Instagram Says I Have Messages But I Don’t: 8 Easy Ways to Fix This

Even if you don’t have any direct messages on Instagram to mark as read, does that bother you? Well, then you should never let the confusion Instagram Says I Have Messages But I Don’t, get into your mind as we’re here ready with the solution to it.

What Is It When Instagram Claims I Have Messages But I Don’t?

Experiencing ghost notifications on Instagram is not a new platform. When Instagram notifies users that they have pending messages, users have reported that they frequently don’t receive any. This situation is usually termed as Instagram Says I Have Messages But I Don’t error. It is merely a catch-all phrase to describe the issue with false notifications. Here are eight solutions to solve this problem:

#1: Restart the App

#2: Get Your Direct Messages Refreshed

#3: Using the “Unread” Filter

#4: Instagram Clear Cache

#5: Check if Logging Out and In Helps

#6: Re-Install Instagram

#7: Looking for updates

#8: Unlinking Facebook

Why Does Instagram Say I Have a Message But I Don’t

• Instagram’s servers are malfunctioning or are not accessible.
• Your internet connection isn’t fast enough.
• Cache files were tainted by Instagram.
• In the Instagram app, there is a bug.
• The version of Instagram you are using is very outdated.
• There are some issues with the new Instagram update
• Your request for a message has been hidden.
• The message’s sender chose not to send it.

Read mroe: How to Archive Reels on Instagram?

How to Fix “Instagram Says I Have Messages But I Don’t” Issue: the Best 8 Ways

Instagram message notification but no message issue can be really frustrating at times. The good news is that there are a few quick fixes to fix the direct message notification.

#1: Restart the App

Restarting our app quickly is usually the first thing we do when something strange is happening with it, and it occasionally works. In the case of Instagram as well, the scenes are the same. Many users have reported that the “Instagram Says I Have Messages But I Don’t” issue actually gets resolved once you quickly restart the app. If it doesn’t work, there are additional solutions listed that will eventually free you and your Instagram from this upsetting circumstance.

• Step 1: Exit Instagram as soon as possible.
• Step 2: Once you’re on the home screen, locate the recent apps section and delete Instagram from there as well.
• Step 3: To ensure that any remaining temporary bugs are also fixed, turn off your device.
• Step 4: Turn your device back “On” and launch Instagram.

Check if the Instagram message notification but no message issue has been addressed or not, and accordingly move forward.

#2: Get Your Direct Messages Refreshed

Doesn’t the restarting thing help resolve the “Instagram Says I Have Messages But I Don’t” issue? Refreshing your Instagram messages might help, though.

On Instagram, messages can be hidden in a variety of situations. One such is when there are some pending message requests.

These are direct messages from profiles that you don’t follow, in case you’re unfamiliar with the term “message requests.” When messages from those profiles reach you, it appears as message requests that you can either accept or decline. Instagram will keep informing until something is done.

Only a quick refresh of your direct message list is necessary to see those messages. To put it another way, whether the message requests are shown or hidden, a quick refresh will show them at the top of the list. All that remains is for you to select one of several options, including acceptance, declination, or deletion.

To ensure that notifications don’t annoy you, either give those requests a green or a red signal.

It is fairly easy to identify and address message requests. Here is how you can do it in minutes:

• Step 1: Go to the home page of the Instagram app after launching it.
• Step 2: Locate the “arrow” icon on the top-right-hand corner and tap on it to access your direct messages.
• Step 3: Pull down from the top of the page once you’re on the messages tab to update your direct messages.
• Step 4: check to see if there are any message requests.
• Step 5: Finally, carry out the wished-for action. Either allow, decline, or proceed with deleting these message requests by swiping left and resolving Instagram message notification but no message error.

As soon as you respond to your message requests, the Instagram ghost notification will be deleted. Instagram message requests can actually pile up, and the worst part is that they frequently go unnoticed.

It is crucial to update yourself and frequently refresh your direct messages as a result. This will help you get rid of the “Instagram Says I Have Messages, But I Don’t” issue and help prevent your from receiving too many of these notifications on Instagram.

Read more: How to React to Instagram Stories

#3: Using the “Unread” Filter

You might be thinking that, Oh, the unread filter on Instagram is all about filtering out the messages that I’ve left out and how it can help resolve the “Instagram Says I Have Messages But I Don’t” issue. It really can, to your surprise.

Users who are very active on Instagram are probably getting a ton of messages every day. The likelihood of some of the messages going unnoticed is therefore fairly clear. Eventually, if you’ve no idea about the messages, you’ll feel like experiencing Instagram message notification but no message error. The unread filter will now start to function at this point. You can find any messages that are still awaiting the read status by using this specific filter, if there are any.

• Step 1: Naturally, you must open the Instagram app as your first step.
• Step 2: Go to the home page once you’re finished.
• Step 3: After that, look for the “arrow” icon that is located on the top-right-hand corner. To access your direct messages, tap on it.
• Step 4: Finding the filter icon will be your next step. There won’t be any issues with that. You can find the desired option by taking a quick glance at the search bar’s right side. Click on that icon.
• Step 5: From the drop-down menu, select “unread” to filter the messages.
• Step 6: If you discover any messages that haven’t been read, read them.

To ensure there are no other unread messages, repeat the process until the Instagram filter says “No unread messages.” Check if it fixes Instagram Says I Have Messages But I Don’t error.

The individuals who’ve been facing Instagram message notification but no message issue due to the existence of some leftover messages will eventually get rid of the error as soon as the “unread-filter” fix is applied. There are additional solutions to consider if the settings differ.

#4: Instagram Clear Cache

Are you done restarting your app and looking for unread messages, hidden message requests but still facing Instagram ghost notification or Instagram message notification but no message issue? The scene might become a little bit more technical in that case.

But that doesn’t necessarily mean you should sit back and start worrying about it; fixing the problem is as easy as you could possibly hope for. However, it would be wise to quickly follow the root cause before moving on to the steps.

It happens frequently on Instagram that the information related to direct messages is cached. A situation where even read messages are labeled as unread by the platform is eventually brought on by the cached data. The fact that Instagram sends notifications to users when there is nothing to look at becomes clear as a result.

Now that you’ve got a fair idea, let’s look at the steps by which you can resolve the “Instagram Says I Have Messages But I Don’t” issue.

It’s very easy to resolve cache-related issues for any app. All you have to do is go to your device’s app manager and clear the cache for the relevant app. Nothing special about Instagram.

Note: Before you proceed, make sure to “force stop” Instagram on your iOS or Android device. You can do that by visiting the application manager page and tapping on the button that says “force stop” under Instagram.

Clear Cache on iPhone to Resolve “Instagram Says I Have Messages But I Don’t” issue.

• Step 1: Hover over the Settings panel on your iPhone.
• Step 2: Find and tap the “General” button.
• Step 3: Navigate to the “iPhone’s Storage.”
• Step 4: Search for and open the Instagram app.
• Step 5: Next up, you’ll need to look for the “Offload App.” Clear the cache by clicking on it.
• Step 6: Restart your device to complete the process.

Alternatively,

• Step 1: Going to your phone’s settings is the first thing you should do.
• Step 2: From there, find and tap on “General.”
• Step 3: After that, look for the option that says “iPhone Storage” and click on that.
• Step 4: Find the Instagram app by scrolling down.
• Step 5: Select the “Delete App” option. Additionally, this will clear the cache.
• Step 6: Restart your device.
• Step 7: Install Instagram once more by visiting the app store.

Check if the Instagram message notification but no message error has been addressed or not.

Clear Cache on Android to Resolve “Instagram Says I Have Messages But I Don’t” issue.

• Step 1: Take your smartphone and launch the “Settings.”
• Step 2: Tap on the option that says “Storage.” Alternatively, you can look for the “Application Manager” page.
• Step 3: Locate the Instagram app on the page, then click it.
• Step 4: Look for the “Clear Cache” button. Wait a few seconds after clicking that.

Ghost notifications on your direct messages should go away after you clear the cache on Instagram. Alongside, it is indeed an effective way to fix various other issues on Clearing caches far too frequently is a promising strategy, to put it simply on Instagram.

Users fear losing app data such as login information, app settings, and more when they clear their cache. There is really nothing to be concerned about.

#5: Check If Logging Out and in Helps

It might sound a bit silly, butlogging out and then back inon Instagram can sometimes help in resolving the “Instagram Says I Have Messages But I Don’t” once for all. To begin with, though, make sure you have access to the login information. If not, make proper arrangements and then proceed as follows:

• Step 1: Activate Instagram and go to your profile.
• Step 2: Tap the menu bar in the top-right corner by hovering there.
• Step 3: From the pop-up list, select and click on “Settings.”
• Step 4: Make your way down to the bottom of the page and tap on the option that says “Log Out.”
• Step 5: Close the app after successfully logging out.
• Step 6: Afterward, go back to Settings and select App Manager.
• Step 7: Select Instagram and tap on the “Force Close/Stop” option.
• Step 8: Restart your device.
• Step 9: Launch Instagram once more, then log in with the necessary information.

The Instagram message notification but no message error should get resolved by that time. If not, the subsequent fix will without a doubt.

#6: Re-Install Instagram

Yes, uninstalling and then reinstalling the app can help in fixing the “Instagram Says I Have Messages But I Don’t” error. The login information must be available to you, though, so let me reiterate that. Instagram shouldn’t be uninstalled if that is the case.

Re-Installing Instagram on an iPhone:

• Step 1: Find Instagram in the app drawer.
• Step 2: When the option to uninstall Instagram appears, tap and hold it for a while.
• Step 3: Click on the “Remove App” option.
• Step 4: The Instagram app can now be removed from your device by continuing the procedure.
• Step 5: Finally, visit the App Store and use the search bar to look up Instagram. Install the app once you’ve located it back on your device.

As an alternative, you can find the Instagram app in the App Store, uninstall it from there, then reinstall it.

Re-Installing Instagram on an Android device:

• Step 1: Please go to the Google Play Store.
• Step 2: You can either use the search field or the My apps & games section to find the Instagram app.
• Step 3: Once you’re on the app page, tap the option that says “Uninstall.”
• Step 4: Restart your device.
• Step 5: Open the Google Play Store and repeat your Instagram search.
• Step 6: Select Install by tapping it.

#7: Looking for Updates

• Step 1: Depending on the device you’re using, navigate to the Google Play Store or the App Store.
• Step 2: Search for Instagram.
• Step 3: Check for any pending G updates that need to be installed.
• Step 4: Once the installation is finished, restart your device.

#8: Unlinking Facebook

Although it sounds crazy, unlinking Facebook can also resolve the “Instagram Says I Have Messages But I Don’t” error.

• Step 1: Open the Instagram app, then access your profile by tapping the icon in the bottom right corner.
• Step 2: Look for and tap on the icon with the three horizontal lines. On your profile page, they are in the upper right corner.
• Step 3: You will now see a screen from which you must select Settings.
• Step 4: Locate the Linked Accounts option by scrolling down. The option can be found under the “Privacy and Security” section.
• Step 5: To completely delink the account from Instagram, select Facebook.

To your action, a pop-up window will appear. Tap Yes, to proceed to that and avoid any sort of Instagram ghost notifications (other popular name for Instagram Says I Have Messages But I Don’t error)

What If the Fixes Don’t Help Resolve “Instagram Says I Have Messages But I Don’t Issue?”

Let’s say you give the article your undivided attention and resolve to apply each suggested solution in the best way possible. In that case, possibilities are pretty high that the issue where Instagram Says I Have Messages But I Don’t have already been resolved.

In the rarest cases, though, you’re left with the option to contact the Instagram Support Team as the final nail in the coffin. You can get in touch with them by going to the official page, and you can inform them of the problem. After that, watch for an answer from Instagram.

Conclusion: Instagram Says I Have a Message When I Don’t

The problem we’ve discussed in this article can be resolved very easily. To solve it, you can simply try out one of the ways that you’ve learned here:

#1: Restart the App

#2: Get Your Direct Messages Refreshed

#3: Using the “Unread” Filter

#4: Instagram Clear Cache

#5: Check if Logging Out and In Helps

#6: Re-Install Instagram

#7: Looking for updates

#8: Unlinking Facebook

So be sure to read them and resolve this issue. In the section below, please feel free to share any additional solutions you may have.

FAQs