Instagram adds templates to 'easily create' Reels

Tested since April last year, these pre-made blueprints are finally rolling out.
 By 
Meera Navlakha
 on 
Three screenshots of phones showing Reels and templates, against a bright pink/orange background.
Credit: Instagram.

Instagram has launched new tools to help creators more easily make Reels. This includes a bunch of "templates" that can be browsed, adapted, and posted in just a few clicks.

The app's new "template browser" lets users discover pre-made video blueprints, which you can use to make a Reel with your own footage. The audio, number of clips, duration of the clips, and AR effects will be automatically added to your Reel from the template. But templates will also be customizable, in terms of removing clips, adjusting timing, or editing any preexisting element.

On the Instagram blog, the company described templates as a "more easily find inspiration and create engaging reels". The Meta-owned company has been testing these tools since April last year.


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Instagram has been pushing its version of video content, against rival social app TikTok's reign, for years now, launching Reels in 2020. Recent updates like the ability to see the top trending music, hashtags, and topics as well as post analytics are a testament to the app's ongoing quest to appeal to creators.

"We’re always working on ways to improve your Reels experience," the blog posts reads. "We’ll continue to build on the Reels templates feature to make it easier and more fun to create and share on Instagram."

Topics Instagram Meta

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Meera Navlakha

Meera is a journalist based between London and New York. Her work has been published in The New York Times, Vice, The Independent, Vogue India, W Magazine, and others. She was previously a Culture Reporter at Mashable. 

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