What is “Challenge Required” Error on Instagram and How to Fix It?

Instagram is a well-known platform for the safety of its users. When you see “Challenge Required” error on Instagram, it is basically a security measure that is used by Instagram to prevent any bots from interacting with your account. You will usually see it when you try to log in to your Instagram account through the web server. When you try to do that, you will get a prompt to provide the proof of owing the accounts.

One thing about this error is that you do not need to worry much about it. This error is usually made for safety reasons and thus is considered a good error. In this guide, I will help you to deal with this situation. But before that, let us understand the reasons behind it.

Reasons Behind “Challenge Required” Error on Instagram

There are several reasons why you may see it on your screen. I have mentioned them below:

  1. Login With a New Device: When you log in to your account with a new device, you will usually see this error on the screen. If your device was not recognized by Instagram, get ready to see “Challenge Required” error on the screen. It is usually done so that no other person gets access to your account.
  2. Poor Connection: Any activity related to Instagram is not possible without having a strong internet connection. When you try logging in with a poor connection, you will not get logged in properly and you will get the “Challenge Required” error on the screen. Anything that will prevent you from using the app online is the reason behind getting this error. 
  3. Using an Unauthorized IP Address: One of the major things that Instagram works on is providing protection to the users. If you log in to the account with an unrecognizable IP address, it automatically becomes a security risk. So when a person or a scammer with your login details tries using an unrecognizable IP Address, they are unable to do so.
  4. Using the Non-Updated App: There are high chances that you are not using the updated version of the app. When the app is not updated, you not only face problems while logging in but also in doing a lot of other stuff on Instagram. When the app is outdated, you lose some important security updates, it automatically brings an error message to your screen. 
  5. Servers are Down: One of the biggest reasons why you get the “Challenge Required” message again and again is that the servers are down. When you try doing something on Instagram in such a situation, you may see a “Challenge Required” error on the screen.
  6. Corrupted Caches: When the files on Instagram get corrupted, you will start getting the error message on your account frequently. In addition to that, if there is a heavy load in the cache files, the app will not work properly, which will result in an error message. 

Also, read What Does “This Story is Unavailable” Mean on Instagram and How to Fix It?

How to Fix “Challenge Required” Error on Instagram?

What Does “Challenge Required” Mean on Instagram?

Of course, knowing the reasons is important when you see such errors on screen. But the more important thing is to know what to do in such situations. Thus, I have shared some ways by which you can Fix the “Challenge Required” error. 

1. Prove Your Identity

If you have received a message that shows “Challenge_Required” error on Instagram while logging through the web browser, try to prove that you are trying to log in and not a bot. If you are wondering how to do that, let me help you. As this error usually occurs when you try to log in through the web browser, try to do that with the help of your app.

If still the error stays, try to log in with the phone you have already used. Never forget to turn on the 2-factor authentication. It helps to log in to the account again whenever you are trying to log back.

2. Check the Internet Connection

Another major step that you can take when you see the error message on the device is to check the internet connection. It is because when we try to log in again and again when the internet is slow, it creates errors for us. Thus, it is better to check for it once before you try to log in to your account. 

3. Check If the App is Updated

Instagram keeps bringing new updates for its users. Sometimes, users are not aware of the latest updates and usually get into troubleshooting problems. Thus, if you are facing any kind of issue on Instagram including the “Challenge Required” error, the perfect thing to do is to update the app.

4. Restart the App 

If you are still struggling with the “Challenge Required” Problem, try to restart the app. It is because sometimes, there are glitches that can be easily solved just by restarting the app. Just close the app entirely and open it again. The major chances are that the glitch will be removed from the screen. When you are shutting down the app, try to close all the apps running in the background. 

5. Check for the Server

One of the prominent reasons for having this problem is when the server is down. Sometimes, we don’t have the idea that the server of Instagram is down. This eventually results in trying multiple times to log in to the account. In a situation like this, getting a “Challenge Required” error is very common on the screen.

6. Reinstall the App

One of the ways that is similar to restarting the app is Reinstalling the app. Try to delete the app and install it back again. This may help to remove the glitches that were causing the issue related to the error. However, please make sure to wait for 2-3 days before reinstalling the app.

7. Clear the Caches

Due to the stored cache, the app may become buggy at the same time. Thus, the best thing you can do in such a situation is to clear the caches. Here is a short guide on how to do it:

  • Open the settings app and go to the apps section. 
  • Look for the “All Apps” option.
  • Scroll down to find Instagram and tap on it. 
  • Click on Storage and Cache from the list of options and select the Clear Cache button or Clear Storage to delete the data.

If nothing works, there is also a last resort for you which is taking help from the customer support service people on Instagram. 

Also, read What Does Null Mean on Instagram

How Long Does the Instagram “Challenge_Required” Error Last? 

What Does “Challenge Required” Mean on Instagram?

As you know, there are several reasons behind getting this error on the screen. Thus, the time taken to solve the error depends on the reason. If the reasons are normal, it will take very little time. However, if the reasons behind it are more technical, it might take more time. Thus, try to wait for 48 hours before you try again when there is a more technical error. 

Conclusion 

“Challenge Required” error is one of the errors on Instagram that helps to prevent any bots or inappropriate activity. The most common reason for this error is when you try to log into your account through the web browser. Additionally, there are a lot of different reasons behind this error. Login with the new device, poor internet connection, non-updated app, etc., are some of the common reasons behind it. If you are also constantly getting this error on your screen, the best thing you can do is to prove yourself. Please note that there are some other ways also by which you can solve this problem. Checking internet connection and restarting the app, are two of them.

FAQs

What to Do When Instagram Says Challenge Required?

There are a lot of things that you can do when Instagram says challenge Required:
Restart the app
Prove your Identity
Reinstall the app
Check for the internet connection 
Login with the device used earlier and many more

Why Do I Keep Getting ‘Action Blocked’ on Instagram?

The biggest reason to get action blocked on Instagram is that you may have violated the rules and guidelines of using the Instagram app.

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