You Can Finally Watch Reels at 2x Speed—About Time, Instagram

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Well, well, well. Instagram has finally realised that sometimes, we just don’t have the patience to sit through a full Reel. The platform is rolling out a new 2x playback option, letting users speed up videos and get through their scrolling a little faster.

To activate the 2x playback, simply long-press on the right or left edge of the screen while a Reel is playing. The video will continue at double speed until you release your finger, returning to its normal pace. Currently, 2x is the only accelerated playback option available. 

This update arrives as Instagram stretches the max Reel length to three minutes, meaning there’s even more content to sit through. Honestly, this feature should have been here ages ago. TikTok has had playback speed controls for years, offering 1.5x and 2x options. Meanwhile, Instagram took its sweet time catching up.

While the 2x playback option is a welcome addition for many, some users have expressed frustration over the gradual rollout. Despite Instagram’s assurance that the feature would be universally available by 27 March 2025, reports indicate that not all users have access yet.

Whether this update will significantly impact user engagement remains to be seen, but it undoubtedly offers a new way to experience Reels at a preferred pace.