Instagram has a ton of videos and photos, which it lets you view without any constraints. You have a world of content at your fingertips, and while that is great, it can also be a pain.
Have you ever tried to find a post you just saw? Maybe you mistakenly swiped down and refreshed your feed and now you want to find that video again?
Many social media apps offer a dedicated ‘Recently Viewed’ tab arranged in chronological order, but does Instagram have one? And how can you access it? Let’s find out.
Does Instagram Have a Recently Viewed Tab?
The straight answer is No.
Many popular apps offer a ‘Recently Viewed’ or ‘Watch History’ feature, allowing users to revisit content they’ve previously interacted with. Unfortunately, Instagram lacks such a feature.
While a dedicated “recently viewed” feature is absent, here are some alternative strategies to help you find that specific post:
- Engagement is Key: Did you like, comment on, or save the post? If you interacted with the content in any way, you can easily rediscover it. Here’s how:
- Likes: Tap on your profile picture in the bottom right corner to access your profile. Navigate to the ‘Settings and Activity,’ and select ‘Your Activity.’ Within your activity log, tap on ‘Likes’ to see a list of posts you’ve liked.
- Comments: Following the same steps as above, access your activity menu. Select ‘Comments’ to view a list of posts you’ve commented on.
- Saved Posts: Saved posts act as your digital collection. Tap the bookmark icon in the bottom right corner of the post to add it to your saved posts. Find those saved posts by tapping on ‘Saved’ in your Settings and Activity Menu.
- Search Function: If you remember any keywords or details from the post, try searching for them within Instagram’s search bar. However, this method might not be successful if the keywords were too generic.
- Search for Hashtags: Many posts use relevant hashtags. If you recall any hashtags associated with the post, try searching for them within the search bar. This might lead you to the original post or similar content.
Proactive Strategies to Use in the Future
Since a dedicated history feature isn’t available, you’ll have to take proactive steps in the future so you don’t lose another video you love. Here’s what to do:
- Save or Like Interesting Posts: Developed a habit of scrolling past captivating content? Train yourself to tap the bookmark icon or double-tap to like and save any post that sparks your interest. This creates your library for future reference.
- Organize Saved Posts: Instagram allows you to create collections within your saved posts. Categorize your saved content to navigate through them more easily.
- Take Screenshots: Taking a screenshot is a quick way to save specific parts of Instagram content. And with the quick screenshot gestures on your device, it’s really easy to do. This won’t work for videos, so try screen recording or seeing if you can download them instead.
Conclusion
Unfortunately, Instagram doesn’t support a Recently Viewed tab like many other platforms. However, with these tips, you can get those videos back after losing them. Try them out and thank us later.
