If you are wondering how to get Reels back on Instagram, the good news is there are a few easy ways to access and use Reels again if it has disappeared from your Instagram app.
What are Instagram Reels?
Instagram Reels are short, entertaining video clips that users can create and share on Instagram. Reels videos can be recorded and edited directly within the Instagram app, and usually involve music, effects, and creative editing. Reels aims to compete with other short-form video apps like TikTok.
When Reels first launched in 2020, it was not available globally. Instagram has since rolled out Reels to most countries. But sometimes Reels can disappear from the Instagram app due to bugs or glitches after updates. If this happens to you, here are some troubleshooting tips to get Reels back on Instagram.
Update the Instagram App
The most common reason Reels goes missing is because your Instagram app needs an update. Open your device’s App Store or Google Play Store to check for an Instagram update and install it. This will give you the latest version of Instagram with all features intact.
App stores usually notify you automatically when app updates are available. But you can also manually check by opening the App Store/Play Store, tapping your profile icon, selecting “Manage Apps & Devices”, and checking the “Updates” tab for any pending Instagram updates.
Restart the Instagram App
If Reels is still missing after updating Instagram, try force closing and restarting the app next. On iPhones, double press the home button and swipe up on the Instagram preview to close it. On Androids, open the app switcher and swipe Instagram away to close it.
After closing Instagram, reopen it from your homescreen. This refresh will clear out any cached bugs preventing Reels from showing up. The restart gives the app a fresh start to load Reels properly again.
Check Your Connectivity
Poor internet connection can also cause features like Reels to temporarily disappear in Instagram. Check that your WiFi or cellular data connection is strong. Disable and re-enable your internet if needed to restore a stable connection.
Try switching from WiFi to cellular data or vice versa. Move closer to your WiFi router to strengthen the signal. Or toggle Airplane Mode on and off to force your device to reconnect to the network.
With spotty connections, Instagram may fail to fully load Reels. But restoring a strong and fast internet access will bring back all features.
Update Your Phone Software
Besides app updates, your device’s software itself may also need updating. On iPhones, install the latest iOS version via Settings > General > Software Update. On Androids, get new Android OS versions from Settings > System > System Update.
Major software updates can sometimes cause instability with apps like Instagram. Upgrading your operating system to the newest release can help resolve any system-related issues causing problems with Reels.
Check Your Region Settings
Instagram has access to your device’s geographic region and language settings. If your region is misconfigured, Instagram may incorrectly limit features that are not fully available in that region yet.
Go to your phone’s Region & Language settings to double check that the correct region is set based on your actual location. This will ensure Instagram enables all appropriate features.
Clear Cache and Data
If Instagram’s cache and data have become corrupted, it can malfunction and fail to load certain parts of the app. To reset Instagram’s local data, go to your phone Settings, select Apps/Application Manager, choose Instagram, and select Clear Cache and Clear Data.
This will wipe Instagram’s temporary files and force it to rebuild them from scratch. Reopening a cleared Instagram app will download a fresh copy of Reels and other features.
Uninstall and Reinstall Instagram
If all else fails, your last resort is to completely uninstall and reinstall Instagram. Backup your Instagram content first before uninstalling to avoid losing your photos and videos.
After uninstalling Instagram, download it again from the app store and log back in to your account. This will give you a brand new Instagram app which should properly load Reels.
Contact Instagram Support
In rare cases, the issue may be account-specific, and you should contact Instagram support. In the Instagram app, go to your profile, open the menu, select Settings > Support > Report a Problem to reach Instagram’s troubleshooting tools.
Here you can report missing Reels as a bug. Instagram will look into the issue on their end and hopefully restore your access to Reels.
You can also browse Instagram’s Help Center online for any other Reels troubleshooting steps or helpful information from Instagram directly.
Enable Reels from Settings
Instagram sometimes tests unreleased features on small groups of users first before rolling them out widely. If you were previously part of an early Reels test group, Instagram may have disabled the feature for you as they expanded it to more users.
To double check if Reels is disabled for your account, go to your Instagram profile, open the menu, and select Settings. Go to Account > Reels and make sure the toggle for “Reels” is enabled.
Update Your Instagram Version
Instagram has multiple versions of its app for different device form factors. Ensure you are running the latest Instagram version optimized specifically for your phone or tablet.
On Android, install Instagram from the Google Play Store. On iPhone, get it from the App Store. Use Instagram for Windows 10 from the Microsoft Store if on a PC. And download Instagram for Mac from the Mac App Store if on a Mac computer.
The right app version will guarantee you have all expected Instagram features for your hardware, including Reels.
Enable Rear Camera Access
Creating Reels requires access to your phone’s rear camera. Check that Instagram has permission to use your phone’s cameras under your device settings.
On iPhones, go to Settings > Privacy > Camera > Instagram and select Read and Write access. On Androids, go to Settings > Apps & Notifications > Permission Manager > Camera > Instagram and enable it.
Granting camera permissions will allow Instagram to launch Reels and record from any of your phone’s cameras.
Log Out and Back In
Logging out and logging back into your Instagram account can help reset any improperly loaded features or configurations associated with your account.
To log out, go to your Instagram profile, open the menu in the top right corner, tap Settings > Log Out. Then simply log back into Instagram with your username and password.
After logging in again, Instagram will reload your account info and settings fresh, hopefully showing Reels properly once more.
Conclusion
With the right troubleshooting techniques, getting Reels back on Instagram is usually a quick and straightforward process. By updating your apps, restarting your device, checking settings, clearing app data, reinstalling Instagram, or contacting support, you can easily restore access to Reels again.
Instagram is constantly evolving, so occasional bugs or missing features are bound to happen after updates. But thankfully the app provides clear tools and options to get Reels and all other parts of Instagram working properly for any user.