3 Ways to Fix Instagram Filters and Effects Not Working

Quick Tips

• Adding filters and effects to your Instagram posts is a great way to make your photos and videos stand out.
• Ensure your internet connection is stable and try restarting the Instagram app to see if that resolves the issue.
• If you have trouble finding or using a particular Instagram effect, try accessing that effect directly from someone else’s story or reel.

Try These Basic Fixes

• Use a VPN connection: If your region’s privacy laws prohibit using 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.
• Update the Instagram app: An outdated Instagram app on your phone might give you trouble. Hence, it’s critical to update your apps regularly. Head over to the App Store or Play Store and update the Instagram app.

Note: In certain regions, Instagram requires permission to place effects, filters, and masks on your face and hands. If this applies to your region, you must enable the “Face and Hand Effects” permission from Instagram’s privacy settings.

Fix 1: 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.

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

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

On 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.

Fix 2: Get Instagram Filters From Friends

If you have trouble finding a particular Instagram effect, 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 the effect name at the top and select Try it from the menu.

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

Fix 3: 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 Instagram cache data is easy. Here’s what you need to do.

Step 1: Long-press on the Instagram app icon and tap the info icon.

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