My Instagram account got shadowbanned. How do I fix it?
My Instagram account went from getting 500-1000 likes per post to suddenly getting like 20-30 likes. My reach dropped by 90%. I didn't get any notification from Instagram. I stopped posting for a week but it didn't help. I think I'm shadowbanned. How do I get out of this?
1 Answer(s)
First, let's confirm it's actually a shadowban: Go to your most recent post, tap the three dots, and select "Turn on notification for this post." If Instagram won't let you turn on notifications, you're definitely shadowbanned.
How to fix it (this actually works):
1. Stop posting for 48-72 hours. Seriously, don't post, don't story, don't engage. Let the algorithm reset.
2. Remove any recently used banned hashtags. Go to your recent posts and remove hashtags that look spammy or overused. Use 5-10 niche-specific hashtags max.
3. Check for blocked accounts. Go to Settings > Privacy > Blocked accounts. If you accidentally blocked people or they blocked you, it can affect your reach.
4. Disconnect third-party apps. Go to Settings > Apps and Websites. Remove any apps you don't use. Instagram hates these.
5. Post original content only. No reposts, no watermarks from TikTok, no memes from other pages.
6. After 48 hours, post a high-quality Reel and engage heavily for 30 minutes. This signals to Instagram that you're an active, legitimate user.
Most shadowbans lift within 1-2 weeks if you follow this.