How to Check Your Instagram Reels Watch History

In Short
  • Instagram does not have a native feature to let you see your Reel watch history.
  • You can revisit your liked Reels from Your Activity section under the Likes menu.
  • If you saved a previously watched Reel then you can find it under the Saved section of your Instagram profile.

We all know the struggle: you’re endlessly swiping through Reels, see an amazing one, and then…it vanishes! Unlike posts, Instagram doesn’t offer a watch history for Reels. This can be quite frustrating but fear not – there are a few workarounds that can help you check your Instagram Reels watch history. Let’s get going and track down that unforgettable Reel.

View Instagram Reels You Have Liked (Android, iOS)

One way to track your Instagram Reels watch history is through your liked Reels. Instagram keeps tabs on all Reels and posts you have liked so far. You can use it to revisit a Reel you have been looking for. Here’s how to do it:

  1. On Instagram, go to your profile screen.
  2. Now, tap the hamburger menu at the top-right corner.
  3. Choose Your activity and from here, select the Likes option.
View liked posts and reels on Instagram from Your activity section of your profile

You will see all the posts and Reels you’ve recently liked. If you just want to view Reels then you can apply a filter. Here is how you can do that.

  1. Tap on the All content types box.
  2. Then choose the Reels option.
Filter out reels from the liked posts and reels on Instagram

This will filter out all the posts and should show you only Reels content that you have liked. You can also sort Reels based on time and creators. If you are looking for a Reel that you have not liked then you won’t find it here.

Check Saved Instagram Reels to Track Watch History

Another way to track your Reels watch history is by saving them. While this takes another step than directly liking a post, it helps you organize the Reels you want to revisit later on. To save a Reel on Instagram, just follow these steps.

  1. On the homepage, tap on the Reel icon on the bottom toolbar.
  2. Scroll through Reels and when you find one that interests you, tap on the three-dot menu.
  3. Then just select the Save option.
Save reels on Instagram by tapping on the three dot menu then choosing the Save option

Once you have saved a Reel, you can access it by using this process:

  1. To access your saved Reels, go to your profile page.
  2. Tap on the hamburger menu in the top right corner and tap on the Saved option.
  3. Then tap on All Posts to view all your saved posts.
View saved Reels by going to the Saved section from your Instagram profile

Here you will find all the saved Reels and posts on the platform. You can switch to the Reels tab to view all the Reels you have saved so far. You can also create a collection of your favorite Reels.

To do that, tap the + icon, choose the videos, and name the collection. You will see your new collection on the homepage of the “Saved” section. You can use this to curate Reels that fit the same theme.

Search Reels On Other Platforms

Now this isn’t an obvious solution to your issue but if you are looking for a specific Reel that you stumbled across then you should try looking it up on other sites. Most Reels that go viral end up being re-uploaded on other platforms as well. This includes platforms like YouTube, Facebook, TikTok, Reddit, and even Google.

If it contains a catchy song then try looking up its lyrics followed by the content within it. If it had a certain dialogue or a product that you can recall then try searching for it on Google. So there is a chance for you to find it elsewhere.

Check your Instagram Reels Watch History

These are the two ways that you can use to check your Instagram Reels watch history on Android and iOS. Given how even YouTube lets you view your watch history of Shorts (YouTube’s answer to Reels), it is high time that the app listens to the users and adds a feature similar to it.

The methods we have discussed do take the extra effort of liking or sharing a Reel but as of now, these are the only ways that you can use to revisit the Reels that you have viewed on the app. Meanwhile, if you are a budding creator, don’t forget to check our list of the best Instagram Reels tips and tricks to use the feature to the fullest.

Can I Download Instagram Account Activity to Check the Reel Watch History?

No, You won’t find your watch history when you request your Instagram information. Instead, what you will see in the reels.html file is the history of the Reels you have uploaded to the platform.

Can You See Your Previously Watched Reels on Instagram?

Instagram doesn’t natively have a watch history option for Reels. However, you can check your liked Reels and saved Reels as workarounds to check your Reel watch history.

How to Rewatch Instagram Reels?

If you haven’t quit the app you can go to the Reels section and scroll up to view your previously watched Reels. Other than that, you can like or save an Instagram Reel to rewatch later.

How Do I Change Reel Recommendations for Me on Instagram?

If you come across a Reel that you do not like then tap on the three-dot menu below the Send icon and select Not Interested. Instagram will save your preference and won’t suggest that type of content in the future.

What Are Some Other Ways to Find an Instagram Reel?

If you recall the account that posted the Reel then you can look it up and browse through their profile to find the Reel. Otherwise, you can search for the Reel or its related hashtag on Instagram. You should try searching for any keyword, song, phrase, or product mentioned in the Reel video on other platforms like YouTube, Facebook, Reddit, TikTok, and Google.

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