If you're looking at the analytics for your Instagram videos and can't find a separate metric labeled "Video Views," don't worry—this is expected behavior! Instagram has consolidated video metrics to streamline how you track performance.
For any video content on Instagram that is under 15 minutes in length, the view count is aggregated under the Reel Views metric. This is true even if the video was not explicitly uploaded as a Reel.
⚠️ IMPORTANT: This change applies to all new videos shorter than 15 minutes, regardless of where they were posted (Feed or Reels tab). Instagram automatically converts and treats these videos as Reels for tracking purposes.
Why Your Short Videos Are Counted as Reel Views
Instagram is continuously evolving its platform, and with the rise of short-form video, they've shifted the focus of their video content and corresponding analytics. This specific change was announced by Meta (Instagram's parent company) in July 2022.
The core change was the decision to automatically convert all new videos shorter than 15 minutes into Reels and treat them as such. This move was made to prioritize the immersive, full-screen video experience of the Reels format across the entire app and to simplify content creation and consumption.
Reel Views (Short-Form Videos)
This metric tracks the views for all videos under 15 minutes, regardless of where they appear on Instagram (Feed, Reels tab, or Profile). This includes videos you may have previously considered a "standard" feed video.
Video Views (Long-Form Videos)
This separate metric is now generally reserved for videos that are 15 minutes or longer.
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