Instagram Just Dropped a 2x Playback Speed for Reels
Instagram finally listened—Reels now have a double-speed playback option! Yep, you can now watch your favorite (or least favorite) Reels at 2x speed if you want.
Why Though?
I mean, Reels are already short. But remember, Instagram bumped the max Reel length to 3 minutes earlier this year, so this update actually makes sense for longer clips. Plus, let’s be real—our attention spans are basically non-existent at this point.
How It Works
Using the 2x speed is super simple:
🎥 Long-press on the right or left edge of the screen while watching a Reel.
⏩ Boom. It plays at double speed until you let go.
📌 No other speed options (yet). It’s either 2x or nothing.
Will People Use It?
Honestly? Probably. People already speed up YouTube videos to binge content faster, and TikTok has a 2x option, so this just keeps Instagram in the game. Plus, for those of us who hate waiting for the punchline in a Reel—this is a win.
Instagram says the 2x playback is rolling out to all users today. Time to see if this update is actually useful or just another feature we forget exists.
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Hey there I’m Kylie Simao, owner of a boutique social media marketing agency dedicated to helping new, local and small businesses who want to promote themselves online using social media.