Instagram has introduced a new feature that many users have been requesting for a long time. The company announced this Friday that you will now be able to view your previously watched Reels thanks to a dedicated “Watch History” section. This brings Instagram closer in line with TikTok, which already supports a watch history for short-form videos.
You can go to Profile → Settings → Your Activity → Watch History to see the Reels you have watched. You will also be able to sort this watch history by date ranges (past week, past month, custom) and remove specific Reels if you wish.
Until now, finding a Reel you watched but did not like, comment on, or save was difficult. With the new built-in history, Instagram is removing one pain point: losing a video you meant to revisit but accidentally skipped. Previously, users resorted to complicated workarounds such as downloading their account data to retrieve watch history.
It is no secret that Instagram Reels was originally introduced as Meta’s response to TikTok’s explosive growth. Since then, Instagram has steadily added features that mirror TikTok’s functionality. Adding watch history continues this pattern, bringing Reels closer to offering the same convenience and control that TikTok users have long enjoyed. However, it also shows how much Instagram still relies on competing platforms for inspiration.
The response from users is expected to be largely positive. Many have been asking for this feature on social media platforms like Reddit and X. It directly addresses a daily annoyance for heavy Reels users. For creators, the feature might also lead to longer engagement times, as viewers can easily return to Reels they want to rewatch or share later.
Meta, Instagram’s parent company, uses complex recommendation algorithms that rely heavily on viewing behavior. Research papers published by Instagram engineers, including one on “Extremely Long User History Modeling,” suggest that the platform has long collected detailed watch histories internally. They are only making it visible to users now.
