1. The Big Reveal
Adam Mosseri, the head of instagram, announced the launch of a new feature: Watch History for Reels. He posed the familiar frustration: “Have you ever tried to get back to a Reel you’d seen … and you just can’t find it?”
2. Why It Was Needed — The Lost Reel Problem
If you’ve ever scrolled Reels, got distracted by a call or accidentally refreshed the app and lost that video you meant to revisit, you’re not alone. This has been a common complaint. The new watch history feature is built to solve that exact problem.
3. How to Access It, Step by Step
Accessing the feature is straightforward:
Go to your Profile in the instagram app.
Tap the menu (three lines) → Settings → Your Activity → Watch History.
Once there, you’ll see a list of Reels you’ve viewed before.
4. What You Can Do With It
The new feature isn’t just a list. It comes with some useful tools:
Sort your viewed Reels from newest to oldest or oldest to newest.
Filter by date or specific account that posted the Reel.
Remove items from your watch history if you prefer not to keep them.
5. What This Means for Users & Creators
For ordinary users: easier re-discovery of fun/interesting Reels you didn’t save.
For creators: your content now has a better chance of being revisited rather than lost in the feed scroll. Also, this move makes Instagram’s Reels experience more competitive with rivals like TikTok which already offered similar history-tools.
6. Considerations & Things to Know
The roll-out is ongoing; not every user may see it immediately.
If you watch lots of Reels daily, the history could still become long and unwieldy, so the sorting/filtering features become important.
This doesn’t replace saving or liking something if you truly want to bookmark it—it’s more about things you found accidentally or forgot to save.
7. Final Verdict — Why It’s a Good Move
The watch history feature is a smart win for Instagram’s UX: it acknowledges the realities of how people use Reels (fast, maybe distracted, sometimes wanting to revisit) and gives them a built-in tool rather than relying on workarounds. It also reflects Instagram’s strategy of leaning into video content and enhancing the Reels experience.
Disclaimer:
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any agency, organization, employer, or company. All information provided is for general informational purposes only. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, reliability, or suitability of the information contained herein. Readers are advised to verify facts and seek professional advice where necessary. Any reliance placed on such information is strictly at the reader’s own risk.
1. The Big Reveal
Adam Mosseri, the head of instagram, announced the launch of a new feature: Watch History for Reels. He posed the familiar frustration: “Have you ever tried to get back to a Reel you’d seen … and you just can’t find it?”
2. Why It Was Needed — The Lost Reel Problem
If you’ve ever scrolled Reels, got distracted by a call or accidentally refreshed the app and lost that video you meant to revisit, you’re not alone. This has been a common complaint. The new watch history feature is built to solve that exact problem.
3. How to Access It, Step by Step
Accessing the feature is straightforward:
Go to your Profile in the instagram app.
Tap the menu (three lines) → Settings → Your Activity → Watch History.
Once there, you’ll see a list of Reels you’ve viewed before.
4. What You Can Do With It
The new feature isn’t just a list. It comes with some useful tools:
Sort your viewed Reels from newest to oldest or oldest to newest.
Filter by date or specific account that posted the Reel.
Remove items from your watch history if you prefer not to keep them.
5. What This Means for Users & Creators
For ordinary users: easier re-discovery of fun/interesting Reels you didn’t save.
For creators: your content now has a better chance of being revisited rather than lost in the feed scroll. Also, this move makes Instagram’s Reels experience more competitive with rivals like TikTok which already offered similar history-tools.
6. Considerations & Things to Know
The roll-out is ongoing; not every user may see it immediately.
If you watch lots of Reels daily, the history could still become long and unwieldy, so the sorting/filtering features become important.
This doesn’t replace saving or liking something if you truly want to bookmark it—it’s more about things you found accidentally or forgot to save.
7. Final Verdict — Why It’s a Good Move
The watch history feature is a smart win for Instagram’s UX: it acknowledges the realities of how people use Reels (fast, maybe distracted, sometimes wanting to revisit) and gives them a built-in tool rather than relying on workarounds. It also reflects Instagram’s strategy of leaning into video content and enhancing the Reels experience.
Disclaimer:
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any agency, organization, employer, or company. All information provided is for general informational purposes only. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, reliability, or suitability of the information contained herein. Readers are advised to verify facts and seek professional advice where necessary. Any reliance placed on such information is strictly at the reader’s own risk.
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