Retrieving that elusive Reel you watched days ago and intended to share can often feel like a daunting task. Fortunately, Instagram has rolled out a new Watch History feature for Reels, allowing users to easily access previously viewed videos. In this article, we’ll guide you through the steps to access your watch history and help you rediscover those Reels you thought were lost.
How to Access Your Instagram Watch History
The introduction of Instagram’s watch history feature has been long awaited. Users of TikTok have enjoyed similar functionality for years, and now Instagram followers can relish the same ease of use. Ensure that you have updated your app to the latest version to see this feature.
To get started, open the Instagram app and tap your profile picture located at the bottom right corner of your screen.
Next, tap on the hamburger menu icon in the upper right corner and navigate to Settings.
Within the How You Use Instagram section, select Your Activity.
Scroll down to locate the Watch History option. If the feature is active, you should find it here. In case it’s not yet visible, consider alternative methods detailed later in this guide to find older Reels you’ve viewed.
By tapping on Watch History, you can access all the Reels you’ve watched in the past 30 days. Selecting a thumbnail will allow you to view the Reel in full.
Using Filters to Find Specific Reels
To expedite your search for particular Reels, Instagram provides filtering options at the top of the watch history screen. For instance, you can change the viewing order from Newest to Oldest, with the former being the default setting.
Additionally, you can filter to view Reels from just the Past Week. It’s worth noting that while you can set a custom date range, only Reels from the last 30 days are accessible; for older content, alternative methods are necessary.
If you remember the creator of a specific Reel, you can filter by author. Click on the All Authors button at the top of the list, select the desired creators, and press Apply to access their content.
Managing Your Watch History
Currently, Instagram does not allow users to erase their entire watch history at once. However, you can delete individual Reels. To do so, tap the Select button located in the upper right corner.
Select the Reels you wish to remove by tapping on their thumbnails, then click Remove at the bottom. If you change your mind, press Cancel to deselect and start over.
If you’ve watched few Reels in the past month, clearing your history will be quick. However, that process might become tedious if you have a large collection of videos.
How to Find Older Reels
For those eager to locate even older Reels, consider a few alternative strategies. One effective method is to like each Reel you might want to return to later. Simply tap the heart-shaped icon on the left while viewing a Reel.
To find your liked videos, navigate to Settings -> Your Activity -> Likes.
Then, tap on All Content Types at the top.
Switch to Reels to display only your liked content.
Another strategy for keeping Reels organized for future viewing is to save them. While this process involves additional steps, it can be efficient. From the Reel page, tap the three-dot menu in the lower right corner.
Select Save to keep it for later.
To view your saved videos, go to Settings -> Saved.
Switch to the Reels tab to see only the videos you’ve saved.
This saving method allows for neat categorization within Collections, making specific Reels easier to locate when needed.
As a final option, consider downloading Reels directly to your device if you have sufficient storage. This can ensure your favorite content is always at your fingertips.
If you’re keen on enhancing your own Reels, take a moment to explore how to find trending audio from popular Instagram Reels to integrate into your creations for improved engagement and visibility.
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