In 2024, we introduced improvements to Reels to help creators like you expand your creativity, grow your career, and achieve your goals. This work was shaped by your feedback, and we're excited to kick off 2025 with two new updates: 3 minute reels, and Edits, a powerful new app for making videos on your phone.

Here's a look back at all the latest changes and how you can make the most of them in your reels.

Tell richer stories with new editing tools & longer reels

Creativity is what makes reels so much fun to watch and create. Over the past year, we’ve made improvements to help you bring your ideas to life and express yourself in even more ways.

• Get creative with Edits (coming soon). We’ve heard that creators want more comprehensive editing tools for short-form video creation, all in one place. In the coming weeks, we’re introducing Edits, a new video creation app by Instagram to help you make videos you’re proud to share. Edits will offer a full suite of creative tools that will simplify the creation process and help you find inspiration while offering more advanced editing, auto-enhance features and effects, overlays and transitions - and allow you to export without a watermark. It will also include real-time insights to help inform your content strategy. Pre-order Edits here.
• Tell longer stories. 90 seconds isn’t always enough time to tell a story just the way you want. Starting today, we’re letting creators in the United States publish reels up to 3 minutes long in the Reels editor. Previously, only reels up to 90 seconds were eligible for recommendation, but now reels up to 3 minutes will be eligible to be seen by non-followers in places like the Reels tab and Explore. Appetite around long-form content is changing, and we’ll continue to improve how reels are recommended on Instagram.
• Edit and customize your reels with ease. This year, we rolled out simplified text tools, including new fonts, animations and effects to let you customize your content in more ways. On top of that, we also added audio layering, giving you the ability to add multiple audio tracks to a single reel. Any unique audio mix you make is attributed to you, which other users can then save and remix.

Grow your community without the pressure to be perfect

As your follower count rises, so can the pressure to constantly deliver. But creativity doesn't always thrive under those conditions, and the last thing you want is to feel stuck. That's why we’ve introduced new features that encourage experimentation without the stress.

• Share reels with only people who don’t follow you yet. Ever had a great idea for a reel but hesitated to post it because you weren't sure how your followers would react? Trial reels allow you put those worries aside by giving you a way to share your content with people who don’t follow you first. Explore different content types or editing styles, and if you’re satisfied with the results, you can choose to share the reel with your followers, too!
• Expand your reach by adding audio. Now, when you add audio to photos and carousels, they may also appear in the Reels tab. Taking advantage of audio is an easy way to get in front of new audiences.
• Discover what your friends and followers are into. Now, we’re making it easier to see and engage with the content your friends adding notes to or are liking on reels at the top of the Reels tab. They’ll also see a reply bar, so people can easily start conversations around content they’re enjoying. For creators, this means even more opportunities for their reels to be seen by people who don’t yet follow you.

Achieve your goals, whatever they may be

Every creator has a different vision of success. Whether you’re looking to get your name out there, build a business, or simply have fun pushing your creativity, Instagram is here to help you set your goals and then go after them.

• Make the most of recommendations. Content ranking on Instagram historically favored creators with larger followings. However, last year we announced updates to our recommendations of reels. Through this process, creators of all sizes have an equal chance of breaking through and reaching new audiences. One of the most effective ways to grow is to post original content consistently, because now everyone has the potential to reach a massive audience.
• Take advantage of best practices. We recently introduced best practices, our new in-app destination full of personalized tips and educational reels to help you grow on Instagram.

For more tips, check out following resources:

• @creators
  • Simple Reels editing tips
  • Meta Connect 2024
  • Insights updates
• @mosseri
• Community Guidelines