Instagram Reels has become everyone’s favorite time-sink, and let’s be honest – we’ve all had that moment where we want to find that one amazing video we saw earlier. Let me walk you through the different ways to track down those elusive Reels you’ve watched.
Finding Your Recently Watched Reels
The most straightforward way to see your Reels history is through your Activity section. Open Instagram, tap your profile icon, and hit the hamburger menu (those three lines) in the top right. Look for “Your Activity,” and then tap “Videos You’ve Watched.” Here you’ll find a chronological list of Reels you’ve viewed recently.
Using Your Browser History
Here’s a lesser-known trick: if you’re watching Reels on Instagram’s website, they’ll show up in your browser history. Just type “instagram.com/reels” in your browser’s history search, and you’ll see all the Reels you’ve clicked on. Pretty handy when the in-app history isn’t cooperating!
Saved Reels: Your Personal Collection
I always tell my friends to get into the habit of saving Reels they love. Just tap the bookmark icon while watching a Reel, and it’ll be stored in your saved collection. You can even create specific collections for different categories – like recipes, workout routines, or whatever catches your fancy.
What If You Can’t Find a Reel?
Sometimes Instagram’s history features can be a bit temperamental. If you’re not seeing what you’re looking for, try these workarounds:
– Check your liked posts (those heart-tapped videos show up here)
– Look through your DMs if you’ve shared the Reel with someone
– Review your browser history from the last few days
– Search for keywords you remember from the Reel’s caption
Time-Saving Tips
Let me share a personal workflow that’s saved me countless times: When I see a Reel I might want to revisit, I quickly save it to a themed collection. It takes just a second and makes finding content later so much easier. As of 2025, Instagram’s algorithm tends to push older content down quickly, so being proactive about saving content is crucial.
Remember, Instagram regularly updates its features, so if you’re not seeing these options exactly as described, don’t worry – they might have moved things around a bit. The key is to stay organized and save the content you care about when you first see it, rather than trying to hunt it down later.
