- Instagram introduces a Watch History feature for Reels.
- Users can sort by date, creator, or order, and remove videos if desired.
- The update eliminates the need for data download workarounds.
- It brings Instagram Reels closer to TikTok’s viewing experience.
Instagram has just rolled out a new Watch History feature that lets users revisit Reels they have already watched. The feature, announced on October 24, 2025, marks another move by Meta to make Instagram Reels more competitive with TikTok.
A Long-Requested Addition
For years, Instagram users have asked for an easier way to find videos they watched but didn’t save. Many people have experienced the frustration of watching a Reel they liked and then losing it in the endless scroll. Until now, there was no simple way to get it back without using complicated workarounds.
Instagram head Adam Mosseri shared the news in a post, saying the feature will make it easier to find previously viewed Reels. “Have you ever tried to get back to a reel that you’d seen on Instagram and you just can’t find it?” he said. “Well, there is a new feature that should help.”
The new Watch History feature can be found under Profile → Settings → Your Activity → Watch History. From there, users can browse every Reel they have watched on the app.
How Instagram’s Watch History Works
The Watch History section lets you view all the Reels you have watched in one place. You can sort your viewing history by date, time period, or even creator. Users can also choose to view videos in chronological or reverse chronological order, giving more flexibility in how they revisit content.
If you do not want certain videos appearing in your history, Instagram also allows you to remove them manually. This feature gives users more control over their viewing data and privacy.
This new function works much like TikTok’s existing Watch History, but Instagram has added a few enhancements. TikTok users can only browse by date or within a set timeframe. Instagram goes a step further by letting you filter by author or switch between different sorting modes.
Making Reels Easier to Revisit
This update solves one of the most common user frustrations on Instagram. Many people lose track of interesting videos when interrupted by a phone call or when they accidentally close the app. Before now, users often tried to recover lost videos by downloading their entire account data and searching through it manually—a tedious and time-consuming process.
With Watch History, those headaches are gone. Now, you can simply open the feature and scroll through the list to find the video you were looking for. It is a smoother, more direct solution that eliminates the need for technical workarounds.
For creators, this update might also increase engagement. When users can easily find and rewatch a video, they are more likely to like, comment, or share it later. It could also boost visibility for smaller creators whose videos might otherwise get lost in the feed.
Keeping Up with TikTok
Instagram has continued to evolve its Reels feature since launching it as a TikTok competitor. Over time, Meta has added several tools and options to make Reels more dynamic. Recently, Instagram introduced support for connecting multiple Reels into a single series. This makes it easier for creators to tell longer stories or share ongoing content without breaking it up across different posts.
The app also added Picture-in-Picture support, allowing users to keep watching videos while browsing elsewhere on their device. These updates mirror similar functions that TikTok users have enjoyed for years.
Now, with Watch History, Instagram brings its Reels experience closer to TikTok’s in another important way. By combining convenience and flexibility, the feature shows Meta’s effort to refine how people interact with short-form video on its platform.
What This Means for Instagram Users
The new Watch History option enhances the everyday experience of scrolling through Reels. It adds a sense of continuity to the viewing process and gives users a better way to manage the content they engage with.
For those who use Instagram for inspiration, learning, or entertainment, this small but practical feature could make a big difference. You can now go back and watch that cooking tutorial you missed, the travel clip that caught your eye, or the comedy sketch you forgot to save.
Instagram says the feature will be available to all users in the coming days. It is one of the most highly requested updates in recent memory and highlights how Meta continues to prioritize user feedback in its feature rollouts.
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