Instagram has finally added a Watch History feature that lets users see Reels they’ve already watched — a function TikTok users have enjoyed for years.
Announced on Friday, the update helps users find Reels they lost or forgot to save.
Instagram chief Adam Mosseri explained in a video that the feature was created for users who “can’t find a reel they’ve seen before.”
To use it, go to Profile → Settings → Your Activity → Watch History. There, you can view all your previously watched Reels.
Sorting and managing your history
The feature lets users:
- Sort watched Reels by date or creator
- View Reels from a specific week, month, or custom range
- Delete individual videos from their history
Unlike TikTok, Instagram also lets you arrange your history chronologically or reverse-chronologically for easier browsing.
Instagram says this was one of the most requested features from users worldwide. Previously, people had to download their account data to find old Reels — a tedious process that’s no longer needed.
Catching up with TikTok
Since launching Reels in 2020, Instagram has added many TikTok-like features, such as Reel series links and Picture-in-Picture (PiP) viewing.
The new Watch History feature is another step toward making Instagram’s Reels more user-friendly and personalized — helping users easily revisit funny clips, tutorials, recipes, or travel videos they enjoyed earlier.
