Viewing reels you’ve previously seen on Instagram can be useful for finding content you want to revisit or share with friends. Here are a few ways to see your recently viewed Instagram reels:
Check the “Recent” tab on your profile
The easiest way to find reels you’ve previously watched is to go to your own Instagram profile and select the “Recent” tab. This shows your most recent activity on Instagram, including posts, reels, stories and live videos you’ve viewed in the past 24 hours. Your most recently watched reels will be at the top – simply scroll down to find and replay them.
On iOS:
- Open the Instagram app
- Go to your profile by tapping the person icon in the bottom right
- Tap the “Recent” tab at the top of your profile feed
- Scroll down to see your recently viewed reels at the top
On Android:
- Open the Instagram app
- Go to your profile by tapping the person icon in the top right
- Tap the 3 horizontal lines icon to access the menu
- Select “Recent” from the menu
- Scroll down to see your recently viewed reels at the top
This is the easiest way to quickly find that funny reel or recipe video you saw earlier but want to watch again. Just open your recent activity and scroll away!
Search your history
If you’re trying to find a reel you viewed more than 24 hours ago, you can try searching your Instagram history:
On iOS and Android:
- Go to your Instagram profile
- Tap the 3 horizontal lines icon to access the menu
- Tap “Settings”
- Tap “Security”
- Tap “Access Data”
- Tap “View History”
- Scroll down to see your recently viewed reels further back in time
This shows you a broader history of the posts, reels, profiles and hashtags you’ve viewed over the past few weeks or months. It’s a bit more work to search through, but lets you find reels you saw further back in your viewing history.
Check reels you’ve liked
If you liked or saved a reel, it will be added to your “Liked” collection on your profile:
On iOS and Android:
- Go to your profile
- Tap the heart icon to access your Liked posts
- Browse through your liked reels here
This is an easy way to find publicly shared reels you enjoyed enough to like. However, it won’t show reels you just viewed without actively liking.
Look at effects you’ve used
When you use certain interactive effects on reels, like questions or polls, it saves those videos in a collection for you to access later:
On iOS and Android:
- Go to your profile
- Tap the effects icon to see your interactive reels
- Tap on any reel video to rewatch it
This lets you easily find reels where you’ve answered questions or polls so you can see your old responses.
Check out sounds you’ve used
If you’ve created reels using specific soundtrack clips, you can find those again in your saved sounds:
On iOS and Android:
- Go to the Instagram camera
- Swipe left at the bottom to open the sounds menu
- Tap the bookmark icon to access your saved sounds
- Browse through sounds to find ones you’ve used in previous reels
Watching reels with sounds you’ve used is a good way to get remix inspiration and ideas for new creative videos.
See reels you’ve shared or sent
You can also look back at reels you’ve actively shared via DM or stories:
Check your DM history:
- Open your Instagram DM inbox
- Tap any conversation where you may have sent a reel
- Look for the reel video you originally sent
View your story archive:
- Go to your profile
- Swipe left at the top to open your story archive
- Tap any story where you may have shared a reel
- Swipe up on the reel to see the original video
If there’s a funny or informative reel you shared with friends, looking back through your messaging history or story archive can help you find it again.
Search by sounds or hashtags
If you remember details about the reel but can’t find it in your history, try searching for it:
- Search by sounds – if you recall the song or audio clip, search for that sound and look through the associated reels.
- Search by hashtags – if you remember any relevant hashtags like #cooking or #dance, search by hashtag to find reels using them.
- Search usernames – if you know the account that posted the reel, search their username to find their shared reels.
Using clever searches utilizing the details you remember can often help track down a lost reel.
Check out your viewed reels on desktop
Instagram saves your view history across devices, so you can also look for previously watched reels from a desktop browser:
- Go to instagram.com and log in
- Click your profile avatar in the top right
- Click the clock icon to access your activity
- Click “Reels” to see your recently viewed reels
Scrolling through your desktop viewed reels can make it easier to spot and rediscover videos you want to watch again.
Turn on View History for your account
To make sure your viewed reels are being saved properly in your history:
- Go to your profile
- Tap the 3 lines menu icon
- Tap “Settings”
- Tap “Account”
- Make sure “View History” is turned on
This ensures your Instagram account is actively tracking the posts, reels, profiles and sounds you view or listen to while browsing.
Conclusion
Finding previously watched Instagram reels can take a few taps, but gives you an easy way to rewatch, reshare or save content you enjoyed. By checking your Recent tab, view history, likes, shares, saved sounds, hashtags and desktop activity, you can usually track down almost any lost reel.
So next time you want to find that hilarious cooking tutorial or cute cat video, use these tips to rediscover the Instagram reels you just can’t stop watching.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far back can I see my viewed Instagram reels?
Your Recent tab shows reels viewed in the last 24 hours. Your full View History goes back several weeks to months, depending on usage. Reels you’ve liked or shared may still be available indefinitely.
Can I download my previously viewed reels?
Unfortunately there is no way to download reels you’ve already watched unless you originally saved or screen recorded them. You can only rewatch and reshare reels via the Instagram app.
Do viewed reels expire after a certain time?
Instagram regularly removes old content from your Recent and View History after a while. Liked reels may expire after some time too. So the further back you’re trying to find a reel, the less likely it may still be available.
Can I clear or delete my Instagram view history?
Yes, you can remove your Recent tab and View History at any time from your account settings. Tap your profile, Settings, Security, Access Data, then Clear History.
How do I save an Instagram reel permanently?
To save a reel forever, you need to download it using a third-party reel saver tool or screen recording. Instagram itself only saves your view history temporarily.
Related Resources
How to Repost Instagram Reels
You can reshare other people’s public Instagram reels to your own story or close friends list using the share button. Learn how to repost reels properly by following a few simple steps.
Top 10 Instagram Reels Apps
Elevate your Instagram Reels game with special effects, templates and easy editing tools using third-party iOS and Android apps like InShot, Vita, CapCut, and more designed for creative Reels.
How Do Instagram Reels Work?
Instagram Reels allow you to record and edit 15-30 second multi-clip videos with audio, effects, and creative tools. Learn how to find, watch, create and share reels on Instagram to expand your reach.
Table Comparing Features of Instagram Feed vs Reels
| Feature | Instagram Feed | Instagram Reels |
|---|---|---|
| Length | Single photo or video clip up to 60 sec | Multi-clip videos up to 30 secs |
| Audio | Optional/Limited | Soundtracks or original audio |
| Effects | Filters only | AR effects, green screen, etc. |
| Editing | Basic trimming | Transitions, timers, speed |
| Placement | Main Instagram feed | Reels tab and shares |
This table summarizes the key differences between standard Instagram feed posts and the more creative, video-focused Reels feature.
Conclusion
Rediscovering your lost Instagram reels can be done in just a few taps by leveraging your recent views, search history, likes, shares, sounds, hashtags, and desktop browsing activity. Keep your View History enabled and check back frequently on your Recent tab for a quick way to access reels you want to rewatch or reshare. With all the options available, you should be able to locate almost any Instagram reel you recall watching previously. Happy re-viewing!