Cross-Site Request Forgery, or CSRF, is implemented by most websites to prevent unauthorized actions on a user’s account.
Hackers generally use CSRF to manipulate specific actions on your Instagram account without your knowledge. Therefore, this security measure is used to protect unauthorized requests made on the user’s behalf.
When the user performs any action on the website, like clicking on a button or submitting any form, then a CSRF token gets included in the request to make sure that the action is legitimate and isn’t done by hackers.
Read through the article to know in detail.
Also read: Fix: Limit How Often You Can Do Things On Instagram Error.
Why Am I Receiving The CSRF Token Missing Or Incorrect While Logging On To Instagram?
If you have encountered the CSRF token mismatch error on Instagram, it signifies that the specific token required for the request is either missing or doesn’t match the expected value.
But don’t forget to explore the causes of the error first before you go ahead with the troubleshooting steps.
There are many causes of Instagram’s “CSRF Token Missing or Incorrect” error.
- Server issue on Instagram
- Outdated version of the app
- Blocked IP address
- Problematic Cache
- Expired sessions
- Plugins and extensions
- Unstable internet
- Outdated version of the app
- Technical glitches
How To Fix The Instagram “CSRF Token Missing Or Incorrect” Error?
If you encounter the error message “CSRF Token Missing or Incorrect” while logging in to your Instagram account, then go through the fixes discussed below.
1) Restart Device
Restarting the device can fix minor errors. So, it is advisable first to restart your device and then check for the issue.
A minor glitch in the mobile phone can also be responsible for the “CSRF Token Missing Or Incorrect” error on your Instagram account.
All you need to do is to hold the power button on your phone and swipe the slider on the screen to power off your device.
Once the device restarts, see if the problem is fixed. If not, then refresh the page and see.
2) Refresh The Page
Temporary glitches can also trigger Instagram’s “CSRF token missing or incorrect” error. This can be resolved easily by refreshing the page.
So, click on the refresh button as shown below to refresh the page if you are accessing Instagram from your PC.
If you are using Instagram from your mobile device, then just swipe the screen down, and the Instagram page will get refreshed.
If the error appears again, then check your internet connection.
3) Check The Internet Connection
An unstable and slow internet connection can also be responsible for CSRF token mismatch.
Network interruptions during sending or receiving data will disrupt the transmission of CSRF tokens, thereby leading to the error.
A secure and stable internet connection is required to resolve the CSRF issue.
You can turn off your internet connection for a few minutes before you turn it on again.
You can visit speedtest.net to check the internet speed.
In case the internet speed is fine, then check the server status.
4) Check Instagram’s Server Status
It is quite essential to check Instagram’s server status to see if there is a CSRF token missing or an incorrect error.
If there is any issue at Instagram’s end, then there is nothing to worry about since their technical team will resolve the issue at the earliest.
All you need to do is to wait patiently for the error to get fixed.
Visit Downdetector and check the server status of Instagram to find out whether the issue is from their end.
If there is no server issue, then you can try using another device.
5) Use Another Device
You can try accessing Instagram from a different device to see check if the same error gets displayed.
If it doesn’t, then it means that the previous device on which you were accessing the Instagram app has some problem.
It is also possible that Instagram has blocked your device’s IP address due to any reason.
So, you can use Instagram on a separate device. But if you encounter the same ‘Instagram CSRF token missing or incorrect’ error on another device, log out and log in back.
6) Log Out And Log In Back
Logging out of your account and logging in back can establish a fresh session that can be potentially helpful in fixing the temporary issues related to CSRF.
So, first, log out from your Instagram account from all the devices and browsers you are logged in to.
Take a break for a few minutes before logging back into your account.
If it still doesn’t solve the problem, then update the Instagram app.
7) Update Instagram App
Updating the Instagram app is another thing that can be done when you encounter a CSRF error on your device.
By updating the Instagram app to the latest version, you will be able to fix bugs and security patches that are related to CSRF tokens.
It is highly recommended to keep the apps up-to-date to ensure you have the latest bug fixes. For downloading photos from your Instagram account, check out this article.
This is how you can update the app:
- Go to Play Store and type “Instagram” on the search bar.
- Hit the search bar in order to find the Instagram application at the top of the search result.
- If you find an “Update” button next to the app, click on it to update it.
- If you see an “Open” button instead, then this means that the app is already updated. If it is so, then update your device.
8) Update Device Version
It has been observed that certain applications require the latest version of the device to work smoothly.
So, if the device where you are accessing Instagram isn’t up to date, then update your device.
Follow the steps in the case of Android devices:
- First, go to the Settings option and then click on the “System Updates” option.
- If you come across any updates, then update your device from the given point.
- If there is no need to update the device, then clear the browser cache and cookies.
9) Clear Browser Cache And Cookies
Clearing cache and cookies will be helpful in resolving conflicts and outdated data that is known to cause the Instagram “CSRF token missing or incorrect” error.
If the stored cookie for Instagram is corrupted or contains wrong CSRF data, then this can trigger such errors.
Here is how you can clear the browser cache:
- Open Chrome and click on the three dots menu.
- Expand “More tools” and then select the “Clear browsing data” option.
- Choose a specific Time Range and check the “Cookies and other site data” & “cached images and files” boxes.
- Next, click on the “Clear data” button and check whether the problem persists. If it does, then disable the proxy server.
10) Disable Proxy Server
Proxy server configurations are not always compatible with the Instagram CSRF tokens.
Certain proxies are known to modify or block the token unnecessarily, resulting in the error.
Disabling it will result in a stable network connection, thereby reducing the chance of an error.
This is how the proxy server can be disabled:
- Open the Run utility by pressing the Windows + R keys.
- Type “inetcpl.cpl” and press Enter to open the Internet Properties window.
- In the next window that opens, go to the “Connections” tab.
- Click on the “LAN settings” button, and in that window, uncheck the box next to the “Use a proxy server for your LAN” option.
- Save the changes by clicking on the “OK” button.
- After disabling the proxy server, check for the existing issue. If the error re-appears, then disable the browser extensions.
11) Disable Third-Party Browser Extension
Third-party extensions modify the behavior of the website sometimes and interfere with the functioning of the website. This can potentially lead to issues with CSRF token handling.
Disabling these extensions will allow the websites to function normally without any interference.
Follow the steps for disabling the browser extensions:
- Open Google Chrome and select Extension> Manage Extensions.
- To disable the browser extensions, toggle off the button for each extension.
- To remove the Extension, click on “Remove.”
- Go ahead with the reinstallation of the app if you are still unable to overcome the Instagram CSRF error after removing the browser extensions.
12) Reinstall The App
Reinstalling a fresh and new Instagram app will eliminate the corrupted files that are responsible for this error.
Outdated or incompatible versions of the Instagram app result in compatibility issues.
Reinstallation of the app ensures that you have the latest and updated version that is necessary for the proper functionality of the app.
This is how you can reinstall the app:
- First, you need to go to the home screen of your mobile and look for the Instagram app.
- Press & hold it and then click on the “Uninstall app” option.
- After you have done that, go to the Play Store and then install the latest Instagram app.
13) Contact Instagram Support
Contacting Instagram support is the last way that can help you in fixing the CSRF token mismatch error.
Reaching out to Instagram support for assistance is actually a good thing to do. The guidance and insights of the technicians will help you to sort out the issue with ease.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Can I Use A Different Internet Connection Or Network To Resolve The “CSRF Token Missing Or Incorrect” Error?
Yes, you can connect to Instagram by using a different internet connection or network to see whether it resolves the issue.
- How Often Does The “CSRF Token Missing Or Incorrect” Error Occur On Instagram?
The frequency of this error generally varies, and this is quite rare.
- Can A Faulty Network Connection Or Network Settings Cause The “CSRF Instagram Token Missing Or Incorrect” Error?
Yes, network connectivity issues or misconfigured network settings can cause the “CSRF Instagram Token Missing Or Incorrect” Error.”
Bottomline
The “CSRF Token Missing Or Incorrect” Error is not only specific to Instagram and can occur on other websites too that use CSRF protection.
So, if you encounter such errors elsewhere, perform the same methods, and this should fix the issue. Write to us in case of further doubts or queries.