Instagram Action Blocked - what you need to keep in mind

Instagram was launched in 2009 and has undergone enormous development since then. Originally, the app was designed as a photo app on which the latest snapshots and masterpieces from all over the world could be shared. More and more companies and solo self-employed people now recognize the potential hidden behind the app. Online shops can contact customers directly, hear firsthand about current challenges and problems, or win over their target audience. But private users have also discovered the app for themselves, to meet like-minded people and build a large fan base. Now, however, there are situations in which Instagram imposes an action block. In this article you will learn under which circumstances this can happen and what you can do about it. A reliable way to make your account appear more trustworthy is to buy Instagram followers.

How can I tell that I have an action block?

If you have an action block and want to perform a certain action (liking, commenting, sharing, etc.), in the case of a block the error message "Action blocked" appears.

Instagram Action Blocked - what does it mean?

First of all, nobody on Instagram is simply blocked because the app doesn't like their profile. If you have received an action block or see the error "Action blocked", you should understand this as a kind of warning. You have clearly violated the guidelines set by Instagram through certain actions. As indicated above, this usually happens when you show conspicuous behavior. This "spamming" behavior is automatically detected by the system and enforced accordingly.

How long are actions blocked?

Action blocks are not all the same. Instagram has set up a wide variety of blocks, which are imposed individually and depending on severity. Usually, time-limited action blocks come first on the list. If behavior recurs and becomes increasingly excessive, Instagram's measures will of course also become increasingly harsh.

The various action blocks

Temporary action block

A temporary action block is not set in stone and, as the name suggests, is limited in time. Accounts facing a temporary action block should understand it as a kind of warning and avoid conspicuous behavior in the future. One thing is also clear: if there is no improvement after the time-limited action block, or if you slip back into exactly the same pattern, the temporary action block can turn into a permanent one.

Action block with an expiry date

With an action block with an expiry date, the end has already been set in advance. Instagram usually starts such action blocks at 24 hours. After that, it is up to you and your behavior how far Instagram extends these action blocks. If you change nothing about your behavior and carry on as before, or even increase these violations, an action block of up to 30 days may threaten you.

Permanent action block

This action block is also explained by its name. It is a permanent action block for an indefinite period. It may be lifted after some time, or users may face a permanent block. In any case, a permanent action block does not come out of nowhere. It is only imposed when a user has constantly gone beyond the limit and has persistently defied Instagram's guidelines. As a rule, the permanent action block has been preceded by temporary blocks or action blocks with an expiry date. Only when a user repeatedly behaves improperly over a longer period and learns nothing from previous sanctions is the permanent action block actually imposed.

Can my account be locked because of an action block?

Your account can also be temporarily locked completely if you take your actions on Instagram to excess.

Instagram Action Blocked: these are the reasons for the action block

Hourly and daily action limits are exceeded

Every user has daily limits for certain actions. In 2019, Instagram even halved these actions. This means users have far fewer actions available per hour or per day to carry out. These restrictions affect likes, comments, follow/unfollow actions and the loading of user data alike. Instagram does not publish how high these limits are. Moreover, they vary from user to user and are therefore set individually.

The account was only recently created

The younger the respective account, the stricter the actions and thus the limits. If an account has only existed for one to three months, users must expect stricter measures than accounts that have existed longer. If you have a relatively young account, hold back on actions at first and increase them over time. Otherwise you risk your limits being exhausted, even if you carry out all actions manually.

You have already violated Instagram rules

Earlier violations of the Instagram guidelines also play a decisive role. If this was the case for you, the permitted actions per day (per hour) are significantly restricted. Besides excessive liking, prohibited content is of course also a key factor. This includes sexual content or unqualified comments. Instagram's copyright rules should also be observed. If you violate these rules, action blocks are the consequence.

You perform too few actions on Instagram

The reduction of limits is also influenced by the number of your actions. So if you are not active enough and only drop by now and then to like a few comments, your limit is significantly reduced. It is best to increase your actions slowly and thus build a steady rhythm.

You perform too many actions on Instagram

The opposite extreme is posting too many posts at once, leaving too many likes, or leaving too many comments. It is especially serious when comments are very similar and all actions are carried out within a very short time. On average, posts created 3 to 7 times a week are enough to gain followers and pay them attention.

Avoid automations

You can only build your reach successfully without running the risk of your actions being blocked if they are carried out manually. As we have seen above, this is no guarantee either, but Instagram identifies automations much more easily, and so the risk of being hit with an action block is also greater.

How to lift your action block

There are several ways to lift an action block. These options are briefly presented below:

Reinstall the Instagram app

The simplest and most effective way to lift a block is to first uninstall the Instagram app and then reinstall it on your device. This procedure removes cookies and other data collected by Instagram. This method is especially effective for temporary action blocks.

Report your problem to Instagram

If you want to perform a certain action on Instagram and suddenly face the error "Action blocked", you have two options. You can either choose to ignore the problem and silently endure the block, or you can report the problem. This is especially advisable in cases where you are firmly convinced that you behaved correctly. If you report the problem, your case will be checked manually and your action block will either be lifted or you will learn firsthand which of your actions led to this block. However, there are some messages where you cannot report the problem directly. In these cases you can only press "OK". If you still want to report the problem, you can contact Instagram via a detour (through the settings) to have the situation checked manually. To do this, open your settings, go to the help section and then to "Report a problem". In this text field you can describe your situation in detail and ask for a review.

Turn on your mobile data

The IP address can also be the cause of an action block. It can even happen that Instagram blocks completely new accounts because it does not favor the IP address. For this reason, it can help to simply switch to mobile data and turn off Wi-Fi.

Link your Instagram account with your Facebook account

Both a professional Instagram account and a private Instagram account can be linked with the corresponding account on Facebook. If your Instagram account is not yet linked to Facebook, you can now do so. A link underlines that your account is not a bot, and this way you can avoid the action block.

Access your account from another device

You can also try to access your account from another device, such as a tablet, another smartphone, or a desktop computer.

Wait a period of 24-48 hours

This is the last option if none of the actions mentioned above has had the desired effect. Wait for a period of 24 to 48 hours to get rid of the block. During this time you should refrain from all actions on Instagram and not use the app either. After this period, the block should be gone.

How can I avoid action blocked on Instagram?

Like limit: Limit your likes to at most one every 28 to 36 seconds. No more than 1000 likes should be given in one day.
Comment limit: Do not give more than 12 to 14 comments per hour. There should also be an interval of about 350 to 400 seconds between your individual comments.
Do not post too many images: Especially when you create a new account, you should not overload it with regular posts. The limit here should be 2 to 3 images per day. If your account has existed for a little longer, the limit is 9 to 12 images per day.
Unfollow limit: You should restrict your unfollow actions to no more than one in an interval of 12 to 22 seconds.
Mention limit: Mentions should also be limited by you to a maximum of 5 per message at an interval of 350 to 450 seconds.

The tips above are only guidelines and should be followed by you especially if your account is very new. It is also important that you regularly inform yourself about Instagram's guidelines so that you can implement them. It is also clear that Instagram adjusts these at regular intervals to the respective circumstances. If your actions were successful before and you received no error message, things can look very different after an update and you suddenly face a possible block. For this reason, it is essential to review Instagram's guidelines from time to time so as not to run the risk of violating current rules.

How can I safely build my reach on Instagram?

To understand how an action can end up blocked on Instagram, we first need to look at what users can do to build their own reach. Because if you follow these tips too eagerly, they can quickly backfire, and instead of a larger reach your actions get blocked. If your account is still new, of course you not only want to follow other accounts with interests similar to yours, but above all you want to gain your own followers. A large reach is especially important if you are on Instagram not only privately but also professionally. In this situation you will therefore heed all the tips that will help you build a large reach. These include high-quality posts, provided with the appropriate hashtags, and publishing regular videos. Besides these actions, it is also important to look around the profiles of other users and like, comment on and share their posts. These are the basic prerequisites for gaining followers and, above all, for drawing attention to your own profile efficiently. You should not overdo your actions, however: if you leave too many likes and comments, follow and unfollow too many accounts at the same time, Instagram may block you from future actions. This happens even when you carry out these actions manually rather than automatically. Our complete guide with tips on how to get more followers on Instagram.

Conclusion:

It is important for you to familiarize yourself with Instagram's guidelines in advance so that an action block never happens in the first place. If you use your account not privately but for business, such a block can negatively affect your revenue. If you behave moderately and adaptively, basically nothing can happen to you. In the case of a one-time slip-up, such a block is also not imposed for long, but lifted again after a few hours. Afterwards you should identify the problem and avoid such mistakes in the future. You can find further tips on Instagram Action Blocked here.