Did Instagram just blocked App Store Links?

Question

Created 18h

Replies 4

Boosts 1

Participants 3

Is anyone else seeing Instagram fail to open App Store links tonight? Started for me a few hours ago, iOS only.

To rule out my own setup I put a bare App Store URL straight in my bio, and I also tapped the App Store links on a few competitors' sites. Same result every time: nothing happens, no error, no page.

Same phone, same moment: Safari works, Facebook and YouTube work, TikTok fails.

Has Instagram started blocking store links the way TikTok does? If so, it looks like we're back to telling people to tap the ⋯ menu and "Open in external browser" before they can install anything.

Answer 1

mike_fdb OP

14h

Yes, same here…

Answer 2

Nataliepeall OP

9h

I really hope not :( If so, my business is in trouble. Surely this will be affecting app ads that link to the App Store also?! It actually started happening about 4 days ago when Instagram released their latest app update. Spent 4 hours trying to get support yesterday as I’m verified and got absolutely no where. I’m currently awaiting an email from tech support but I doubt it will come. I’m very worried about this

Answer 3

Nataliepeall OP

9h

Also to add Play Store links for Android users are not being blocked, so surely if this was intentional both would be blocked?!

Answer 4

MRLAMedia OP

5h

Yeah it's incredibly odd. It looks like some of you are now also experiencing the same problem. And correct, Android Instagram browser still works fine and opens up Google Play. But iOS Instagram browser fails to activate the App Store page. I hope this is temporarily... my current solution right now is a redirect page that if doesn't open the app store in a few seconds, a message pops up telling people to click on the ... dots and Open in browser.