Live videos on Instagram have become hugely popular, allowing creators to engage with their audience in real time. One of the best features of Instagram Live is the auto-scrolling comments on the right side, making it easy to view new comments as they come in.
However, sometimes this auto-scroll stops working properly. The comments may freeze in place, failing to show the newest interactions from your viewers.
This can be frustrating if you rely on Live to connect with your followers. But don’t worry – in most cases, it’s easy to get auto-scrolling working again.
In this post, I’ll go over some of the top reasons why Instagram Live comments might stop auto scrolling. I’ll also provide actionable troubleshooting tips you can follow to resolve the issue.
Why Instagram Live Comments Auto Scroll Is Not Norking
Before we jump into fixes, let’s first understand what causes Instagram Live comments to stop scrolling automatically during a broadcast.
Some of the most common culprits include:
Temporary Instagram Glitches
Like any app, Instagram can suffer occasional software glitches on the platform side that disrupt normal functioning. The good news is these are usually temporary and get resolved on their own.
Your Instagram app is out of date
If you haven’t updated Instagram recently, you could be running an old version prone to bugs and performance issues already patched in newer releases.
Failing to update apps is a common reason behind problems like Live comment scrolling not working properly.
You have internet connection issues
Since Instagram Live relies on a steady internet connection to function, any disruptions can interfere with the stream and cause lags.
Switching between Wi-Fi and cellular data or moving between areas with poor and strong signal strength can potentially lead to comments freezing up.
Device Performance Issues
App crashes, phone lag, insufficient storage space, too many background apps – these can all affect Instagram’s ability to run smoothly and load new comments automatically.
Now let’s explore some troubleshooting steps to resolve Instagram Live comments not auto scrolling when you go live.
Fixes for Instagram Live Comments Not Scrolling Automatically
Here are some of the top ways to troubleshoot and fix frozen or lagging comment scrolling during Instagram Live broadcasts:
1. Check Your Internet Connection
Since Instagram Live streams rely on consistent internet connectivity, weak Wi-Fi or mobile data signals can interfere with optimal performance.
If your Instagram feed or stories load slowly as well, poor connectivity is likely the culprit.
To check the strength of your internet connection, run a speed test using online tools such as Google Fiber Internet Speed Test.
Try switching to a stronger Wi-Fi network or disabling Wi-Fi temporarily to use mobile data instead. Move closer to your router if possible to improve bandwidth issues that may be slowing down new comments from appearing instantly.
If your connection seems fine on other apps, reboot your modem and router to refresh the networking hardware.
With video streaming, small internet blips add up quickly so ensure your bandwidth is solid when going live.
2. Close and Reopen the Instagram App
The simplest initial troubleshooting step for any mobile app glitch is to restart the app. Completely closing out of Instagram and relaunching it can clear away temporary bugs and data errors that may be interfering with comment scrolling.
To do this on an iPhone, double click the home button and swipe up on the Instagram preview card to fully close it. Then tap the Instagram icon to launch the app again.
On Android, open the multitasking view and swipe the Instagram app preview away. Then restart Instagram.
In most cases of minor software or connectivity glitches, this quick refresh resolves auto-scrolling issues in live video comments.
3. Update to the Latest Instagram Version
If you haven’t updated Instagram recently, an outdated app version could be to blame for comment scrolling problems and other bugs.
Ensure you’re running the latest release of Instagram which contains under-the-hood performance fixes and improvements not found in older versions.
On iPhone, go to the App Store > Tap your profile icon > Tap Available Updates. Download any pending Instagram updates.
On Android, open the Play Store > Tap the hamburger menu > My Apps & Games > Update next to Instagram.
Updating the app resolves issues caused by using an outdated codebase no longer fully compatible with Instagram’s newest features.
4. Force Quit and Relaunch Instagram
If closing Instagram fully doesn’t help, the next troubleshooting level is force quitting the app to clear away any stuck processes or corrupted data.
On iPhone, quickly double press the home button then swipe up fully on Instagram to force close it. Next, hold down the power button and turn your device off completely. Wait 30 seconds, turn your phone back on, then launch Instagram.
For Android users, open Settings > Apps > Instagram > Force Stop. This kicks the app out of memory entirely. Next, restart your Android device completely. Once your phone powers back up, start Instagram.
This forces the cache and background processes to begin fresh, clearing away any problematic instances causing comment scrolling lag or freezing.
5. Restart Your Mobile Device
Along the same lines as force quitting Instagram, performing a full reboot of your iPhone or Android device resets running apps and services. This can flush away temporary glitches affecting performance.
Power down your device completely by holding the power button, wait at least 30 seconds, then boot it back up. This allows device memory to clear and phone services to restart fresh.
Once your mobile device loads back up, open Instagram and test if Live comment scrolling now works normally during a broadcast.
6. Clear the Instagram App Cache & Data
Over time, cached app data can build up and become bloated or corrupted. With Instagram, this can interfere with smoothly loading new comments in real-time.
On Android devices:
- Open Settings > Apps
- Scroll down to Instagram > Storage
- Tap Clear Cache and Clear Data buttons
This removes old Instagram cached files and resets the app to defaults.
On iPhones, uninstall and reinstall Instagram:
- Hold finger on Instagram icon until jiggle mode activates
- Tap little X icon to uninstall
- Open App Store and reinstall Instagram
Wiping the Instagram cache forces refreshed data to re-download when you open the app again.
7. Check Background App Refresh Settings
To save battery life, many users restrict background app activity without realizing it can impact performance.
Disabling background refresh means Instagram has to fully restart each time you open it instead of allowing real-time comment and feed updating.
On Android devices:
- Go to Settings > Battery > App optimization
- Ensure Instagram is not restricted or turned off
On iPhone:
- Go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh
- Check that Background App Refresh toggle is turned on
- Scroll down and ensure Instagram background updating is turned on
If background app refresh is disabled, turn it on and test if auto-scrolling starts working properly in Instagram Live.
8. Turn Off Battery Saver Mode
Similarly, battery saver modes restrict background data usage and app refresh rates to conserve charge when your phone is low on power.
While helpful in an emergency, battery saver functionally prevents apps like Instagram from updating comments and feeds in real-time.
Open quick settings and ensure any battery saver or power-saving mode is disabled completely. These modes are too restrictive for smooth social media performance.
With battery saver disabled, live comment scrolling should start working correctly assuming no other issues persist.
9. See If Issue Occurs On Other Devices
To better isolate the root cause, check if Instagram Live comment scrolling fails to auto-update consistently across different devices logged into your account.
Borrow a friend’s phone and try to start a live video and monitor comment scrolling behavior. Or log into Instagram in a mobile browser at instagram.com.
If scrolling works fine on other phones and your desktop browser, the issue is isolated to your device rather than your account or Instagram’s platform.
But if scrolling remains frozen on different devices, your Instagram account itself is likely facing restrictions around live interactivity.
Contact Instagram support if disabling account limitations does not resolve consistent scrolling failures across devices.
10. Reinstall the Instagram App
If closing and relaunching Instagram doesn’t help, try uninstalling and reinstalling the app completely. This wipes the app data and caches and forces a fresh install.
On iPhone, delete Instagram via the jiggle method. Open the App Store and redownload and install it.
On Android, uninstall Instagram in Settings > Apps. Then install a clean version from the Play Store again.
Reinstallation can resolve deeper issues not fixed by standard troubleshooting steps. Be sure to backup posts and data beforehand.
11. Check If It’s Affecting Other Live Videos
To determine if the issue is isolated or widespread, test auto-scrolling behavior in multiple live broadcasts from different creators.
Check 2-3 additional live videos on both large and smaller accounts you follow. Monitor if scrolling remains frozen regardless or works normally elsewhere.
If scrolling fails across different live videos, an underlying Instagram problem is likely preventing real-time comment loads across the board.
But if scrolling works fine on some broadcasts, the issue may be localized to accounts you’re watching rather than platform-wide.
12. Test With a Different Instagram Account
To isolate whether the issue is tied specifically to your account or device, attempt to view a live video from a secondary Instagram profile.
Borrow a friend’s phone logged into another account and check if scrolling works properly there.
You can also log out of your profile and into an alternate account on the same device to test.
If scrolling fails only on your main profile, your account itself is facing restrictions around live performances. Contact Instagram support for assistance troubleshooting account-specific problems.
13. Report the Problem to Instagram Directly
If no other basic troubleshooting fixes auto-scrolling problems, directly report the bug to Instagram for assistance.
Tap your profile image > Settings > Help > Report a Problem > Live Videos to open the feedback form.
Describe when scrolling fails and the steps you’ve tried to resolve it previously. Include your username, links to problematic lives, and any screenshots.
The Instagram team can then investigate issues on their back end causing platform-wide commenting problems.
14. Wait for a Fix from Instagram
In some cases, scrolling disruptions and other live video glitches are caused by wider bugs affecting Instagram globally.
Their engineers work continually to patch issues through app updates.
Keep an eye out for Instagram updates and check release notes for fixes related to live performances. Install updates immediately to benefit from the latest improvements.
Global fixes may take time to roll out. Trying other troubleshooting tips in the meantime keeps your account functioning smoothly.
