Instagram users seeing ‘Unavailable message’ notices in chats from deleted or disabled accounts

Instagram users are noticing a frustrating change in their direct messages. Conversations with accounts that have been deleted or disabled now show a grayed-out notice reading, “Unavailable message. This message is no longer available because the account it was sent from has been disabled.” The shift appears to be recent, with many longtime users saying they could previously view messages from deactivated accounts indefinitely. Now, only the messages they sent themselves remain visible, leaving gaps in old chats.

I was able to confirm the same on my end too. Several accounts that I engaged with through DMs that have been disabled now show the same error. However, I can see the messages I sent to them. I too have been able to read those messages earlier, just like how several others have stated.

The issue has sparked confusion and disappointment. One user described losing years of messages with a close friend who deleted their account, calling the chat history a collection of “fond memories” they hoped to revisit. Others shared similar stories, including someone who mentioned losing advice from a relative who passed away, leaving them unable to revisit what they considered precious digital keepsakes. “This feels like losing a piece of the past,” one person wrote.

Attempts to recover these messages through Instagram’s “Download Your Information” tool have had mixed results. A few users said downloading their data restored some texts and media, but many found the process unreliable. Voice messages, photos, and videos often failed to load properly, requiring manual fixes like renaming files. Even then, recent messages sometimes remained missing. “It kinda worked, but not really,” said one person who tried the method.

Speculation about why Instagram made this change is growing. Some users claim it’s a storage-saving measure, as keeping old messages from inactive accounts could strain servers. Others worry it’s a permanent policy shift, pointing out that Meta-owned platforms like Facebook’s Messenger have made similar updates in the past. So far, Instagram has not officially addressed the issue, leaving users to guess whether the change is intentional or a glitch.

While some advise screenshotting important conversations, others argue that’s impractical for lengthy chats. “These sites aren’t guaranteed to be there in the morning,” one user remarked, urging others to back up data regularly.

So sadly, if you have an old conversation near and dear to you on Instagram, chances are that you might never be able to read it again if the person disabled their account. In the off chance that you can still see the conversation, screenshotting it might be your best bet before it disappears.