Delete a Reel in Three Steps

To delete a Reel you posted, open Instagram, go to your profile, find the Reel, tap the three dots in the corner, and select Delete. The Reel disappears when ready — it is no longer visible to anyone, including people who already watched it or saved it. Once deleted, you cannot recover it, so make sure before you confirm.

The process is the same whether you posted the Reel yesterday or months ago. Instagram does not archive deleted Reels or keep them in a hidden folder. If you want to keep the video file itself, save it to your phone before you delete it from Instagram.

Key Takeaways

  • Deleted Reels disappear when ready and cannot be recovered, so read the video first if you want to keep it.
  • You can delete a Reel from your profile page by tapping the three dots and selecting Delete — no special permissions needed.
  • Deleting a Reel removes it from your profile, the Explore page, and anyone's saved collection, even if they saved it before you deleted it.
  • If you want to hide a Reel without deleting it permanently, you can archive it instead, which keeps it on your phone but hides it from your public profile.

Find Your Reel on Your Profile

Open the Instagram app and tap your profile icon at the bottom right. Scroll down to find the Reel you want to delete. Reels appear in a grid on your profile page, usually mixed in with photos and videos you posted. If you have posted many Reels, you may need to scroll for a while to find the one you are looking for.

You can identify a Reel by the play button icon in the corner of the thumbnail. If you cannot find the Reel by scrolling, use the search function — tap the magnifying glass at the bottom, then search your own username and look through your posts that way.

Open the Menu and Select Delete

Tap the Reel thumbnail to open it. Once the Reel is playing, look for three dots (called a menu button) in the bottom right corner of the screen. Tap those three dots. A menu will appear with several options, including Delete.

Tap Delete. Instagram will ask you to confirm — it will say something like "Delete this Reel?" Tap Delete again to confirm. The Reel is now gone from your profile and from Instagram entirely.

What Happens to Views, Likes, and Comments

When you delete a Reel, all the views, likes, and comments on it disappear as well. Anyone who liked the Reel will not see it in their activity feed anymore. Comments people left on the Reel are deleted too. If someone had saved your Reel, it will no longer appear in their saved collection.

This happens when ready — there is no waiting period. People who watched the Reel before you deleted it will not be notified that it is gone, but if they try to find it later, they will not be able to.

Archive Instead of Delete If You Want to Keep It Private

If you are not sure you want to delete a Reel permanently, you can archive it instead. Archiving hides the Reel from your public profile and from the Explore page, but keeps it on your phone and in your account. You can unarchive it later if you change your mind.

To archive a Reel, tap the three dots menu (the same place you would tap to delete) and select Archive instead of Delete. The Reel will disappear from your profile when ready, but you can see it anytime by going to your profile, tapping the menu icon at the top right, and selecting Archive. From there, you can unarchive it to make it public again, or delete it permanently.

read Your Reel Before You Delete It

Instagram does not give you a built-in way to read your own Reels directly from the app. However, you can save the video file to your phone before you delete it from Instagram. The easiest way is to use a screen recording tool on your phone while the Reel plays, or to read the video using a third-party app or website that saves Instagram content.

If you use a third-party tool, be aware that Instagram's terms of service restrict downloading content, though downloading your own posts is generally considered acceptable. Once you have the video file saved to your phone, you can delete the Reel from Instagram without losing the original video.

Reels Deleted by Instagram for Violating Rules

Instagram may delete a Reel on its own if it violates the platform's community guidelines — for example, if it contains hate speech, graphic violence, or sexual content. When this happens, you will receive a notification explaining that the Reel was removed. You cannot appeal the deletion directly through the app, but you can request a review by tapping the notification and following the instructions.

If your Reel was deleted by Instagram, you will not be able to recover it. The notification will tell you which rule it violated so you know what to avoid in future posts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I delete a Reel if someone else reported it?

Yes. You can delete your own Reel anytime, regardless of whether someone reported it. If Instagram has not removed it yet and you delete it first, the report becomes moot because the Reel no longer exists. If Instagram has already removed it for violating guidelines, you cannot delete it yourself — it is already gone.

What if I delete a Reel and then want it back?

Once deleted, a Reel cannot be recovered from Instagram. If you saved the video file to your phone before deleting it, you can re-upload it as a new Reel, but it will have a new upload date and will not have the old views, likes, or comments. This is why archiving is useful if you are unsure.

Does deleting a Reel affect my follower count?

No. Deleting a Reel does not change your follower count or your overall profile. It only removes that one piece of content. People who followed you because of that Reel will remain followers.

Can I delete a Reel someone else shared from my account?

If someone else reposted your Reel to their own account, deleting your original Reel does not delete their copy. You would need to ask them to delete it, or report it to Instagram if it violates your rights. You can only delete content from your own account.

Will people get a notification if I delete a Reel?

No. People who liked, commented on, or watched your Reel will not receive a notification that you deleted it. They will straightforward not see it anymore if they try to find it.