Instagram is easily one of the most popular social media platforms currently available.
With over 1.3 billion users and being a part of Meta, Instagram has a leg up over the competition.
From posts to videos and reels, it’s made sharing content extremely easy and accessible.
But, these nuances are slightly marred by backend issues that can leave you frustrated.
One of these issues is Instagram restricting you from liking posts.
It’s not a frequent issue, but when it does happen, it’s downright annoying.
So, why does it happen?
Why Is Instagram Restricting Me From Liking Posts?
Short Answer: Instagram restricts you from liking posts, videos, or reels, if you’ve liked too many of them in a short period. However, other situations as using multiple devices, using VPN or automation tools or bots on your account can also cause the same problem.
When you like too many posts quickly, Instagram flags your account for suspicious activity and prevents you from engaging with content.
So, when you try to like someone’s post, you’re met with a prompt that reads ‘Action Blocked’.
It’s because liking too many posts in a short period makes your account look like a bot account.
And with Instagram and other social media platforms fervent on cleaning out bots, it’s possible you got caught in the crossfire.
Let’s deep dive in the details.
Reason 1- Using Your Instagram Account On Multiple Devices
While Instagram does allow you to sign-in on multiple devices, using too many of them can get your account flagged for suspicious activity.
So, to make sure you don’t get in this situation, it’s best to stay logged in on two devices at any given time.
Either use your account on two phones, or a phone and a PC.
Reason 2- Using A VPN Service
If you use a VPN service while using Instagram, you’re likely going to be restricted on Instagram.
And this includes liking posts.
However, this doesn’t mean all VPN services can land you in trouble.
VPN services such as Surfshark allow you to use Instagram without getting your account banned.
Reason 3- Engaging With Inappropriate Or Hateful Content
Another reason your Instagram account actions get blocked is because you might have liked or commented on content that violates Instagram’s guidelines.
This can happen even if your comment was a complaint against the uploader.
So, the best thing to do is simply report the content rather than engaging in any way.
Reason 4- Using Automation Tools Or Bots To Boost Your Account
While it’s understandable that you’d want to do everything to promote your account or business on Instagram, using third-party automations or bots that aren’t supported by Instagram can get your account flagged.
Instagram does provide tools and paid services to promote your account, and there are third-party services authorized to work on Instagram.
Additionally, using a bot account to spam comments is a sure-fire way to get your account banned.
But, with all that said, there are a few ways to get your account back if your account was flagged or blocked by mistake.
Here’s how you go about fixing your Instagram account.
How To Fix Instagram Restricting Me From Liking Posts
If you’ve actually liked too many posts or reels on Instagram, then there’s really only one thing you can do.
But, if it’s for some other reason, then I’d suggest jumping straight to the second fix I’ve mentioned below.
Method 1- Wait For Your Account Restriction To Get Lifted
As mentioned earlier, liking too many posts quickly will definitely get your account flagged.
So, if you are in this situation, there’s nothing to do but wait.
Attempting to like more posts, signing out and back in, or even using a different device is only going to make it worse.
Since your account has already been flagged for suspicious activity, doing anything more with your account could get it banned.
And, sadly, Instagram doesn’t tell you how long your actions are blocked on your account.
So, I’d recommend waiting for a day or two before liking, commenting or engaging with any posts.
You can still check every two hours or so to check if your restrictions are lifted.
But don’t overdo it.
If you try liking a post, and you see the same ‘Action Blocked’ prompt, exit the app.
In most cases, 24 to 48 hours is enough for your account restrictions to be lifted.
Method 2- Use An Alternate Account Temporarily
If your Instagram account has already been restricted, or it’s being reviewed by Instagram’s support team, this solution is a decent workaround.
Simply use an alternate account for Instagram.
You might already have another account, so go ahead and use that till your main account is working again.
If you don’t have an alternate account, you can create a new one.
All you need is another email address to use with it.
Get yourself a free account from Gmail or an email service of your choice.
Once that’s done, you can go ahead and create a new account directly from the app.
To do this,
- Step 1- Open Instagram on your phone or tablet.
- Step 2- Hold down on your profile icon at the bottom right.
- Step 3- Tap on ‘Add Account’ and then ‘Create New Account’.
After creating a new Instagram account, you can hold down on your profile icon at any time to switch between the two.
Method 3- Use The ‘Tell Us’ Button To Appeal Your Restriction
When you try liking a post and see an ‘Action Blocked’ prompt, use the ‘Tell Us’ option to review your account.
This option allows you to let Instagram know that they might have made a mistake and that your restriction is uncalled-for.
As mentioned earlier, apart from liking too many posts, there are other reasons why Instagram blocks your actions.
These include logging in from multiple devices, logging off and on too many times, as well as using VPN (Virtual Private Network) services.
So, if you think it was one of these issues, let Instagram know and they’ll most likely lift the restrictions immediately.
Method 4- Report A Technical Problem
If you’ve tried the ‘Tell Us’ option, and you’ve still not got your issue resolved, report it.
On most devices, Instagram should already have the ‘shake to report’ feature enabled.
When you see the prompt saying ‘Action Blocked’, shake your phone, and you’ll see another prompt to report the problem.
Include logs and diagnostics on the next page, since this refers to app data and not your personal information being shared.
Once this is done, you’ll have to sit back and wait for a resolution.
However, you can use the second method I’d mentioned, which is to use an alternate account temporarily.
Method 5 – Contact Instagram Support
If you still can’t access your account after 48 hours, you should probably reach out to Instagram support.
It’s likely there might have been some error that caused your account to get blocked, and that’s why your actions are restricted.
Let them know that you’ve tried the ‘Tell Us’ and ‘Report A Problem’ options, and it’s still not resolved.
Their customer support can escalate the issue to the concerned department for a quicker resolution.
See Also:
Final Words
Liking and engaging with posts are the backbone of Instagram.
So, it’s a bit ironic that you can get restricted for liking too many posts.
However, it makes sense that these restrictions exist with the overwhelming number of bot accounts that exist.
So, if you’re stuck in such a situation, these fixes should have your account sorted out within 48 hours at the most.
As a seasoned DIY tinkerer, Arvind found the simplest way to help anyone troubleshoot or set up tech without feeling overwhelmed by it. He’s an advocate for smart home technology and in his free time makes music. He’s also an avid gamer, mostly obsessed with single-player titles.
