Instagram has rolled out a new “Watch History” feature that lets users revisit Reels they’ve previously watched, bringing it closer in functionality to TikTok, which has had a similar feature for years.
The new option allows you to go back and find videos you didn’t get the chance to save. It’s useful for moments when you’re watching an interesting Reel but get interrupted by a phone call, close the app by mistake, or simply lose your place in the feed.
Instagram head Adam Mosseri announced the update, saying users can now find the feature under Profile → Settings → Your Activity → Watch History. There, you’ll see every Reel you’ve ever watched, making it easy to revisit favorites or discover missed content.
You can also sort your watch history by date, for example, the past week or month, or choose a specific date range. Instagram even lets you remove individual videos from your history if you prefer not to keep them.
Compared to TikTok, Instagram’s Watch History provides more flexibility by allowing users to sort videos chronologically, in reverse order, or by author. The company says the feature was one of the most requested among users, many of whom previously relied on complex workarounds like downloading their Instagram data to retrieve watched Reels.
This update eliminates that hassle and enhances the overall Reels viewing experience, making it easier to rediscover lost videos. It’s also the latest step in Meta’s effort to make Instagram Reels as feature-rich as TikTok. Recently, Instagram introduced the ability for creators to link multiple Reels into a series and added Picture-in-Picture viewing support, both features long been available on TikTok.
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