Last year, a sudden fluctuation and drop in Instagram followers left many users shaken and confused. It later came to the realization that it was a glitch on Instagram’s side that affected the follower count of users. In this article, let us discuss more about it and explore its implications.
Instagram Follower Count Glitch
Our dear Instagrammers, what if we say that you refresh your profile page to catch up with the feed and new posts, and an unforeseen bug leaves you with multiple questions and a heavy heart? Imagine that frustration and disappointment multiplied by thousands that could have been caused to those users who lost a surprising number of followers. Do you want to know how you can fix it if a similar error occurs in the future? We will guide you.
How to Fix Instagram Follower Count Glitch
If you’re stuck with this particular glitch, do not panic! We’ve compiled a list of solutions to deal with it. It may be just a minor glitch that would get resolved by these methods.
Note: Smartphones don’t have the same Settings options, and they vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. Hence, ensure the correct settings before changing any on your device. These steps were performed on Samsung S20 FE 5G, as shown in the illustrations below.
Method 1: Troubleshoot Network Connection
Sometimes, a poor network connection may be the culprit behind showing you the wrong follower count. So make sure to check it and reload your profile once your Internet is working fine. Follow our guide on How to Boost Internet Speed on Your Android Phone
Method 2: Signing Out And In
This is yet another way to solve glitches like these and it is simple too. Just sign out from the Instagram app and sign back in, and that should retrieve your actual follower count in your profile.
- Tap the profile icon at the bottom right corner of the screen.
- Tap the hamburger icon at the top-right corner and select Settings and privacy.
- Scroll down and select Log Out of .
- Login using your credentials and see if the followers’ number is again normal.
Method 3: Clear App Cache
Clearing a corrupt cache can be effective whether it be this particular glitch or any other in other apps. Just follow these steps, and you’re good to go.
- In the device settings, tap on Apps and navigate to Instagram on the list.
- Select Storage and tap on Clear cache.
Method 4: Reinstall Instagram
If the solutions still didn’t help you, it is possible that there might be some issue with the app files. You can simply uninstall and reinstall the Instagram app to see if it fixes the glitch.
- In the app drawer, tap and hold the Instagram app icon.
- Select Uninstall.
- Install Instagram again from the Play Store and log in.
Method 5: Report Problem To Instagram
Doing this will forward the issue to Instagram so that they can offer you feasible solutions for the same. Here’s the step-by-step breakdown to report a problem to Instagram.
- In Instagram settings, tap on Help.
- Tap on Report a Problem.
- Tap on Report a problem once again.
- On the next page, tap Include and continue.
- Describe the Instagram follower count glitch issue.
Note: Attach relevant files or screenshots, if any.
- Tap Send at the top-right corner.
Does Instagram Show Accurate Follower Count?
In general, for accounts having less than 10,000 followers, the platform may show the correct follower count. However, for someone having over 10,000 followers, Instagram rounds down the number to the nearest hundred or thousand. On the other hand, sometimes glitches and bugs can occur that may result in inaccurate follower counts.
Why Is My Follower Count Wrong on Instagram?
In a nutshell, there are three reasons contributing to the issue:
- Your followers have deleted their accounts
- Instagram periodically removes bots, fake accounts, or inactive users. If a significant number of such accounts are removed, it may lead to a decrease in your follower count.
- As mentioned in the beginning, it is not the wrong follower count but a glitch from Instagram’s side.