Instagram is borrowing another fan-favorite feature from TikTok. Meta has officially rolled out a new update that lets users fast-forward Instagram Reels at 2x speed, helping viewers skip through longer videos and get to the good parts faster.
The feature, announced by Meta via email on Thursday, is now available to all Instagram users. It allows you to speed up Reels playback simply by pressing and holding on either the left or right edge of your screen while watching a Reel. Once you’ve reached the point you want to watch, lifting your finger returns the video to normal speed. This is the first time Instagram has introduced fast-forward functionality on Reels, marking a significant change in how users can interact with short-form content on the platform.
Instagram originally launched Reels in 2020 as a direct answer to TikTok’s rising popularity. Initially capped at 15 seconds, Reels can now be up to three minutes long—though any video that exceeds that limit reverts to being a standard Instagram video post. The new 2x feature is exclusive to Reels and won’t apply to other types of video content on the platform.
The ability to fast-forward is part of a broader trend in short-form video platforms adapting to users’ changing habits and attention spans. TikTok introduced its own 2x playback feature in 2023, largely in response to creators posting longer videos—sometimes up to 10 minutes, or even more when full-length TV clips or movies are involved. TikTok users can access 2x speed through an on-screen playback menu, while Instagram’s version opts for a more gesture-based approach.
Meta says the 2x speed option was one of the most requested features from Instagram users. With more people watching videos on the go—between work, school, errands, and everything else in life—the ability to skim or fast-forward through a Reel saves time and enhances the overall experience. Whether you’re skipping past an intro, jumping to a tutorial step, or breezing through a mini vlog, fast-forwarding offers more control over how you engage with content.
This update is yet another example of how Instagram continues to blur the lines between its platform and TikTok. From algorithm-driven feeds and remix tools to longer videos and now speed controls, the Reels experience is increasingly echoing TikTok’s feature set. Still, Instagram maintains a few unique interaction designs—like using touch-and-hold rather than an on-screen button for speed control.
While there’s no news yet on whether Instagram plans to introduce even more advanced playback features like custom playback speeds (e.g., 1.25x or 0.5x), this 2x option is already a significant step toward giving users more flexibility—especially in a world where multitasking is the norm.
ve****@motivue.com