Can’t see Instagram Reels or it does not show up on the explore page?
Instagram publicly announced their launch of Reels in August 5th of 2020, which is a direct competitor to TikTok.
They are short-form videos (no more than 15 seconds) where you can share on your feed with others.
In addition, your video has a chance of getting on the explore page on Instagram. This is a huge opportunity for you to increase your reach.
However, not everyone has this feature on their account yet.
This article guides you on why you can’t see Instagram Reels, how you can enable it, and more.
Table of Contents
- Why Can’t I See Instagram Reels?
- How do I enable Reels on Instagram?
- How do I use Instagram Reels?
- Where is Reels on Instagram?
- Is Reels only for India?
- Conclusion
Why Can’t I See Instagram Reels?
You can’t see Instagram Reels because the feature might not be available in your country or account yet. For this reason, you’ll have to wait until its being rolled out to you.
If you don’t have Instagram Reels, you’ll have to be patient and wait until the feature is rolled out to you.
Reels is still a very new feature on Instagram, so it’s being tested out in selected countries first to see how certain users react.
If you can’t see Instagram Reels, it might not be available in your country yet.
As of early August, Instagram Reels is only available in 50 countries including the U.S., France, Germany, India, and more.
Instagram didn’t explicitly state the full list of countries that Reels are available in. So if you don’t have it, it might not be released in your country yet.
However, if you happen to be in the U.S. or any other country that has the feature, but you still can’t see Instagram Reels, your app might not be on the latest version.
How do I enable Reels on Instagram?
To enable Reels on Instagram, make sure to update the app to the latest version, open your story camera and swipe to Reels.
You don’t need to enable Reels on Instagram as they will be automatically shown on your feed or on the explore page if it’s available in your country. Just make sure to update the app to the latest version.
Do note that Reels might not be available in your country yet, but if it is, make sure to update Instagram to the latest version.
Here’s a step-by-step guide on how you can update Instagram on an Android device:
- Open Google Play and find the options toolbar.
- Tap on “Apps and Games”, and find Instagram.
- Tap on “Update” to update the app to the latest version.
Here’s how you can update Instagram on an iPhone:
- Open the App Store.
- On the top-right hand corner of the screen, tap on the “Profile” icon.
- Scroll down, find Instagram, and tap on “Update” to update the app to the latest version.
After Instagram is updated, you should be able to have the Instagram Reels feature if it is available in your country.
How do I use Instagram Reels?
To use Reels on Instagram, open your story camera and swipe to Reels.
Instead of only two options (Live and Story) on your story camera, there will be a third option (Reels) on the lower tab.
You can make a Reel by accessing it from your Story Camera. Go to your story camera by swiping left or tapping on the “camera” icon on the home page.
Currently, Instagram Reels is not listed on the main camera (the “+” icon), and you can only access it via your story camera.
Once you open Reels on your story camera, there will be four options on the left-hand side of your screen—audio, speed, effects, and timer.
Audio enables you to select a song that will be played, and Speed allows you to slow down or speed up your video (0.3x to 3x).
On the other hand, Effects are filters you can use, and the Timer allows you to select the time you want to record the video for.
If you’re utilizing the effects feature, you can scroll to the very end to find hundreds of other filters you can use.
Tip: Scroll to the very end of the effects section to browse hundreds of other filters you can use from the “Effect gallery” that are made by other people.
There is also an Align feature where you can align yourself in the next shot, which is perfect for transitions.
After you’ve recorded your Reel, you can tap the back button to review it, but you can only delete your latest clip.
Once you’re done reviewing, tap on the forward button, and you can edit the video just like an Instagram Story (e.g. adding stickers, GIFs, text).
If you’re using texts on your video, you can edit the duration of the texts, which is similar to TikTok.
Finally, tap on the forward button when you’re done editing, and you’ll be directed to the Sharing screen. On there, you can choose the cover of your Reel, and share it to your feed or story.
Where is Reels on Instagram?
Reels are located on your feed and on the explore page of Instagram. If you’re on your feed, you can tell that you’re looking at a Reel from the icon on the bottom-right of the video that says, “Watch Reels”.
You can also find them on a person’s profile by tapping the “Reels” icon on the top navigation tab.
Reels are located on your feed and on the explore page of Instagram. You can also find them on a person’s profile by tapping the “Reels” icon on the top navigation tab.
By tapping on a reel, you’ll be directed to the “For You Page” which is similar to TikTok’s. Once you’re on there, you can scroll infinitely to browse other people’s Reels.
Once you tap on “Watch Reels”, it’ll bring you to the “For You Page” of Reels, which is similar to TikTok.
On the explore page, an large Instagram Reel will appear at the top of it. You can tap on it to get on the “For You Page” where you can scroll infinitely to browse other people’s Reels.
Is Reels only for India?
No, Reels is not only available for India, but for other countries as well. Instagram Reels has been released to 50 countries around the world, including the U.S., France, Germany, and more, as of early August.
As of early August, Instagram Reels is available to 50 countries, so it’s not only strictly available for India.
Instagram has also tested out Reels in Brazil in late 2019 before any other country, so it isn’t being tested out on India first.
However, the early introduction of Reels to India might be partly due to their TikTok ban.
Conclusion
Each time a new feature is released on Instagram, they will promote it aggressively on the app.
Instagram did this by showcasing Reels at the top of explore page. So, if you happen to get on there, you might just go viral.
If Instagram Reels is available to you, it’s a great opportunity for you to utilize the feature to increase your reach.
However, if you don’t have Instagram Reels, you’ll have to wait until it launches in your country.
Further Reading
> ? How Much Do TikTokers Make? (An In-Depth Analysis)
> How to Get on The “For You” Page on TikTok
> How to Grow a Private Account on Instagram (5 Steps)
Author: Lim How Wei is the founder of Followchain. Feel free to follow him on Instagram.
