When using a scheduling tool like Buffer, there will likely be instances where a post fails to publish. Error messages pop into your account when the social network spots something off with that post or there's an issue with the authorization that Buffer has to post on your behalf.
So, let’s take action! Search the “Error” column below for the Instagram error you're seeing and then troubleshoot with the advice in the “Solutions” column on the right.
| Error | Reason for error message | Solution |
| "It looks like Buffer has lost the authorization to post to this account. Please reauthorize and try again. If the issue persists, please get in touch! Here are the steps to refresh your connection." | This error message indicates not all permissions were accepted when this Instagram channel was added. |
We recommend viewing our guide on Reauthorizing the connection between Buffer and Facebook or Instagram to see instructions on how to reauthorize. Please ensure that all profiles/pages and permissions are selected in Facebook > Edit settings view. Once this is done, retry your post. |
| "Uh oh! The video you attached is in a format Instagram does not support. Please ensure the video is a .MP4 or .mov format and the bitrate is under 5 MBps. Re-upload the video and try again." | This error pops up when the video size or format is unsupported by Instagram or exceeds Instagram’s video limitations. | Ultimately we recommend following Instagram’s video guidelines here. Edit the video and re-upload to Buffer. If the video fits Instagram’s video requirements, try changing the thumbnail of the video to the default thumbnail. |
| "Uh oh! It doesn’t look like this is correctly set up as a business account. Please ensure your account is configured correctly with direct scheduling by checking out our guide." | This publishing error can happen when you switch your Instagram Business Account to an Instagram Creator Account, which is not currently supported in Instagram's API. | We recommend Converting your Instagram account to a business account. |
| "Whoops! It looks like your account may be temporarily restricted. Please login directly to the Instagram app, add your birthdate to Instagram. Head back to Buffer and Refresh your channel." | This account has been restricted by Instagram. This usually happens when the account violates Instagram's Community Guidelines or Terms of Use. | Log in to this account in the Instagram app and follow on-screen instructions to re-enable your account. |
| "Oops! We ran into issues publishing your post. Please edit the post, alter the text in the caption, re-name the video file, and create a brand new post." | This error is returned when Instagram’s anti-spam mechanism has been triggered. Instagram intentionally does not share the details to prevent someone trying to circumvent their system. |
Our recommendation is to amend the post - alter the copy/text, change the picture (if attached), etc., and try to publish again. Tips:
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| "It looks like Buffer has lost authorization to post on your behalf. No need to worry, though! Here are the steps to re-authorize Buffer." | This error message indicates we no longer have a valid access token for this channel. |
We recommend viewing our guide on Reauthorizing the connection between Buffer and Facebook or Instagram to see instructions on how to reauthorize. Please ensure that all profiles/pages and permissions are selected in Facebook > Edit settings view. Once this is done, retry your post. |
| "Oops! Instagram is restricting this post from being published. Please edit the post content and try again." | This error message indicates Instagram considers the content to be spam. Their servers are saying: "The publishing action is suspected to be spam. We restrict certain activity to protect our community. Let us know if you can determine that the publishing actions is not spam." | We recommend to reach out to Instagram directly to resolve the issue. |
| "Oops, we couldn't share this image to Instagram because you tagged an account that is either private or does not exist. Would you be up for checking the tagged usernames to make sure they are all publicly accessible?" | This error message indicates you've tried to tag a username and it’s invalid. | We recommend checking your post and its tagged user(s), as there might be a typo or another mistake. |
| "So sorry this post hit an Instagram API bug that is being investigated. Retrying this post might sometimes do the trick." | The media is not ready for publishing. | Please wait for a moment and try again. |
| "The daily posting limit for this channel has been reached! Please try reducing the amount of times per day in your schedule and try again later." | Instagram allows accounts to publish a maximum of 25 posts within a 24-hour period (see: Instagram Content Limitations). | Please wait before publishing additional posts. |
| "Oops! The size of the attached media is a bit too large, or it is too long if it's a video. Please remove the attached media, upload a smaller-sized one, then retry." | The image exceeded Instagram’s maximum file size of 8MB. | We recommend resizing the image, re-uploading to Buffer, and trying to publish again. |
| "Oh no! We're hitting an issue with our permission to post on your behalf. Please walk through the steps to reauthorize the Buffer app in Facebook, Grant Full Permission for All Pages, then retry this post." | This error message indicates not all permissions were accepted when this Instagram channel was added. |
We recommend viewing our guide on Reauthorizing the connection between Buffer and Facebook or Instagram to see instructions on how to reauthorize. Please ensure that all profiles/pages and permissions are selected in Facebook > Edit settings view. Head back to Buffer.com, then head to Manage Channels > Refresh your channel. Once this is done, retry your post. |
| "Yoiks! Buffer doesn't have permission to post on your behalf. Please try reauthorizing this account by clicking "refresh" under settings." | This error message indicates not all permissions were accepted when this Instagram channel was added. |
We recommend viewing our guide on Reauthorizing the connection between Buffer and Facebook or Instagram to see instructions on how to reauthorize. Please ensure that all profiles/pages and permissions are selected in Facebook > Edit settings view. Once this is done, retry your post. |
📝 Seeing a different error on your post? Feel free to get in touch and let us know the error message you see--we'll be happy to help!