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

Instagram stories are a quick way to keep your audience updated about your regular activities. If you also love to watch Instagram stories, you may have received the “This story is Unavailable” notification on the screen. Have you ever thought what could be the possible reason behind it? If yes, I have got your back. This guide will help you understand the reasons for this and possible solutions.

What Does “This Story is Unavailable” Mean on Instagram?

If you are trying to view someone’s story but have received a ‘This story is Unavailable’ message, it means that you can’t access the story. It is a common problem and there are several reasons behind it. 

Further, we have discussed the most common reasons for it and how to deal with them.

Also, read What Does Null Mean on Instagram? [Everything Covered]

Reasons You May See “This Story Is Unavailable” on Your Instagram Account

There are several reasons you see “This Story Is Unavailable” when you are trying to view it. Below I have mentioned them to make things clearer to you: 

1. The Story Was Deleted

The most common reason why you may see “This Story Is Unavailable” on the screen is because the poster has deleted it. The actual time of the story being expired is 24 hours. But you can delete it anytime you want. There are several reasons why the other person may have deleted it. They may not like what they have posted anymore or may have accidentally posted it in the story. In both of the cases, the other person will delete the story. 

2. The Story May be Hidden From You 

One of the major policies of Instagram is to protect the privacy of Instagram users. This has given all the users the power to hide their stories from others. Therefore if you see someone’s story from your friend account but are not able to see it from your own, there are high chance that to story may be hidden from you. 

3. The Story is Expired 

As you know the time duration for having a story on your profile is 24 hours. Once 24 hours are over, the story gets removed from your account and expires. Thus, if you try to open the story after 24 hours, you will see this message on your screen. 

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4. The Other User Has to Make the Account Private 

It is very common to view the story of an open account without following them. All you have to do is search their account and click on the story button. But if they turned their open account into a private one, get ready to receive “This Story is Unavailable.” It is because you are no longer on their followers’ list.

5. Instagram Has Removed the Story 

It is very rare but a possible reason for the removal of the story from Instagram. Instagram is a platform that has a lot of terms and conditions for posting content on the screen. When you post something that violates their terms and conditions, Instagram has all the authority to remove it from the data. As a result, you no longer view the story. 

6. The Owner has Blocked You 

Blocking a person means that they cannot see anything regarding your profile. It means no post, story, or really can be viewed by them. Therefore if you are unable to watch someone’s story, it might be possible that they have blocked you on Instagram. If they have a public account and have posted something on it, you cannot still have any access to it. 

7. The Account is Deactivated 

There are many reasons why a person may deactivate an Instagram account. They might be taking a break from it or want to create a new one. When someone deactivates the account, you cannot view the posts or stories on it. There is no way of getting their content back as far as they activate it again. 

8. Possible Instagram Bug

There are high chances that you may see this message even if everything thing seems to be ok. It is because every app goes through bugs or technical issues. This goes with Instagram too. Such issues can be a common reason why the stories are unable to be viewed by others. 

9. Poor Internet Connectivity 

To use Instagram properly, one thing that you need to have the most is high-quality internet. If the internet connection is poor in quality, you are likely to get “This Story Is Unavailable” on your screen. It is one of the most possible reasons for the same. Therefore, if you want to avoid such, make sure that you have a stable internet connection. 

10. The Account Owner is Muted 

When you use a mute feature on Instagram, it hides the content of that person from your account. Most people do it when the content of the other person is disturbing. It is quite possible that you have muted their stories too and may have forgotten about it. If you are unable to see the story on your screen, try to search for their account directly. When you go to their profile, you get to directly check the stories or the posts they have posted.

Also, read What Does ‘Seen’ Mean on Instagram? (All You Need to Know)

How to Fix the “This Story is Unavailable” Error? 

I have discussed all the possible reasons behind getting “This Story Is Unavailable” on your screen. But now the question is how to fix it. Below I have discussed some steps that will help you solve this problem:

1. Refreshing the Feed

If you were stuck in such a situation, what would be the first thing you would do? I can bet it will be refreshing the feed. It is one of the easiest and the most common solutions for every problem on Instagram. Whether you are unable to post something or open someone’s account, just try to refresh the feed. To do that, pull the screen downwards and wait for a few seconds to complete. If the problem is unsolved, try using other ways mentioned further.

2. Logout or Re-Login to the Account 

One of the major ways to solve this issue can be to log out from your account and try to log back in. This may help in solving your problem. Many people believe that doing this will not solve such issues. But it is not true. It could be a perfect solution at such a time. Follow the steps to log out from your account: 

• Open the app and visit the profile page by clicking on the profile icon. 
• There will be three lines present at the top right-hand corner. 
• Tap on it and visit the settings of your account.
• You will get a drop-down list of options in your settings. 

Scroll them and look for the logout option. Click on it and complete the logout process. 

Once you log out from your account, the next thing you must do is log back into your account. Just enter the credentials required and hit on login option to complete the login process. 

3. Updating the App 

One of the biggest reasons for multiple bugs on Instagram is that the app is not updated. You must check whether the app is up to date or not. It is because every time Instagram brings a new feature, updating the app is important. If you don’t do that, be ready to get surrounded by multiple bugs on it. 

Also, read What Does Forward Mean on Instagram Story? (Complete Guide)

4. Clear Instagram Caches

Caches are a major reason to cause bugs and glitches. Every app has its data that may bring glitches. Thus, try to remove them from your devices. Removing them from your device may depend on what type of device you are using. For that I have discussed the steps for removing Instagram Caches from your Android and IOS devices: 

Android Devices

Below are the steps to help you know how to clear Instagram caches from your Android device: 

• Open the device and go to the settings of it. 
• Select the app’s icon from your settings and find your related app. 
• Click on the storage option and choose Clear Caches. 
• All Instagram caches on your device will be removed. 

iOS Device

But what about iOS devices? Let’s have a look at how to remove the Caches from them:

Open the settings of your device.

Scroll down the menu option and look for the Instagram applications.

Click on clear caches and complete the process.

5. Reinstall the Instagram App

There are times when you may see “This Story is Unavailable”, quite often. The most common thing that you need to do is try to delete the app and install it back. You can directly uninstall it from your device or visit the Google Play Store or Apple Store to do so. 

6. Use Another Device to View It

Instagram has given its users a way to prioritize their privacy. You can now hide a story from the other users without removing them from your friend list. There are chances that the other person has hidden the story from you. Thus, try to use another account from the story.

7. Reach the Instagram Service Support Section

If you have tried all the ways mentioned above and still have unsolved issues, try to get in touch with the support section of Instagram. 

Also, read What is Vanish Mode on Instagram? (Complete Guide)

Conclusion 

“This Story is Unavailable” is a common problem that most Instagram users go through. If you are trying to view someone’s story and get this message, there could be several reasons behind it. The most common reason for this is that the story has expired or was deleted by the owner. As the story only stays for 24 hours, it will automatically be removed once the time is over. In addition to that, there may be some glitches. In such a situation, try to refresh the feed or log in back again to your account. You can also try to delete the app and reinstall it. It may help.

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