Instagram has rolled out a long-awaited update that allows users to revisit the Reels they’ve watched in the past. The new “Watch History” feature lets you scroll back through previously viewed videos, making it much easier to find clips you didn’t get the chance to save or like.
This update mirrors a similar option that has been available on TikTok for quite some time, and it’s designed to solve a common frustration among Instagram users — losing track of a Reel they enjoyed but didn’t bookmark.
Instagram’s Head, Adam Mosseri, explained in an announcement, “Have you ever tried to find a Reel you’ve seen but just can’t locate it again? We’ve added a new section under ‘Profile’ → ‘Settings’ → ‘Your Activity’ called ‘Watch History,’ where you can see every Reel you’ve watched.”
The feature could prove particularly useful in everyday situations — for instance, if you’re watching a funny or educational video but accidentally close the app, get a call mid-watch, or get distracted. Now, you can easily revisit that video without endless scrolling.
Instagram’s Watch History offers a few customization options to make browsing easier. Users can sort videos by date, past week, past month, or even set a custom date range. You can also remove any Reels from your history if you don’t want them saved.
Interestingly, Instagram’s implementation provides more control compared to TikTok’s version. Reels can be arranged in either chronological or reverse chronological order, and even filtered by the creator’s name, giving users more flexibility in managing their viewing history.
This addition has been one of the most requested features by Instagram users for quite some time. Before now, the only way to recover lost Reels was by downloading one’s entire Instagram data file and manually searching through it — a time-consuming process. The new tool simplifies that completely, offering an effortless way to rediscover previously watched content.
The update is also part of Instagram’s broader effort to enhance Reels and keep up with its short-form video competitor. Over the past year, the platform has introduced features like connecting multiple Reels into a series and Picture-in-Picture playback, both of which mirror functionality already found on TikTok.
With Watch History now live, Instagram continues to refine its Reels experience, giving users more convenience and control over their video discovery.
