How to Change Your Instagram Reels Feed

Feels like your Instagram Reels feed is stuck in a rut, showing you the same uninspired videos over and over? You're not stuck with it. This guide will walk you through exactly how to take control of the algorithm, from simple tricks to more advanced techniques, so you can start seeing content you actually love.

Why Your Reels Feed Looks the Way It Does (And How You Can Change It)

Your Instagram Reels feed isn't random, it's a highly personalized experience shaped entirely by your actions. The algorithm’s only job is to figure out what will keep you watching, so it pays close attention to everything you do. Every like, save, share, comment, and even every video you skip helps it build a profile of your interests. If you exclusively interact with cat videos for a week, you're going to get a feed full of cats.

The good news is that you have a ton of influence over this process. By understanding the signals you send, you can actively teach the algorithm what you want to see more of and what you want to see less of. Think of yourself as an editor for your own entertainment channel - you just need to learn how to give the right feedback.

The Easiest Fix: Tell Instagram What You Don’t Like

The most direct way to start changing your feed is to tell Instagram "no thanks" when it shows you something you dislike. This is your veto power, and using it consistently sends a strong signal to the algorithm to stop serving you similar content. It’s the fastest way to weed out videos that don't fit your vibe.

Using the "Not Interested" Button

When a Reel pops up that makes you groan, don’t just scroll past it. That apathy can be interpreted by the algorithm as neutral. Instead, here’s what to do:

• Step 1: On the Reel you want to get rid of, tap the three dots (...) at the bottom right of your screen.
• Step 2: From the menu that appears, tap "Not Interested."

That's it. It’s a simple two-tap process. Instagram may sometimes show you a confirmation screen saying, "We'll show fewer posts like this from now on," acknowledging your feedback.

What Does "Not Interested" Actually Do?

Tapping "Not Interested" sends a clear message to the algorithm. It learns not only that you dislike that specific video but also tries to understand why. Is it the audio? The creator? The general theme? Over time, as you mark several videos this way, Instagram will get better at identifying the patterns in what you reject and will stop showing you similar types of clips.

You can even give more specific feedback. After you tap “Not Interested,” sometimes Instagram will give you options like "I don't want to see posts from this account" or "This post made me uncomfortable." Choosing one of these helps Instagram refine its understanding even further.

Become an Active Curator: Train Your Algorithm with Intention

Your engagement is your voting system. Every time you interact positively with a Reel, you're voting for more content like it. Being more purposeful with how you engage is the key to creating a feed you’ll genuinely enjoy scrolling through.

1. Share, Save, and Comment with Purpose

A simple "like" is a good signal, but other forms of engagement carry even more weight. Think about what your actions communicate:

• Comments: Leaving a comment indicates high engagement. You didn't just passively watch, you were invested enough to type out a response. It tells the algorithm you found the content thought-provoking or entertaining.
• Saves: Saving a Reel (by tapping the bookmark icon) is one of the strongest positive signals you can send. It tells Instagram, "This content is so good, I want to come back to it later." This usually applies to useful tutorials, inspiring ideas, or funny videos you want to watch again.
• Shares: Sharing a Reel via DM with a friend or to your Story tells the algorithm that the content was so great you wanted to put your own name behind it and show it to someone else. This is a massive endorsement.

2. Let Good Reels Play on Loop

Did you know that watch time is one of the biggest factors the algorithm considers? If you immediately swipe away from a video, you're telling Instagram you're bored. But if you watch a Reel all the way through, that's a positive signal. And if you let it loop and watch it two or three times? That’s a huge indicator that you loved it.

Next time you find a video that really makes you laugh or teaches you something cool, just let it play a few times before moving on. That tiny action helps reinforce what you want to see.

3. Follow Creators You Genuinely Enjoy

This may seem obvious, but following an account is a definitive statement that you want to see content from that person or brand. When you follow new creators who are a perfect fit for your interests - whether that’s minimalist interior design, hockey highlights, or bread-making tutorials - you give the algorithm a clear roadmap. It will then start looking for other, similar creators that you might also like, expanding your feed in the exact direction you want it to go.

Go a Level Deeper: Strategic Searching and Unfollowing

If you feel like your feed needs more than just a little bit of course correction, it's time to get a bit more strategic. This involves actively seeking out new content and cleaning up your existing signals.

Clean Up Your "Following" List

Over time, our interests change. Maybe you followed a bunch of meme accounts a few years ago that you don't find funny anymore, or you have an old friend who posts about a hobby you no longer care about. The accounts you follow are a constant source of data for the Reels algorithm. If an account isn't sparking joy anymore, you have two options:

• Mute: If you don’t want to unfollow someone (maybe it's a friend or family member), you can Mute them. Go to their profile, tap "Following," then "Mute," and toggle on "Posts" and "Stories." Their content will no longer appear in your feed, but you'll still be following them.
• Unfollow: Be ruthless. If you scrolled past an account’s posts five times in a row without caring, it’s probably time to hit "Unfollow." This helps clean up the data the algorithm is using to make recommendations for you.

Go on an Exploration Mission

Don’t just wait for the algorithm to serve you content - go find what you love. Take 10 minutes and actively look for new material.

Use the search bar at the top of the Reels tab or the general Explore page to look for topics, hobbies, or aesthetics you're interested in. For example, you could search for:

• #solotravel
• vintage fashion
• diy home projects
• basketball training

When you start digging into these results, engage heavily with the posts you love. Like, comment, and save the best ones you find. Follow a few of the top creators in that niche. This is like injecting pure, high-quality data directly into your algorithm, and you’ll see the impact on your feed almost immediately.

When You Need a Gentle Reset: Clearing Your Data

Sometimes you just want to clear the slate a little bit, particularly if your search history is littered with one-off searches that don't reflect your actual interests. While you can't completely reset your Reels algorithm overnight (it's built on years of data), there are a couple of things you can do to clean things up.

Step 1: Clear Your Search History

If you've been searching for gift ideas for someone with a very different hobby, that could be throwing your recommendations off. Clearing your history helps remove this confusing data.

1. Go to your profile page and tap the menu icon (☰) in the top-right corner.
2. Tap on "Your activity."
3. Select "Recent searches."
4. Tap "Clear All." in the top right and confirm.

This removes your past search queries from the algorithm's consideration, giving you a slightly cleaner slate to work with.

Step 2: Clear Your App Cache

This is a small step that can sometimes help with an app that feels stale. Clearing the cache just removes temporary data stored on your phone, it won't delete your account, posts, or messages. Its direct effect on the algorithm is minimal since your user profile is stored on Instagram's servers, but it can help the app run a bit smoother.

• On iPhone: Unfortunately, iOS doesn't offer a simple "clear cache" button. The best way is to offload the app. Go to Settings >, General >, iPhone Storage >, Instagram >, Offload App. Then, reinstall the app from the App Store.
• On Android: Go to Settings >, Apps >, Instagram >, Storage >, Clear Cache. This process may vary slightly depending on your Android version, but the steps are generally similar.

A Quick Tip for Creators: How to Hide a Reel from Your Profile Grid

Sometimes when people search for "change my Instagram Reels feed," they mean changing how their own Reels appear on their profile. If you’re a creator, you might want a Reel to live in the Reels Tab and be served to new people, but you might not want it to clutter the curated aesthetic of your main profile grid. You can easily do that!

Before You Post a Reel

On the final screen before you tap "Share," look for the option that says "Also share to Feed." Simply toggle this option OFF. Your Reel will be published, but it will only appear in the Reels tab on your profile and get pushed out to the main Reels feed, not to your main grid.

After You’ve Already Posted a Reel

Did you post a Reel to your grid and regret it? No problem.

1. Navigate to the Reel on your main profile grid.
2. Tap the three dots (...) on the Reel.
3. Select "Remove from Profile Grid."

The Reel won't be deleted. It will remain in your dedicated Reels tab, and all its metrics will stay intact. It just won’t appear on the main grid, helping you keep that curated look you're going for.

Final Thoughts

Ultimately, your Instagram Reels feed is in your hands. A few intentional changes in how you engage - by using the "Not Interested" button strategically, saving and sharing content you love, and actively searching for new creators - can completely transform your viewing experience, turning a feed that you passively scroll into one you're genuinely excited to watch.

Once you’ve honed your feed and have a great sense of the kind of video that resonates with audiences, you might be inspired to create your own. When you're ready to share your own compelling content, we built Postbase to make the entire social media management process feel effortless. Because Postbase was designed from day one for short-form video, it simplifies scheduling Reels and TikToks alongside your other content. You can see your entire strategy in one visual calendar and confidently know your posts will publish reliably every single time, giving you more time to focus on creating content your audience - and the algorithm - will love.

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