Reels allows you to record and edit short videos up to 30 seconds in the Instagram Camera. You can add effects and music to your reel or use your own original audio.

To record a reel from the Instagram app:

1. Tap in the top left of Feed or swipe right from anywhere in Feed. Scroll to Reels at the bottom of the screen.
2. Tap and hold to record a clip or tap it to start recording and tap it again to end the clip. You can also tap your camera roll in the bottom left to add a video from your camera roll.
3. Tap to watch, trim or delete the previous clip you recorded.
4. Tap to add stickers, drawings and text to your reel or download it to your device. Use the slider at the bottom to edit when you want text to appear.
5. Tap , then tap Cover to change your cover photo and write a caption. Tap Stories at the top if you want to share your reel to your story instead of to Explore.
6. Tap Share, then tap Done.

Note that you can record one or multiple clips that add up to 30 seconds. The progress bar at the top shows how long you’ve recorded. If you share your reel to Explore, it can also be seen on the Reels tab of your profile.

Keep in mind, you won’t be able to use interactive stickers (example: poll, Q&A, challenge) in your reel. Learn more about saving and editing a draft of your reel.

When you record a reel, you’ll see a tool menu on the left. You can tap:

• to search for a song in our music library. You can choose which part of the song you want to play.
• to change the speed of your reel. This will affect both the video and audio of your clip.
• to add a camera effect. Swipe left at the bottom of the screen and select an effect. To see more effects, swipe all the way to the left and tap .
• to choose the length of your clip. When you return to your clip, you see a countdown before your clip starts recording.
• to see the end of your last clip. You can use the transparent photo to align your next clip before recording. This will only appear after you record your first clip.

Note that you can also record a reel with your own audio. Learn more about using audio in your reel and who can see your reels.

You can use the Audio tool to add music from the Instagram music library.

You can also record a reel with your own original audio. Original audio should be unique audio that you created. If you upload someone else's music as original audio, we may change the description to the artist's username and song. When you post a reel with your original audio, it will display your username.

Keep in mind, when you post a reel on a public account, anyone on Instagram can record a reel using your original audio. If your account is set to private, no one will be able to record a reel using your original audio.

You can record a reel and save it to your camera roll before sharing it. Drafts will be saved until you share or delete them. There isn’t a limit to how many drafts you can save.

Keep in mind, downloading your reel won’t save any music you added from the Instagram music library.

To save a draft of your reel to your Instagram:

1. Tap on the reel you're recording.
2. Tap , then tap Save as Draft at the bottom.

To edit a draft of your reel from your Instagram:

1. Go to your profile, then tap the Reels tab.
2. Tap Drafts.
3. Tap the reel you want to edit.

To save a draft of your reel to your camera roll:

1. Tap on the reel you're recording.
2. Tap Save on the left.

To edit a draft of your reel from your camera roll:

1. Tap in the top left of Feed or swipe right from anywhere in Feed.
2. Scroll to Reels at the bottom of the screen.
3. Tap in the bottom left and choose the draft or video from your camera roll you want to share.

You can record more clips and add music, effects, stickers and text to your reel.

You can manage who can mention you in the caption of their reel by changing your account's mention settings. You’ll receive a notification when someone mentions you in a reel. Learn more about how mentions work on Instagram.

You can also filter comments on your reel. Learn how to filter comments on Instagram.

Note that you won't be able to stop seeing Reels on Instagram.

Who can see and share your reels follows your account's privacy settings:

• For public accounts: Anyone on Instagram can see and share your reels. People may see your reels on Explore and places like effect, hashtag and audio pages. Anyone on Instagram can record a reel using your original audio.
• For private accounts: Only your approved followers can see and share your reels. When someone shares your reel, only your followers will be able to see it. No one will be able to record a reel using your original audio.

Keep in mind, reels you post to Explore will appear in the Reels tab on your Instagram profile. Reels you post to Feed will also appear on your main profile grid. Reels shared to Stories and Direct will disappear in 24 hours and won’t appear on your profile.

From the Reels tab of your profile, tap your reel to see:

• Who liked and commented on your reel
• Video plays: How many times your reel starts to play (this doesn't include replays.) This metric is in development.
• Whether it was chosen to be featured on Reels

You can delete a reel you shared on Instagram.

To delete your reel from the Instagram app

1. Go to your profile, then tap the Reels tab.
2. Tap the reel you want to delete then tap (iPhone) or (Android) at the bottom.
3. Tap Delete, then tap Delete.

Note that you won't be able to stop seeing Reels on Instagram.

To find reels to watch from the Instagram app:

1. Tap at the bottom.
2. Scroll down to see more reels.

Note that you can also scroll through your Feed to see reels from creators you follow.

How do I find reels that use a certain audio or hashtag?

Tap the audio name or hashtag at the bottom of the reel to see a page with other reels that use the same audio or hashtag. Tap Use Audio on a reels audio page to record a reel with the same audio. You can search for specific hashtags in the search bar at the top.

If you record a reel with original audio, your original reel will appear first on the page with other reels that use the same audio.

If you see someone's reel and think it goes against Instagram's Community Guidelines, you can report it.

From the reel you want to report:

1. Tap (iPhone) or (Android) in the top right of the reel you want to report.
2. Tap Report, then follow the on-screen instructions.