Session Not Starting or Failing

Sessions failing to start or stopping unexpectedly can be frustrating. This guide helps you diagnose and resolve session-related issues.

Session Stuck Starting

Issue: Session Won’t Start

Symptoms:

• Session keeps showing “Starting” or “Launching”
• Status doesn’t change for several minutes

Solutions:

1. Check that Maximum run time is set (most common cause):
   • In the Session tab, Maximum run time is a required field (1–6 hours)
   • The bot will not run without it — if it’s empty, set it before trying again
   • Sessions stop after the configured Max run time, not always 6 hours
2. Wait a bit longer:
   • Normal startup can take up to 5 minutes
   • The session needs time to set up the in-browser Instagram connection
3. Refresh the page:
   • Sometimes the screen doesn’t update right away
   • Refresh the page to check current status
   • Look for the “Running” badge
4. Check your internet connection:
   • Unstable connection prevents proper startup
   • Make sure you have reliable internet
5. Verify the account is ready:
   • Account status should show “No session running” or “Session running”
   • If it shows “Account error”, resolve the reconnection first
   • If it shows “No engagement setup”, configure targeting before starting
   • You cannot start sessions on accounts with errors
6. Know the time limit:
   • Sessions stop after your configured Maximum run time (1–6 hours)
   • This is a safety feature to protect your account
   • Plan your sessions accordingly

Safety warning: Do not use Instagram on any devices during these hours to avoid account suspension. Influxie recommends running your sessions while you sleep. Schedule sessions in your local timezone — start times use whole hours only (minutes are forced to :00).

Session Stops Immediately

Issue: Session Fails Right After Starting

Symptoms:

• Session starts then stops within seconds
• Error message appears
• Session shows “error” status

Causes:

1. Configuration errors
2. Missing or invalid targets
3. Per-session limits already reached (a previous session already ran today)
4. Account connection issues
5. Maximum run time not set (required — bot won’t run without it)

Solutions:

1. Check your settings:
   • Make sure your configuration lists aren’t empty
   • Verify your target lists have valid entries
   • Check that your filters aren’t too restrictive
2. Review the session report:
   • Go to the Sessions tab
   • Click on the failed session
   • Look for error details and what went wrong
3. Check if a session already ran today:
   • Limits are per session, not per day
   • If you already ran a session, start a new one to get a fresh limit pool
   • Adjust your per-session limits in settings if needed
4. Reconnect your account if needed:
   • Check if you see the error within the Account’s page to ensure you do not need to reconnect your Instagram account to Influxie
   • If you need to reconnect your Instagram account, complete the login process again
   • Try starting the session after reconnecting

Session Stops Unexpectedly During Execution

Issue: Session Stops Mid-Execution

Symptoms:

• Session was running then suddenly stopped
• The Sessions tab row shows a “Session error” badge for that session
• Partial results in session report

Solutions:

1. Check session report for errors:
   • Go to the Sessions tab
   • Click on the stopped session
   • Look for error messages in the report
2. If you see “Action Blocked”:
   • Instagram has temporarily limited your account
   • Wait 24-48 hours before running another session
   • Reduce your per-session limits by at least half
   • Review Account Safety Best Practices
3. If Instagram temporarily blocks your actions (e.g. a “try again later” message):
   • You’re hitting Instagram’s daily activity limits
   • Reduce your per-session limits
   • Space out your sessions more (run fewer sessions per day)
4. If connection was interrupted:
   • Check your internet connection
   • Make sure you have stable internet throughout the session
   • Consider running shorter sessions
5. Review your settings:
   • Your filters might be too strict (finding no targets)
   • Your configured Maximum run time may have elapsed
   • You may have reached your per-session interaction limit

Session Runs But Takes Few or No Actions

Issue: The session finished, but it barely followed, unfollowed, or liked anyone

This is frustrating — the session “ran” but your numbers are near zero. The bot can only act on accounts it can find and reach, so this usually means targeting or limits are starving it of work.

Common causes & fixes:

1. No targeting configured (Manual mode with nothing set). If you’re in Manual mode but haven’t turned on a targeting source (Specific accounts, Follow accounts, Unfollow accounts, Feed, or Hashtags), the bot has no one to interact with. Status shows “No engagement setup”. Fix: open the Engage tab and configure at least one source.

2. Targeting too narrow or sources have no audience. Your “Specific accounts” or hashtags may be too small, private, or inactive to yield targets. Fix: broaden your list, add more accounts/hashtags (up to 20), or try Automatic mode and let Influxie discover audiences from your content categories.

3. “Minimum following” filter set very high. In Specific-accounts targeting, the minimum following limit skips accounts that follow fewer than the threshold. If it’s set high, most targets get skipped. The default is 50 — lower it if you’re getting no actions.

4. Per-session limits set very low. If your Follow / Unfollow / Likes limits are tiny, the bot hits them almost immediately. Check the Engage tab (Follow/Unfollow) and Session tab (Likes) and raise them gradually.

5. Follow and Unfollow cancel each other out (growth looks flat). If your unfollow limit is close to your follow limit and you’re using “unfollow non-followers,” you may follow and unfollow similar numbers — so net growth looks like zero. Fix: keep unfollow lower than follow, and lean on “unfollow non-followers.”

6. Account is restricted by Instagram. A soft action block limits what your account can do even though the session “runs.” If you’ve seen action-block warnings, pause sessions for 24–48 hours, then resume with lower limits.

Issue: Sessions keep stopping every day (a repeating pattern)

If a session fails around the same point each day, it’s usually a settings or safety issue, not a one-off glitch:

• Limits too high for your account. Lower your per-session limits by ~30–50% for a few days and see if it stabilizes.
• Run time too long. Try a shorter Maximum run time (Session tab).
• Instagram is throttling the account. Take a 24–48 hour break, then resume conservatively.
• Check the session report for the error (a red “Session error” badge) — it usually names the cause.

Settings Errors

Issue: Settings Preventing Session Start

Symptoms:

• Session won’t start
• Error about your configuration
• Vague error message about settings

Solutions:

1. Verify configuration lists:
   • Activated configuration lists shouldn’t be empty
   • Use multiple options in your configuration lists
   • Make sure list inputs are valid
2. Review your filters:
   • Very strict filters may find no targets
   • Influxie has a Minimum following filter (default 50) — there is no “minimum followers” filter
   • Make sure filters aren’t impossible to satisfy
3. Check your interaction limits:
   • Make sure your total limit is high enough
   • Setting it too low prevents actions

When to Contact Support

Contact Support If You’ve:

• ✗ Waited 10+ minutes for session to launch
• ✗ Tried multiple restarts without success
• ✗ Experienced repeated session failures
• ✗ Seen persistent error messages you can’t resolve

Information to Provide

When contacting support about session issues:

1. Account name: Which Instagram account
2. Session status: Current status displayed
3. Error messages: Exact error text
4. Screenshot: Of the error or session page
5. Time of issue: When the problem occurred
6. What you tried: Steps you’ve already taken

Prevention Tips

Avoid Future Session Issues

1. Start with conservative limits:
   • Reduces strain on systems
   • Fewer errors and blocks
   • More reliable sessions
2. Maintain stable internet:
   • Unstable connection causes session failures
   • Use reliable network for session duration
   • Avoid public WiFi when possible
3. Keep configuration valid:
   • Always have target lists populated
   • Ensure Maximum run time is set (1–6 hours, required)
   • Don’t set filters too restrictively
4. Monitor session health:
   • Check session reports regularly
   • Address issues promptly
   • Learn from session patterns

FAQ

How long does a session take to start?

Up to about 5 minutes while the in-browser Instagram connection is set up.

Why did my session stop after only 10 actions?

Likely hit an action block from Instagram or configuration found no targets. Check session report for specific error.

Can I run multiple sessions simultaneously?

Only one session per account at a time. You can have sessions for different accounts running simultaneously.

What should I do if session keeps failing?

Review session report for errors, address the specific issue (usually action blocks or config problems), wait 24-48 hours if action blocked, then retry. If all else fails, contact Influxie Support

Next Steps

• Read Understanding Session Reports
• Learn about Configuration Not Working as Expected
• Explore Account Safety Best Practices