Instagram message requests not showing: fixes that people report
If your Instagram message requests aren't showing, check the Hidden requests folder first, then update the app and log out and back in. If they still won't load, open instagram.com on a computer, or go to the sender's profile and tap Message to open the chat directly.
These fixes come from people reporting what worked for them, mostly in an r/Instagram thread about requests not loading after an iOS update. They're reports, not tested fixes. Try them in order and stop when one works.
First, check whether the request exists
Most "missing" requests are sitting somewhere you didn't look. Instagram puts messages from strangers in Requests, and its filter moves the ones it suspects into Hidden requests at the bottom of that list. On a professional account, a request can also land in General instead of Primary. Check all three before you start troubleshooting.
- Open your messages and tap Requests at the top.
- Scroll to the bottom of Requests and open Hidden requests.
- On a business or creator account, check the General tab as well as Primary.
- Ask the sender whether their message went through. If they see an error, the problem is on their side.
For how the folders work in general, see Instagram message requests: how they work.
Fixes people report when requests won't load
When the Requests screen spins, stays blank or shows a count with no messages, people report a handful of fixes. The most common is logging out and back in. Others open the request on instagram.com, reach it through the sender's profile, or change the order their accounts are logged in. Try them one at a time.
1. Log out and back in
In the r/Instagram thread about requests not loading, one reply said: "Logout and login again servers are up now" (u/iamwazor in r/Instagram). The person who asked said it worked. Look at the second half of that reply, though. Sometimes the fix is that Instagram's servers came back.
2. Update or reinstall the app
The thread started after an app update broke requests for many people at once. Check the App Store or Play Store for a newer version. If there isn't one, delete and reinstall the app to clear its cached data. You won't lose messages, because they're stored on Instagram's side.
3. Open requests on a computer
"My workaround is to visit instagram.com on my computer and see the message requests there" (u/transfer1992 in r/Instagram). Another person replied that it didn't work for them, so it's worth a try but not a sure thing.
4. Go through the sender's profile
Another reply described searching for the person who wrote, opening the three-dot menu on their profile and choosing to send a message. That opened the chat with their message in it and got around the broken Requests screen. It's slower, and it only helps when you know who wrote to you.
5. Change the login order if you use two accounts
The same u/transfer1992 noticed the problem only hit the second account they'd logged into. They fixed it by removing the app, logging in again from scratch and adding the account that receives requests first. If you switch between a personal and a business account, try this one.
Is Instagram down, or is it just you?
If requests stopped loading for everyone at once, it's probably Instagram, and the fix is to wait. Look on Reddit or X for other people reporting the same problem in the last hour. If nobody else is, the cause is more likely your app version, your connection or your account, and the steps above apply.
A few quick ways to tell:
- If other features fail too (the feed won't refresh, DMs won't send), it's likely an outage.
- If only requests fail, and only on one account, it's likely the app or that account.
- If it fails in the app but works on instagram.com, it's an app bug. Update or reinstall.
When DMs as a whole stop working, our guide to Instagram DMs not working covers how to tell an outage from a restriction on your own account.
When the problem is the sender, not you
Sometimes your inbox is fine and the other person's message never arrived. Instagram can block someone from sending messages, and a new or flagged account may be stopped from sending requests to strangers. If one person says they wrote to you and you can't find it anywhere, ask them to check for an error on their side.
On the sender's side, a failed request usually shows a warning or a "try again later" message. If they see that, ask them to follow you back and then message you, or to reach you another way.
If you rely on requests for business
A missed request can be a missed customer. Turn on notifications for message requests and check Hidden requests once a week. You can also switch to a professional account, which splits your inbox into Primary and General tabs so business threads are easier to sort. One person in the r/Instagram thread said switching to a business account fixed the problem for them for the most part.
A short routine:
- Turn on request notifications in Instagram's notification settings.
- Check Requests and Hidden requests every few days.
- Reply quickly. The person who wrote is often waiting for a first answer before they say more.
- Move anything important into Primary so it doesn't get buried.
What we couldn't confirm
Instagram's help centre doesn't have a page listing every reason a request might not show. The causes here come from user reports and from how the folders are designed. If none of the fixes work and the problem lasts more than a few days, report it from the app's settings under the option to report a problem, and attach a screenshot.