Instagram expanded the maximum recording time for Reels videos to 20 minutes on November 25, 2025, according to the company’s official @design account. The update, which applies to in-app Reels camera recordings, aims to provide users with more creative freedom for longer content such as tutorials and interviews without relying on external tools.

This change specifically applies to videos recorded directly through the Reels camera, with the camera timer and progress bar now scaled to accommodate the extended duration. Users can still record shorter clips, such as 15 seconds, without any modification to existing functionality.

The update, announced on November 25, 2025, via Instagram’s official @design account, raises the maximum recording time for Reels captured within the app’s camera to 20 minutes, up from previous shorter limits that varied by account and region, according to reports from PetaPixel and Storrito.

Alongside the increased recording limit, Instagram introduced several new camera features designed to enhance user control during video creation. One notable addition is an “Undo” button that allows creators to remove the most recent clip in multi-clip projects, a feature implemented in response to user feedback, according to the company’s announcement. The undo function permanently deletes the last clip from the current session, as there is no “redo” option. Additional updates include a touch-up slider and improvements to green screen tools, rounding out four key camera enhancements released simultaneously with the longer recording capability.

The expanded recording time aims to provide creators with more flexibility for longer-form content, such as tutorials, walkthroughs, and interviews, without the need to rely on external editing tools or splice multiple clips together, sources confirmed. This native in-app feature simplifies shooting and editing longer narratives, enabling creators to produce extended footage in a single take. The update also supports uploading 20-minute Reels as single videos, with verified reports confirming that the platform’s upload pipeline can process these longer videos without issue.

Despite the extended recording capability, Instagram’s algorithm continues to prioritize shorter Reels for maximum engagement. According to the company’s announcement and corroborated by Social Media Today, videos under three minutes are more likely to be recommended widely across the platform. While longer videos can be posted and viewed, they generally receive less distribution in the feed, reflecting Instagram’s ongoing focus on short-form content. Creators are advised to consider this dynamic when producing longer Reels, as the 20-minute limit does not guarantee equal reach or visibility in recommendations.

The rollout of these features on November 25, 2025, marks a significant step in Instagram’s efforts to compete with other platforms that support extended video formats. The company’s official communications highlight the update as part of a broader set of Reels and Edits upgrades aimed at increasing creator precision and storytelling capabilities. Additional tools, such as keyframe editing in Instagram Edits, were announced alongside the Reels camera enhancements, indicating a concerted push to expand creative options for users.

As of the initial reports, no global rollout timeline beyond the November 2025 launch was specified, leaving details about availability in specific markets or accounts unclear. Industry observers note that the platform’s video length limits have evolved over time, with references to ongoing changes expected into 2026. The expanded recording time positions Instagram to better meet the needs of creators seeking to produce longer content natively within the app, while maintaining its core focus on short-form video engagement.