If you’re wondering where to find your reels on Instagram, don’t worry – your reels haven’t disappeared! Instagram simply moved the location of reels within the app. Here’s where to find your reels on Instagram.
Viewing Your Reels in Your Profile
The easiest way to view the reels you’ve created is to go to your profile. Tap the profile icon in the bottom right corner, then tap the photo grid icon at the top of your profile to view your posts. Swipe left through your posts until you get to the Reels tab. This shows all of the reels you’ve posted.
Finding Reels in the Instagram Feed
In addition to seeing your reels in your profile, you can also come across them while scrolling through your main Instagram feed. Reels created by people you follow may appear in between regular photo and video posts.
You can scroll through your feed until you find reels from people you follow. Your own reels may also show up in your feed. Instagram started algorithmically mixing reels into feeds to help them gain more visibility.
Searching Hashtags for Reels
If you want to discover new reels based on your interests, search for relevant hashtags. For example, search for #comicsreels, #travelreels or #fashionreels to find reels on those topics. Tapping on a hashtag will show you a feed of nothing but reels using that hashtag.
You can also search for branded hashtags like #StarbucksReels or #NikeReels to find reels from those companies. This is a good way to see how different brands are using reels for marketing.
Finding Reels in Explore
The Explore tab is another place where you can discover reels to watch based on your interests. Scroll through Explore until you find reels mixed in with photo and video posts.
You may also come across dedicated reels channels in Explore. For example, you might find a channel called “Food Reels” or “Comedy Reels.” Tapping these channels shows reels curated by Instagram based on popular topics.
Viewing Reels You’ve Liked
To see reels you’ve liked in the past, go to your profile and tap the three lines menu in the top right. Choose “Saved,” then select “Reels” to see all of the reels you’ve liked. This lets you go back and re-watch entertaining reels you’ve enjoyed.
Finding Reels From Friends
See what your friends have been up to by checking their profiles for any reels they’ve posted. Their reels will appear as you scroll through their grids. Tap through them to show your support and leave encouraging comments!
Using Instagram Reels Features
Now that you know where to find reels, here are some key features to take advantage of:
- Use music and audio – Search for songs to use in your reels or record your own audio.
- Apply creative effects – Use AR effects, timers, and other creative tools.
- Edit and customize – Trim clips, adjust speed, add stickers and text.
- Use hashtags – Include relevant hashtags so your reels can be discovered.
- Share reels – Post reels to your feed, stories and elsewhere to expand reach.
Creating Your Own Reels
Ready to join in on the fun and create your own reels? Here are some tips to get started:
- Film short, punchy clips – Keep each clip 15 seconds or less.
- Tell a cohesive story – Use multiple clips to share an idea or narrative.
- Use trending sounds – This helps your reel get discovered in searches.
- Consider vertical orientation – Most reels are viewed on phones, so vertical works best.
- Share your lifestyle and passions – Give viewers a peek inside your world.
- Have fun and get creative! Reels are a place to express yourself.
Sharing Your Reels to Expand Reach
Don’t keep your amazing reels to yourself – share them to help them get more visibility:
- Post to your Instagram feed – This shares your reel with your followers.
- Share to your Instagram story – Add your reel to your story or send it directly to friends.
- Cross-post on other platforms like Facebook, Twitter or TikTok.
- Send to friends directly – Use IG Direct to share reels with specific people.
- Embed on websites or blogs – Use the embed tool to add your reel to sites.
Analyzing Reels Performance
See how your reels are performing by checking account insights:
- View play counts – See total number of plays for each reel.
- Check likes and comments – This shows how many people engaged with your reel.
- Monitor saves and shares – When people save or share your reel, it’s getting traction.
- See reach – Find out approximately how many accounts saw your reel.
- Review follower growth – Successful reels can help you gain new followers.
Analyzing metrics helps you understand what types of reels resonate best with your audience so you can refine your approach.
Troubleshooting Issues With Reels
If you’re having trouble accessing your reels, here are some things to try:
- Check your internet connection
- Force quit and relaunch the Instagram app
- Update the Instagram app in your device app store
- Clear the Instagram app cache and data
- Log out and log back into your Instagram account
- Try viewing reels on both wifi and cellular data
- Contact Instagram support if issues persist
Reels Are the Future of Instagram
Instagram Reels are a huge part of the platform’s focus on video and ephemeral content. Reels offer a fun way to express your creativity, share your passions and connect with new audiences.
As reels become more central to the Instagram experience, mastering this format can help you reach more users. Focus on creating quality reels that resonate with your niche and sharing them far and wide.
Now that you know where to find all the amazing reels Instagram has to offer, it’s time to start viewing, creating and sharing! Have fun and use your imagination to produce reels that highlight your unique personality.