Instagram is one of the most popular social media platforms today. With millions of active users every day, it is best known for photos, Reels and of course: Stories. But sometimes something strange happens. You see a story bar of a friend, influencer or brand at the top of the screen, but as soon as you click on it, you get the notification:
“This story is not available.”
Huh, what exactly does that mean? Why are you getting this message? And what can you do about it?
In this comprehensive guide, we explain step by step what this notification means, what the causes may be and how to fix it.
📌 What does “This story is not available” mean?
When Instagram indicates that a story is unavailable, they mean that you cannot view this content. The story doesn’t exist (anymore), or you don’t have access.
It is important to note that this notification does not necessarily mean that something is wrong with your phone or account. In many cases, it simply has to do with privacy settings, expired content or technical limitations.
🔍 Most common causes
Let’s go through the possible reasons one by one:
1. 📆 The story has expired
Instagram Stories are visible for 24 hours by default. After that, they disappear automatically. So if someone posted a story this morning and you don’t try to view it until the next day in the afternoon, chances are it has simply expired.
Note that even if the story still appears visible in the story bar (at the top of your screen), it may have already been deleted and only the preview remains for a while.
2. 🗑️ The story was manually deleted
Some users delete stories before the 24 hours are up. For example, if they change their mind or there was a mistake. If you try to open the story at that time, you get the message “This story is not available.”
3. 🔒 You do not have access (story is protected)
Instagram offers users several privacy options for stories. For example, you can:
- Share stories only with “Close Friends”
- Exclude certain followers from viewing your stories
- Hiding Stories from specific accounts (like yours…)
So in this case, the story is still active, but you are not allowed to view it. You will get the same message every time.
4. 🚫 You are blocked by the user
If you follow someone but suddenly can no longer see their stories, chances are that you have been blocked. In that case, you can no longer comment, view their profile (unless public), or see their stories.
Note: It is also possible that you are only blocked for stories, and not completely. Then you can still view the profile and posts, but not the stories.
5. 📶 Technical error or connection problem
Sometimes there is nothing wrong with the story itself, but there is a glitch on Instagram, or with your Internet connection.
Typical technical causes:
- Poor wifi or mobile network
- Instagram server error
- Outdated app version
- Cache that needs to be cleaned up
In this case, the notification may be temporary. Once you restart the app or restore your connection, the problem is usually fixed.
6. 🎵 The story contains music that is not available
If the story contains music and you get the message “This story is not available,” that could also be due to rights issues.
Sometimes a particular song:
- Not available in your area
- Removed from Instagram’s music library
- Blocked by the rights holder
You then don’t see a picture or get an error message as soon as you try to play.
✅ What can you do if you get this message?
Fortunately, there are some practical things you can try:
1. 🔄 App restart
Simple, but effective. Close the Instagram app completely and reopen it. In many cases, this is enough to fix temporary glitches.
2. 📥 App update
Make sure you always use the latest version of Instagram. Outdated versions may contain bugs that have since been fixed.
- Go to the App Store (iOS) or Google Play Store (Android)
- Search for “Instagram”
- Click Update if possible
3. 🌐 Switch networks
Sometimes the problem lies with your Internet connection. Try switching from wifi to 4G/5G or vice versa.
4. 🧼 Empty Cache (Android)
On Android phones, you can empty an app’s cache:
- Go to Settings > Apps > Instagram
- Tap Storage
- Choose Empty Cache
On iPhone, you can only do this by completely uninstalling and reinstalling the app.
5. 👥 Checking to see if you are blocked
You can tentatively test if you are excluded from someone’s stories:
- View profile: can you see posts?
- Can you respond or send a DM?
- If necessary, ask a friend to see if they can see the story
Note: Always respect the privacy of others. Don’t stalk or force it if someone deliberately won’t let you see something.
6. 🕑 Just wait and see
Sometimes the problem resolves itself within minutes or hours. Instagram may be temporarily overloaded or in the process of updating.
❓ Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
What does “This story is not available” mean on Instagram?
→ This means that a story cannot be viewed. This may be due to privacy settings, a deleted story, technical errors or blocking.
How do I know if I am excluded from someone’s stories?
→ You won’t see any more stories from that person, while others still see them. Sometimes you can check through a second account to see if the story is visible there.
Can anyone hide one specific story from me?
→ Yes. Instagram offers the option to hide individual stories or story groups from specific accounts.
Can I solve this with a VPN?
→ Only if it is region-blocked music. For stories hidden from you, a VPN does not help.
Why does this message keep appearing even after updates?
→ It may be that the story is really not meant for you, or that you are structurally excluded. In that case, an update does not change anything.
📌 Conclusion
The message “This story is not available” is a common frustration for Instagram users, but fortunately, there is often a logical explanation.
The main causes are:
- The story has expired or been deleted
- You are excluded or blocked
- There is a technical problem
- The music or content is not available in your region
In most cases, with some simple steps such as updating your app or restarting Instagram, you can fix the problem yourself.
🔎 Do you keep seeing the notification across multiple accounts? If so, something else may be going on – or it’s time to just let go. Not everything on Instagram is visible to everyone, and sometimes that’s just fine 😉
Want more handy Instagram tips? Also read:
Add comment