“What!!!! Did I just get blocked for going too fast?” That was probably your reaction when you got that notification telling you you’ve been temporarily blocked. It’s probably why you’re here, looking for tips on how to fix the problem.
It’s also possible that you’re here to learn in advance as you’re scared you may get blocked in the future. Whichever the case may be, you’ve come to the right place where you’ll get your questions answered and your worries abated.
So how do you fix your Instagram account that has been temporarily blocked for going too fast? It’s quite simple. The safest and easiest way is to just wait for some time (usually a maximum period of 24-36 hours) as Instagram itself will unblock you after a while.
Alternatively, you can send a request when you see the Action blocked message, issue an unblock request through Instagram settings, uninstall and reinstall your Instagram app or log in through a different device.
A temporary action block on Instagram can be a painful inconvenience and can affect productivity and efficiency, especially if the account is used for a brand or business.
This is why it needs to be addressed as soon as possible and steps need to be taken to ensure that it never repeats itself. As you read along, I’ll expatiate more on each of the steps you can take to fix the temporary block and how to prevent its future occurrence.
I’ll also talk about other things that can cause a temporary block apart from going too fast and also the different other types of Instagram blocks. Can’t wait? Okay, let’s go!
How To Fix Instagram Temporary Block For Going Too Fast
To start with, what does it mean to be going too fast on Instagram? It simply means that you have performed an action too frequently within a specified period or you’ve exceeded the Instagram daily/hour action limit.
When this happens, you’re likely to get a notification that reads along the lines of “You’ve been temporarily blocked, It looks like you were misusing this feature by going too fast.
Tell us if you think we made a mistake.” If you get this while or right after performing an action (either like, comment, follow or unfollow), it means you have performed the action so frequently that you’re suspected to be a bot or you’ve exceeded the limit for that action.
Unfortunately, the exact limits have not been revealed and usually vary for each account, depending on the level of activity or age of the account.
What then should you do to get out of this situation?
Here are a few steps you can take to unblock your Instagram account or hasten the process;
Tap the Tell us button
When the *Action blocked* notification pops up, there are usually 2 options for you to choose from. The first button says Tell us while the other says Ignore.
To request a manual review of your situation from Instagram, tap the Tell us button. This should be done especially when you know you haven’t done anything wrong to warrant the block.
However, you should still go-ahead to do this even if you’ve defaulted or exceeded any limit because it will show them that you’re human and not a bot as they may have earlier thought.
When you tap Tell us, Instagram directs you through your email to complete some security information, thereafter requests that you send your picture.
This is to ensure that you are indeed a real user and not a bot. When you do this, the block should be lifted within one to two days.
Issue an Unblock Request Through Instagram Settings
Some Action blocked notifications may have only the OK option without the Tell us the option, and that’s when this second method comes in. To send your request through settings
- Go to your profile page
- Tap the
icon beside the Edit profile button if you’re using the web version. If you’re on the mobile app, tap the 
icon at the top right corner of your profile page, then tap the 
icon at the bottom of the options displayed. - Look for Report a problem among the options displayed and tap it.
- A window with a text field will be displayed in which you’re expected to briefly explain what the problem is. Tell them what has happened and that you don’t think you’ve done anything wrong. Also mention to them that you are a real person and not a bot.
- Tap Send. Wait for some hours or day(s) for your request to be granted.
Wait it out
Yes, you saw that right. Just relax and wait for about 24 – 48 hours. Most often than not, Instagram itself unblocks the action after a while, depending on the severity of your case or whether you’re a new defaulter or a recurring one.
So if you just wait, stop what you were doing that caused the block or leave the account for some hours or days, the block will be lifted and all will be back to normal. In addition, don’t use any third-party tool or app during this period.
Re-install your Instagram app
This also works wonders when it comes to getting rid of blocks, especially the temporary ones. When you uninstall and then reinstall your app, the cookies and other data collected by Instagram prior to the block will be lost and this helps to fix the temporary block.
Log in with another device
Try to log in with a different device from that which you were using when you got blocked, whether a tab, a laptop or another phone. It might help to lift the block.
Link your account to your Facebook account
This helps to establish that you’re not a bot and are in fact, an actual human being. If your Instagram was not linked to Facebook before, you should consider linking it now. You can also link to other social media accounts.
Other Things That Can Get You Action Blocked On Instagram Apart From Going Too Fast
Performing an action too frequently on Instagram is not the only “crime” that can land you in the “Action blocked jail” on Instagram.
There are several other violations you can make that can make Instagram block you from doing a particular action. Let’s have a look at them.
Suspected Account Automation
The use of automation tools to perform actions on Instagram is safe when down moderately but can cause havoc when misused.
Instagram kicks against creating accounts with bots, crawlers, scripts, scrapers and spiders. Hence, when you automate your actions intensely, your actions are easily detected by Instagram and may eventually be blocked.
User Complaints
If your account is reported by lots of Instagram users, this may lead to your account being blocked. Possible complaints that can be made against you include spam, insults, inappropriate content, mass following or liking and so on.
Inappropriate Posts
Another reason Instagram might place an action block on your account is if you post inappropriate pictures or videos.
These might be posts eliciting violence, nudity, or sexual content. All these can earn you an action ban on your account when Instagram detects them.
Logging In From Different Devices and IP Address
This is done majorly to protect your account. If you log into your Instagram account with a different device or IP address and you’re unable to confirm identity through email or SMS, Instagram sees you as a hacker and tries to protect your account from, well – “You”.
So it is important that you have access to your email or phone to receive the confirmation SMS when logging in from a different device or IP address to avoid being blocked by Instagram.
Spam Commenting And Direct Messaging
Instagram sometimes puts direct message blocks on accounts that have a suspiciously high amount of direct messages initiated within a short time frame.
This happens especially when you’re initiating conversations in the DMs with users you don’t follow. Similarly, belonging to an engagement group makes you susceptible to being action blocked because of the numerous posts that are usually filtered through the groups.
All these send red flags to Instagram and may eventually result in an action block.
Copyright Infringement
Whatever picture or video you post on Instagram has to be yours or authorized by the rightful owner. This is because Instagram takes copyright infringement very seriously.
When Instagram detects that your post is not original or the owner of the post reports you, an action block can be placed on your account.
Therefore, whenever you need to share or post another user’s content, you should tag the user and give him/her due credit in the description.
Inconsistent Action Rate and Log In Time
Instagram is able to measure how much time you spend on the platform, so if the amount of time you spend does not tally with how frequent your activity is, it will raise alerts and may lead to Instagram blocking that action.
For instance, if you only log into your account for an average of fifteen minutes a day but you have liked about a thousand pictures, this will send a red flag to Instagram. So it is important to pace your actions.
How To Prevent An Action Block On Instagram
- Slow down: this especially applies to new users. It’s easy to get carried away with the desire to grow the account fast but you have to be careful with how much activity you engage in. When your young account is seen to engage in a high number of activities, it triggers the anti-spam system on your account.
- Stay within action limits: although this differs from one account to the other, each count has a specific number of actions permitted within a specific amount of time. Generally, the older and more active accounts with a reasonably large following have higher action limits than younger and less active accounts with a relatively lower following. Although Instagram does not reveal the limits for specific accounts, typical engagement limits for established accounts is about 1000 likes per day, 400–500 comments per day and 250 follows/unfollows per day.
- Avoid copyright infringement: make sure the photos and videos you share are yours or duly authorised by the owner.
- Complete your Instagram profile: write a bio and add a profile picture, preferably a real picture of yourself. This helps to establish that you’re indeed human and not a bot.
- Avoid the use of banned hashtags: some hashtags are banned by Instagram because they violate community guidelines or go against its terms and conditions. These types of hashtags should be avoided to avoid being blocked by Instagram.
Related Questions
What Are The Different Types of Instagram Action Blocks
Instagram blocks differ in the duration or how long it takes for the block to be lifted. Basically, there is
- Temporary blocks: which usually lasts for about 24hours and is the most common type of action block implemented by Instagram.
- Action blocks with an expiry date: in which Instagram states the date on which the block will be lifted. It usually lasts between one to thirty days.
- Action blocks without an expiry date: as the name implies, the date of expiry of this type of block is not stated. It can last for hours to weeks.
- Permanent blocks: this is a type of block that can not be lifted. It is usually placed on an account that has violated numerous Instagram rules or has been temporarily blocked a good number of times.
Which words are banned in Instagram comments
I wish there was a long list of words provided by Instagram that should be avoided when making comments, but sadly, there’s none.
However, you should try to avoid words that are offensive or violate community rules. In addition, specific accounts can also set their list of banned words, so you really can’t be so sure. Just be kind with your words and avoid trouble.