Instagram Showing a Black Screen Instead of DMs? 6 Fixes

Get your Instagram messages back when they're blocked by a black screen with these tips

Co-authored by Hannah Dillon Reviewed by Stan Kats

Last Updated: June 22, 2024 Fact Checked

Are you getting a black screen instead of your Instagram messages? This is a frustrating issue, especially if you have an urgent DM to reply to. In this article we've collected the top tips to fix this issue, so keep reading to learn more.

Ways to Fix the Instagram DM Black Screen

If there isn't a pending update for your Instagram app, try changing your phone's theme to dark mode. Some users have said this is a temporary workaround for the black screen bug. Otherwise, try logging out and back in, clearing your Instagram cache, or reinstalling the app.

1

Update the Instagram App

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Make sure the Instagram app is up to date. When your Instagram messages show a black screen, this is likely due to a bug in the app. If you haven't updated Instagram in a while, you might be missing out on bug fixes that could fix this issue.
- iPhone: Open the App Store and tap your profile in the upper-right corner. Then tap Update All to update all of your apps, or scroll until you find Instagram, then tap Update.
- Android: Open the Google Play Store and tap your profile in the upper-right corner. Tap Manage apps & device, then tap Update All to update all of your apps, or tap See details to see all of the apps that need updates. Scroll until you find Instagram, then tap Update.

2

Enable Dark Mode

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Turn on dark mode for your device. Some users have found that turning on dark mode on their device was a temporary fix for the black screen in their Instagram messages. If your Instagram app is up to date but you're still getting a black screen instead of your DMs, give this method a shot.
- iPhone: Open the Setting app and tap on Display & Brightness, then change the theme under "Appearance" to Dark.^{[1]
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- Android: Open the Settings app and tap on Display. You may have to select a Theme submenu, then change your theme to Dark.^{[2]
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3

Log Out and Back In

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Sometimes, logging out of Instagram and logging back in can fix the black screen in your DMs. For a step-by-step guide to logging out of your Instagram account on Android and iPhone, check out this wikiHow article.

4

Clear the Instagram Cache (Android Only)

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Sometimes cache data can become corrupt and stop working. While restarting your phone can clear out some caches, sometimes you need to manually clear an app's cache to get it to cooperate.This method can only be done on Android devices.
- Open your Settings app.
- Go to Apps, Apps and notifications, or Application Manager. The wording may vary depending on what model of Android phone you have.
- Scroll until you find Instagram, then tap on it to select it.
- Tap Storage > Clear cache.
- Exit your Settings app and open Instagram again to see if the error is fixed.

5

Check if Instagram is Down

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If Instagram isn't working, you won't be able to use the app properly. Before uninstalling the app, try checking to see if Instagram is down with DownDetector. If it's down, you'll have to wait until any issues are resolved to use the app again.

6

Reinstall Instagram

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Delete Instagram and reinstall it. If nothing else works, you can try reinstalling the Instagram app. This may or may not fix the issue, but it's a good final step to try before contacting Instagram support.
- iPhone: Press and hold the Instagram app, then tap Delete App. If the app is on your Home Screen, select Remove App then Delete App. Reinstall it from the App Store.
- Android: Open Settings and go to Apps > See all apps, then tap on Instagram. Select Uninstall. Then reinstall it from the Google Play Store.