Instagram Banned
Hashtag Checker
Protect your Instagram reach with real-time hashtag checking. Our tool uses a professional API to accurately detect banned or restricted hashtags, helping you avoid shadowbans and maintain healthy engagement.
How Our Hashtag Checker Works
Enter Your Hashtags
Paste your hashtags one per line or comma-separated. We'll automatically format them for checking.
Real-Time Analysis
Our system checks hashtags against professional databases, our curated lists, and AI pattern detection.
Get Results
See which hashtags are safe, restricted, or banned. Make informed decisions about your content.
Why Check for Banned Hashtags?
Avoid Shadowbans
Using banned hashtags can result in your posts being hidden from hashtag feeds, dramatically reducing your organic reach and engagement.
Maintain Reach
Clean hashtag practices help ensure your content reaches your intended audience and maintains healthy engagement metrics.
Stay Updated
Instagram's banned hashtag list changes frequently. Regular checking helps you stay compliant with current platform guidelines.
Platform Safety
Protect your account from potential penalties by avoiding hashtags that violate Instagram's community guidelines and terms of service.
Instagram Hashtag Best Practices
✅ Do This:
- • Use 3-5 highly relevant hashtags per post
- • Mix popular and niche hashtags for better reach
- • Research hashtags before using them
- • Create branded hashtags for your business
- • Monitor your hashtag performance regularly
- • Use location-based hashtags when relevant
❌ Avoid This:
- • Using more than 10-15 hashtags per post
- • Copying the same hashtag set for every post
- • Using irrelevant or misleading hashtags
- • Hashtags with adult, violent, or harmful content
- • Engagement bait hashtags (like4like, follow4follow)
- • Recently trending hashtags without context
Frequently Asked Questions
How often does Instagram update its banned hashtag list?
Instagram updates its banned and restricted hashtag list regularly, sometimes daily. Hashtags can be temporarily or permanently banned based on current events, policy changes, or community guideline violations.
What happens if I use a banned hashtag?
Using banned hashtags can result in your post being hidden from hashtag feeds, reduced reach, or in severe cases, temporary account restrictions. It's best to avoid them entirely to maintain healthy account performance.
How accurate is this hashtag checker?
Our checker is based on known banned and restricted hashtags, but Instagram's list changes frequently. We recommend using this as a guide and always monitoring your post performance to identify any issues.
Can I check hashtags in multiple languages?
Currently, our tool focuses primarily on English hashtags. However, banned hashtag policies apply globally, so many restricted terms translate across languages. We recommend checking hashtags in your target language as well.
What is an Instagram shadowban and how do I avoid it?
A shadowban occurs when Instagram limits your content's visibility without notifying you. Using banned hashtags, posting inappropriate content, or engaging in spam-like behavior can trigger shadowbans. Avoid banned hashtags, post authentic content, and engage naturally to prevent shadowbans.
How many hashtags should I use per Instagram post?
Instagram allows up to 30 hashtags per post, but we recommend using 3-10 highly relevant hashtags. Quality over quantity is key - choose hashtags that accurately describe your content and target audience rather than maxing out the limit.
What's the difference between banned and restricted hashtags?
Banned hashtags are completely blocked and won't show any posts when searched. Restricted hashtags may show limited content or have reduced reach. Both can harm your visibility, but restricted hashtags might still be usable in moderation with careful monitoring.
How do I know if my account is shadowbanned?
Signs of a shadowban include: sudden drop in engagement, posts not appearing in hashtag feeds, reduced reach to non-followers, and decreased story views. You can test by asking friends to search for your posts using hashtags you've used - if they can't find them, you might be shadowbanned.
Can using the same hashtags repeatedly get me shadowbanned?
Yes, using identical hashtag sets repeatedly can trigger Instagram's spam detection. Vary your hashtags for each post, create different hashtag groups for different content types, and avoid copy-pasting the same hashtag combinations every time.
How long does it take to recover from a shadowban?
Shadowban recovery typically takes 1-2 weeks of clean posting behavior. During this time, avoid banned hashtags, don't use automation tools, post high-quality content, and engage authentically. Some accounts recover faster, while others may take longer depending on the severity.
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