Instagram is an exceptional platform with billions of followers. It’s a fun way to connect with friends and family and be updated about their lives. But there’s one thing that can mess up the entire experience on Instagram. What is it?
It’s when you’re following your favorite celebrity or liking your friend’s vacation pictures but receive an error: “We restrict certain activities to protect our community.”
Quick answer: make sure Instagram is not down, log out and log back in, reset password, restart app, don’t use VPN, and clear Instagram cache. If none of these help, keep reading to find more solutions.
Why are you getting this error? Did you do something wrong? How can you resolve it?
Don’t worry. In this article, we’ll cover all the aspects and share amazing tricks so you can use Instagram like you always do without getting any annoying error pop-ups. Ready to fix this Instagram error?
There are many solutions such as filing your complete profile information, changing your password, restarting the app etc. Keep reading to know more effective methods.
Table of Contents
15 Ways to Fix the “We Restrict Certain Activity” Instagram Error
Growth of many Instagram users’ has been stuck because of this error. Here are 15 ways to fix the “we restrict certain activity” error.
1. Reset Your Password From Device You Haven’t Logged In From
You might wonder what password? And that too from another device? Is that beneficial?
Yes, it’s extremely helpful, and many users have resolved the error with this method. The process is simple. Here are some steps you should take.
- Open the Instagram app or the website to find the login screen.
- Select the “Forgot Password?” or “Trouble Logging In?” option.
- Enter your Instagram username or the email address linked to your account. Proceed to the next step. Choose how you want to receive the security code for verification: via email or SMS.
- Retrieve the security code from your chosen method (email or SMS) and enter it in the provided space.
- After successful verification, you’ll be prompted to create a new password. Enter a secure password and confirm it.
- Return to the login screen and log in using your newly set password.
If you reset your Instagram password, you tell Instagram you’re not a bot.
2. Show Instagram You’re Not A Bot
Instagram might suspect that you’re a bot. In this case, you should clear their suspicions. You can try the first method mentioned in the list or these methods.
- Verify your Instagram email address and phone number.
- Connect your other social media account, i.e., Facebook with Instagram.
- Enable two-factor authentication for an additional layer of security.
3. Fill Your Instagram Profile Sections
If you’ve just made a new Instagram account and are now facing this problem, you should focus on appearing authentic. How can you do that?
It’s done by adding complete account information.
There are two Instagram accounts.
Account A: only ten followers and no profile picture or bio.
Account B: 1000 followers with compelling profile picture and bio.
Which one seems more authentic?
Obviously Account B. So that’s what you should aim to achieve.
- Open the Instagram app and go to your profile.
- Now click on the Edit Profile button.
- Now, add all the necessary details and information. Save changes, and you’re done.
4. Remove Excessive Links From Bio
What? Remove links from bio?
But they are necessary. I can’t remove them. .
It’s necessary to remove links that are not relevant and violate Instagram’s guidelines. So, you should reassess all the links in your bio and remove irrelevant ones.
- Log in to your Instagram app and click the Profile icon at the bottom.
- Now click on the Edit Profile button.
- Click on the Links and analyze their nature. Remove those links that violate Instagram’s policies.
5. Search If Instagram Is Down
Most often, Instagram shows this error when it’s down. It means when Instagram faces downtime, then you’ll face this issue.
In this case, you can only wait until Instagram fixes the issue.
But how do you know if Instagram is down?
The most effective way is to check the status of Instagram on Down Detector.
6. Stop Aggressively Engaging On Instagram
Sometimes, Instagram notices that a person is aggressively engaging on Instagram, and then they become suspicious. It includes sending many Instagram messages with harmful links in a short period.
Why shouldn’t you do that?
Instagram considers it as spam activity, so you should reduce it.
7.Restart The App
If you’re still getting the error message, then restart the app. Here’s how you can do it.
- Swipe up from the bottom of the screen (on iPhones) or tap the square or recent apps button (on Android) to access the app switcher.
- Find Instagram and swipe it away or close it.
- Tap on the Instagram icon to reopen the app.
8. Try Sign-in and Sign Out From Your Account
You should try to sign in and sign out from your account because it’ll help you understand the problem and even remove it.
First, you should log out from your Instagram account. For this, follow these steps.
- Go to your profile.
- Tap the three horizontal lines (menu icon) at the top right.
- Scroll down and tap on Settings.
- Scroll down and tap on Log Out or Sign Out.
- Confirm your decision if prompted.
Now log in following this step-by-step process.
- Open the Instagram app.
- Enter your Instagram username and password.
- Tap on login.
9. Remove All Third-party Apps
Try removing all third-party apps from Instagram to ensure that your activity is not restricted because of that.
- Launch the Instagram app on your mobile device. Tap on your profile picture or the profile icon at the bottom right to go to your profile.
- On your profile, tap on the three horizontal lines (menu icon) at the top right and select Settings.
- Under Settings, tap on Security.
- Select Apps and Websites.
- Here, you’ll see two tabs: Active and Expired. Active shows the apps with current access, and Expired shows those with expired access.
- Review the list under Active. Tap on any app you want to remove and then tap “Remove Access” or a similar option.
10. Don’t Use Banned Hashtags
Many hashtags can ban you from Instagram. Avoid using these in your posts, reels, and comments.
You can simply add a hashtag in Meta Hashtags and check if it’s banned on Instagram.
11.Don’t Use VPN
Using a different IP address VPN also comes under suspicious activity. Instagram can restrict you and sed the error “We Restrict Certain Activity to Protect Our Community.”
So avoid using any VPN app while scrolling Instagram.
12. Clear Instagram Cache
You might already know that every application stores data offline, known as a cache. But why does it do that?
To save time, instead of downloading from the internet again. So, your app launches without any buffering.
However, the accumulation of cache can cause bugs. That’s why you should delete the Instagram cache. Here’s how you can clear the cache.
- Go to your device’s Settings.
- Find and select Apps or Application Manager.
- Scroll down to find and tap on Instagram from the list of installed apps.
- Inside the Instagram app info, look for the Storage option.
- Tap on Clear Cache to delete the temporary files associated with the app.
13. Update The Instagram App
If you only see the “We Restrict Certain Activity to Protect Our Community” error, then it’s because you violated a rule. However, if many people face the same error, it’s probably because of a widespread bug.
In this case, you should go to the Play Store or App Store and update your app.
14. Stop All Automated Activity
If you’re involved in suspicious or mass following activities, then stop that instantly. Most people make this mistake by purchasing Instagram followers from third-party sources.
But here’s what you need to know.
Purchase followers only from credible sources. Fake and bot followers harm your account, so only buy followers from credible sources. At Buzzvoice, we ensure you get high-quality, real and authentic followers.
15. Report the Issue to Instagram
If nothing seems to work, you should contact Instagram for assistance. Reporting the “We restrict certain activity to protect our community” error and solve this problem.
Here’s How To Report The “We Restrict Certain Activity to Protect Our Community” Error to Instagram:
- Launch the Instagram app on your mobile device. Navigate to your profile by tapping your profile picture at the bottom right.
- Look for the Settings option on your profile page. It is usually located at the top right. Scroll down and select Help or Help Center from the menu.
- Browse the available support resources, FAQs, or articles to find information about account restrictions or specific error messages.
- If you can’t find a solution, look for an option to contact Instagram support. It may be available within the Help Center or under Settings.
- Use the provided form or contact method to explain the issue. Include details about the error, your actions, and any relevant account information.
- Follow the instructions to submit your report or contact Instagram support.
Don’t send too many reports in one day. Wait for at least 2 to 3 days to get an effective response.
What Is The Meaning Of “We Restrict Certain Activity” Instagram Error?
If you think you’re unlucky because you received this error, you’ll be surprised to know that around 20% of Instagram users come across this error.
But what’s the meaning of this error?
The error “We restrict certain activity” on Instagram tells us that Instagram has detected certain behaviors (harmful, suspicious, inappropriate) from the account. They don’t want the user to keep doing that, so they restrict the activity to minimize the issue.
It serves as a warning to users about their activities on the platform.
Its purpose is to create a safer and more peaceful experience for all Instagram users.
I Received the ‘We Restrict Certain Activity’ on Instagram: How Long Does it Take?
There is no permanent time regarding how long it might take to remove this error. Remember, it depends on the violation severity and the activity frequency that triggered the error.
Usually, Instagram imposes errors or restrictions for 24 to 48 hours. However, in some cases, the time duration can be longer.
In the meantime, you’ll be unable to perform certain actions.
You can perform certain activities, such as viewing content, messaging others, and publishing new content on the platform. After the restriction is lifted, you can resume restricted actions.
Why Does “We Restrict Certain Activity to Protect Our Community” Error Occur
If you participate in spammy or abusive behavior on Instagram, then that can be a huge red flag for Instagram.
But it’s not limited to that alone. Here are some of the primary reasons this error might appear.
You’re Violating Instagram Community Guidelines
Instagram has a different set of community guidelines. Everyone must follow these rules and regulations to ensure a safe environment.
Let’s suppose you violate one of the Instagram community rules. You aggressively liked Instagram posts or used abusive language with someone on Instagram.
Then what will happen?
Then Instagram will give you the first warning through this error.
Your Instagram Activities Are Suspicious
Instagram has smart, automated systems that can detect harmful and suspicious activities. It majorly includes using third-party apps or plugins. Instagram doesn’t support such activities, so it’ll restrict you from performing some activities.
There Are Technical Issues
It’s not always that you’re at fault. Sometimes, the Instagram app doesn’t work, and that’s why you might see this error. If that’s the case, rest your worries because it’s temporary.
Once Instagram identifies this issue, they will immediately resolve it. Usually, Instagram automatically removes this error, or you can contact their support team.
Remember that it’s crucial to first identify the underlying problem here.
Technical issue from Instagram?
Is it a violation of community rules?
Or maybe the issue is something else?
After identifying it, solving the problem will be much easier.
How Can I Prevent The “We Restrict Certain Activity To Protect Our Community” Error In The Future?
The most important thing you must do is avoid any automated activity on your Instagram profile. Don’t install and connect third-party tools or apps with your Instagram account. If third-party app integration is necessary, ensure it’s trustworthy and credible. Don’t follow too many people. In a nutshell, avoid spamming to ensure this error doesn’t appear again.
What Should I Do If I’ve Already Reported The “We Restrict Certain Activity To Protect Our Community” Error, But It’s Not Resolved?
If you’ve reported this error to Instagram support, yet all your emails and queries are left unanswered, you should try the strategies mentioned in the list.
However, if even that doesn’t seem to work, you can wait for the next app update. Because with new updates, glitches in apps are resolved.
Final Words
If you receive this error, you’re temporarily blocked from doing certain activities from your account. It can be due to various reasons; either you violated some guidelines or a technical issue. It could put your Instagram account at huge risk.
To fix this problem, you must find the cause of the restriction. Once you figure it out, resolve the issue and wait for Instagram to lift the restriction.
Moreover, ensure you don’t make similar mistakes; otherwise, it can lead to a permanent ban on Instagram and account deletion.
Remember that Instagram wants to provide the best experience to Instagram users. That’s why it restricts suspicious, harmful, and inappropriate behavior. If you comply with their guidelines, these errors can be easily avoided.