In the last few days, many have reported getting the You can’t interact with certain accounts right now Instagram message when trying to follow another account. For most, the pop-up appears when following Public accounts, while they can follow Private accounts without any issues.
Based on reports, the issue appears when your account is flagged for bot-like behavior, i.e., following/unfollowing too many accounts. While Instagram hasn’t officially disclosed any limits on following/unfollowing actions per day, it all depends on the age of your account and how you use it.
Now, let’s get to resolving the You can’t interact with certain accounts right now Instagram error!
How can I fix the “You can’t interact with certain accounts right now” Instagram issue?
1. Appeal against the decision
For most users, disagreeing with Instagram’s decision and raising an appeal against it got rid of the issue within 24-48 hours. This happens when your account is incorrectly flagged and Instagram realizes its mistakes upon a re-examination. For instance, new accounts that quickly follow too many handles are likely to see “You can’t interact with certain accounts right now.”
It’s also vital to mention that appealing against the decision won’t work for everyone. For a few, it would read “You disagreed with our decision,” but it wouldn’t actually change anything, and the Instagram account restriction would still be applied. If this happens, head to the next fix!
2. Verify the account using your email address
When Instagram doesn’t find sufficient grounds to revoke the restriction on following new profiles, you should verify your account through a quick authentication process.
Here, Instagram will send a six-digit code to the registered email address, which, when verified, will immediately remove the restrictions on your account. This, by far, is the best fix, and restores your experience in no time!
3. Report the issue to Instagram
If your appeal hasn’t been acknowledged so far, you can manually report the issue to Instagram. They should ideally take a look within the next 3-7 days and lift the restriction if it was incorrectly applied.
To report the issue, open your Instagram profile > tap on the hamburger (☰) icon > select Report a problem > choose Report problem without shaking > tap on Don’t include and continue > include every possible detail about the restriction, also add a screenshot of both the message and the restrictions page > tap on Send.
Now, wait for a few days and see if Instagram acknowledges its mistake and lifts the restriction, thus helping you get rid of the You can’t interact with certain accounts right now issue.
4. Take a break from Instagram
If nothing so far has worked, the last option is to take a break from Instagram because too much of the social media platform triggered the restriction in the first place. I recommend you use Instagram only for a few minutes every day and not follow/unfollow any more accounts.
Do this for at least a week, and Instagram will ultimately lift the restriction!
How long does “You can’t interact with certain accounts right now” last on Instagram?
Restrictions on following/unfollowing accounts on Instagram typically last 3-7 days or, at the maximum, a month. However, in rare cases, users reported facing restrictions for as long as a year. This happens when there’s no change in user activity or behavior even after the restriction is applied.
So, to get rid of Instagram’s restrictions as early as possible, it’s vital that you don’t violate Instagram’s guidelines and minimize activity. As your profile grows over the years, Instagram will get more lenient and allow you to follow/unfollow more accounts at once.
By now, you know what to do when repeatedly getting the You can’t interact with certain accounts right now Instagram message. In my experience, Instagram is flagging profiles more than ever in 2025, often resulting in a permanent account suspension. And surprisingly, there’s nothing you can do about it!
Before you leave, find out what to do when Instagram says, “Your account has been temporarily blocked from taking this action“, another common issue in the past few months.
For any queries or to share which fix worked for you, drop a comment below.
With over five years of experience in the tech industry, Kazim excels at simplifying complex topics, making them accessible to tech enthusiasts and general readers alike. He has contributed to several renowned publications worldwide, including WindowsReport and Allthings.how, bringing insightful coverage of key developments in the field.
When he’s not writing, you’ll find Kazim planning weekend getaways or diving into tech verticals beyond his expertise.
