Reels
Recording and Editing Reels
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:
- Tap
at the top or swipe right anywhere in Feed.
- Scroll to Reels at the bottom.
- 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.
- Tap
to watch, trim or delete the previous clip you recorded.
- 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.
- Tap
- 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 section 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 record a reel with your own original audio, with original audio by another Reels creator, or with music from the Instagram music library using the Audio tool in Reels.
Original audio should be unique audio that you created, either while filming your reel in the Instagram app or in a video you uploaded. When you post a reel with your original audio, it will display your username. 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 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.
Why did I receive a notification that my reel was added to an audio page?
When we detect that your original audio may contain licensed music or audio, we’ll automatically add attribution for the artist and song title. Your reel will be added to the audio page for that song, where more people on Instagram may find it.
What if the attribution is wrong?
If we’ve identified the wrong audio track, you can remove your reel from the audio page. Tap 
Yes, you can record a reel with your own audio and mix it with music or original audio by another Reels creator. To mix your audio before sharing your reel:
- After recording your reel, tap
- Tap
at the top.
- To add music, tap Add on the right and select a song. Use the slider bar at the bottom to choose what part of the song you want to play in your reel. Tap Done in the top right.
- To edit audio you previously selected, tap Edit and use the slider bar at the bottom. You can also tap
in the top left to delete the audio or tap the audio title in the top middle to change it. Tap Done in the top right.
- Tap and drag the bars below Mix Audio to adjust the volume of your audio and the audio you selected.
- Tap your reel at the top, then share your reel.
Keep in mind, only audio recorded by your microphone while filming your reel or audio that is part of a video you uploaded will appear as Your Audio on the left. Audio from our music library or original audio by another Reels creator will appear on the right.
How will my mixed audio show up on Instagram and in downloads?
- Reels including licensed audio or original audio from another Reels creator: The audio will be attributed to them and appear on the audio page for that track. When you download these reels, all the audio will be removed from your download.
- Reels with only your original audio: The audio will be attributed to you and appear on the audio page for that track. You can download these reels with all the audio.
Note that if audio included in your reel is deleted, all the audio in your reel will be removed. We’ll send you a notification if this happens.
Before you share your reel, you can add a voiceover to it. To add a voiceover to your reel:
- After recording you reel, tap
- Tap
at the top.
- Tap or hold
to record audio over the video, tap Done and finish sharing your reel.
- Note that you can record more than one voiceover clip for your reel.
- Use the slider bar at the bottom to edit where you want your voiceover to start.
- To remove the last voiceover clip you recorded, tap
, then tap Discard.
How will my voiceover be attributed to me?
- Reels including licensed audio or original audio from another Reels creator: Only your voiceover will be attributed to you and appear as
- Reels with only your original audio: The audio page for your reel will be attributed to you and include your voiceover.
Remix let’s anyone create a reel where your video and theirs play side-by-side.
To remix a reel
- Tap
(Android) at the bottom of the reel you want to remix.
- Tap Remix This Reel, then record your reel. The original reel will appear on the left while you record.
When you share a remix, it’ll show your Instagram username and Remix with [original creator’s username] at the bottom. Anyone on Instagram can tap Remix with [original creator’s username] to watch the original reel and create their own remix.
Note that you can mix the audio and add voiceovers to your remix. You can remix your own reel, but you can’t remix a reel that’s already a remix or reels that the creator doesn’t allow remixes on. Learn more about managing your reels remix setting.
You can record a reel and save it to your Instagram account or 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:
- Tap
- Tap
To edit a draft of your reel from your Instagram:
- Tap
or your profile picture in the bottom right to go to your profile.
- Tap
below your profile info.
- Tap Drafts, then select the reel you want to edit.
To save a draft of your reel to your camera roll:
- Tap
- Tap
Save on the left.
To edit a draft of your reel from your camera roll:
- Tap
- Tap
at the top or swipe right from anywhere in Feed.
- Scroll to Reels at the bottom of the screen.
- Tap
in the bottom left and choose the draft of your video from your camera roll you want to edit.
You can record more clips and add music, effects, stickers and text to your reel.
Managing Reels
On Instagram, 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.
- Your comment filters.
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 places like the Reels tab and 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 will appear in the Reels section on your Instagram profile. Who can see your profile depends on your account’s privacy settings.
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.
To see info about your reel:
- Tap
- Tap
- Who liked and commented on your reel on Instagram
- Video plays (how many times your reel starts to play). This doesn't include replays.
The default of your reels remix settings depends on your account’s privacy setting:
- For private accounts: No one can remix your reels.
- For public accounts: Anyone on Instagram can remix your reels.
You can change your reel’s remix setting at any time without changing your account’s privacy setting.
To manage who can remix your reels
- Tap
- Tap
in the top right, then tap
Settings.
- Tap Privacy, then tap Reels.
- Tap
or
next to Enable Remixing to turn remixing on or off.
Note that changing this setting will affect all of your reels. Turning off remixing won’t affect who can use your original audio.
To manage who can remix a specific reel
- Tap
- Tap
- Tap the reel you want to manage, then tap
- Tap Enable Remixing or Disable Remixing to turn remixing on or off, then tap Enable or Disable to confirm.
Keep in mind
- You'll receive a notification if a public account remixes your reel.
- Remixes will be deleted if you set your account to private for longer than 24 hours.
- Remix creators can download your reel as part of their remix. You can’t download remixes of your reels.
- If you turn off remixing, remixes of your reels created before you changed your setting will stay on Instagram unless you delete your reel.
You can delete a reel you shared on Instagram.
To delete your reel from the Instagram app
- Tap
- Tap
- Tap the reel you want to delete then tap
(iPhone) or
(Android) at the bottom.
- Tap Delete, then tap Delete.
Note that you won't be able to stop seeing Reels on Instagram.
Discovering Reels
To find reels to watch from the Instagram app:
- Tap
- Scroll down to see more reels.
Note that you can also scroll through your Feed to see reels from creators you follow.
We aim to reduce the visibility of reels containing content about politics on unconnected surfaces (example: scrolling through Reels). Reels from people you follow will still be shown on Profile and Feed, and politics content won't have reduced visibility on these surfaces.
How do I find reels that use a certain audio or hashtag?
To find reels with a certain audio or hashtag, you can:
- 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.
- Search for specific hashtags in the search bar at the top.
Tap Use Audio on a reels audio page to record a reel with the same audio. 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.
On Instagram, we show you public reels in places like the Reels tab that are recommended to you based on reels you’ve watched, liked or commented on and accounts you follow.
In addition to the guidance above, Instagram chooses reels to recommend that:
- May be entertaining for a wide audience
- Can inspire people to create (example: start a trend others can participate in)
- Have music from the Instagram music library or original audio that is made with the Reels audio tool
- Are filmed vertically
- Show events that are meaningful and relevant to our community
- Show creators with diverse backgrounds and views
We aim to make less visible reels that:
- Are blurry, low resolution, contain borders, logos, watermarks or if the majority of the image is covered by text
- Aren't your own original videos
- Focus on political issues or are made by political figures, parties or government officials (or on their behalf)
- Go against our Community Guidelines (example: contains hate speech or graphic violence) or our Recommendation Guidelines
Keep in mind that reels from people you follow will still be shown on Profile and Feed and we won’t make them less visible.
Reporting Reels
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:
- Tap
- Tap Report (iPhone) or Report... (Android), then follow the on-screen instructions.