9 Ways to Fix Videos Freezing on Instagram Stories and Posts

Ever since apps like Dubsmash and TikTok popularized short videos, popular social media apps have come up with alternatives for posting short-form content. YouTube introduced Shorts, and Instagram went big on Reels. Many use Instagram for scrolling through Reels. If you’re one of them, you may have observed videos freezing on Instagram stories or posts, as reported by several users.

Imagine laughing your way through funny videos only to realize Reels are getting stuck now and then. Some users have reported that their Instagram video freezes, but the audio continues. Not a pleasant experience, right?

The issue is easy to fix, though, and is mostly likely due to a spotty network connection or a bug in the app. Let’s delve into all the possible causes and solutions to fix Instagram videos getting stuck on a story or timeline.

Why Do Instagram Videos Keep Freezing

The primary aspect to look out for when videos on Instagram are freezing is your internet connection. Often, you may be using mobile data instead of a Wi-Fi connection. If you’re in an area with low network connectivity, Instagram may struggle to load videos. Or even if they do, you might experience buffering when viewing the video.

Other possible reasons include the lack of free RAM, an older app version, or an issue with the video’s size or bitrate. The latter is especially important if viewers are complaining about your videos or Reels hanging on Instagram.

We’ll address all the concerns and guide you to achieving smooth video playback on the Instagram app.

How to Fix Instagram Video Freezing on Playback

Having seen various reasons why your Instagram stories or posts bearing videos are glitching, let’s jump into ways to fix the issue.

1. Check Network Connection

Needless to say, Instagram requires an active internet connection to view content uploaded to the platform. If you have a strong and fast connection, you can view content without any issues. But, if you’re connected to a Wi-Fi router that’s far away, the speeds may drop, leading to video freezes on Instagram.

So, it’s advisable to stay close to a Wi-Fi router or switch to a mesh if you have a large house. When outdoors, ensure you’re in an area with solid 5G or LTE connectivity. Anything lower than that will create issues loading videos on Instagram.

2. View the Reel on a Different Device

We’ve seen reports of Reels and videos freezing on iPhone devices. Or, some versions of the app on Android can pose issues with videos. In such a situation, it’s best to view the video on a different device.

So, if you have an iPhone, ask your friend with an Android device to try watching the same story or video. Alternatively, you can use your computer to see if the Reel loads properly on Instagram web.

If it does, there may be an issue with the Instagram app on your device. Ideally, an update in the future should fix it.

3. Delete and Re-Upload Story

This solution applies if you have uploaded a Reel to your Instagram story and your followers complain that it’s getting stuck.

This could happen due to several reasons. Perhaps the upload wasn’t completed. In such cases, try deleting the story with that Reel and re-uploading it to see if it fixes the problem. Here’s how to delete a story on Instagram.

Open the story that is getting stuck. Press on the three dots in the bottom left corner of the page. Then, select Delete in the pop-up.

Now, re-upload the relevant Reel in your story to see if the Instagram video story freezes on playback.

4. Upload a Lower Bitrate Video

This solution is in line with the previous one. If you’ve uploaded a video or reel on your feed that’s getting stuck repeatedly or is lagging, uploading a version with a lower bitrate can help. A lower bitrate also means the video size is lower, which is a proven solution per some users to fix Instagram Reels and videos getting stuck.

5. Clear Instagram App Cache

Clearing the cache of an app can help fix several problems. It can help if your Instagram story or post is stuck on posting or if your Reel is getting stuck during playback. Here’s how to go about it on your Android device.

Step 1: Go to the Settings app on your phone > select the Apps option. Tap on See all apps to view the list of all apps.

Step 2: Find and select Instagram. Head to the Storage & cache section.

Step 3: Tap on Clear cache.

6. Close Other Background Apps

Sometimes, the lack of free RAM can hamper the experience of using an app. In this case, if you have too many apps open in the background on your smartphone, Instagram may not have enough free resources to play videos.

You can try exiting all apps and clearing them from the memory. Simply swipe up from the bottom of your phone. Then, swipe up on each app card to end the process. Once you’ve cleared all apps, launch Instagram to see if the story is still glitching.

7. Update the Instagram App

We mentioned at the start how a glitch or bug in the app could be the reason for laggy Instagram videos in posts or stories. The best way to go about fixing this is by updating the app. Most new versions of apps include fixes to minor issues like this. So, update the Instagram app using the link below.

Update Instagram on Android

Update Instagram on iOS

8. Uninstall and Reinstall Instagram

Tried updating the app, but it didn’t work? Or are there no updates to Instagram since you’re on the latest build? Regardless, the next workaround is to uninstall the app to download a fresh copy of Instagram on your phone.

So, we advise you to uninstall the Instagram application. Once done, re-install the application.

9. Switch to the Stable Version of Instagram

Using the beta version of an app can be beneficial. You get access to all the latest features while experimenting with upcoming ones. However, it comes with its set of downsides. For one, you may experience bugs like issues with videos. So, if you’ve enrolled for the beta version, try switching to the stable version to see if helps with video playback.

Head to the Google Play Store and search for Instagram. Once on the app’s page, scroll down to the ‘You’re a beta tester’ section. Then, tap on Leave.

After a while, you will get an update to the Instagram app. Follow the steps above to update the app to the stable version.

Don’t Let the Scrolling Stop

If videos freezing on Instagram stories or posts have bothered your scrolling spree, quickly fix the issue with the above-mentioned solutions. The exhaustive solutions should help you solve the issue, whether for the Reels you uploaded on stories or posts or the content uploaded by another Instagram user.