“Can’t Find That Instagram Reel Again? We’ve Got the Solution to Get It Back!” -> “Can’t Find Your Instagram Reel? We’ve Got the Answer!”
For years, millions of Instagram users shared the same frustration: watching an interesting reel, accidentally exiting the app… and never being able to find it again. But that has just changed. Instagram announced an update that introduces, for the first time, a history of viewed reels, a feature that promises to revolutionize the experience within the platform.
A director at Instagram confirmed the news in September. According to him, the new option can be found in the “Your Activity” section, within the settings menu. There, users can access all the short videos they have watched, with advanced filters to search by date, author, or relevance.
The system will automatically record each viewing from September 24, 2025, creating a database that will allow users to revisit those contents that were previously lost in the endless flow of the internet.
### A personal archive of reels
The novelty goes beyond just showing the most recent reels. Instagram will allow users to organize the history according to different criteria: from newest to oldest, or vice versa. Custom ranges can also be applied— for example, “last week” or “between October 1st and 15th”— making it easier to find that video that caught your attention a few days ago.
Unlike before, the feature will not be automatically deleted after 30 days. On the contrary, it will be kept long-term, creating a genuine personal archive of views. Over time, each user will have their own historical record of consumption within the app.
### How to access the history step by step
To access the new reels history on Instagram, simply follow these steps:
– Open the app on your mobile device.
– Tap the icon with your profile picture in the bottom right corner.
– On your profile, tap the three lines in the top menu.
– Go to “Settings & Activity.”
– Within the “Your Activity” section, select “View History.”
– Use the filters at the top to organize the reels by date or author.
– In a matter of seconds, the complete list of played videos will appear. From there, you can rewatch, save, or share them.
### A strategy designed for the future of short video
The launch of this tool is not an isolated gesture. It is part of Instagram’s new strategy to strengthen its commitment to short video and content.
Mosseri acknowledged that the platform’s current growth is driven by reels and direct messages. That’s why the company has redesigned its interface: now videos take center stage in navigation, while photos—the original heart of Instagram—take a back seat.
This redesign, which has already been implemented in the iPad version and is expanding to all mobile devices, prioritizes reels in the main feed, displacing posts from followed accounts. It’s a decision that marks a shift: the algorithm aims to keep users within the app longer, recommending clips that may interest them even if they don’t follow the creators.
For those nostalgic for the traditional photographic experience, the message is clear: Instagram no longer wants to be just a gallery of images, but a space where short videos and dynamic content take the spotlight.
The new reels history arrives as the perfect complement: a way to give users more control in the midst of an ecosystem increasingly guided by artificial intelligence and automatic recommendations.
