How to Find Instagram Reels Templates

Struggling to keep up with the latest Instagram Reels trends? You can save yourself a ton of time and creative energy by using templates. This guide will show you exactly where to find them, how to use them, and what to do when you want to get ahead of the curve.

Finding Reels Templates Directly Inside Instagram

The best place to start your search is right within the Instagram app. Instagram has made it incredibly simple to find and use templates directly from the Reels feed, the audio page, or a new dedicated Template Browser. Let's break down each method.

1. On the Reels Feed: The "Use Template" Button

This is the most common and organic way to discover templates while you're just enjoying content on the app. It's built for spontaneous creation when inspiration strikes.

How it Works:

As you scroll through your Reels feed, you'll sometimes notice a button that says “Use template” appearing just above the creator's username. This label indicates that the creator used a pre-set template to make their video, and Instagram is letting you use the same one.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

• Step 1: Open Instagram and browse your Reels feed. Keep an eye out for videos with compelling edits, fun lip-syncs, or cool photo slideshows that you might want to recreate.
• Step 2: Look for the “Use template” sticker. Not every Reel will have this. It only appears on Reels made using Instagram’s native template feature. If you see it, you're in luck.
• Step 3: Tap the “Use template” button. This opens the template editor. You'll see outlines for a sequence of clips, each with a pre-determined duration that syncs up perfectly with the audio.
• Step 4: Add your media. Your phone's camera roll will open at the bottom. Tap on your photos or video clips in the order you want them to appear. Instagram will automatically drop them into the timed placeholders.
• Step 5: Review and customize. Instagram handles all the tricky timing for you. Once your clips are added, you can preview the Reel and trim or replace individual clips if needed. From here, you can add text, stickers, or effects just as you would with any other Reel.
• Step 6: Post your Reel. Write your caption, add your hashtags, and share it with your followers. It’s that easy.

This method is perfect for quickly jumping on a trend you spot in real-time, helping you stay relevant without spending hours in a video editor.

2. In the Reels Editor: The Built-In Template Browser

If you don't feel like aimlessly scrolling, Instagram has also built a dedicated 'Template Browser' where you can find curated and trending templates all in one place. This is a game-changer for batch-creating content.

How it Works:

The Template Browser is a library of pre-made Reels formats organized into categories, making it easy to find a style that fits your brand or mood. It's like a starting menu for your next great Reel.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

• Step 1: Open the Reel creation screen. Tap the plus icon (+) at the bottom of your screen and select 'Reel'.
• Step 2: Navigate to the Template Browser. Instead of recording or selecting a clip from your camera roll, look at the bottom options and swipe over to find and tap on 'Templates'.
• Step 3: Browse available templates. You'll be presented with a full-screen browser showcasing different templates. They are typically organized into tabs like:
  • Trending: Shows you the most popular templates people are using right now. This is a goldmine for discovering what’s going viral.
  • Recommended: Instagram's algorithm suggests templates you might like based on your previous activity and the creators you follow.
  • Saved Audio/Templates: This tab conveniently stores templates or audios you've previously saved, which we'll cover next.
• Step 4: Select and use a template. Tap on any template to preview it. Once you find one you like, tap the 'Use template' button at the bottom and follow the exact same process as before: add your media, customize, and post.

3. From a Reel's Audio Page

Often, a trending template is tied directly to a trending audio. If you hear a sound you love and notice multiple people using it in a similar video style, it's likely being powered by a template.

How it Works:

When you visit the audio page for a specific sound, Instagram will show you a gallery of Reels that use that audio. If there are popular templates associated with the sound, they'll often be highlighted at the top.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

• Step 1: Find a Reel with audio you want to use. When you find one, tap the scrolling name of the song or audio clip at the bottom left of the screen.
• Step 2: Look for available templates. This will take you to the main Audio Page. Right below the "Use audio" button, you may see a section of 'Templates by...' followed by some top examples. Alternatively, popular templates associated with the audio might appear as you scroll down.
• Step 3: Choose your template. Tap on one of the templates to open it in the editor. Just like the other methods, you'll be able to drop your own clips into the placeholders and create a perfectly synced Reel in seconds.

Planning Ahead: Saving Templates for Later Use

Inspiration rarely strikes when you're ready to create. You're more likely to stumble upon the perfect Reel template while waiting in line for coffee than when you're sitting down to batch content. This is why saving templates is essential for an efficient social media workflow.

How to Save Reels Templates

Saving templates lets you build a personal library of ideas you can draw from whenever it’s time to create.

There are two primary ways to save:

• Save the entire Reel: While watching a Reel with a template you like, tap the three dots (...) in the bottom-right corner and select 'Save'. This saves the Reel to your general 'Saved' folder. Later, when you go to your profile, tap the hamburger menu (three horizontal lines), select 'Saved,' and you'll find the Reel there. You can then tap the “Use template” button when you're ready.
• Save just the Template: If you're browsing inside the Template Browser and see a format you like, look for the bookmark icon. Tapping it will save the template directly to the 'Saved' tab within the browser for easy access later on.

Build a Library of Inspiration

Set aside 10-15 minutes once or twice a week just for 'inspiration hunting.' Scroll through Reels with the sole purpose of finding aesthetics, editing styles, and templates you like. Use the save buttons liberally. When you dedicate time specifically for content creation, you won't start with a blank slate. You can head straight to your 'Saved' folder and find dozens of ideas ready and waiting.

Beyond Instagram: Using Third-Party Apps for Standout Templates

While Instagram's native templates are easy and effective, they can sometimes feel a bit repetitive since everyone has access to them. To really stand out, you can turn to third-party apps that are often the real source of viral trends.

CapCut: The Viral Trend Incubator

CapCut is a free video editing app created by the same parent company as TikTok, and it's the undisputed king of viral video templates. Many of the most complex, high-energy trends you see on Reels actually start here.

How Its Templates Work:

Users create and share sophisticated templates within the CapCut app, which anyone can use. These templates often feature advanced effects, 3D movements, and precise audio syncing that would be difficult to create from scratch.

• Download CapCut. It's available for free on both iOS and Android.
• Head to the 'Template' tab. The bottom navigation bar has a dedicated section for templates. Here, you can search for a specific trend name (like "photo dump" or "3D filter") or browse categories like 'For You,' 'Beat,' 'Meme,' and more.
• Select a template. Once you find a template you like, tap 'Use template.'
• Add your media. Just like with Instagram, you'll be prompted to select photos and videos from your camera roll.
• Export and share. CapCut will automatically generate the video for you. When it's done, you can export it in high quality (with or without a small watermark) and share it directly to Instagram Reels.

The biggest advantage of using an app like CapCut is accessing a much larger, more creative library of templates before they become widely available on Instagram, giving your content a fresh, professional edge.

What about other apps like Canva?

Tools like Canva are fantastic for creating more branded, graphic-heavy Reels. They offer slick, professional video templates perfect for marketing announcements, tutorials, or quote carousels. While they require a bit more manual customization, they give you greater control over colors, fonts, and branding elements, which is a big plus for businesses.

Final Thoughts

Finding and using Instagram Reels templates is a powerful way to create engaging, trendy content without the stress of starting from zero. Whether you're using the convenient native tools within Instagram, searching a dedicated app like CapCut for something unique, or just saving ideas for later, templates dramatically speed up the creation process so you can focus on building your brand.

Once you’ve batched a collection of great-looking Reels, the next step is making sure they get posted consistently. At Postbase, we designed our platform with short-form video as the priority. Our visual calendar makes it unbelievably simple to schedule your polished Reels, TikToks, and Shorts weeks in advance. Because we focus on rock-solid reliability, you can batch your content, schedule it confidently, and trust that it will go live without fails or constant account disconnections.