Instagram Hashtags Not Working: Error & Solution [+57 Banned Hashtags)

Instagram Hashtags Not Working: Error & Solution [+57 Banned Hashtags)

Instagram is one of the most effective platforms that utilize hashtags and allows its users to embed them in their posts. You can use hashtags to promote your business, brand, or personal means. However, sometimes we see that Instagram hashtags are not working properly as it should, and it’s quite normal that users who try to establish a foundation on the platform get affected by it a lot. Let me explain in detail.

A hashtag is among the most trendy symbols on Instagram and all social media networks. You can use hashtags on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Pinterest, and even on some less-known platforms.

Why My Instagram Hashtags Are Not Working?

If you see that Instagram hashtags are not working, keep in mind that this problem is quite easy to solve as the solution depends entirely on your platform usage.

If you receive an error message or suspect that you’re a victim of hashtag problems, it may be caused by the following reasons:

  • You have used a shadowbanned hashtag.
  • You have exceeded the limit of hashtag usage.
  • The content you posted and the hashtag you embedded are not relevant.

As you can see, all these reasons are caused by the user, and Instagram’s policies or updates are not related to them in any possible way.

Please don’t waste your time trying to alter the app settings as there are no technical problems caused by the Instagram application that breaks the functionality of hashtags.

Especially with great the turning in the increase in hashtags in recent years, social media users had the opportunity to reach a wider and more relevant audience through niche-specific hashtags.

However, Instagram hashtags not working error is inherently hard to recognize; and, it’s not that easy to understand why the problem even occurred, and your hashtags stopped working in the first place. User-related mistakes typically cause this problem. Especially, it may be due to improper or illegal hashtag use.

How to Use Hashtags on Instagram?

Hashtags serve great purposes and are great for both yourself and brand accounts if you manage to utilize them smartly.

There are some guidelines on the internet; we also created a complete guide for the use of hashtags on Instagram.

If you are curious about the answer to how to use a hashtag on Instagram, you should pay attention to some of the following criteria.

  • You should not use shadowbanned hashtags as they’ll cause a drop in your engagement; we listed those hashtags at the end of this article.
  • You should not abuse the number of hashtags on your post, don’t overkill. According to the analysis of TrackMaven, the optimal number for hashtags seem to around 9 of them.
  • Avoid spammy hashtags! If you use hashtags that are irrelevant to the content you post, you’ll be branded as spam, which will damage your account.

Pros of Instagram Hashtags

First of all, we should identify why people use hashtags in the first place. It’s almost like those old forums where you exchange ideas and arguments to benefit on both ends.

If someone searches for #foodpics, they’ll find what they are looking for. This is especially important if you also consider that Instagram is not just a visual-hosting platform but also a search engine.

Also, when you post an image with the hashtag #foodpics, it’s guaranteed that it’ll benefit you if the content you posted is relevant; in that case, a bowl of ramens.

Besides, you can even get featured on that particular hashtag and double your visibility in almost no time.

There are many pros of Instagram hashtags like this, but there are also some indirect factors.

  • It allows the content you shared to reach thousands or millions of people at the same time.
  • It increases the interaction on your content and allows more people to see it. So it gets more Instagram likes, comments, and such.
  • When hashtags are used in the right place and time, it provides spectacular feedback and leads from an audience interested in the subject.
  • Instagram hashtags are a tool that allows you to do free advertising while not appearing like you’re doing any promotion.

However, if you use them incorrectly, this problem may have very dangerous consequences for your account.

What Is the Shadowban?

You are a victim of shadowban when the hashtags inserted under your photos don’t work. It’s called a shadowban because it is not a real ban. In fact, the photos remain visible on your profile, and your friends can see and comment on them, but they’re not displayed under the hashtags. Your profile is, therefore, not “banned” nor subject to a limitation of normal functions.

It’s all normal except… hashtags don’t work! It is, therefore, a bit complicated to realize that you have stumbled upon the shadowban.

Solutions of Instagram Hashtags Problems

Instagram hashtags not working solution is pretty easy, and it won’t take much of your time.

If you have not made any user errors mentioned above, you have already fixed the problem automatically.

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So you don’t even need to do anything extra for this. Only use the hashtags by the rules.

Thus, you will have no problem with the use of hashtags. The problems with using hashtags are not related to the settings of the Instagram application.

Therefore, do not make changes in any of your settings.

  • Another solution is that you don’t always use the same hashtags. Sometimes, Instagram may recognize it as spam and won’t allow you to use it anymore.
  • If you’re having a hashtag problem on Instagram, you can try deleting the image or video you just added and try posting it again by trying different hashtags.

List of Banned Instagram Hashtags

We listed the prohibited hashtags on Instagram right below; so, you can avoid using them and experiment if that solves your hashtag problems.

Usually, using shadowbanned Instagram hashtags will result in a drop in engagement on your post. Therefore, if you are not sure about what you are doing, it is best to sway to safer alternatives.

  • #alone
  • #assday
  • #beautyblogger, but #beautybloggers works.
  • #bikinibody
  • #boho
  • #brain
  • #costumes
  • #curvygirls
  • #date
  • #dating
  • #desk
  • #dm
  • #easter
  • #elevator
  • #fishnets
  • #fitnessgirls
  • #graffitiigers
  • #hardworkpaysoff, but #hardworkpaysoff? works.
  • #happythanksgiving
  • #humpday
  • #iphonegraphy
  • #italiano
  • #kansas, but #kansascity works
  • #killingit
  • #kissing
  • #master
  • #models
  • #mustfollow
  • #nasty
  • #newyears
  • #newyearsday
  • #petite
  • #pornfood
  • #pushups
  • #puppydogmondays
  • #saltwater
  • #shit
  • #shower
  • #single
  • #singlelife
  • #skype
  • #snap
  • #snapchat, but #snapchat? works.
  • #snowstorm
  • #sopretty
  • #stranger
  • #streetphoto
  • #sunbathing
  • #swole
  • #tag4like
  • #tanlines
  • #teens
  • #thought
  • #todayimwearing
  • #undies
  • #valentinesday
  • #workflow

To Conclude Instagram Hashtags

After our examination, we can easily say that hashtags problems are not caused by Instagram’s policy changes or technical updates.

If you want to avoid getting branded as spam or a manual penalty given by Instagram, you should be careful to use relevant hashtags.

Also, it’s important to utilize your hashtags at the optimal scale; overdoing this won’t help you in any way, but it’s guaranteed to hurt your visibility if you go nuts with the hashtags.

Have a great day!

Frequently Asked Questions

When you hashtag your post, your post will be featured on the list with the same hashtag, giving you extra visibility in specific areas.

There’s no right amount of hashtags for every business, or even for every post by the same company. However, everyone agrees that about 11 hashtags are just ok.

Instagram lets you type 30 hashtags per post. But too many hashtags may look spammy, so you need to consider adding that much.

James Orublig

Posts: 568

Hi, my name is James but my friend calls me JamesTheNews since I always have the latest news about social media. Follow my blogs to learn every bit of trickery there is to social media.

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24 Comments

  1. Sarah Jones
    Sarah Jones

    My hashtags still aren’t working for every image I upload. Whether I add 10 hashtags or 2. I have not used a banned hashtag or exceeded the amount. Any ideas how I can resolve it? I have contacted insta a couple of times with no reply.

    • Niah
      Niah

      Same for me makes no sense, you had luck sorting the problem?

  2. Chantal
    Chantal

    I need help I created a hashtag and it’s like Instagram is limiting the amount of post being put on the gallery.
    It’s a weekly ads tag so people only use it on Sundays.
    Some people’s posts will show up in the gallery and some people and those some people are always shadowban and themselves.
    My post were showing up but now it’s not.
    What should i do to fix this?

  3. doc johnny lloydde
    doc johnny lloydde

    didnt work.. yall are insane..
    and instagram wont tell you why it didnt work or how to fix a hashtag issue..
    dr johnny

  4. Courtney
    Courtney

    I’ve been having the most trouble with my Instagram, I’m not receding as much interaction as I was before. I’ve been following the guidelines and everything, but nothing is working. I’m a music artist trying to attract genuine fans and not bots. I need hashtags for the boost but it’s not working and it’s driving me crazy.

  5. Jana Po
    Jana Po

    Hey, did anyone experience not working hashtags, when adding pictures from pc? It worked for me until the last big changes in June, now hashtags work only on mobile. Any solutions?
    Jana

  6. shann
    shann

    I am seeing this same issue as well that previous people are complaining about. this has just recently started to happen to me

  7. Romi l
    Romi l

    What’s going on with Instagram? I have a fitness page and was getting a lot of following and love, and as of recent it’s like crickets!!’

  8. Steve
    Steve

    F*ck Instagram. Seriously tired of their sh*t. I’m getting a message that my hashtag was reported by the community, yet I’ve never posted anything against the rules. They auto ban you without ever looking into the complaint. Not only is my hashtag not working but my photos dont appear in any hashtags I use. Ridiculous!!!!

    • Ds
      Ds

      Same thing happening to me. I’ve done nothing wrong but some jealous b flagged my account I guess and I have no infringement but Instagram has kept my hashtags from working, utter bs

      • Jack
        Jack

        Same thing here you get a jealous piece of ?who complains on you and get shadow-banned

        • Regan Hodgins
          Regan Hodgins

          Same here. My hashtags are not working on my posts because no one else is liking them, except from my followers and it’s been happening for nearly a week now and it’s really annoying. I have messaged Instagram multiple times, but nothings changed. Does anyone know how to fix this??

    • DaniketoMarie
      DaniketoMarie

      Same here! Ive used my same hastag for years and now nothing shows for it.

    • Chantal
      Chantal

      I’m having the same problem. It’s been 3 weeks. All the photos i have ever posted were deleted off the hashtag galleries. My hashtag was reported but i didn’t do anything wrong.

  9. Lisa
    Lisa

    Recent photos I posted in which I’m wearing a bikini don’t show up on the hashtag pages I chose. On those hashtags I see photos that are way more risqué than my generic Sears catalogue poses. All of my other posts make it on the hashtags, so it seems it’s just a problem with the bikini pics (which my 70 year old mum labeled as “cute”). I’m not using any banned hashtags, and my five hashtags are pertinent. Why won’t my seriously inoffensive (and cute!) bikini photos post to hashtags??? I’ve reported the problem, but Instagram won’t respond.

  10. Marty
    Marty

    I have the Same problem as many of you.
    Hashtags just stopped working with no reason or any warning.

  11. Vision
    Vision

    What is going on with instagram. I used to take 15+ likes from hashtags and now I hardly take 1-2. My account is not shadowbanned. Is it a problem with the algorithm?

    • instafollowers
      instafollowers

      It seems like so. Did you try using different hashtags to promote your post?

  12. jeannette
    jeannette

    (Edit on phone, not pc) – 1) Cut hashtags from the post and then click done. – 2) Go back to edit and paste hashtags back to post.
    This has been working for the posts I’ve created on the pc.

  13. Eileen
    Eileen

    None of my hashtags worked today. My post didn’t show up on any of them (25 total). Why???? No banned tags, all are relevant and I didn’t exceed the number.

    • Insta Followers
      Insta Followers

      There may have been a technical issue. Make sure you’re using the latest version of the app, or you can report Instagram about it.

      • kansas
        kansas

        Hi, just clicking on hashtags of other people’s posts — no matter what the word is — ends up with a page saying:
        This page isn’t workingwww.instagram.com is currently unable to handle this request.
        HTTP ERROR 501

  14. onethousandtwentyonejiggawattz
    onethousandtwentyonejiggawattz

    man, as of Fall 2020, if you’re not connecting with a “paid” or popular influencer page, then aint nothing gonna “pop” for you these days. Don’t let them fool you with this “banned” crapola! The algorithm is now set up for us to lose and spend, spend, spend to get noticed. They say you have to post regularly, but followers get tired of your posts if you do that. Unless again you’re popular and people find you the greatest thing since sliced bread, everyone will just be “trying” until the algorithm changes again. They claim certain Hashtags are not displayed because of some corny relevance to the election as of recent, but still says the same thing for certain if not most hashtags. The algorithm only changes when they figure out new ways to get money out of us.

  15. Jerry
    Jerry

    I was wondering why Instagram hashtags are not working. I was using the banned ones.