Why are Instagram stories and posts not uploading? Users report widespread issues

Instagram users across the United States reported being unable to upload posts and stories on Tuesday.

Updated on: Nov 19, 2025, 08:45:22 IST

By Vaishnavi Vaidyanathan

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Instagram users across the United States reported being unable to upload posts and stories on Tuesday, sparking speculation of a platform-wide outage.

DownDetector reports

According to DownDetector, reports began around 9:45 p.m. EDT, with most users experiencing issues uploading stories. Some even said they were unable to upload reels.

One user reported, "Problems over here in Minnesota, photo stuck on uploading on stories."

Another added, "Story uploading freezes at 86%."

A third person commented, "Can't post to my stories."

Also Read: Cloudflare down highlights: Issue resolved, firm admits it ‘failed’ customers after big outage

Social media reports

Many users also took to X (formerly Twitter) to report the issues they were encountering.

One user expressed, "Have been trying to upload an insta story for the past hour why does Instagram hate me."

Another reported, "I've been able to post a picture in story, but every videos I tried uploading say 'waiting for connection.'"

A third person reported, "Is Instagram reels down? Unable to post any video."

Also Read: Is Twitter down? Cloudfare outage hits social media platform

Meta Platforms has not yet responded to the reports.

Cloudflare outage

This reported outage comes just hours after platforms including Gemini, Uber, Canva, ChatGP T, and X experienced disruptions on Tuesday, following a major Cloudflare outage.

Cloudflare Chief Technology Officer Dane Knecht apologized for the incident in a post on X, acknowledging the significant impact.

"That issue, impact it caused and time to resolution is unacceptable,” he wrote. “Work is already underway to make sure it does not happen again, but I know it caused real pain today. The trust our customers place in us is what we value the most and we are going to do what it takes to earn that back.”

Cloudflare's software, used by hundreds of thousands of companies worldwide, acts as a protective buffer between websites and end users, helping to shield sites from attacks and traffic overloads.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Vaishnavi Vaidyanathan
Vaishnavi Vaidyanathan leads the US Desk at Hindustan Times, where she writes, strategises coverage, and ensures quality across all beats. With eight years of experience covering US news for leading publications, she has reported extensively on politics, entertainment, and sports. Vaishnavi holds a graduate degree in English, Journalism, and Psychology, and completed her PG Diploma in Broadcast Journalism from the Manorama School of Communication, where she was awarded the prestigious Mammen Mappillai Award for Best Outgoing Student. She began her career at the International Business Times (US Edition), covering US breaking news, politics, and entertainment. She later joined Opoyi, reporting across all beats, including US sports and trending stories. Prior to Hindustan Times, she served as World Lead at Times Now News, covering comprehensive world news and events. Vaishnavi has expertise in politics, entertainment, and breaking news, and enjoys tackling stories across a wide range of topics. Beyond the newsroom, she is an avid traveller, a foodie who loves exploring new restaurants, and a pop culture enthusiast who enjoys watching latest shows and films. She also enjoys engaging in debates and discussions on Reddit.Read More

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