🎬 Instagram Tests Opening Directly To Reels
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Instagram is testing an option that would let some users open the app to their Reels feed instead of the traditional post feed. The change would make Reels the first screen without removing the regular feed entirely.

The test points to a broader shift in Instagram’s layout. Reels already receive the platform’s strongest focus, but making them the default starting point could change how users move between video, Stories, and posts.
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➡️ Reels could become the starting screen
The in-app option would let users choose Reels as their main feed. Instagram is testing the feature rather than announcing it as a general change, so its availability may be limited.
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➡️ Stories would remain at the top
Stories would still appear in their usual position at the top of the home screen. Users could then swipe across to reach the traditional feed, keeping both feed types within the same home experience.
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➡️ The regular feed would still be available
Users would be able to return to the standard feed experience whenever they wanted. In the version tested previously, the traditional feed could also be opened by tapping an icon in the upper-right corner.
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➡️ Instagram has tested this format before
The same general layout was tested in India last year. That version placed the Stories bar above the main Reels feed and provided a separate route to the traditional feed.
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➡️ Reels are driving the platform’s focus
The article says more than 50% of time spent in Instagram is now devoted to watching Reels, while all of the platform’s engagement gains have come from Reels. Those figures help explain why Instagram is considering a Reels-first opening screen.
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For creators and marketers, this remains a test, not a confirmed change to every account. If Instagram expands it, users may encounter Reels before posts while Stories continue to occupy the top of the home screen.

The fact that the option can be reversed may help limit resistance to the change. Instagram could eventually consider making it standard if enough users switch and Reels activity increases, but that outcome has not been confirmed.

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