Top 7 Ways to Fix Instagram Filters and Effects Not Working

Filters and effects on your Instagram posts are a great way to make your photos and videos stand out. You can add eye-catching effects to your Instagram stories, reels, or lives with a single swipe of your finger. But what if those Instagram filters or effects suddenly stop working on your phone?

From a patchy internet connection to region-specific restrictions, several factors can keep you from accessing Instagram filters and effects. If you are experiencing a similar problem, here are some solutions you can try to resolve the issue in the Instagram app.

1. Check Your Internet Connection

Instagram requires an active internet connection to download new filters and effects from its servers. So you’ll need to look for any issues with your internet connection.

Run a quick speed test on your phone to check your internet, or switch to a different connection if available. Then, try to use Instagram filters and effects again.

2. Enable Face and Hand Effects Permission

In certain regions, Instagram requires permission to place effects, filters, and masks on your face and hands. If this is applicable in your region, you must enable the ‘Face and Hand Effects’ permission from Instagram’s privacy settings. Here are the steps you can follow.

Step 1: Open the Instagram app on your phone and tap the profile icon in the bottom right corner.

Step 2: Tap the three horizontal lines in the top right corner and select Settings from the list.

Step 3: Go to Privacy.

Step 4: Tap on ‘Face and Hand Effects’ and enable the toggle next to ‘Allow face and hand effect’ from the following menu.

If you don’t see the ‘Face and hand effects’ option in the Instagram app, that means the feature isn’t available in your region.

3. Allow Instagram to Access Your Location

Several Instagram filters rely on your location data to work. So, if you have disabled location access for the Instagram app, those filters will not work.

To enable location permission for the Instagram app, use these steps.

Android

Step 1: Long-press on the Instagram app icon and tap the info icon from the menu that appears.

Step 2: On the app info page, tap on Permissions.

Step 3: Tap on Location and select ‘Allow only while using the app.’

iPhone

Step 1: Open the Settings app and scroll down to tap on Instagram.

Step 2: Tap on Location and select ‘While using the App’ from the following screen.

4. Get Instagram Filters From Friends

If you’re having trouble finding or using a particular Instagram effect, you can try using that effect directly from someone else’s story or reel. Here’s how to do it.

Step 1: In the Instagram app, open a story or reel that uses the effect you want to try.

Step 2: Tap on the effect name at the top and select ‘Try it’ from the menu that appears.

Step 3: Instagram will load that effect for you in the story camera and you can use it normally.

5. Use a VPN Connection

If the privacy laws of your region prohibit usage of filters, Instagram may display the ‘This effect is not available in your location’ error. In that case, your only option is to use a VPN service to bypass any region-specific restrictions. Following that, Instagram filters should work on your Android or iPhone.

6. Clear Instagram Cache (Android)

Most apps, including Instagram, collect cache data to reduce loading times and perform repetitive tasks more quickly. The problem occurs when this data gets old or corrupted. Thankfully, getting rid of this cache data on your Android is easy. Here’s what you need to do.

Step 1: Long -press on the Instagram app icon and tap the info icon from the menu that appears.

Step 2: Go to Storage and tap the Clear cache option at the bottom.

7. Update the Instagram App

An outdated Instagram app on your phone might give you trouble. Hence, it’s critical to update your apps on a regular basis. Head over to App Store or Play Store and update the Instagram app.

Instagram for Android

Instagram for iPhone

Alternatively, you can uninstall and reinstall the Instagram app on your phone. This will remove faulty app data from your phone and give it a fresh start.

Normal Is Boring

With Instagram filters and effects, you can easily transform a mundane photo or video into a work of art. You can always use a design tool like Canva to create stunning Instagram posts on the go.