Instagram Reels Hacks: 15 Tricks and Hidden Features

Since its introduction in 2020, Instagram Reels has become the app’s fastest growing feature (and a great way to boost the performance of your content with Instagram’s algorithm).

Hopefully you’ve already covered the basics of Instagram Reels because it’s time to jump into expert mode.

In this post, we’re sharing Instagram Reels hacks, tips, tricks, and features pros know and love to (fingers crossed!) your next video will amaze all of the 1.22 billion Instagram users/potential new followers.

How to use voice filters for Instagram Reels

In addition to adding sound effects, music videos, or voiceovers to your video, you can also change your voice.

Use the magic of sound effects to transport your audience to another world: one where you are a robot, a giant, or a man sucking helium.

• Record a video clip in Create mode. Click “Next”when you’re done, and then click the musical note icon at the top.

• Click “Edit”(located below the audio level indicator).

• Select the effect you want to apply to the original audio. Click “Done”to preview. If you’re happy with that, keep posting as usual!

How to add sound effects to your Instagram video

Brighten up the moment by adding a bleating goat or an insistent doorbell. All you have to do is add a sound effect to your Instagram Reel with the sound editing feature.

• Create or select your video in compose mode and then click “Next”to enter edit mode. Tap the musical note icon at the top of the screen.
• Click “Sound Effects”in the lower right corner.

• In the editing compartment, your video will play. Press the button of the effect you want to add at the moment you want to add it.

• Add as many sound effects as you want. You’ll see a timeline of your additions as a visual representation of where those fun sounds are happening in your video.
• Click the back arrow button to undo adding the most recent sound effect. Your video will repeat and you can add as many goat sounds as your heart desires.

• When you’re ready, click Done. Continue posting as usual.

How to Use Templates to Create Viral Instagram Videos

Why reinvent the wheel? Instagram Reels templates allow you to copy the formatting of other Reels so you can learn from the success stories of other Reels.

• Tap the Reels icon (bottom right center when you open the Instagram app).
• Tap the camera icon in the top corner to enter create mode.

• Below the record button, you will see a tab labeled “Template”. Touch it!

• You should now be able to scroll through the Reels template menu. Touch the one you want to imitate.

• Follow the instructions to select photos and videos from your own camera. They will be inserted and synchronized with the reel sync.
• Go to settings and publish from there!

How to Use Transition Effects in Instagram Reels

Instagram’s built-in transition effects help you glue scenes together with real luxury: think warping, twisting, or stretching.

• In reel creation mode, tap the Sparkle (effects) icon on the left.
• Tap the Batting tab (between Trends and Appearance).

• Click on the effect of your choice and follow the instructions to record a scene that begins or ends with a visual effect.

How to Schedule Your Instagram Reels

Who has time to live in the present?! You can use social media management apps like Hootsuite to automatically schedule Instagram Reels.

You can find more details on how to schedule Instagram Reels here, but here is the TL version; DR:

1. Record and edit the video and then save it to your device.
2. In Hootsuite, open Composer mode and select the Instagram account you want to post to.
3. Above the content text box, tap Reel. Upload your video and add a caption.
4. Adjust advanced options, watch the video, and then click Schedule for Later.
5. Choose a manual posting time or let the recommendation engine suggest the best posting time for maximum engagement.

How to reply to comments with Instagram Reels

Reply to comments on the video with a new video! Reels on drums on drums! What a world!

This feature turns a comment into a sticker that you can insert into your video for context when you share your response with the world…which might just encourage more subscribers to participate and comment. Start chatting!

• Find an amazing commentary on one of your videos. Below it, click Reply.
• A text field for the answer will appear. You will see a blue camera icon next to it. Tap this to record Reel’s response.

• The comment will appear as a sticker overlaid on top of your new entry. Finish recording and post as usual!

How to turn highlights into reels on Instagram

You may have already read about our big experiment in turning story highlights into cutscenes. But if you haven’t, we’ll tell you how to do it right now!

• Go to your profile and click on the Highlight you want to convert to Reel.

• While Highlight is playing, tap the three horizontal dots in the bottom right corner. This will open the options menu. Select “Convert to Coil”.

• You’ll be presented with several recommended sounds that your clips will automatically sync to. Click “Skip”if you don’t want this task done by Instagram’s AI – you’ll be taken to the edit page where you can add effects, sound, etc. yourself.

• Click “Next”to add a caption and configure settings before publishing.

How to search by text in the Instagram audio library

Less instructions, more fun fact: Did you know that you can search for a song by lyrics to find the song in Instagram’s audio library? If you don’t know the title or the artist, it won’t hurt you at all, my friends.

• Touch the musical note icon in Build mode.
• Enter the words that have won your heart and select the desired song from the list to get points for your video.

• Continue building your Instagram Reel as usual.

How to Save Songs to Use Later on Instagram Reels

Do you love this song but don’t have any content ready to do it justice? You can bookmark songs on Instagram to use for Reels later.

• While browsing your audio library, swipe left on a song to open the bookmark icon. Touch it!

• Browse your saved songs by tapping the “Saved”tab.

How to Import Custom Audio for an Instagram Video

Maybe your karaoke performance of “It’s Coming Back to Me Now”is better than Celine’s! Who am I to judge?

Share these music styles with the world and upload your own audio to use as background music for your next Instagram video.

• In Build mode, touch the musical note icon to enter the Sound Clip Library.
• Click “Import”.

• Select the video with the sound you want to use. Instagram will pull the sound.

• Record your visuals to match your new custom audio track and proceed as usual with the rest of the drum creation.

How to Automatically Sync Your Instagram Reels to the Beat

Editing is hard! Let computers do it – we will not judge, I promise.

Simply upload multiple photos and videos at once, and Instagram’s auto-sync feature does the rest.

• Enter the create mode and tap the photo gallery thumbnail in the lower left corner.
• Tap the multiple photos icon in the top right corner.
• Select multiple photos and click next.

• Instagram will offer audio to sync your clips, but you can browse your entire audio library by clicking Search. When you’re ready to go, click the Next button and see a preview. You can add the final editing touches from there.

Cool Tip: You can also use the new Grooves feature to add automatic dynamic editing to a single video clip. Just click the Grooves button in the top right corner, select your video and wait for the music video magic to happen.

How to Change Instagram Reel Cover

You can use a clip from the video or upload a single photo as the cover. We are not your boss!

• Create and edit a video. When you’re on the last screen of setting up options and getting ready to publish, tap the thumbnail (it says “Edit Cover”so you can see where we’re going).

• Review the footage to find the moment that best represents your video. If you prefer a static image, simply upload it from your camera roll by clicking Add from Camera Roll.

• You can even view and customize how it will look in your profile grid by tapping the profile grid tab.

How to record hands-free with Instagram Reels

Sometimes you need your hands to, for example, make the cook’s kiss move or show off your karate skills.

Here’s how to set up a video timer so you can record hands-free with Reels.

• Tap the clock icon in the menu on the left.
• Touch the countdown number to switch between 3 and 10 seconds. Drag the timer to set how long the video will be recorded.

• Tap Set Timer, then tap the record button when you’re ready to go.

How to lip sync professionally on Instagram Reels

The secret to professional lip sync is not to learn the words perfectly, but to bend the time. Professionals use the Slow-It-Down app to make sure they can pronounce every lyric.

• In compose mode, tap the music icon and select a song or audio clip.

• Then tap the 1x icon and select 3x. This will slow down the sound clip by 300%.

• Now record your video and mouth or dance to a super slow song. When you watch a recording, the music plays at normal speed and you move strangely fast. It’s fun! I promise!

How to add GIFs to your video

Give your drums a boost with pop-up GIFs!

• Record the footage and enter edit mode.
• Tap the sticker icon and select all the gifs you want to add to your video.
• You will now see a small icon for each GIF in the bottom left corner. Touch one.

• You will be taken to the video timeline for that gif. Customize the start and end times to specify when the GIF will be displayed on the screen. Repeat for each gif.

Have you reached the end of this monstrous list of Instagram Reels hacks? I guess that means you’re a Reel pro now. Congratulations!

Ready to share your wonderful new skills with the world? Check out our long list of creative drum ideas and get ready to create your next masterpiece.