The largest internet platforms and web services frequently make use of specialized anti-fraud systems (to prevent fraudulent actions) and bots (automated scripts used for scraping, boosting ratings, behavioral factors etc.). Instagram is not an exception.
There are too many people interested in using Instagram for advertising and various other purposes, such as competitor analysis, managing multiple accounts, mass following, mass liking etc. Instagram has a daily audience exceeding hundreds of millions of users. Thus, the desire to protect against parasitic traffic is completely justified.
Situations when the built-in protection system is activated erroneously, preventing users from accessing their accounts, are not uncommon.
The Challenge required ig error is one of the samples. We’ll discuss it further.
So, what does challenge required mean on Instagram? "Challenge" is translated from English as "test," "problem," "task," or "doubtful situation." However, there are multiple other translations of this word.
An approximate translation of the phrase ig Challenge Required sounds like "a challenge is needed."
The “Challenge_Required” error generally indicates that Instagram's security system has doubts about the legitimacy of the login attempt. Therefore, it prevents authorization and suspicious user activity.
The system usually attempts to request (or send) additional login data, but if a user ignores it, the above mentioned error may occur.
As a result, it becomes impossible to log into the account from a specific device where the problem arose - neither after a reboot nor after a password reset or any other actions.
This is a kind of a temporary ban issued by the security system if it detects actions that resemble automated processes (similar to scripts, bots or hacking attempts).
The situation can be disappointing, especially for account owners with a large amount of followers and businesses tied to their Instagram accounts.
The most likely reason is an erroneous security system block. It can occur due to a combination of several factors:
In addition to obvious user-related reasons, there can be some other factors, such as:
First, make sure that your devices or local network are not sending automated requests to Instagram domains. Scan all your devices with antivirus programs and ensure there is no suspicious software installed: various utilities, unknown games, anti-detection browsers etc.
Second, if you've changed your device or the login type (e.g., switched from the mobile app to logging in through the built-in browser), try to log into your account using the last working method. This approach significantly increases your chances for success.
Third, check your connection type. For example, if you used your account with home Wi-Fi, make sure your device hasn't switched to a mobile or another network (e.g., your neighbor's Wi-Fi).
Fourth, update the Instagram app to the latest version (use official sources and marketplaces only).
Fifth, use the built-in system browser to check the availability and functionality of the Instagram website from the same device (this might be a temporary issue with the network provider or Instagram itself).
Sixth, if none of the previous steps have improved the situation, change your IP address, for instance, by rebooting your router (if your provider supports dynamic IP address changes) or by using proxies, preferably mobile or residential ones with a clean history.
Using a VPN to change your IP address may do more harm because their IP address pools are usually small and could be known to Instagram's security system. Alternatively, you might need a verified VPN to work with Instagram.
Seventh, if changing the IP address does not help (when the issue is with your account), just wait for some time. Usually, a couple of days (between 24 to 48 hours) are enough, but in particularly complex cases (like shadow bans, for example), access to a specific account may be suspended for up to 2 weeks.
If you use automation tools (like mass following, mass liking, multi-accounts etc.), the likelihood of encountering the Challenge_Required Instagram error significantly increases.
To avoid such an unpleasant situation and to bypass an existing error, you can undertake the following steps:
If you are engaged in mass actions on Instagram as well as in managing a large number of parallel accounts, the Challenge_Required error won't be the only one you encounter.
Among the most common login errors, the following ones should be mentioned:
Official mobile applications cannot work through proxies; they use direct connections only.
To connect to Instagram through intermediary servers, you'll need to use one of the following methods:
The most convenient format is the one that allows for proxy rotation. This may help reduce the risk of being blocked. In other words, proxy rotators or specialized software that allows adding your proxy lists when working with multiple accounts are among the best options.
Since Instagram's security system is quite sensitive, we recommend renting only high-quality white proxies with maximum anonymity of the following types:
Both types should have forced rotation and high-quality targeting, so that new IP addresses are selected as closely together as possible, making the changeover appear more realistic to Instagram's security systems.
The Instagram Challenge_Required error most often occurs due to incorrect or atypical user behavior during the authorization process. To bypass it, you can either change your IP address or simply wait ( this may take up to 48 hours of inactivity).
If the error occurs during mass actions and the use of specialized automation scripts, additional protective measures for profile software are required. You should consider implementing proxies, reducing transaction frequency and reviewing scripts for adequacy (their behavior should be similar to the actions of real users).
You can purchase high-quality mobile and residential proxies from us. Froxy offers a pool of over 8 million IP addresses as well as targeting up to the city/provider level. Automatic or on-demand rotation is possible. Proxy lists can be uploaded in various formats - they are easy to integrate with specialized Instagram software.