Key Takeaways
- Identify app issues by checking your internet and Instacart’s social media.
- Common problems include server overloads, updates, and connectivity issues.
- Troubleshoot by restarting the app, updating it, or switching internet sources.
- If persistent, use the website or contact Instacart support for help.
Identifying Instacart App Problems
When the Instacart application isn’t working, looking up what you’re dealing with is crucial.
It could be a momentary outage, with the services returning within a few minutes, or a complete service breakdown, rendering the app inaccessible for hours.
There’s also a chance that it’s your application performing slowly due to poor internet connection or because they’re revamping specific features.
Because of that, you should check your internet connection before anything else. Try opening other applications or browsing the internet for random items or facts.
If your internet connection is working properly, the next step is to check Instacart’s official social media accounts for any real-time updates on service issues.
If you don’t see anything on their accounts, you can visit websites like Downstats, Downtime Expert, or Downdetector to learn if the service is down.
Common Reasons for Instacart Being Down
Be it a feature-specific outage or a complete one, there are several reasons such issues could happen, including the following:
Server Overloads
A server overload is a common problem that happens when the number of user requests exceeds what the Instacart servers can handle.
These servers are the backbone of excellent services online as they handle everything from users signing up, and logging in to saving items and ordering.
That’s why when they’re “overloaded,” the servers slow down significantly, affecting your experience by leading to longer loading times, transaction delays, or even the dreaded “server unavailable.”
When does this happen, you wonder?
There isn’t a straight answer here, but you can always bet something might go down during peak shopping times—weekends, holidays, or when Instacart launches special promotions.
Application Updates
As with any application, regular updates are essential for Instacart to maintain its smooth operation as well as introduce new features, bug fixes, or security enhancements.
Though this is usually good news, when the update is pending or in the process of being installed, users can experience temporary disruptions.
Also, if you haven’t updated your app to the latest version, you can miss out on necessary patches that address these issues, leading to a mismatch between your version and what the servers expect.
Internet Connectivity Issues
When you have a poor or unstable internet connection, you’ll find yourself dealing with a host of problems that might trick you into thinking that Instacart is down.
Some of these issues include the application not loading, timeouts during order placement, or failed payment transactions.
Diagnosing this issue is straightforward. All you have to do is check if other online services are also affected or open Google and search for anything.
If the other services display the same issues, the problem is likely your internet connection.
Maintenance and Upgrades
Most applications periodically undergo maintenance and upgrade sessions to ensure their platform operates smoothly or introduce new features or UI.
These sessions are often scheduled during off-peak hours to minimize disruption. Still, they can cause a few minutes of downtime, leaving users unable to access the app or particular parts.
Nonetheless, this type of maintenance is essential for the long-term health of the service.
How To Fix Common Instacart Issues
Now that you understand what could cause this problem with Instacart, it’s time to see how you can fix it.
Restarting the App
One of the first tricks we all resort to when something isn’t working is to close it and open it again. That means when the Instacart app isn’t working, a quick restart should be your first step.
For that, you need to remove the app from your list of recent applications by following these steps:
- For Androids: Tap the square navigation buttons at the bottom and swipe the app away. If you don’t have navigation buttons, swipe up from the bottom of the screen, hold for a second until you see the open application list, and close the app from there.
- On IOS: Double-click the home button (or use the home gesture on newer models) and swipe the app’s preview upward to close.
Once you have it closed, wait a few seconds before opening it again. This process can help clear temporary glitches and restore functionality without altering your data.
Checking for App Updates
When there’s been an update or a maintenance upgrade, and you haven’t installed it, you can face a couple of issues. To check for updates:
- Go to the app store on your phone (Google Play Store if you’re Android)
- Search for Instacart
- If there’s an update available, you’ll see the word “Update” instead of “Open.” Press it to install the latest version.
Verifying Internet Connection
As soon as your internet signal goes from good to inadequate, so does your shopping experience!
When experiencing a poor internet connection, try switching from Wi-Fi and mobile data to see if there’s any improvement.
For Wi-Fi, ensure you’re within a good range of your router. For mobile data, check your data plan to guarantee you haven’t exceeded your data limit.
Pro Tip: Sometimes, toggling the “Airplane Mode” on and off can reset your device’s network connectivity, possibly fixing your internet issues.
Using the Website
When the application is completely down and nothing you do makes it work, you can use the Instacart website. All you have to do is:
- Open your favorite browser (Chrome, Edge, etc…)
- Go to https://www.instacart.com/
Using the website instead of the application can help you bypass several issues that could be connected to the app alone, like possible upgrades and maintenance.
Contacting Support
If you’ve tried all the previous ones and nothing seems to work, reaching out to customer support is the next best action.
You can contact them by going to the app or website and searching the “Help” or “Contact Us” section.
It’s best to have your issue outlined or written down so you can relay it correctly to the customer service agent.
This means include any error messages you’ve seen or the troubleshooting steps you’ve already attempted.
Having this information ready and organized can make it much easier for their support team to diagnose your issues and fix them for you.
When to Wait It Out
There are times when there isn’t much you can do about Instacart being down.
Such instances include when the company acknowledges a widespread outage or if they’re upgrading their services.
When this happens, all you can do is sit and wait patiently until all is fixed.
You can keep an eye on their social media accounts in case they share when everything is working again.
How to Stay Informed
When the Instacart application is down, you’ll need to stay informed by following more than one source.
Start by looking at Instacart’s official social media accounts on platforms like X (previously Twitter) and Facebook.
You can also head to their site and look for the “Help” or “Contact Us” section to reach out to them and ask when the application will be up again.
For a broader perspective, third-party outage-tracking websites can deliver real-time data on user reports.
Some of these sites include Downdetector, Downtime Expert, and DownStats, which provide a sense of the outage’s scope and scale across different regions.
Comparing Instacart with Other Delivery Apps During Downtimes
When you compare Instacart with other grocery services during outages, you’ll notice there’s an unsatisfactory pattern—even during ordinary times.
Often big companies, such as Uber Eats, communicate with their clients to help mitigate current issues, whatever their type.
Yet, according to various reviews on Trustpilot and ConsumerAffairs, Instacart’s customer service is beyond poor, rendering them useless in times of crisis.
This comes in stark contrast with other competitors who don’t lose their application as much to downtime and offer better customer help.
Sadly, the effectiveness of handling such outages and communication with various users can affect their services and the quality of their shopping experience significantly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Talk To a Live Person at Instacart?
Yes, you can. If the virtual agent can’t help you solve your problem at all, you’ll be prompted to choose between in-app chat or a voice call to help fix your issues.
Why is Instacart’s Cash Out Not Working?
This problem happens often because your information was recently updated, added incorrectly, or there’s a technical glitch.
Head to the settings section and go through your most important information, like your credit card number, to ensure everything is right. If everything is correct, contact customer services to troubleshoot.
Final Thoughts
Now, do you know what to do when Instacart is down? Well, start by checking your internet connection.
Then, head to Instacart’s social media account. Over there, you’ll be able to find out if this is a momentary disruption or if there’s something bigger happening behind the scenes.
If you don’t find it there, go to third-party websites like Downdetector to get a clearer answer.
Finally, if everything is running perfectly but the problem is on your end, check if the app needs updates or contact their customer service for help.
