Instagram password reset not working? How to fix the link and "Something went wrong"

An Instagram password reset usually fails for one of five reasons: the reset link has expired or was already used, the app or browser is out of date or holding a bad session, Instagram is temporarily limiting repeated requests ("Something went wrong" or "There was a problem resetting your password"), the email or phone number on the account is no longer yours, or the account was taken over. Each cause has its own fix, listed below.

This guide covers the reset link that does not open or loops back to the login screen, the "Something went wrong, please try again" error on the Forgot password screen, reset emails or codes that never arrive, and what to do when no reset option works at all. Every fix uses Instagram's own apps and Help Center only.

Why the Instagram password reset link is not working

An Instagram reset link stops working when it has expired, has already been used, or opens in a browser or app session that cannot complete it. Reset links are single-use and time-limited, so a link from an older email, or from the first of several requests, will often fail after a newer one was sent.

Work through these checks in order:

1. Request one new reset link and use only the most recent email or text message. Delete or ignore older ones.
2. Open the link on the same device where the Instagram app is installed, or copy it into a browser where you are not signed in to another Instagram account.
3. If the link opens the app and drops you on the login screen, long-press the link, copy it, and paste it into a private (incognito) browser tab instead. A private tab starts without cookies, so an old session or a second logged-in account cannot interfere.
4. Set the new password right away. Leaving the page open for a long time can make the link expire before you submit.
5. Choose a strong password you have not used on Instagram before, so the form does not reject it as a repeat.

How to fix "Something went wrong" when resetting your Instagram password

The "Something went wrong, please try again" error on Instagram's Forgot password screen usually means the request did not reach Instagram cleanly or Instagram is briefly blocking further attempts from your device or network. The same applies to "There was a problem resetting your password. Please try again soon."

Try these fixes:

• Stop and wait. Repeated requests in a short time trigger a temporary limit. Wait several hours, ideally a full day, before you send one new request.
• Switch networks. Move from Wi-Fi to mobile data or the other way round, and turn off any VPN or proxy, since shared VPN addresses are often rate limited.
• Change the entry point. If the app fails, use the Forgot password option on instagram.com in a browser, or the reverse.
• Enter a different identifier. The reset form accepts a username, email address or phone number. If one fails, try another that is linked to the account.
• Check for an outage. If other Instagram features are also failing, the problem may be on Instagram's side and will clear without action.

If the error appears on every device and network after waiting, the issue is tied to the account rather than your setup. Move on to the recovery options further down.

Update or reinstall the Instagram app

An outdated or corrupted Instagram app is a common reason why the reset flow freezes, does not load, or opens the link without letting you set a new password. Updating replaces the broken version; reinstalling also clears the stored session data.

To update Instagram on Android, open the Google Play Store, tap your profile picture, go to Manage apps and device, and update Instagram if it is listed under available updates. On iPhone, open the App Store, tap your profile picture, scroll to pending updates and tap Update next to Instagram.

If no update is offered, remove the app and install it again from the official store:

• Instagram on Google Play for Android
• Instagram on the App Store for iPhone and iPad

On Android you can try clearing the app's cache first (Settings, Apps, Instagram, Storage) before you reinstall. Restart the phone afterwards and request a fresh reset link, because links sent before the reinstall may no longer open correctly.

What to do when the Instagram reset email or code never arrives

A missing Instagram reset email or SMS code usually means it was filtered, sent to an old address, or delayed by repeated requests. Check these points before asking for another one:

• Look in the spam, junk, promotions and social folders, and search the mailbox for "Instagram".
• Confirm which email or phone number is on the account. Instagram shows a partly hidden version (for example the first letter and the domain) on the reset screen; if you do not recognise it, the contact details may have been changed.
• Make sure your mailbox is not full and that the phone can receive SMS from short codes.
• Wait at least 15 to 30 minutes before requesting again. Each new request can cancel the previous code.

If you linked Instagram to Facebook through Accounts Center, the login screen may also offer to continue with that Facebook account. This only works when the accounts were connected before you lost access, and it lets you change the password from inside the app once you are in.

When no reset option works: recover the account through Instagram

If every reset attempt fails, or the email and phone number on the account are no longer yours, use Instagram's built-in recovery flow rather than the standard reset. Instagram's login troubleshooting help page explains how to recover a password and how to confirm your identity.

Start from the login screen, tap Forgot password, enter your username, and look for an option to get more help or to confirm your identity when you can no longer reach your email or phone. Depending on the account, Instagram may ask for a security code sent to an email you choose, or for other proof that you own the account. If you suspect a takeover, follow the hacked-account path in the Instagram Help Center as soon as possible, and check your email for any message from Instagram about a changed email address, since it can contain a link to undo that change.

Recover the account only through Instagram's app, instagram.com and the official Help Center. People and services that offer to "recover" or "unlock" Instagram accounts for a fee, often via DMs or comments, are scams: Instagram support never asks for your password or for payment to restore access.

How to keep the next password reset from failing

The best protection against a stuck Instagram reset is current contact details and a second sign-in factor. Once you are back in, open Accounts Center and check that the email address and phone number on the account are ones you control, and remove anything you do not recognise.

Then turn on two-factor authentication for Instagram with an authenticator app, and save the backup codes somewhere safe outside your phone. Store the new password in a password manager so you never need the reset flow just because you forgot it. Review the login activity list for sessions you do not recognise and log them out.

Meta has also been adding passkey sign-in across its apps; passkeys on Facebook show how that works, and a passkey removes the password from the login entirely where it is available.

FAQ

Related: Instagram two-factor authentication setup, how to hide your Instagram account, fix "This story is unavailable" on Instagram