Instagram just made it easier to find the Reels you’ve already watched. The app now includes a Reels Watch History, giving users a quick way to revisit their favorite clips without endless scrolling.
Instagram head Adam Mosseri shared the update, saying the feature fixes a common issue.
“Hopefully, now you can find that thing you were trying to find — that you couldn’t find before,” Mosseri said.
How the Reels Watch History Works
You can access the new feature through Settings → Your activity → Watch history.
Once there, you’ll see a full list of Reels you’ve viewed. You can sort them by newest or oldest, or search by specific dates and creators. The interface also includes a simple way to jump to a date range, making it easy to track content over time.
This is useful when you lose a video after an accidental swipe or app refresh. Now, instead of searching blindly, you can simply check your watch history.
Why It’s a Smart Move
Reels are central to Instagram’s short-form video strategy. Users often scroll fast and lose clips they wanted to save. This new tool gives them more control.
The feature also puts Instagram closer to YouTube’s discovery experience, where users have long had access to detailed watch histories. It’s another small but meaningful upgrade to Meta’s broader ecosystem of AI-driven media tools.
A Growing Trend in AI and User Control
Instagram’s Reels Watch History joins a wave of updates that make digital experiences more personal.
For example, Meta AI’s Restyle for Instagram Stories adds generative editing to stories.
Meanwhile, ChatGPT Atlas Review — AI Browsing shows how AI enhances user navigation and search.
Even Google Gemini in GM Cars and Mico: Microsoft’s AI Companion for Copilot demonstrate how large tech firms use data transparency and context to improve interaction.
Instagram’s addition fits this pattern. It’s another step toward a platform where users can explore, recall, and control their experience — instead of losing it to the algorithm.