14 Easy Ways to Fix Reels Option Not Showing on Instagram

Instagram evolved from an image-sharing platform to a diverse content hub. Among its formats, Reels is the most popular. But some accounts don’t have the Reels option. Let’s troubleshoot if your account is affected.

What happened to Instagram Reels? How can you bring it to your feed? We have answers to all your questions. Just follow the methods mentioned.

If you have Reels on your account and can’t play them, check our guide on how to fix Reels not working. Also, make sure your internet connection is active before proceeding with the fixes, as you need it to access Instagram Reels.

2. Refresh Your Instagram Feed

To save loading time, Instagram shows content from your previous session. If Instagram Reels are not appearing on your feed, you can fix it by refreshing the feed. Here’s how to do it:

1. Open Instagram.

2. Press and hold the top of the screen, then pull it down.

Step 3: Wait for a second or two.

You’ll see new content on your feed. Check if you can spot the Reel icon in the home bar or if reels are appearing on your wall.

If your account is new or unused, it may take some time for the platform to reflect the new features. Instagram typically prioritizes active accounts when rolling out updates, so increasing your activity level can help you access the latest Instagram features sooner.

4. Force Quit Instagram

Force Quitting an application clears active sessions and temporary files, eliminating the files responsible for bugs and issues. Solve this problem by force quitting the app on your smartphone.

Force Quit Instagram on iPhone

Step 1: Open App Switcher. Step 2: Swipe up from the bottom of the Instagram app to close it.

Force Quit Instagram on Android

Step 1: Open Settings and tap Apps.

Step 2: Choose Manage apps.

Note: Depending on the Android version and skin, the option names might differ.

To make the content more concise and impactful, here’s an edited version of the text:

Step 3: Select Instagram and click Force Stop.

Step 4: Tap OK to confirm.

Try reopening the Instagram app to see if the Reels option appears on your profile.

5. Turn Off Instagram Data Saver

Instagram has a data saver feature for users with limited data. If you can’t see Reels on your feed, check if you have the data saver feature turned on. Disable it to make Reels visible on your feed. To do this, follow these steps: Open Instagram, tap your profile icon at the bottom, and then tap the hamburger menu.

To streamline the text and eliminate redundancies, the revised version would be as follows: “Step 2: Tap Settings > Choose Account.”

Step 3: Select Cellular data use.

Step 4: Toggle off Data Saver.

6. Change the Current Account Type to Get Reels Option on Instagram

Users can switch between personal and professional account types on Instagram. Some services are limited based on the account type. While the Reels option is available for all account types, switching between personal and professional accounts can solve certain issues.

If you don’t mind the changes that come with the specific account types, it’s worth switching your account from personal to professional. By doing so, your account will become public and all follow requests will be automatically accepted.

Here’s how to switch to a professional account:

Step 1: Open Instagram > tap on the profile icon at the bottom > tap the hamburger menu.

Step 2: Tap Settings and scroll down to Account.

Step 3: Tap ‘Switch to professional account’.

Step 4: Tap Continue and proceed through the features.
Step 5: Select your account category and tap Done.

Step 6: Choose Creator or Business and tap Next.

Step 7: Choose whether to share your logins with the Account Center. We chose Not now.

Accounts Center is where you manage and connect your profiles and services on Facebook, Messenger, and Instagram. You can control your account settings from here. If you agree to share your account credentials with Account Center, you are agreeing to link your account with the service.

That’s it! Invite friends, showcase your brand, and complete your profile. Add information later and tap X for now. Alternatively, convert a professional Instagram account to personal. Check for the Reels option on Instagram.

Instagram offers many features, but sometimes at the expense of bugs. Nevertheless, they regularly release updates to address these issues. Therefore, check if there are any updates available for Instagram and use the provided link to update the app on your device.

8. Check if Reels Are Available Elsewhere

Instagram Reels may still be available on your account, even if it’s not easily accessible. You can try checking different sections of the app to find it until you have the Reels button. Here are some places where you can look for Reels:

To access Reels on Instagram, follow these steps:

1. Explore page: Tap the Magnifier glass at the bottom of the homepage to reach the Explore page.

2. Check Stories: Many also share Reels on Instagram stories.

3. Access Instagram DM: People also share Reels in DM.

9. Log Out and Log In

If you log out of your Instagram account, the app may remove cached files, potentially including those responsible for the error. After you log back in, Instagram will start a new session and may add Reels to your account. We already have a guide on how to log out and log back in to your Instagram account to assist you.

10. Clear Cache on Android

Cache files store settings and data on a device’s local storage, helping apps load faster. Over time, these files can accumulate and cause errors. The solution? Clear Instagram’s cache. Unfortunately, this option is not available for iOS users, so you’ll need to try another method.

If Instagram Reels are not showing up on your feed despite trying all these fixes, consider uninstalling the app. You can then reinstall it to enjoy all the new features. Follow these steps to bring Instagram Reels to your account.

On Android

Step 1: Open Play Store, search for “Instagram,” and open the app page.

Step 2: Tap Uninstall and confirm.

Step 3: Once Uninstalled, tap Install.

On iOS

Step 1: Tap and hold the Instagram app.

Step 2: Select Remove App.

Step 3: Tap Delete App and choose Delete to confirm.

Step 4: Once Uninstalled, search Instagram on App Store, then hit Get/download icon.

12. Try Other Options

Apart from the regular app, you can access Instagram through additional options.

To attract users with low-end devices, Instagram introduced the Lite app. It is a toned-down version of the app with all features except for Reels. So, if the Reels icon disappeared, try the lite version.

You can use your mobile browser to access Instagram. Like the Instagram Lite app, this version will also lack several features, but you can still view Reels.

3. Checkout Instagram Beta (Android)

Instagram beta experiments with features and can be unstable. Join Instagram beta to see if you can view Reels, since it is not appearing on your Instagram currently.

Instagram beta is only available on Android. Enroll by going to Google Play Store and tapping Join under the ‘Join the beta’ banner.

13. Update Your Phone’s Software

Updating your device OS may help resolve the issue of not being able to find the Reels icon on Instagram. Instagram might have optimized new features for the latest OS version, so if you are using an outdated version, that could be the reason.

Step 1: Open Settings, Tap General.

Step 2: Tap Software Update.

Step 3: Download and install available updates.

Step 4: Enter your Passcode.

Your iPhone will download the update, and then automatically restart and install it.

The process to update an Android device varies depending on the custom skin it uses. Here are the steps to update Android phones with MIUI on Xiaomi devices and ColorOS/OxygenOS/RealmeUI on Oppo, OnePlus, and Realme devices:

1. Open Settings and tap About device.

Step 2: Now, tap the software version button.

Step 3: If an update is available, tap Download and Install.

For stock Android devices, go to Settings > System > System update. For Samsung phones with OneUI, go to Settings > Software update > tap Download and Install.

There is hope! You can report the problem to Instagram. If there is an issue from Instagram’s end, the team will work on fixing it and push an update. Here’s how to report a problem. Step 1: Open Instagram and shake the device. Step 2: Once you see a small window, tap Report a problem.

Step 3: Choose whether to provide logs and diagnostics. Here, we chose Include and continue.

Step 4: Explain your issue and send it.

Tip: Upload a screenshot of the error for better understanding.

FAQs on Reels Option Not Showing on Instagram

1. How to enable Reels on Instagram:

If Instagram Reels are not showing on your device, there is no option to enable them. You will need to wait for the update to be rolled out for your device to resolve this issue.

2. How to make an Instagram Reel appear on your profile grid:

By default, every Reel you post will appear on your profile grid. If you have removed a reel from your profile grid and want to bring it back, follow these steps: Go to the Reels tab on your profile, choose the reel, tap the three dots on the bottom right, select Manage, and choose ‘Add to profile grid’.

3. How to recover a reel:

To recover a deleted reel on Instagram, follow these steps: Open Instagram, go to your profile, tap the hamburger icon, select Your activity, and then Recently deleted. From there, choose the reel or post you want to restore and select restore. For more information, refer to our post on recovering deleted Instagram posts.

Enjoy Reels Without Interruptions

Reels are currently the most popular feature of Instagram, so it’s unfair if the Reels option doesn’t show on your Instagram profile. We hope this guide helped resolve this issue. If you still have any queries, please drop them in the comments below.