Does Instagram Have A Watch History?
Yes, Instagram finally has a Watch History feature for Reels, and users are honestly pretty glad about it. For years, people scrolled through their feeds desperate to find that one hilarious cat video or a DIY recipe they’d seen just half a day ago. Before this update, there was no easy way to revisit Reels unless they’d been saved or liked, which felt like Instagram was playing hide-and-seek with user memories. It’s a relief to see the option rolled out, something Instagram’s head, Adam Mosseri, admitted was long overdue, especially since rival apps like TikTok had history tools for ages.
The watch history appears as a dedicated tab within the “Your Activity” section, and the layout feels familiar, showing thumbnails of your watched Reels from the last 30 days. The whole thing is meant to showcase the stuff you’ve already enjoyed, and honestly, sometimes scrolling through the history serves up little bursts of nostalgia videos from last week, that sports highlight, or even cringe dance clips you’d like to forget. No judgment.
How To See Instagram Watched Reels History?
To check your Instagram Watch History, you’ll need the latest app version it’s live for most Android and iOS users now, but not on the website. Here’s how it goes:
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Open Instagram and tap your profile icon.
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Hit the three lines in the upper right (the classic “hamburger menu”).
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Choose “Your Activity.”
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Scroll down until you spot “Watch History” and tap it.
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Boom: you’ll see a list of all Reels watched in the past 30 days, arranged like a feed or a photo grid. You can sort them by newest or oldest, by specific dates, or even filter by the creator’s name if you remember who posted it.
Surprisingly useful for finding that recipe from last Sunday or tracking down a viral meme from a favorite creator. And if you feel a little embarrassed about a particular video in your history, you can even remove individual Reels from the list.
Some Real-Life Reactions
People seem relieved that the most typical story is someone watching a Reel, getting distracted by a call, and the clip vanishes like socks in a dryer. Now, instead of endlessly asking friends, “Hey, do you remember that video with the dog and the skateboard?”, it’s just a couple of taps away. A few users found the update heartwarming, say, after recovering an old travel Reel that sparked vacation daydreams, while others joked about finally tracking their late-night “doomscroll” habits.
Disclaimer: This guide is based on currently available Instagram app features. Functionality may vary by region or device, and future updates could change the process described here.
