How to Post a Video on Instagram Not as a Reel

Trying to post a video to your Instagram feed only to have it automatically turn into a Reel is a common frustration for creators and brands alike. As Instagram continues to prioritize its short-form video format, it has made posting a simple, traditional in-feed video surprisingly difficult. This guide will walk you through the why, what, and how of posting a video on Instagram that doesn't become a Reel, giving you back control over your content strategy.

Why You Might Want to Post an In-Feed Video Instead of a Reel

Before getting into the step-by-step process, it’s worth understanding the strategic difference between an in-feed video and a Reel. They serve different purposes, have different technical specifications, and are served to different audiences by the Instagram algorithm.

Think of it like this:

• Instagram Reels are for Discovery. They are designed to be shared with people who don't follow you. The algorithm pushes Reels out to a broad audience based on interests, trending audio, and viewing habits. They are your top-of-funnel content, an excellent tool for reaching new eyeballs and growing your account.
• In-Feed Videos are for your Community. These posts are primarily shown to your existing followers. They appear in the main feed alongside photo posts and are perfect for nurturing the audience you've already built. In-feed videos are ideal for deeper storytelling, product demonstrations, tutorials, or updates that are most relevant to your loyal followers.

When to Choose an In-Feed Video:

• You want longer content: While Reels are now longer, in-feed videos can be up to 60 minutes long, making them far better suited for extended tutorials, interviews, or mini-documentaries.
• Your video is landscape: Reels are built for a vertical, full-screen (9:16) experience. A widescreen (16:9) video looks out of place and gets heavily cropped as a Reel. As an in-feed post, it can be displayed in its native format.
• The content is specifically for your followers: If you're sharing an update about your business, a heartfelt thank you, or content that requires the context of your previous posts, an in-feed video is the more direct way to reach your engaged audience.
• You want a permanent, clean look on your grid: Reels have a small clapperboard icon in the corner of your profile grid. Standard video posts just have a simple play button icon, which some creators prefer for a cleaner aesthetic.

The Secret to Forcing a Standard Video Post: It's All in the Aspect Ratio

Instagram's automatic conversion of videos to Reels is aggressive, but it follows a set of (largely unpublished) rules. The most reliable way to prevent your video from becoming a Reel is to control its shape and size, otherwise known as its aspect ratio.

Currently, Instagram aggressively pushes any video that is uploaded in a full-screen vertical 9:16 aspect ratio to become a Reel. It also seems to heavily favor an auto-conversion for videos under 90 seconds, though this can vary from account to account.

The solution? Upload a video that is not 9:16 vertical.

Your best options for in-feed video posts are:

• Square (1:1): This is the classic Instagram format. It displays well in the feed and is the most reliable way to force a video post.
• Vertical (4:5): This format takes up more vertical screen space in the feed than a square post but is still distinct from the full-screen 9:16 Reel format. It's an excellent choice for grabbing attention without triggering the Reel conversion.
• Widescreen (16:9): The standard for landscape videos. Instagram knows this is not a Reel format and will treat it as a regular video post.

By preparing your video in one of these formats before you upload, you signal to Instagram that you intend for it to be a standard feed post.

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Post a Video to Your Feed (Not as a Reel)

Follow these steps carefully to ensure your video stays a video. The preparation phase is the most important part.

Step 1: Edit &, Format Your Video Before Uploading

This is the workhorse step where you prevent the Reel conversion from ever happening. You need to resize your video to a 1:1, 4:5, or 16:9 aspect ratio.

Most modern phones have built-in video editors that can do this, but dedicated video editing apps offer more control. Popular free apps like CapCut or InShot make this incredibly easy.

How to resize your video (using CapCut as an example):

1. Open CapCut and start a new project, selecting the video you want to post.
2. In the bottom menu, find and tap the "Aspect Ratio" tool (it might be labeled as "Format" or look like a crop icon in other apps).
3. Select a non-Reel format. "1:1" (for a perfect square) is the safest bet. "4:5" is also a great option.
4. Your video will now be placed on a canvas of your chosen size. You can pinch to zoom and reposition your video to fit the frame best.
5. Once you're happy, export the video to your camera roll in the highest quality possible.

Now you have a "Reel-proof" video file ready to go.

Step 2: Start the Upload Process from the Instagram Home Feed

Do not start from the Reels tab. Always start a fresh post from your home feed or profile page.

1. Open the Instagram app.
2. Tap the plus sign icon [+] at the bottom center of the screen.
3. From the menu that appears, make sure you select "Post". This will open your photo and video gallery.

Step 3: Select Your Video and Check the Framing

Choose the resized video file you just saved. On the preview screen, you'll see a small crop/aspect ratio icon in the bottom-left corner (it looks like two arrows pointing away from each other: <, >,). Since you already pre-formatted your video, it should default to the correct square or 4:5 shape. You can tap this button to see how it would look in other crops, but lock it in to the format you prepared.

Click "Next" in the top-right corner.

Step 4: Editing, Filters, and Trimming

This screen functions just like it does for photos. You can apply filters or use the "Trim" feature at the bottom to shorten your video if needed. Here you can also select your cover photo.

To select a cover image for your non-Reel video:

1. From the edit screen, tap the "Cover" option.
2. You can move the slider to choose a single frame from your video. The chosen frame will appear as a static preview image on your profile grid.
3. You can also select the option "Add From Camera Roll" to upload a completely custom thumbnail image you designed separately. This is a great way to maintain a polished and consistent grid aesthetic.

When you're happy with your edits and cover image, click "Next".

Step 5: Write Your Caption and Finalize Details

This is the final screen before publishing. Here's what to do:

• Write a compelling caption: Even though it's not a Reel, your caption is still vital for engagement. Tell a story, ask a question, and give context to your video.
• Tag People: If others are featured in the video, tag their accounts.
• Topics: This step will help with visibility a bit more but will not replace the reach from a Reel. Still, Instagram will better understand who to show the content to and give your post the best audience.
• Add Location: Tagging a location can help with discoverability.

Step 6: Share as a Standard Video Post

Hit the blue "Share" button. Your video will be posted directly to your feed and your followers' feeds. When you look at your profile grid, you'll see it has a simple play button icon in the thumbnail, not the Reels clapperboard. Success!

Troubleshooting: What If It Still Turns Into a Reel?

Though the aspect ratio method is very reliable, Instagram's interface can sometimes be confusing or subject to testing. If you still run into trouble, here are a few things to check:

• Did you truly resize the video file? The most common mistake is simply using the crop tool during the Instagram upload process. This doesn't always work. The key is to prepare and save a new video file at the right dimensions before you even open Instagram.
• Is the video longer than 15 minutes? Videos over 15 minutes automatically publish as an in-feed video post. While all videos used to publish to the IGTV section, many things have changed since videos now publish directly to the grid. However, most video content does not need to be that long.
• Are you sure you started with "Post"? Accidentally tapping "Reel" from the start menu will lock you into the Reels editor, and there's no way to switch back from there. Always start a fresh upload by tapping the + icon and selecting "Post."

Final Thoughts

Posting a standard in-feed video on Instagram instead of a Reel comes down to preparation. By controlling the aspect ratio and formatting your video to a square (1:1) or near-square vertical (4:5) format before uploading, you can bypass the automatic conversion and place content directly in front of your community.

Juggling different content formats for Reels, in-feed videos, Stories, and more is exactly why we built Postbase. Since we designed our platform for the way social media actually works today, managing different video specs and strategies isn't an afterthought - it's foundational. Our simple visual calendar and rock-solid scheduler make it easy to plan and publish all your content in one place, so you can focus on creativity, not frustrating workarounds.