No matter how hard you try to dodge them, errors on the web will find their way to you, and one such error is the Instagram CSRF Token Missing or Incorrect.
Being a millennial, most of the Instagram slang and terms are hard for me to interpret (some of them are too weird, right?), and CSRF was one of them.
I remember my first experience seeing the “CSRF token missing or incorrect” error on my Instagram feed.
It took me a few minutes to understand what this meant and then an eternity to find its solution.
Fortunately, after a lot of research and help from my peers, I was able to get myself out of this trouble and took a sigh of relief.
But I don’t want you going through the same hassle as me, which is why I have composed this guide listing all the possible causes of the CSRF token missing or incorrect error and some fixes to help you resolve it.
What Is CSRF?
Before moving towards the reasons and fixes of the “CSRF token missing or incorrect” error on Instagram, let me first tell you what the meaning of CSRF is and what the appearance of this error on your Instagram app indicates.
CSRF, also called Cross-Site Request Forgery, is a security attack that harms the trust of a website in a user’s browser, allowing it to take actions on behalf of the user.
If you see the “CSRF Token Missing or Incorrect” error on your Instagram account, this indicates that the app couldn’t access the cookies required to authorize your login on the application.
What Are the Causes of “Instagram CSRF Token Missing or Incorrect” Error?
Though several reasons lead to the appearance of the “CSRF Token Missing or Incorrect” error on your Instagram app, and sometimes this can be fixed simply by refreshing your Instagram feed, here are a few of the main causes that you should beware of:
1. Your Session Has Expired
If you have been logged into your Instagram account for a long time and haven’t used the app much, you are likely to see the “Incorrect or Missing CSRF Token” error on the application.
This is because the CSRF token associated with the session expires once a certain time limit has passed.
In this case, whenever you try to perform some action on your Instagram app needing a valid CSRF token, you will see the “CSRF Token Missing or Incorrect” error on your screen.
2. Outdated App
Another reason that can make the “CSRF Token Missing or Incorrect” error appear on your Instagram app is the outdated version of your application.
Like other applications, Instagram receives regular updates, and to enjoy the new features and keep the app running on your device, you have to keep updating your Instagram app.
However, if you haven’t done that in so long, you will encounter some problems with your app, the “CSRF Token Missing or Incorrect” error being one.
3. Browser Cache
Different web browsers often cache web pages to improve the overall performance of the website you are visiting.
If you use Instagram on your web browser, your browser might have loaded a web page version with an expired CSRF token.
This can lead to the appearance of a “CSRF Token Missing or Incorrect” error on your Instagram account.
4. Plugins and Extensions
One of the primary reasons for you to see the “CSRF Token Missing or Incorrect” error on your Instagram feed is the use of plugins or extensions with your browser, especially the ones responsible for blocking any ads and protecting your privacy.
These plugins and extensions can interfere with the CSRF token, modifying or blocking it, eventually resulting in this error.
5. Unstable Internet Connection
Last but not least cause for the “CSRF Token Missing or Incorrect” error on your Instagram account is an unstable internet connection.
If your internet connection isn’t stable, the CSRF token can be prevented from loading on your account, which might cause the error.
Fixing the “Instagram CSRF Token Missing Or Incorrect” Error
If this is your time seeing the error message that reads “CSRF Token Missing Or Incorrect” on your Instagram account and you have no clue how to resolve the issue, the 5 step-by-step methods explained below will help you perform the task without much hassle.
Method #1: Relogging to Your Instagram Account
As mentioned above, one of the main reasons you see the error message saying “CSRF Token Missing Or Incorrect” is that your session on the Instagram app has expired.
Here is what you need to do to sign in to your app again and get rid of this problem:
1. Tap your “Profile” icon on your Instagram app at the bottom left corner.
2. Hit the “Hamburger” icon at the upper-right corner of the screen.
3. Select “Settings” on the pop-up menu.
4. Once you are on the Settings page, scroll down and find “Log Out.”
5. Tap “Log Out” to sign yourself out of your Instagram account.
6. Now that you have logged out of your account, tap your profile on your screen.
7. You will be directed to your account if you have saved your Login info on your device.
8. If your Log-In info isn’t saved, enter your password and tap “Login.”
9. You have successfully Logged into your account and won’t see the error message on your screen now.
Method #2: Updating Instagram App
Updating your Instagram app is another thing you can do to resolve the “CSRF Token Missing Or Incorrect” error on your device.
Following are the steps you need to go through for this:
1. Head to the App Store on your iPhone.
2. Hit the “Search” icon on the bottom bar.
3. Type “Instagram” in the search bar at the top to find the Instagram application.
4. If an update for your Instagram application is available, you will see “Update” next to the app.
5. Tap “Update” and wait while your app updates.
6. Once the app update completes, open your Instagram app and see if the error is gone.
Method #3: Clearing Browser Cache
The accumulated cache files on the web browser you are using to run your Instagram account could cause the “CSRF Token Missing Or Incorrect” error to appear on your app.
Clearing the Browser Cache for your Instagram app can help you resolve this error.
Here are some methods to clear your Instagram app caches on different browsers, including Safari and Chrome.
Clearing Browser Cache on Chrome
To clear the browser cache for Instagram on the Chrome browser, here is what you need to do:
1. Open the Chrome browser on your device.
2. Tap the “Menu” or “Three-Dot” icon at the bottom.
3. Select “Settings” on the pop-up menu.
4. Scroll down on the Settings page and hit “Privacy and security.”
5. Select “Clear Browsing Data” on the next tab.
6. Ensure the “Cached Images and Files” option is checked.
7. Choose the “Clear Browsing Data” option.
8. Hit “Clear Browsing Data” again to successfully delete the browser cache for Instagram.
9. Now, go to your Instagram account and check for the error.
Clearing Browser Cache on Safari
If you are using the Safari browser to run your Instagram account, the following are the steps you need to follow:
1. Go to “Settings” on your iPhone.
2. Scroll down to find the Safari app and tap to open it.
3. Tap the “Clear History and Website Data.”
4. Choose the “Clear History and Data” option on the screen to clear the browser cache for Instagram.
5. Head to your Instagram app to see if the error is fixed.
Method #4: Disabling Extensions
Disabling plugins and extensions on your web browser is another thing that can help you fix the “CSRF Token Missing or Incorrect” error on your Instagram feed.
For this, here is what you need to do:
Step #1: Head to the “Menu” tab on Chrome
Open the Chrome browser on your device. Select the “three-dot” icon at the top to access the menu tab.
Step #2: Go to “Extensions”
Select the “More tools” option on the drop-down menu. Click “Extensions” to access all the extensions and plugins you are currently using.
Step #3: Disable the Extension
You will now see all the extensions added to your browser on the screen. Find the extension that manages the security or privacy of your browser (in this case, it’s AdBlock). Tap the toggle on the extension to disable it.
Method #5: Restarting the Device
A glitch or problem within your mobile phone can also cause the “CSRF Token Missing or Incorrect” error to appear on your Instagram account.
You can fix it with a simple device restart following these steps:
1. Hold the “Power” button on the side of your iPhone.
2. Once you see the power off slider on the screen, let go of the “Power” button.
3. Swipe on the slider to turn off your device.
4. Wait a few seconds and press the “Power” button once you see the “Apple” logo.
5. When the device turns on again, open your Instagram app and check for the issue.
Conclusion – Instagram CSRF Token Missing Or Incorrect – Reasons & How to Fix?
In this guide, I have explored the Instagram CSRF Token Missing or Incorrect error with you.
I have taken you through all the possible causes for the appearance of this error on your Instagram account and provided you with a set of fixes you can try to resolve this problem.
Hopefully, one of these methods will help you get yourself out of this issue, and you can use your Instagram app like before.
If you are still facing issues after following the above steps, you can post your specific question in our techrandm discussion forums and get help from other community members.