Instagram reels are one of the most popular features on the platform, allowing users to create and share short, creative videos. But after making and posting a reel, many users wonder: where does Instagram save your reels?
Where Are Reels Saved on Your Phone?
When you create and post a reel on Instagram using the mobile app, the reel video file is saved directly on your phone’s internal storage. To be exact, it is stored in the “Instagram” folder which can be found in your phone’s native gallery or files app.
The location of the Instagram folder may vary slightly on different Android devices, but it is normally in the Pictures/DCIM folder alongside your phone’s camera photos and videos. On an iPhone, the Instagram folder is in the Photos app.
So every time you make and share a new reel, the video file is saved in your device’s Instagram folder. You can go directly to this folder to view, edit, or manage all the reels you have created.
Accessing Your Saved Reels on Android
To access your saved reels on Android:
- Open your device’s Files or My Files app
- Go to Pictures > DCIM
- Open the Instagram folder
- Here you will see all your saved reels as video files
Accessing Your Saved Reels on iPhone
To access your reels on iPhone:
- Open the Photos app
- Scroll down and tap “Albums” at the bottom
- Scroll and find the “Instagram” album
- Open it to view all your saved reels
This is the default location where all your created reels are stored locally on your device. You can play them, edit them, delete them, or repost them directly from this folder.
Are Reels Also Saved to Your Instagram Account?
In addition to being saved on your phone’s storage, your reels are also simultaneously stored on your Instagram account. Once you post a reel, it gets uploaded and saved privately to your personal Instagram account.
You can access all your posted reels by going to your profile and tapping the reels tab at the top of your grid. This will display all the public reels you’ve shared on your profile.
But what about draft reels that you created but didn’t post? Those will only be saved locally on your phone and won’t show up on your Instagram account.
Finding Your Draft and Posted Reels
- Draft reels – Are only saved on your phone’s storage in the Instagram folder
- Posted reels – Appear on your Instagram profile’s reels tab + saved on your phone
So in summary, your phone storage contains both draft and posted reels, while your Instagram only displays the public reels you’ve shared to your profile.
Saving Reels Offline on Your Phone
If you want to keep copies of your reels for offline use even after deleting them from Instagram, make sure to save them from your phone’s Instagram folder to another location.
For example, you could:
- Use your device’s share menu to export reels to cloud storage like Google Drive or iCloud
- Connect your phone to a computer to transfer reel videos to the hard drive
- Use a file manager or app to move the reels to an SD card or external USB drive
This creates a separate offline backup of your reels that won’t be affected if you delete them from the Instagram app or your account.
Downloading Your Archived Instagram Data
Did you know your entire Instagram data archive is available to download, including all your reels (draft and published)?
Instagram lets you request a copy of all the data associated with your account. This includes your photos, messages, ads, videos, reels, profile info, comments, search history and more.
To access it:
- Go to your Instagram settings
- Find and tap “Security”
- Choose “Download data”
- Enter your password when prompted
- Your data will be emailed to you as a downloadable ZIP file
This extensive archive contains all your saved and posted reels in their original quality, allowing you to have copies if you ever deactivate your account.
What’s In Your Instagram Data Download?
- Your photos, videos, reels
- Messages and chat history
- Your profile info and settings
- Your followers and following lists
- Your liked, saved, and viewed posts
- Your search and browsing history
- Ads and advertisers you’ve interacted with
- Your account creation date and login devices
- Any reports, blocks, or restrictions
Recovering Deleted Instagram Reels
If you’ve accidentally deleted a reel from Instagram that you wanted to keep, there are a couple of options to try recovering it:
- Restore from Recently Deleted – If it was deleted within the past 24 hours, check your “Recently Deleted” folder in the app. Any deleted content gets stored there temporarily before being permanently erased.
- Re-download your data archive – If it’s been over a day, you can download your info from Instagram again – your reel might still be in the new data package even if deleted from the app.
- Try file recovery software – If you don’t have a backup of the reel elsewhere, use data recovery tools to scan your device storage and restore deleted files.
However, keep in mind that Instagram permanently deletes content after 30 days, so if it’s been over a month, the reel will be gone for good unfortunately.
Managing Your Storage Space for Reels
Since reels take up storage space on your phone, it’s important to manage your device storage to avoid running out of room. Here are some tips:
- Regularly back up reels you want to keep to cloud storage or drives
- Delete old draft reels you no longer need from the Instagram folder
- Use the “Free up space” option in Instagram to remove cached data
- Activate Instagram’s “Archive old posts” feature to clear stale content
- Downsize large videos before using in reels to reduce file size
- Offload unused apps and media for more available storage
With smart reel management and sufficient free space, you’ll never have to worry about losing access to your creative videos on Instagram!
Third-Party Apps for Saving Instagram Reels
In addition to the built-in Instagram options, there are also several third-party apps that let you download and backup reels:
1. InSaver
- Lets you save both your own and others’ public reels
- Available for iOS and Android
- Save reels to device camera roll or cloud drives
2. Reel Downloader
- Android app for downloading public reels
- Can save reels with or without watermark
- No account signup required
3. Repost App
- Reposts others’ content and saves your posted reels
- Upload and manage multiple accounts
- Schedule reels and posts in advance
These handy apps provide customizable options to download, repost, and manage your reels beyond what Instagram itself allows.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why can’t I find my draft reels on my Instagram profile?
Draft reels that you created but didn’t post are only saved locally on your phone. To see draft reels, check your device’s Instagram folder rather than your Instagram account.
How do I get my old deleted reels back?
If deleted recently, check Instagram’s “Recently Deleted” folder or re-download your account data. If it’s been over 30 days, the reel is likely gone permanently.
Can someone see my reels if I’m not posting them?
No, only you can view your unpublished draft reels stored in your phone’s Instagram folder. Others will only see the public reels you share to your Instagram profile.
Why are my Instagram reels taking up so much space?
Reels are high-quality video files that take up storage. To free up space, regularly delete old drafts, offload backups, and activate Instagram’s storage-clearing features.
What happens if I delete Instagram? Will my reels be deleted?
If you delete the Instagram app, your drafted reels in your phone’s storage will remain intact. However, deleting your Instagram account will erase all saved reels.
Conclusion
Understanding where Instagram saves your created reels is key to managing and backing them up properly. While drafts stay locally on your phone, posted reels are also copied to your Instagram account.
Make use of Instagram’s native storage options, your device storage tools, third party apps, and data downloads to preserve important reels even after deleting them within the app.
With the right system, you can save, edit and re-share your favorite Instagram reels while keeping storage use under control.