How to Use Instagram Trial Reels？

What are Instagram Trial Reels

Instagram Trial Reels are an ideal tool for content creators and marketers who are just starting out in video production or looking to experiment with various content formats. This feature significantly reduces the risk associated with public content sharing, as it enables creators to test their concepts in a private setting. In the event that a Trial Reel fails to generate the expected level of engagement, it can be deleted without ever being seen by the creator's followers.

According to Instagram's official guide, which was updated in January 2025:

"Trial Reels on Instagram empower creators to explore new ideas and receive initial feedback on the resonance of their content. By sharing these reels with non - followers, creators can gauge interest.  They have the flexibility to share the trial reel with their followers at a later stage."

How to Use Instagram Trial Reels

Sharing a Trial Reel is straightforward and involves the same process as making any other Reel on Instagram.

1.Create a New Reel

On the Instagram home page, tap the “+” icon located at the bottom of the screen, which represents the Create function.

Next, choose the Reel option from the menu that appears. You have the choice to record and edit the video directly in Instagram, or you can upload a video that has already been edited beforehand.

Pro Tip: Although Instagram has basic editing tools, uploading a pre - edited video not only saves time but also elevates the quality of your content. Free video editing platforms like Kapwing come with advanced features, including:

Saved Brand Colors: You can maintain a uniform brand identity throughout your posts by utilizing a brand kit.

Custom Resizing: Effortlessly resize your videos for Instagram, TikTok, and other social media platforms, making content repurposing a breeze.

Extensive Templates: Leverage a wide range of free, customizable templates to quickly produce high - quality, professional - looking content.

Opting for an editor like Kapwing guarantees that your Trial Reels are refined and poised to captivate both new viewers and existing followers.

2.Enable the Trial Reel Setting

On the last screen before clicking “Share”:

Scroll down to the bottom of the page.

Switch on the Trial option to activate the Trial Reel feature. This will let you share your Reel with users who don't follow you.

You also have the option to determine whether Instagram will automatically share your Trial Reel with your followers if it performs well:

Activate the "Share to everyone automatically" setting, and Instagram will make the Reel visible to your followers if it garners sufficient engagement during the 72 - hour trial period.

If you'd rather have full control, you can deactivate this setting and choose manually whether to post the Reel for your followers to see.

Once a Trial Reel is shared with your followers, it will be displayed on your profile grid, just like any regular Reel.

3.Review Analytics

Roughly 24 hours after your Trial Reel goes live, you'll be able to view its engagement analytics.

To access these insights, head to your grid of posted Reels and tap on the Trial Reel. It will be clearly marked as "Trial reels."

Just click on the Trial Reel with the label to open it. You will then see some basic statistics and the option "Share to everyone".

If you want a more in - depth analysis of its performance, choose "View more insights" to access detailed analytics.

Although these metrics are useful, they have limited significance when considered in isolation. To gain a more comprehensive understanding of how your Trial Reel is performing, leverage Instagram's Insight Studio to compare it with your previous content. This method enables you to assess whether the statistics suggest that the Reel is underperforming or is an exceptional piece of content.

Kapwing Case Study Findings

In the example mentioned earlier, accurately gauging the actual performance of the Trial Reel was difficult without manually contrasting it with previous content via Instagram Insight Studio.

At first glance, metrics such as 137 views and a 12 - second watch time appeared favorable. This was because recent Instagram posts usually received about 10 likes and 1 - 2 comments. Nevertheless, this comparison was not entirely applicable to Reels. Since Reels were posted irregularly, there was no stable performance benchmark to rely on.

The addition of an "average comparison score" feature specifically for Reels would greatly increase the utility of this tool. It would simplify and expedite the analysis process.