Has your Instagram camera suddenly stopped zooming out? When you try to zoom out to capture a wider shot, are you stuck at the same zoomed-in framing no matter what you do? Don’t worry, you’re not alone.
Many Instagram users on both iPhones and Android phones have reported the frustrating issue of the Instagram camera not zooming out properly.
In this detailed guide, we’ll walk you through the top reasons why your Instagram camera may not be zooming out, along with actionable troubleshooting steps to try and fix the problem on your iPhone or Android device.
Why Your Instagram Camera Isn’t Zooming Out
Before we jump into the solutions, let’s first understand what causes the Instagram camera zoom problem in the first place. Here are the most common reasons behind the camera failing to zoom out:
Software Glitch
Like any app, Instagram can sometimes be affected by pesky software glitches that cause features to randomly stop working. The zoom not working properly is a known bug that crops up in certain Instagram app versions.
Outdated App Version
If you haven’t updated Instagram in awhile, you could be running an outdated version with unfixed bugs. Auto-updates may have stopped working too. This can obviously lead to camera issues.
System Resource Problems
Instagram requires adequate device resources like RAM and processing power to run the camera smoothly. If other apps are hogging resources or your phone’s performance is lackluster, it can affect the camera.
Operating System Issues
Problems with your iPhone’s iOS software or your Android device’s OS version can also prevent Instagram’s camera from functioning normally. Conflicts between Instagram and system apps/settings are often the culprit.
Cache and Data Problems
Corrupted cache/data files and overloaded storage space force apps like Instagram to lag or glitch unexpectedly. The camera fails to zoom when the app’s files are out of shape.
Now that you know why the annoying issue happens, let’s try out some proven solutions and get your Instagram camera zooming properly again!
10 Fixes for Instagram Camera Not Zooming Out
Follow these troubleshooting steps to resolve the Instagram camera zoom out issue:
1. Close and Reopen Instagram
Let’s start with the simplest fix first. If Instagram’s camera has suddenly stopped zooming out, try closing the app completely and reopening it.
Force quitting the misbehaving app will wipe out any temporary glitches. When you relaunch Instagram, the camera should be able to zoom out normally again.
To force stop Instagram on Android:
- Open your Android device’s Settings app.
- Tap on Apps/Application Manager.
- Tap on Instagram.
- Tap “Force Stop” to force close the app. Tap on “OK” to confirm the action.
To force quit Instagram on iPhone:
- Swipe up from the bottom edge of your iPhone to bring up the App Switcher.
- Locate the Instagram app preview and swipe up on it to force close the app.
Once you have force quit Instagram, tap on the Instagram icon on your home screen to relaunch it cleanly. Check if the camera now zooms properly.
2. Force Quit and Relaunch Instagram
If merely closing Instagram didn’t work, take it a step further by force quitting the app to flush out any troublesome background processes.
Follow the same steps above to force quit Instagram – swipe it away in the App Switcher on iPhone or tap Force Stop in the Settings app on Android.
After force closing Instagram, wait a few seconds then relaunch it freshly. Hopefully the camera glitch will be gone and zooming capability restored!
3. Check for Instagram App Updates
An outdated version of Instagram with unpatched bugs could be the reason behind your camera woes.
Confirm that you have the latest Instagram update with bug fixes and performance improvements. The newest update may have addressed any app issues that are interfering with normal camera functionality.
Update Instagram on iPhone
- Open the App Store app.
- Tap your profile icon in the top right corner.
- Scroll down to the Available Updates section.
- If Instagram is listed, tap the Update button next to it.
- If it’s not listed, it means you already have the latest version.
Android:
- Open the Google Play Store app.
- Tap your profile icon in the top right corner.
- Select Manage apps & device.
- Tap Updates available.
- If Instagram is listed, tap the Update button next to it.
- If it’s not listed, it means you already have the latest version.
After updating to the latest version, open Instagram and check if the camera works properly again.
4. Restart Your Phone
Before you try anything more drastic, do a simple device restart. Restarting your iPhone or Android completely clears out memory leaks or tiny system corruptions that could be hampering Instagram.
When your phone boots back up, launch Instagram. Most of the time, the camera will magically work normally post-restart!
To restart an iPhone:
Quickly press and release the Volume Up button, then do the same for the Volume Down button, and finally hold down the Side button until you see the power off slider.
Drag the slider to turn off your device. Once the device is fully powered down, press and hold the Side button again until you see the Apple logo to restart your iPhone.
To restart an Android device:
Hold down the Power button until the “Power off” prompt pops up. Tap Power off. Once your device is fully powered down, press and hold the Power button again until you see the startup animation.
Give apps and services a minute to load once your phone boots back up, then open Instagram. Try zooming in and out. This simple restart should fix most transient bugs.
5. Clear Instagram’s Cache
If a corrupted cache is causing the camera glitches, wiping Instagram’s cache can sort out the issue. The app cache contains temporary files and data for the camera that may have become outdated or buggy.
To clear the Instagram cache on Android:
- Open Settings: Go to your phone’s settings menu.
- Navigate to Apps: Find the “Apps” or “Apps & notifications” section within the Settings app.
- Select Instagram: Scroll through the list of apps and tap on “Instagram.”
- Access Storage: On the Instagram app info page, tap on “Storage.”
- Clear Cache: In the Storage section, tap the “Clear Cache” button. This will remove temporary data stored by Instagram.
To clear the Instagram cache on iPhone:
- Locate the Instagram app: Find the Instagram app icon on your iPhone’s home screen.
- Press and hold the app: Tap and hold on the Instagram app icon until a menu pops up.
- Select “Remove App”: From the menu, choose the “Remove App” option.
- Confirm deletion: Tap “Delete App” to confirm that you want to remove the app from your device. This will also clear its cache.
- Reinstall Instagram: Go to the App Store, search for Instagram, and download it again. You’ll need to log back into your account.
The camera zoom should perform smoothly now without any troublesome cache bogging it down!
6. Uninstall and Reinstall Instagram
If nothing else has worked so far, uninstall and reinstall Instagram from scratch. This will give you a clean slate without any corrupted files that may be interfering with the camera.
On iPhone:
Delete Instagram > Re-download it from the App Store
On Android devices:
Go to Settings > Apps > Instagram > Uninstall > Reinstall from Play Store
Setting up Instagram like new will ensure all necessary camera software files work properly. Barring any deeper hardware or iOS problems, reinstalling Instagram in this manner should get the camera fully functional again.
7. Reset Instagram Camera Settings
Instead of completely removing Instagram, you can also reset just the Instagram camera. Resetting will restore the camera back to factory settings, potentially fixing any corrupted settings that are preventing zoom from working normally.
Reset camera on iPhone:
Go to Instagram Settings > Scroll down to Reset Settings > Reset Camera Settings
Reset camera on Android devices:
Go to Instagram Settings (gear icon) > Data Usage > Reset Camera Settings
Confirm that you want to reset the camera and loses all customizations. Once the camera resets to defaults, open Instagram and check if zoom works fine. Resetting often fixes camera glitches.
8. Use Pinch-to-Zoom Instead of Buttons
Okay this isn’t so much a ‘fix’, but rather a temporary workaround. If Instagram’s on-screen zoom controls remain busted no matter what, use pinch-to-zoom as an alternative way of zooming in and out.
To pinch-zoom, place two fingers on the camera screen and pinch them outwards to digitally zoom out. Pinch inwards with two fingers to zoom back in.
While not as convenient as simple tap controls, pinch-zooming allows you to continue capturing wide and closeup shots. Use the iOS or Android pinch gestures until Instagram sorts out the issue on their end.
9. Switch to The Native Camera App
If Instagram’s camera is simply beyond salvaging at this point, you can always use your iPhone or Android device’s default camera app instead. The native Camera app isn’t susceptible to Instagram-specific glitches.
Tap on your Camera shortcut icon to launch the stock camera. Use the native camera’s flawless zoom capabilities for all your imaging needs until Instagram fixes the problem. You can later share photos from the Camera app to Instagram as usual.
While less optimized for social sharing compared to Instagram’s specialized camera, it will work reliably with full zoom functionality at least. So rely on the trusted default camera in the interim!
10. Report The Issue to Instagram
Lastly, directly make Instagram’s app developers aware of the unresolved camera zoom issue. Raising widespread user reports is often required for Instagram to acknowledge and prioritize a persistent bug.
To Report Instagram camera problems:
- Go to your profile page in the Instagram app.
- Tap the hamburger menu (three horizontal lines) in the top right corner.
- Tap Settings and privacy.
- Scroll down and tap Help, then proceed to tap on “Report a problem.”
- Follow the on-screen instructions to provide additional details and screenshots (optional).
- Tap Send.
The more users that report the Instagram camera zoom error, quicker Instagram is likely to roll out a targeted bug fix update.
So there you go! Try all the troubleshooting methods one by one until your Instagram camera starts zooming properly again on iPhone and Android.
Reinstalling the app cleanly often works in getting a troublesome camera back in order. And don’t forget to notify Instagram support so they issue a permanent fix.
We hope you found this guide helpful. Share your success stories dealing with Instagram camera woes!
