Did you know Instagram provides the option to save drafts of posts or reels for later access? This feature allows users to create content and save it for future publishing, making it especially useful for editing before sharing. Many Instagram users rely on this handy tool daily, as it helps streamline content creation and ensures posts and reels are polished before going live.
Since Instagram currently doesn’t offer a native post or reel scheduling feature, drafting is a popular workaround among Instagrammers. In this guide, I will walk you through how to locate your saved reel drafts on Instagram easily.
Most users are familiar with saving reels as drafts because the “Save as Draft” button is prominently displayed on the share page. However, many get confused when trying to access these drafts later. Unlike published posts or new reels recorded or viewed elsewhere on Instagram, drafts aren’t visible throughout the app, which can create uncertainty about where to find them.
The Best Ways to Find Instagram Reel Drafts
Instagram reel drafts are essentially unpublished short videos saved by users for future use. While some view reel drafts primarily as a marketing tool to showcase expertise and creativity, finding popular reel drafts created by others can be invaluable for inspiration. Various third-party apps and online tools help users discover and explore reel drafts based on categories like industry, location, or posting date.
For example, apps like InstaReel and ReelSEO provide curated collections of top reel drafts shared on Instagram, helping marketers and content creators find trending content efficiently. If you want to explore popular reels specific to your niche, you might consider using search engines like SearchReel, which specializes in indexing reels for easier discovery.
How to Access Draft Reels on Instagram for iPhone and Android
Before diving into the steps, it’s helpful to clarify what a reel draft is. For filmmakers and creators, reel drafts often serve as preliminary compilations or rough cuts to showcase concepts, ideas, or potential projects. Though they’re typically unpolished, reel drafts effectively communicate a creator’s vision before full production. On Instagram, these saved drafts act as a staging area for reels you’ve worked on but haven’t published yet.
Time needed: 2 minutes
Follow these simple steps to find your draft reels on Instagram easily:
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Open the Instagram app
Launch Instagram and tap your profile icon located at the bottom right corner of the screen.
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Navigate to the Reels tab
On your profile page, find and tap the Reels tab in the center. Note: This tab appears only if you have saved any reels as drafts previously.
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Access Your Drafts
Within the Reels tab, tap on the “Drafts” section to view all the reels you’ve saved but not yet published.
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Manage Your Drafts
From here, you can edit, publish, or delete your reel drafts as needed.
Frequently Asked Questions About Reel Drafts on Instagram
A reel draft is an unpublished video saved within Instagram’s app. It allows creators to record, edit, and save reels to continue working on them later before sharing with their followers. This feature is designed to make the content creation process smoother and more flexible.
The reel draft feature helps users prepare content without rushing to publish immediately. It enables easier editing, fine-tuning, and scheduling of posts, indirectly supporting better engagement by allowing creators to share polished, thoughtfully crafted reels.
When creating a reel, you can save it as a draft instead of publishing right away. These drafts are stored within your account and can be accessed via your profile’s Reels tab. You can then edit drafts multiple times, add effects, music, or captions before publishing them later.
Use the draft feature to experiment with different ideas or timings without pressure. Save multiple versions of a reel and review them later to decide which performs best. Combine this with Instagram Insights to understand what resonates with your audience.
Reel drafts are used by a wide range of Instagram users including casual creators, influencers, marketers, and brands. Companies like Adidas, Nike, and L’Oréal Paris use drafts regularly to plan and craft high-quality video content ahead of time to maintain a consistent and professional presence.
Drafts let you create and edit reels flexibly, maintain content quality, and strategize your posts better. This can help improve your Instagram feed’s visual appeal and boost engagement. Drafts also save time and reduce the stress involved in last-minute content creation.
While reels drafts enhance convenience, they can sometimes limit spontaneity or creativity if overused. Also, drafts are stored locally on your device—if you log out, switch accounts, or uninstall the app, you risk losing them permanently. Planning to publish timely is important to avoid outdated drafts.
To delete drafts, go to your Reels tab and tap “Drafts.” Click the “Select” option at the top right, choose the drafts you want to remove, then tap “Discard” at the bottom. This will permanently delete the selected drafts from your device. Keep in mind that uninstalling the Instagram app will also delete all drafts.
Yes, if you’re looking for reel draft templates or ideas, you can explore Google Images by searching for “reel draft templates” or similar keywords. This allows you to find a variety of reel formats and inspirations. Additionally, reverse image search tools like TinEye can help identify original sources of visual content, aiding content discovery and inspiration.
