Instagram is a photo-sharing social media platform that allows users to upload and share pictures, videos, and animations easily. It also provides the option of connecting the app to other social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr. You may have noticed that when you try to follow somebody on Instagram, sometimes you get the error message “Sorry, this page isn’t available. Please try again later”, instead of the profile picture and name of the person you were trying to follow.
This article will help you understand what does user not found means on Instagram, why it’s happening, and how you can fix it. So, keep reading till the very end, and I assure you that you will not get disappointed!
Reasons Behind the Occurrence of “User Not Found on Instagram” Error
It’s unpleasant when you try to visit someone’s Instagram profile and encounter an exception notice saying “user not found”, and it’s even more annoying when you know there are a number of possible explanations behind why this could’ve occurred.
When you get the “user not found” message on the Instagram smartphone application, it signifies that perhaps the individual whose account you’re trying to view is currently inaccessible due to one of the numerous factors. Here we will have a look at some of the most common reasons beyond the appearance of this error, in detail. So, without any further ado, let’s move on to the first one.
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The User Has Changed His/Her Username
Instagram is unique among social networking platforms in that its users are free to swap over their handles whenever they wish using either the smartphone application or the desktop webpage. If you update your Instagram profile username, the link for your account will alter as well.
Instagram will normally redirect people to your fresh address, but this isn’t guaranteed. This indicates that if an individual switches their username, the previous profile page may no longer be accessible. The way around this is to either independently discover or directly query the person for their new username.
A Restriction or Suspension Has Been Placed on the Individual’s Profile
When you can’t access an account on Instagram, it may not always be for the best of reasons. An Instagram account may be temporarily or permanently disabled if somehow the individual has engaged in abusive or otherwise prohibited activity, as detailed in Instagram’s service policies.
Suspensions are typically temporary, lasting no longer than two days, but based on the severity of the offense or the number of previous offenses, they could become perpetual and the user can’t log in back to his/her account again.
Unfortunately, You’ve Been Blocked
Another typical explanation for why you could be unable to approach an Instagram user is that your account has been temporarily disabled or blocked by the individual. They could be avoiding you by blocking you from their page. A ban prevents you from accessing a profile in the same way as if your own profile had been toggled off, erased, or terminated.
A Possible Typo in the Username
A typographical error may also cause the “user not found” warning to display. This notification appears when you attempt to look for an Instagram user, but enter an incorrect username. Verify that you have correctly spelled everything before proceeding.
Even though it is simple to commit a typo while searching for a specific individual, be certain to use the correct spelling of their username, as making innocent mistakes is common. If you’re having trouble finding someone, check the spelling of their username or try typing their full name instead. Find the proper person more quickly with the assistance of this method.
The User’s Account Has Been Revoked or Disabled
You can put a temporary halt to your Instagram account if you so choose. It is quite useful when you only need a break from social media for a while but do not wish to delete your profile completely. If you switch off your account, other members will be shown an error message saying “user not found”.
Therefore, if you are unable to locate a person, it is conceivable that they are temporarily absent from Instagram. However, when an Instagram account is deactivated, the service never notifies the other users.
The User’s Account Has Been Deleted
A member has the option to either momentarily deactivate their profile or delete it altogether. If you choose to stop using Instagram, you can delete your account and leave the username free to other users.
Your account will possibly be deleted, and the corresponding username might now be available for use freely, which would explain why someone might be unable to contact you in question, and receive the “user not found” notification.
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Conclusion
There can be a few different reasons why you might see the “user not found” error on Instagram. It could mean that the person you’re trying to find has either deleted their account, or they’ve blocked you from viewing their profile. If it’s someone you’re not particularly close with, there’s not much you can do about it. However, if it’s someone you’re trying to keep in touch with, you may want to try reaching out to them through another platform such as Facebook or Twitter.
