---
title: "Feed doesn’t refresh on pull-to-refresh"  
description: "Feed doesn’t refresh on pull-to-refresh"  
author: "Anubhav Sharma"  
published: 2026-01-07  
updated: 2026-05-19  
canonical: https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/116269/feed-doesn-t-refresh-on-pull-to-refresh  
category: "social networking"  
tags: ["social issues", "social media", "instagram"]  
reading_time: 2 minutes  

---

# Feed doesn’t refresh on pull-to-refresh

## Answers

### Answer by Anubhav Sharma

If pull-to-refresh in Instagram is not updating the feed, the issue is usually one of these:

- cached/stuck app state
- weak or interrupted network
- [background sync](https://www.mindstick.com/interview/34354/how-can-a-service-worker-be-used-to-implement-background-sync-or-push-notifications) failure
- outdated app version
- account/session glitch
- temporary server-side issue

Try these in order:

### Basic fixes

- Fully close Instagram and reopen it.
- Switch networks:

   - Wi-Fi → [mobile data](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/109059/what-to-do-if-my-phone-is-not-connecting-to-mobile-data-after-a-software-update)
   - mobile data → Wi-Fi

- Turn airplane mode on/off.
- Restart the phone.

### Check if feed is actually stale

Sometimes refresh works but ranking doesn’t change much.

Test by:

- [checking if](https://www.mindstick.com/forum/34435/checking-if-file-exists-in-asp-dot-net-mvc-4) story rings update
- searching a new account/post
- opening Reels
- checking DMs timestamps

If those update, only home ranking may be delayed.

### Clear app cache

#### Android

Settings → Apps → Instagram → Storage → [Clear Cache](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/109619/how-to-clear-cache-on-android-for-improved-performance)

#### iPhone

iOS has no direct cache clear:

- Offload app
- or reinstall Instagram

### Update the app

Install the [latest version](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/50682/how-to-fix-an-iphone-8-plus-that-keeps-crashing-and-freezing-after-updating-ios-to-the-latest-version) from:

- [Google Play Store](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.instagram.android)
- [Apple App Store](https://apps.apple.com/app/instagram/id389801252)

### Check if Instagram servers are having issues

Sometimes refresh endpoints partially fail.

You can check:\
[Instagram Help Center](https://help.instagram.com/)

### Log out and back in

A corrupted [session token](https://www.mindstick.com/forum/158229/how-are-session-tokens-generated-and-what-makes-a-session-token-secure) can stop refresh behavior.

Steps:

- Settings → Log out
- force close app
- log in again

### Disable battery/data restrictions

On Android especially:

- disable battery [optimization](https://www.mindstick.com/blog/303040/app-store-optimization-a-complete-guide) for Instagram
- allow background data
- allow unrestricted battery usage

### If pull gesture works but spinner never ends

Possible causes:

- VPN/proxy interference
- DNS/ad blocker issue
- corrupted cache
- app experiment/bug

Try:

- disabling VPN
- disabling private DNS temporarily
- reinstalling app

### If this only happens on one account

The issue may be account-specific:

- feed ranking backend stuck
- temporary restriction
- experimental rollout bug
- Test by logging another account into the same phone.

### If you’re developing/testing an app wrapper or automation

Instagram aggressively rate-limits unofficial behavior, and refresh endpoints may silently fail.

Use only official clients/APIs where possible.


---

Original Source: https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/116269/feed-doesn-t-refresh-on-pull-to-refresh

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