Why Does Instagram Showing Wrong Number of Unread DMs?

Instagram boasts more than one billion monthly active users. Since its launch in 2010, Instagram has revolutionized how people socialize online and has become a hub for photographers, influencers, and businesses. However, Instagram is not immune to glitches, bugs, and data leaks. These issues have plagued the platform several times over the years, causing frustration and raising concerns about user privacy and security.

One example of Instagram tech glitches was when a bug caused users’ stories to be exposed to non-followers in 2019, potentially compromising their privacy and security. Instagram quickly fixed the bug, but the incident exposed the platform’s vulnerability to technical issues.

Another example is the infamous “shadowban.” The shadowban is a phenomenon where a user’s posts are hidden from the platform’s wider audience without notifying the user. Instagram didn’t publicly acknowledge its existence, but many have reported experiencing it.

Although the cause behind the glitch is not fully understood, some experts believe it results from Instagram’s algorithm punishing users for violating community guidelines or using certain hashtags.

Despite these challenges, Instagram remains a force to be reckoned with. The company has implemented measures to improve security and protect user data, such as two-factor authentication and data encryption. It has also launched initiatives to combat hate speech, misinformation, and other harmful content on the platform.

So, it appears as if a few mistakes, not a man (or, in this case, a platform), make. After all, the employees at Instagram are also humans, and it’s not fair to expect 100% from them all day, every day, won’t you agree?

Today’s blog will discuss why Instagram shows the wrong number of unread DMs in your account.

Why is Instagram Showing Wrong Number of Unread DMs?

We all love using Instagram, so it’s particularly annoying when something on the app isn’t working right. If Instagram is showing you the wrong number of unread DMs, there could be several reasons why this is happening.

You could have encountered a bug or glitch causing this difficulty. Or maybe you haven’t checked all your inboxes yet, including your message requests. It’s also possible that you’ve logged into multiple accounts but haven’t viewed a message from all of them.

Don’t worry; we’ve brought you the most probable reasons behind this issue, and each issue comes with a fix, too!

1. You’re facing a glitch or a bug.

Instagram is a complex platform with millions of users; it’s not uncommon to experience glitches and bugs. Sometimes, these glitches can cause the app to not load some pages or show you the wrong data, such as the wrong number of unread DMs. It is important to remember this is usually a temporary issue that resolves itself after a few hours or days.

If you are experiencing this, you should check if an update is available. Instagram rolls out regular updates to fix bugs and improve the app’s performance. If there is indeed an update waiting for you, install it and check that it fixes the issue.

If the problem persists, log out of your account and log back in. This’ll refresh your account and might just end up resolving the issue. If neither of these solutions works, deleting the app and then reinstalling it is also a known hack to fix technical issues.

2. You’re logged into multiple accounts.

Many Instagram users have multiple accounts on the platform. If multiple accounts are logged in on your device, the wrong number of unread DMs might be shown because you accidentally checked the wrong account. This happens when you receive a notification for a DM on one account but then open another account to check it.

To avoid this, ensure you’re logged in to the correct account. Turning off notifications for accounts you don’t want to receive notifications is also a valid option.

3. Unread message requests

Instagram allows users to receive DMs from people they don’t follow; these go into a separate inbox called Message Requests. If you have unread message requests, Instagram might show the number of unread messages in that inbox.

To fix this issue, open the Message Requests inbox and read all the messages. This should refresh the inbox and correct any issues. If you have done that, but the issue hasn’t yet been fixed, try accepting or declining a few message requests.

4. Unread messages on Instagram Web

If you use Instagram Web, a wrong number of unread DMs might be shown because you have seen the message on your smartphone but not on Instagram Web. This is because the latter doesn’t sync read messages with the mobile app.

To fix this, read all your messages on the mobile app before checking Instagram Web. You can also refresh the page or clear your browser’s cache; it might help.

5. Third-party apps, tools, or extensions

Instagram doesn’t allow third-party apps to access DMs. However, some third-party apps might claim to provide access to Instagram DMs. If you have used a third-party app to do so, this app might be the root of this issue.

To avoid this, only use Instagram’s official app or website for any reason. If you’ve been there and done that, revoke its access to your Instagram account to ensure your account’s safety.

If you have tried all these solutions and are still facing the issue, contact Instagram’s support team for further assistance. They’ll help you resolve the issue and ensure that you can use Instagram without any problems.

Remember always to keep your Instagram app updated and use only the official app or website to ensure the security of your account. Happy Instagramming!

In the end

As our blog has ended, let us quickly wrap up all that has been discussed.

Instagram is very famous among the younger generation and has quite an impressive track record. However, just like everything else, it has its faults.

While it can be frustrating, there’s a 50-50 chance that a wrong number of unread DMs could be your fault or a technical glitch. So, how do you know which it is and fix it, preferably without help? Well, that’s exactly what we’ve discussed!

We’ve covered everything from third-party tools to unread group messages/message requests and glitches. If our blog has helped you, we’d love to hear the full story in the comments below!

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Why Does Instagram Showing Wrong Number of Unread DMs?