How to Get Around an Instagram Ban (2024)

Instagram is nearly all about perfectly curated feeds and travel pics. The platform is fun and makes reaching out easy. And Instagram is also where the celebrities are too.

It can be pretty upsetting when you suddenly find yourself with an Instagram IP ban. One moment you happily scroll through photos and videos, and the next, you’re locked out.

The ban can hurt and may even be unjust. So, is there any way to get around it? Let’s take a closer look at all your available options to get around an Instagram ban.

Why Did You Get Banned?

Instagram curates everyone’s posts, accounts, and comments in an attempt to better control the user experience. You may be familiar with bans for hate speech and bullying. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Meta aims to protect users from other harmful aspects of social media use like scams and predators.

So, you may wonder how this led to your account ending up in Instagram’s virtual trash bin.

Here is a list of activities that can get you banned on Instagram:

• The platform looks at all the positive and negative trust score factors. In the positive action camp, there is the length of time you’ve held your account. Newer accounts are more likely to get banned if they perform certain actions.
• Getting engagements (likes, follows, etc.) can get your account in hot water if there are too many in a short time. Instagram may suspect spamming activity if you like too many posts, follow too many accounts, or pay for followers.
• Spam commenting on others’ posts is another risky behavior. While some users and influencers like to comment on random posts to boost their own accounts, doing it too much can get you banned.
• Multiple devices are another red flag. Perhaps you have a tablet, smartphone, and a computer (pretty typical); if you use all three to like, comment, and post in a short time, you may get banned. This behavior can indicate a spam account, so be careful.
• You’ve received prior warnings about a particular behavior and have failed to comply with Instagram’s demands. Instagram gives users who violate its Community Guidelines a warning before banning the account.
• Using third-party software and bots is another action that will result in an account ban. Instagram’s developers have designed the platform just how they want it and aren’t very happy when others attempt to manipulate it.
• The nature of the account’s IP address is also important. According to Instagram, mobile IPs are the most trustworthy, followed by residential IPs. Finally, public and proxy IPs are the last on the list.

To get a clear idea of why someone may get an IP ban, negative trust scores need to be considered as well.

How to Bypass the Instagram IP Ban Using a VPN

When Instagram takes action against an account, the company will ban the user from accessing the platform. The way to do this is not only to close the account but to prevent future use too. This means that Instagram will ban the device related to the account.

To bypass this ban, you could get a new phone, use a proxy, or change your IP Address with a VPN. While the option to get a new device is self-explanatory, it may not be the most suitable solution. That leaves us with a Proxy server or VPN.

One of the more cost-effective solutions is to use a proxy, but they’re not very secure, and there’s a chance they won’t work.

On the other hand, using a reliable VPN service might do the trick. A VPN hides your IP, creating another reliable option.

There are numerous VPN services out there, and the fact is that not all of them can beat Instagram. Keep in mind that Meta owns Instagram and Facebook, meaning they have sophisticated ways to see when users are trying to hide their IP addresses.

The good news is that some VPN services have comprehensive protocols too. For example, ExpressVPN is often the go-to for Instagram users struggling with an IP ban. They publish apps for Android, iPhone, Mac, Windows, and extensions for Chrome.

To use a VPN to bypass an Instagram ban, do this:

1. Activate the VPN on the restricted device. We’re using ExpressVPN for our example.
   
2. If you’re using a mobile device, download the VPN app. Then, select a location.
   
3. Click the power icon to initiate the VPN.
   

Now, open Instagram and create your new account as you normally would.

Do keep in mind that ExpressVPN does not offer a residential IP Address meaning this solution may not work forever. Meta may detect the data center IP or the ever-changing address and therefore ban your new account.

You Might Just Try Waiting

One of the crucial aspects of the Instagram IP ban is that it’s typically temporary. If going through signing up for a VPN seems complicated or too expensive, you can simply wait out the ban.

After some time, your Internet Service Provider (ISP) will change your IP address. You might not know when exactly that will happen, but all ISPs change it after some time.

If you want to circumvent the process, try switching to using your mobile data connection for a while. Mobile network operators are often much faster in reassigning the IPs to their users.

But waiting for the Instagram ban to be lifted is often the best course of action as it means you’ve thoroughly followed Instagram rules.

Additional FAQs

Here are more answers to help you get back to scrolling Instagram.

How Long Do Instagram Bans Last?

Typically, you’ll be slapped with a 24-48 hour Instagram ban. However, all your subsequent actions come into consideration, and the ban can easily be extended.

A couple of days may not be much, but anything longer than that might prompt users to seek alternative solutions to getting back on the platform.

What if the Instagram Ban Was a Mistake?

An Instagram IP ban is always going to sting, and it sometimes can feel completely unfair. What if all you did was like a few more pictures than you normally do and shower your friends with a slew of loving comments?

Thankfully, if you think the ban was a mistake, you can make your case to Instagram. An Instagram window will pop up on your screen when you receive the ban to inform you that you are “temporarily blocked.”

You’ll see a message indicating you’ve been misusing some feature. However, the message may also state that you can let them know if you believe this was a mistake.

Therefore, you can opt for one of two actions: “Tell Us” or “Ignore.” If you choose “Tell Us,” you can explain why you think the ban was unjust, and Instagram will consider it.

What Is an Instagram Shadowban?

If you’re trying to grow your Instagram account, you might have heard of the infamous “Instagram shadowban.” It’s what many Instagram creators fear, and it’s indeed a real occurrence.

Basically, this type of ban represents Instagram’s efforts to restrict specific types of content and accounts without letting the users know.

If Instagram finds specific content unacceptable for some reason, it simply won’t show up on anyone’s feed or discover page, even though you can see it on your grid.

This enforcement has been criticized for a while, but keep in mind that Instagram hasn’t openly admitted they do this on purpose. But there is plenty of anecdotal evidence.

Can Instagram Permanently Disable Your Account?

The short answer is yes – Instagram can and will disable or deactivate your account under specific circ*mstances. So, how do you know your account has been disabled?

A message will pop up when you try to log in. Your Instagram account can be deactivated due to copyright infringement, for example.

You might have unknowingly shared content you weren’t legally allowed to. Or the content you shared featured illegal activities, violence, or sexual content, which are all grounds for the deactivation. Finally, if someone reports your account, Instagram may disable it temporarily to review your activity.

Keep in mind that these types of bans are not the same as your Instagram IP being banned. The causes are different, and the results are too.

Never Lose Your Instagram Space

Instagram is a huge platform, and there are strict guidelines users are expected to follow. On the one hand, the rules are not always clear, and sometimes the user can be a victim of an unfair ban. On the other hand, those who rely heavily on third-party applications to grow their accounts might be committing an explicitly banned offense.

Not all is lost, though. If you’re patient, the ban will go away in a matter of days, and you can try a different strategy to grow your account. However, if time is an important factor, a reliable alternative VPN service may be the go-to solution to getting back on the platform.

The bottom line is that the Instagram ban is a major inconvenience, especially for people who take their online presence seriously. But it’s not an insurmountable problem.

Have you ever been banned by Instagram? Let us know in the comments section below.