deleted their account, which is why you may be receiving the “user not found” notice. When a user deletes their Instagram profile, all the posts and comments they have made are also deleted, and the username of the account becomes accessible for use by other users. Therefore, when you attempt to visit the profile pages of deleted accounts, Instagram shows the “user not found” message.
The Account Has Been Temporarily Disabled
It is always possible to temporarily deactivate your Instagram account. This is practical if you want to take a brief break from social media and intend to return to it later without deleting the account. When you disable your account, other users won’t be able to find you and will instead see a message stating “User not found”. Therefore, if you can’t locate a user, there are a possibility that they are taking a break from Instagram and will resume it later.
The Account Has Been Terminated By Instagram
Not everybody chooses to leave Instagram on their own; some people get kicked off. A user’s account may be immediately banned if they have violated Instagram’s terms of service, such as by abusing other accounts, posting hate speech, or acting inappropriately. Bans are often temporary, but they can also be permanently based on the offense. Therefore, trying to visit such profiles will result in a “User not found” message.
The Account Holder’s Username Has Been Modified
For a variety of reasons, Instagram allows you to easily alter their usernames. Some people do it for fun as they simply have the option to do it. Trying to access the profile of a person who changed their username could also be the cause of the “user not found” message, whatever the reason for the change may have been.
You Might Have Typed The Username Incorrectly
Most Instagram users have strange unusual usernames with a combination of characters which may often lead to confusion for people searching for them and mistyping occurs. This leads to a “user not found” message. By requesting the person to type or email you their username or profile link, you may correct this. Or you might look for other accounts that communicate with them and look for the username in their list of followers or accounts they follow.
You Might Be Using An Outdated Version Of Instagram
It is always recommended to update your app as the “user not found” issue on Instagram can also be due to the outdated version of the application. Also, keep in mind that although this is a rare situation, it is worth a shot. Many people have found this strategy to be incredibly helpful.
You Might Have Been Blocked By The User
If none of the above reasons fit the “user not found” message you receive while trying to access a user’s profile, you’ve probably been blocked. It is not always personal to be blocked. People typically block users whose content they don’t want to be viewed. Many famous people also unfollow their followers to stop criticism. The solution to confirm this is to ask a mutual friend of yours to see if they can access the profile of that particular person in order to validate your suspicions. If they are able to see the person’s profile, it is evident that you have been blocked.
This Might Happen Due To A Technical Error
The “User not found” warning might potentially show up if Instagram has a short-term bug. You can try a number of things in addition to waiting it out to try and fix this problem:
- Exit the app: You can close Instagram, wait a few seconds, and then reload it
- Restart your phone: If the issue persists, try turning your phone off and back on
- Check your internet connection: Make sure you have a good internet connection
- Reinstall the application: Uninstalling and reinstalling the app is an option if none of the previously mentioned fixes were successful
Wrapping Up
These are the most frequent causes of the error message, while Instagram does not offer a clear explanation when it displays the “user not found” warning. So, before concluding that someone has blocked you on Instagram it is always good to try out the above-mentioned ways and find the exact solution to the issue.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What Is The Reason When You Can See The Bio, Number Of Followers, And Number Of Posts, But It Displays User Not Found Message?
Ans. It means that the user has temporarily disabled his/her account and he may reactivate his account anytime.
Q2. Can I Send A Message To The User Who Was Not Found?
Ans. Although you might occasionally be able to send or reply to messages, your messages would not be reflected even if you were ever unblocked or the user restored their account. It is therefore a waste of time.
Q3. Will Updating The App Fix Instagram’s User Not Found Issue?
Ans. Sometimes, encountering similar issues can be due to an outdated application. You can test it out and give it a shot. However, keep in mind that it is a rare event, and upgrades are what caused the mistake.