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What Does ‘This Story Is Unavailable Instagram’ Means? – How to Solve this Issue Using 8 Easy Tips?

Priyanka Tomar | Updated On January 4, 2024

If you’ve ever come across the message ‘This Story Is Unavailable on Instagram,’ you’re certainly not the only one. This notification often leaves Instagram users wondering what does the notification mean, why it says ‘instagram this story is unavailable’ and how to deal with it. 

Therefore, in this guide, we’ll unravel the meaning behind the story is unavailable notifications on Instagram’ message and also explore the potential reasons for why this issue is happening on your device.

Additionally, we’ll provide practical troubleshooting steps to help you regain access to the story or to ensure it doesn’t happen again. 

Understanding it will empower you to navigate the intricacies of Instagram’s story-sharing feature so you can enjoy the interesting stories your friends share without any problems.

So, let’s dive into the details—

What Does This Story Is Unavailable Mean on Instagram?

Since this message is a common occurrence on the platform, it’s important for users to understand what story unavailable on Instagram means

When you see “This Story Is Unavailable” on Instagram, it simply means that you can’t view a particular story for some reason. For instance, you come across this message when the Instagram story you want to see is either deleted (which is permanent and can’t be retrieved), or set to private by the user (allowing only approved followers to view it).

In essence, the message serves as a notification that the story is no longer accessible to you due to the user’s privacy settings or their action of removal. 

Also, Read: How to Share a Post from the Instagram Feed to Your Instagram Story?

Why Is a Story Unavailable on Instagram?

After encountering the message on Instagram, you might wonder, ‘why does it say story unavailable on Instagram?’ Well, note that the reasons can vary, primarily based on user preferences and actions on the platform. 

So, here’s a list of all the possible causes of the error ‘This Story Is Unavailable’—

• User Deleted the Story: The most common reason for this error is that the user who posted the story has deleted it and once deleted, Instagram removes the story from its servers, making it permanently inaccessible to viewers.

• Story Has Expired: Instagram stories have a 24-hour lifespan by default and after this period, they automatically disappear. So, when you attempt to access an expired story, you will encounter this error. In this case, you can just message them to repost the story on Instagram or try the solutions mentioned here.

• User Set the Story to Private: This error can also occur when users set their Instagram profiles and stories to private. In such cases, only approved followers can view the story and if you’re not among the approved followers, you’ll see ‘the story is unavailable’ message.

• User Has Blocked You: If the user whose story you want to see has blocked you on Instagram, you won’t be able to see their stories, instead get ‘This Story is Unavailable’ message. Here, you can try seeing their story anonymously from another account or third-party tool.

• Technical Issues on the Platform: Sometimes, temporary technical issues on Instagram’s end can also cause stories to be temporarily unavailable.

• User Has Deactivated/Deleted the Account: Even when a user deactivates/deletes their Instagram account, all their content, including stories, becomes unavailable, and you’ll encounter the story unavailable error.

• Server Is Down: Lastly, since Instagram’s servers may occasionally experience glitches or downtime, this can also prevent you from accessing stories temporarily.

Note: Knowing these reasons is important for users to use Instagram better and not get frustrated when they see ‘This Story Is Unavailable.’

How to Fix ‘This Story Is Unavailable Instagram’? 8 Easy Troubleshooting Methods!

Understanding the reasons is definitely necessary, but to fully address the issue, you’ll also want to know how to fix it. 

Here are the methods you can apply to fix the story unavailable error on your Instagram account– 

Sometimes, the ‘This Story Is Unavailable’ message on Instagram might just be a temporary hiccup. So, you can try to fix it by refreshing your Instagram feed or the story you’re looking at. To do this, swipe your finger down on the screen, like you’re pulling the content down, or tap the ‘refresh icon.’ This will make Instagram try to load the story again, and it might work. However, if Instagram couldn’t refresh the feed, make sure to fix the Instagram feed not refreshing issue.

Next, you need to make sure that your Wi-Fi or mobile data is working well. Since Instagram requires a reliable internet connection to load stories properly, if your connection is weak or unstable, the stories might not load properly, and you could see the ‘This Story Is Unavailable’ message.

Needless to say, using outdated or old versions of the Instagram app can cause certain problems. So, make sure you have the latest version of the app installed on your device by visiting your device’s app store i.e., Google Play Store for Android | Apple App Store for iOS.

Sometimes, if Instagram is giving you trouble, you can fix it by doing a quick log out and log back in. It’s a simple but effective way to give your Instagram account a quick restart that can often solve problems you might be experiencing in the app. 

If you’re using Instagram on an Android device, you can consider clearing the app’s cache and data. To do so; 

• Go to your device’s ‘Settings’.
• Open ‘Apps (or Application Manager)’.
• Find ‘Instagram’ in the list of apps and tap on it to clear the cache and data.

  

Note: When you clear Instagram cache and data, this will log you out of the app, so you’ll need to log in again.

If the issue still persists, you can try uninstalling the Instagram app and then reinstalling it from your respective device’s app store. This will give your Instagram a completely fresh start and can effectively fix any persistent issues that the app might be experiencing.

happens because of temporary issues on Instagram’s side, such as Instagram crashing or server outages. So, if this is the case, you should wait for a while and try again later. It’s possible that the problem will resolve itself with time.

Lastly, if none of the above methods work for you, you must check if the account is deactivated or if the story has expired or if the account is set to private to limit your access to their stories. In such cases, there’s nothing you can do to view the story if you’re not authorized to do so.

However, if that’s not the case and you’re still getting the ‘Story is Unavailable’ message, you can report the problem to Instagram through the app. Here’s how;

• Go to your ‘IG profile.’
• Tap on the ‘three horizontal lines (menu)’ and select ‘Settings.’

  

• Scroll down and select ‘Help.’

  

• Finally, choose ‘Report a Problem’ and explain the issue for Instagram to investigate.

  

Bottom Line

That’s all! Knowing the ‘This Story Is Unavailable’ meaning and why you see this message is important, but it’s equally vital to learn how to address and resolve the issue effectively. Whether it’s because a story was deleted, an account is set to private, story expired, or due to other reasons, having this understanding helps you navigate Instagram with ease and avoid unnecessary frustration. Moreover, following the troubleshooting ways we shared can help you solve the issue and let you enjoy the captivating stories shared by your Insta friends without missing out.

Next, Read About: Share Other Blocked Instagram Feature: Does This Hack Work on Instagram? 

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