How to Remix a Reel on Instagram

Remixing a Reel on Instagram is one of the quickest ways to jump into a conversation, collaborate with other creators, and get your content in front of a new audience. This guide provides everything you need to know, from the simple steps to create your first Remix to clever strategies that will help your content get noticed.

What's an Instagram Remix, Anyway?

Think of a Remix as a direct response or collaboration with another person's Reel. When you Remix a video, Instagram creates a new Reel that places your video alongside the original. It’s similar to TikTok’s Duet or Stitch features, designed to spark creative conversations and build on existing trends. It’s a core part of the creative culture on the platform, allowing you to react, add context, or create something entirely new from someone else's work.

When you create a Remix, you can choose from a few different layouts:

• With original video: This is the classic side-by-side look, where your video appears next to the original Reel, playing simultaneously. This is perfect for reaction videos, duets, and direct commentary.
• After original video: This layout plays the original Reel in its entirety first, followed by your clip. It’s great for creating response videos, "part two" style content, or revealing a punchline after a setup.
• New layouts: Instagram frequently updates layouts, but two popular options are the Green Screen and the top-and-bottom format. The Green Screen layout lets you use the original Reel as a virtual background while you record yourself in front of it, ideal for in-depth analysis or scene breakdowns. The top-and-bottom format splits the screen horizontally, offering another way to show both videos at once.

Why Remixing Reels is a Smart Move for Your Brand

Jumping on the Remix trend isn’t just about having fun - it’s a powerful strategy for organic growth and brand building. When you know an idea or format is already working, you take a lot of the guesswork out of content creation.

1. Tap into Trends Instantly

Trends move fast on Instagram. By the time you script, shoot, and edit a brand-new Reel from scratch, a trending audio track or challenge might already be old news. Remixing lets you participate in a trend much faster. You can use an existing viral Reel as your foundation and simply add your unique perspective, saving you valuable time while keeping your content relevant.

2. Amplify Your Reach and Visibility

When you Remix a Reel, Instagram automatically shows your video to some of the original creator's audience. If your Remix is engaging, it can get picked up by the algorithm and shown to an even wider audience. Furthermore, the original creator gets a notification when you Remix their content. If it resonates with them, they might share it with their followers, giving your account a significant boost in exposure.

3. Faux-Collaboration and Networking

You don't need to coordinate with big creators to "collaborate" with them. Remixing allows you to interact with their content officially, putting your brand right alongside theirs. It’s a way to become part of the conversation happening in your niche and build connections with other accounts without sending a DM. This can be especially effective for small brands looking to get a foothold in a crowded space.

4. Showcase Your Authenticity and Personality

Remixes are often less structured and more spontaneous than highly produced videos. This rawness is a perfect canvas for showing off your brand’s personality. A funny reaction, a heartfelt response, or insightful commentary can make your brand feel more human and relatable. It's a way to connect with your audience on an emotional level beyond just selling a product or service.

How to Remix a Reel on Instagram: The Complete Walkthrough

Ready to create your first Remix? The process is straightforward. Here’s a detailed, step-by-step guide to get you started.

Step 1: Find the Perfect Reel to Remix

First things first, you need a video to Remix. Scroll through your Reels feed or explore trending audio pages within your niche. Look for content that is not only popular but that you can genuinely add value to. Can you provide a unique take, a funny reaction, or a helpful explanation? Make sure the Reel sparks an idea. Not all Reels can be remixed, as creators have the option to disable this feature. You'll know a Reel is remixable if you see the option in the menu.

Step 2: Start the Remix

Once you've found your Reel, tap the three-dot menu (...) in the bottom-right corner of the video. From the menu that appears, select "Remix." Keep in mind that for some creators or video types, the option might instead say "Remix this Reel."

Step 3: Choose Your Layout and Record

After you tap "Remix," Instagram will take you to the recording screen. At the bottom of the screen, or sometimes via an icon on the side panel, you can choose your layout. Decide if you want your video "With original video" (side-by-side) or "After original video." Experiment with other layouts like Green Screen if it makes sense for your idea.

Now, it’s time to record your clip. You can film your clip directly in the app or upload a pre-recorded video from your camera roll. While recording, you can use the original audio from the Reel or choose to record your own audio by tapping the microphone icon. Remember to make your clip the same length as the original when doing a side-by-side Remix for perfect timing.

Step 4: Add Your Creative Touch

This is where your Remix comes to life. Once you’ve recorded your clip, you’ll be taken to the editing screen, just like with a regular Reel. Here, you can:

• Add text overlays: Use text to add commentary, jokes, or explain what’s happening.
• Include stickers and GIFs: Use interactive stickers like polls or quizzes, or find a relevant GIF to emphasize a point.
• Apply AR effects: Browse Instagram’s extensive library of filters and effects to change the look and feel of your video.
• Use voiceovers: If you didn't record your own audio, you can add a voiceover to narrate your clip.

Step 5: Write a Great Caption and Publish

Finally, you’ll land on the share screen. Instagram automatically credits the original creator in your Remix, but it’s always good practice to mention their handle (@username) in your caption as well. This shows respect and encourages a positive interaction.

Write an engaging caption that adds context to your Remix, ask a question to spark comments, and include relevant hashtags to help more people discover it. Once you’re happy with everything, find your cover image, and then hit the "Share" button to post your Remix to your profile.

Not Just Reactions: Creative Ways to Use the Remix Feature

The classic side-by-side reaction is great, but the Remix format offers so much more creative potential. If you want to stand out, try one of these less common but highly engaging ideas.

The Complementary Tutorial

Find a Reel that shows one part of a process and use your Remix to show the next step. For example, if a food blogger shares a recipe for homemade pizza dough, you can Remix it "after original video" to show how you used their dough to make a delicious pizza with your favorite toppings. This creates a helpful, multi-part piece of content that benefits both creators.

The Myth Buster or Fact Checker

If you're an expert in your field, Remixes are an amazing way to share your knowledge. Find a viral video in your niche that contains misinformation or a common misconception. Use the side-by-side layout to react in real-time and provide accurate information, politely correcting the original video. This positions you as a trusted authority while piggybacking on existing video views.

The Green Screen Report

The Green Screen layout is incredibly underrated. Use a visually interesting Reel as your backdrop - like a jaw-dropping travel montage, a breaking news clip, or a product showcase. Place yourself in front of it and act like a news reporter or an analyst, breaking down the video for your audience. For example, a fashion expert could use a runway show as their background to comment on the latest trends.

Guess the Outcome Challenge

Find a video with a suspenseful moment right before the big reveal - someone about to hit a golf shot, an artist about to finish a painting, or a chef about to flip a pancake. Use the side-by-side Remix to record your prediction or exaggerated reaction of what you *think* will happen. It’s lighthearted, highly engaging, and encourages viewers to watch until the end to see if you were right.

Remix Etiquette: The Dos and Don'ts

Like any collaborative tool, there are ways to use Remix correctly and ways to miss the mark completely. Following a few simple rules of etiquette will build your reputation and keep you in the community's good graces.

The Dos:

• Do Add Real Value: The best Remixes add something new to the conversation - humor, emotion, insight, or context. Avoid just staring blankly at the screen. Give people a reason to watch *your* version.
• Do Give Extra Credit: Instagram’s automatic tag is great, but manually tagging the original creator in your caption is a thoughtful gesture that helps build a sense of community.
• Do Match the Vibe: Align your response to the tone of the original video. If it's a comedic clip, be playful. If it’s an educational tutorial, provide a constructive addition. The consistency makes for a more seamless viewing experience.

The Don'ts:

• Don't Be a Troll: Never use the Remix feature to bully, harass, or spread hate. It’s designed for positive or constructive engagement, and using it for negativity is a fast way to get reported and harm your brand’s reputation.
• Don't Obscure the Original: Be mindful of your on-screen graphics. Avoid placing text, stickers, or logos where they cover up important parts of the creator’s original video or their watermarked username.
• Don't Remix Blindly: Pay attention to the original creator's caption and comments to understand the context of their video. Misinterpreting their message can lead to awkward or tone-deaf Remixes that miss the mark.

Controlling Your Content: How to Manage Remix Permissions

As a creator, you also have control over who can Remix your own content. You can manage this at both an account level and a per-Reel basis.

To set your account-wide permissions, go to your Settings and Privacy >, Sharing and remixes. From there, you can turn off the ability for anyone to remix your posts entirely, or you can allow it across the board for all future Reels and feed videos.

If you'd rather decide on a video-by-video basis, you can do that too. When you’re on the final sharing screen before posting a new Reel, scroll down and open Advanced Settings. In this menu, you'll find a toggle to "Turn off remixing" for that specific video. This gives you granular control over creative direction and how you want your brand content to be used by others.

Final Thoughts

Learning how to Remix a Reel on Instagram offers a big opportunity for content creativity, community engagement, and tapping into viral trends. By using it in a smart and respectful way, you can create engaging content that grows your audience and brings fresh energy to your social media strategy.

Once you start creating more Remixes and other short-form-video content, keeping your calendar full becomes the next hurdle. For our own strategy, we rely on Postbase to streamline everything. It lets us plan, schedule, and get a clear visual of our entire content lineup, including Reels, TikToks, and Shorts, all from one central dashboard. This helps us ensure our content goes out consistently without getting disorganized by managing it all from different apps.