Having issues with your Instagram login? You’re not alone. Several Instagram users seem to be having issues logging in related to two-factor authentication (2FA).
The login issues appear to be limited in scope, impacting people who use 2FA and who are trying to log into the app on Android or iPhone. Instagram shows an error message warning that users need to “update your software to a newer version that supports two factor login.” However, the message appears even when using the most recent version of the Instagram mobile app.
Since Threads is tied to Instagram, users are also having problems logging in there.
I tested logging into my personal Instagram account, and it worked at first. However, after turning on 2FA and trying to log in again, it stopped working. I got the same error message when trying to log into the MobileSyrup Instagram account, and other journalists at MobileSyrup’s parent company, ZoomerMedia, reported having similar problems.
But while the Instagram app is suffering issues, logging in online worked fine for me. If you’re really stuck in a bind, you could try logging in to Instagram’s web app and disabling 2FA so you can log in again on mobile. However, I’d recommend turning 2FA back on to make sure your account is secure.
Anecdotally, Instagram and Meta as a whole have had 2FA-related login issues on and off for months. MobileSyrup creative director Brad Bennett has had tons of issues with Meta’s 2FA systems, including getting 2FA codes sent over WhatsApp despite requesting codes through other methods. When I was testing my logins, Instagram sent 2FA codes to my phone number and email despite me connecting my account to an authentication app, which is more secure than SMS or email 2FA.
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