How to Get to Reels on Facebook

Trying to find where Reels and stories are displayed in search results on Facebook but feeling a bit lost? You're not alone. The layout can feel like it's constantly shifting, but finding, watching, and creating Reels is simple once you know where to look. This guide is your complete map to navigating Facebook Reels, whether you're watching on your phone during a lunch break or scheduling content from your desktop.

Where to Find Facebook Reels: Your Complete Guide

Facebook integrates Reels in several places across its platform, making them easy to stumble upon but sometimes tricky to seek out intentionally. Here's a breakdown of all the places you can find them on both the mobile app and your computer.

On the Facebook Mobile App (iOS and Android)

The mobile experience is where Reels truly shine. Facebook prioritizes this content format heavily in the app, giving you multiple entry points to a never-ending stream of vertical video.

1. The Main Reels Hub

This is the most direct way to get to Reels. When you open your Facebook app, look at the navigation bar at the top of your screen, right below the search bar. You will see an icon that looks like a play button or a film clapperboard, typically labeled "Reels." Tapping this takes you directly into the full-screen, immersive Reels viewer. From here, you can swipe up to see an endless feed of content curated for you by the algorithm.

2. In Your News Feed

As you scroll through your main Facebook Feed, the algorithm will naturally sprinkle Reels in among the usual posts from friends, groups, and Pages you follow. These will appear as short, auto-playing videos in a vertical format. You can watch them directly in the feed or tap on the video to open the full-screen Reels viewer and see more related content.

3. On Facebook Profiles and Pages

If you visit a specific creator's or business's Facebook Page, you can often find a dedicated tab for their Reels. Look for a section or tab labeled "Reels" near their photos and videos tabs. This is a great way to see all the short-form video content from a specific account you like without having to rely on the algorithm to show it to you.

4. Within Facebook Watch

Facebook's dedicated video hub, "Watch" (indicated by a play button icon in the main navigation bar), also features Reels. While Watch has traditionally been for longer-form videos, Facebook now mixes Reels into this feed to keep you engaged. It's another way the platform ensures you never miss out on popular short-form content.

On a Desktop Computer

While the mobile experience is more immersive, you can still easily access Reels from your desktop or laptop. The interface puts things in slightly different spots, but it's just as accessible.

1. The Left-Hand Navigation Panel

This is your primary destination for Reels on desktop. When you're on the Facebook homepage, look at the vertical menu on the left side of your screen. Alongside links to Marketplace, Groups, and Events, you'll find a "Reels" link with the same play button icon. Clicking this will open the Reels viewer, which mimics the mobile experience on a larger screen. You can scroll through videos using your mouse wheel or arrow keys.

2. In Your News Feed

Just like on mobile, Reels from creators and brands will appear mixed into your main news feed as you scroll down the page. They are easily identifiable by their vertical format.

3. Directly on a Profile or Page

Visiting a business Page or a creator's profile will reveal their Reels, just as it does on mobile. Navigate to their page and look for the "Reels" tab to see their complete library of short-form videos.

Creating Your First Facebook Reel: A Step-by-Step Guide

Watching Reels is just half the fun. For creators, entrepreneurs, and marketers, making them is how you tap into one of the most powerful organic reach tools available today. Getting started is easier than you think.

Step 1: Start Your Reel

You can start creating a Reel from a few different places in the mobile app:

• From the Reels Feed: While you're watching Reels, tap the camera icon in the top right corner.
• From Your Status Box: On your main feed, where it says "What's on your mind?", you should see an option to create a "Reel" below it.
• From the Shortcut Menu: If you tap the "Menu" button (your profile picture) in the navigation bar, you'll see a tile for "Reels." Tapping it gives you the option to create a new one.

Step 2: Add Your Video Clips or Photos

Once you're in the creator interface, you have two options:

• Record Directly: Tap the big red record button at the bottom of the screen to start recording a new video clip. You can record one long clip or multiple shorter ones in sequence.
• Upload from Camera Roll: Tap the icon in the bottom-left corner to access your phone's photo library. You can select one or several videos and photos to stitch together.

Step 3: Edit and Enhance Your Reel

This is where your content comes to life. On the right side of the screen, you'll see a panel of editing tools. Here's a rundown of the essentials:

• Audio: Tap this to add music from Facebook's library of licensed songs or find trending sounds. Using popular audio can significantly boost your Reel's visibility. You can also use your own original audio directly from your video.
• Text: Add text overlays to provide context, tell a story, or create eye-catching captions. You can change fonts, colors, and timing for when the text appears and disappears.
• Effects: Here you'll find augmented reality (AR) filters and other visual effects to make your video more engaging or polished.
• Timer: This feature allows you to set a countdown before recording starts, which is perfect for filming yourself hands-free.
• Green Screen: This effect lets you replace your background with a different image or video, opening up endless creative possibilities.
• Timings & Trim: Once you have your clips, you can trim their length and reorder them until your story flows perfectly.

Step 4: Finalize and Share Your Reel

After you're done editing, tap "Next." On this final screen, you'll add the finishing touches:

• Write a Caption: This is your chance to add more context, ask a question to drive engagement, or add a call-to-action.
• Use Hashtags: Add a mix of popular and niche hashtags related to your content to help people discover your Reel.
• Choose Your Audience: Make sure your Reel is set to "Public" if you want to reach the widest audience possible.
• More Settings: You can also choose whether to allow others to "remix" your Reel, which is a great way to increase its reach if someone popular uses it.

Once everything looks good, just hit the "Share Reel" button!

Beyond the Basics: Tips for Reels That Get Noticed

Knowing the technical steps is just the foundation. To create Reels that actually grow your brand or following, you need a little strategy.

1. Start with a Powerful Hook

You have less than three seconds to convince someone to stop scrolling. Your opening shot must be compelling. This can be a text overlay with a bold claim ("The 3 best ways to..."), a surprising visual, or a question that piques curiosity. Don't build up to the good stuff, start with it.

2. Use Trending Audio and Sounds

The algorithm heavily favors Reels that use trending sounds. You can find what's popular by scrolling through your Reels feed and looking for an upward-pointing arrow next to an audio title. When you tap a sound, you can see how many other Reels have been made with it. Participating in trends is one of the fastest ways to get discovered.

3. Provide Value or Entertainment

Every successful Reel does one of two things: it either solves a problem (value) or it makes someone feel something (entertainment). Value can be anything from a quick tutorial, a life hack, an industry tip, or a product demonstration. Entertainment can be humor, satisfying visuals, relatable situations, or beautiful storytelling. Focus on one, and your audience will have a reason to watch, like, and share.

4. Keep It Visually Interesting

Static shots get boring fast. Use different angles, quick cuts, and dynamic camera movements to keep a viewer's eye engaged. Even small things like transitioning between clips or adding well-timed text animations can make a huge difference in holding attention.

The most important part? Be consistent. You don't need a single viral hit to succeed. A steady cadence of solid, valuable content is what truly builds an engaged community and brand on social media.

Final Thoughts

Getting to Reels on Facebook - whether to watch or to create - is a simple process once you're familiar with the key locations in the app and on desktop. By putting this powerful, short-form video tool to work, you can tap into massive organic reach and build a meaningful connection with your audience.

Of course, mastering the creation process is one part of the puzzle, staying consistent across all your social platforms is another huge challenge. When we built Postbase, our goal was to make short-form video management feel effortless, because we knew how frustrating legacy tools were. Instead of fighting with platforms designed for an older social media landscape, you can plan all of your Reels, TikToks, and Shorts in a single visual calendar and schedule them confidently, knowing they'll publish reliably. It gives you the space to organize your strategy and genuinely focus on creating great content.