Fast-forward through boring Instagram Reels with this new feature

Not long after the (temporary!) TikTok ban, social media platform Instagram introduced longer Reels to keep its users engaged. While the feature is great for those wanting to document more for their followers, you may not want to stay for everything, understandably so! A recent announcement by the Meta-owned brand unveiled a fast-forward feature for Reels that is built to get you to the point. Wondering how it will work? Here’s everything you need to know about it:

Instagram Reels fast-forward feature: What's there to know?

Instagram Reels have gone from 30 to 90 seconds and, like TikTok, the media-sharing smartphone app has now introduced a fast-forward option. Typically, the feature will let you watch videos at 2x speed, allowing you to ‘jump’ across parts you don’t wish to watch.

ALSO READ: You can now upload 3-minute-long Instagram Reels

If you have already received this update, you should be able to fast-forward your video by pressing and holding either side of the screen. Although the feature is quite handy for those who enjoy consuming content quickly, it has met some negative feedback from the creator community, who are concerned about the life of their content.

What else is new with Instagram?

Apart from this change, Meta has been gradually introducing functional enhancements to the app to make it user-friendly. Only a month ago, it brought in a scheduling feature to its direct messages, which will let you send your text at a certain time. With this update, Instagram also extended the liberty for users who wish to pin a message in a conversation.

On a separate note, it has indefinitely delayed the launch of its editing app, called ‘Edits’, which was announced back in January 2025. The app will directly compete against TikTok’s CapCut and give users additional ways to shoot and edit videos on their smartphones.

Make sure you keep you Instagram app updated to enjoy all the new features, and also to subscribe to Unboxed by Croma to keep track of other upcoming features.