Should You Hide Your Instagram Reels from Your Feed?

Instagram Reels have quickly become a powerhouse for engagement on the platform, leaving many content creators wondering: should you hide your Reels from your feed, or always share them to your main profile? This question is especially important for micro-influencers, e-commerce brands, Amazon sellers, and anyone leveraging user-generated content (UGC) in their Instagram strategy. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore what it means to hide a Reel from your feed, the pros and cons of doing so, and best practices to help you make the most of Reels without compromising your profile’s aesthetic or engagement.

What Does “Hiding a Reel from Your Feed” Mean?

When you post an Instagram Reel, you have the option to also share it to your main feed (profile grid) or not. “Hiding” a Reel from your feed simply means choosing not to share it on your profile grid or in your followers’ home feed. The Reel will only be visible in the Reels tab of your profile and in the Reels Explore section of Instagram – not in the curated grid that visitors see on your profile. Creators often consider this option for aesthetic reasons, such as maintaining a consistent look on their profile or a specific pattern in the grid.

However, hiding a Reel from your feed has a significant drawback: your existing followers won’t see the Reel in their normal scrolling feed. This can dramatically reduce the Reel’s initial engagement and reach since it relies solely on the Explore algorithm or someone manually visiting your Reels tab. In other words, if you don’t share to feed, you’re essentially skipping the audience that knows you best. Instagram itself notes that without sharing to the feed, “followers won’t see your reel while scrolling their feeds”, which naturally “reduces potential engagement.”

So why would anyone hide a Reel? The main reason is to preserve the profile’s visual aesthetic. Influencers and brands work hard to curate their Instagram grids – for example, a photographer’s feed might be filled with carefully edited images that follow a color scheme, or a brand might have a clean layout that Reels (with their 9:16 aspect ratio cropping to 4:5 on the grid) could disrupt. If a particular Reel doesn’t match the vibe of the grid, some creators choose not to post it to the main feed. It’s a trade-off between aesthetics and reach.

Reels vs. Feed Posts: How Do They Differ?

To make an informed decision, it’s important to understand how Reels differ from traditional feed posts (photos or carousel images) in terms of distribution and engagement. Instagram’s algorithm treats these content types differently. Reels are heavily promoted by Instagram’s algorithms for discovery – they can appear in the dedicated Reels feed, on the Explore page, and even be recommended to users who don’t follow you. In contrast, standard feed posts primarily get shown to your existing followers (plus some exposure through hashtags or the Explore page if they perform well).

Instagram itself has hinted at these differences in ranking factors. Reels tend to be served to users largely based on engagement and popularity signals, whereas feed post visibility leans more on personalization and relationship (who the viewer interacts with regularly, etc.). In practice, this means a highly engaging Reel can go viral to millions of users beyond your follower list, while even a great photo post usually stays within a smaller circle of viewers.

Another key difference is how popular Instagram Reels have become in user behavior. Meta’s Q1 2024 report revealed that Instagram users now spend around 50% of their time on the app watching Reels – a testament to how central short-form video has become on the platform. Just a couple of years ago, Reels were a small fraction of Instagram content (around 20% of all activity), and now they’re taking up half of users’ attention on Instagram. This surge indicates that if you’re not leveraging Reels, you could be missing where half of your audience’s attention is going.

Average reach rate by Instagram content type. A Socialinsider study found that Reels reach about 30.8% of an account’s followers on average – roughly double the reach rate of carousel posts (14.5%) or image posts (13.1%).

Not only are people watching Reels more, but the algorithm actively favors them for reach. Studies have shown that Reels are “the most engaging form of Instagram content” on average, often outperforming static posts in both reach and interactions. As illustrated above, the average Reel can organically reach a far larger percentage of your audience (and beyond) compared to a regular photo post. For a content creator or brand, that means Reels represent a big opportunity to gain visibility and new followers. Micro-influencers, in particular, can punch above their weight with a viral Reel, reaching audiences that dwarf their own follower count.

The Pros and Cons of Hiding Your Reels from the Feed

With those differences in mind, let’s break down the advantages and disadvantages of hiding a Reel from your feed. There isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer – it comes down to your priorities (aesthetic vs. reach) and your audience.

Pros of NOT sharing Reels to your feed (hiding them):

• Maintaining a consistent aesthetic: Your main profile grid remains curated and on-brand. If your feed has a strict color palette or pattern, you might not want a Reel (with its cover image or cropping) to disrupt it. Hiding the Reel keeps your grid looking exactly how you envisioned.

   

• Separating content types: Some creators prefer to dedicate their feed to high-quality photos or designed graphics, and keep casual or meme-style videos confined to Reels tab. This separation can make your profile appear more professional at first glance.

Cons of hiding Reels from your feed:

• Lower immediate reach and engagement: Your followers likely won’t know you posted a new Reel if it’s not in their feed. That means fewer likes and comments out of the gate. Instagram notes that without sharing to feed, a Reel’s potential engagement is reduced because it won’t appear during followers’ normal scrolling. You’re essentially forgoing the audience that already chose to follow you.

   

• Missed follower connection: Followers who do check your profile might miss the Reel if they don’t tap into the Reels tab. Especially for casual viewers, if it’s not on the main grid, it might as well not exist. Over time, consistently hiding Reels could confuse loyal followers who wonder why you’re not posting much (when in fact you are, but just to Reels).

   

• Potential algorithmic downsides: Although a hidden Reel can still go viral via the Reels Explore feed, you’re depriving it of an early boost from follower engagement that might help the algorithm pick it up. Early engagement is often a clue to Instagram that “this content is interesting.” If you skip the feed share, you rely purely on the algorithm to pick it up cold. That can work, but it’s a bit like launching without your core supporters.
  

In summary, the only strong reason to hide a Reel is to protect your profile’s look and branding. In fact, social media experts argue there’s “no compelling argument to not post Reels to Feed unless you’re set on maintaining a very specific aesthetic for your Instagram feed.” In most cases, the benefits of sharing a Reel to your feed far outweigh the visual tweaks of your grid.

Pro Tip: If you are concerned about aesthetics but don’t want to sacrifice reach, there’s a clever compromise. Post the Reel to your feed normally, let it live on your grid for the first 48–72 hours while it’s garnering views and engagement, and then remove it from your profile grid (you can do this by tapping the … menu on the Reel and selecting “Remove from profile grid”). The Reel will still be available in the Reels tab of your profile and reachable through Explore, but it will disappear from your main grid. This way you get the best of both worlds – initial follower engagement and a clean feed aesthetic. Many creators use this tactic: essentially, share now, curate later. Keep in mind, though, that removing a Reel from your grid is generally permanent (you can’t re-add it to the feed later), so make the decision within a few days of posting.

Best Practices to Maximize Reels (Without Hurting Your Feed)

If you decide to embrace Reels (and most content creators should, given their current performance), here are some best practices to ensure you’re getting the most out of them while still managing your overall Instagram presence:

1. Post Reels Consistently: Don’t be afraid to share Reels frequently. Experts recommend aiming for around 3–5 Reels per week if you can manage it, balancing them with other content types like photos or carousel posts for variety. Regular posting keeps you in the algorithm’s favor and continuously gives your audience something new. The more you post (without sacrificing quality), the more chances you have for a hit Reel that expands your reach.

    

2. Monitor Your Analytics: Every audience is different. Keep an eye on your Instagram Insights to compare how your Reels perform versus your feed posts. Look at metrics like reach, saves, shares, and comments. If you notice your Reels consistently outperform static posts (or vice versa), adjust your strategy accordingly. Let data drive your decisions – for instance, if a certain style of Reel yields high engagement, do more of that. Instagram’s algorithm changes over time, so continual experimentation is key. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer; the right mix of Reels and posts depends on what your followers respond to.

    

3. Blend Creativity with Branding: Reels thrive on authenticity, trends, and even a bit of spontaneity. Try using Reels for fun, behind-the-scenes, or humanizing content – things that might not be polished enough for a permanent feed post. Show off your brand’s personality: quick how-to videos, product demos, or day-in-the-life clips work great as Reels. Meanwhile, use your feed for the more polished, planned-out posts (professional photos, announcements, or detailed captions). This balance lets you participate in the short-form video wave without abandoning the clean look of your grid. In fact, many successful Instagrammers use Reels to drive immediate engagement and feed posts to build long-term aesthetic and storytelling.

    

4. Use Hashtags and Trends to Your Advantage: Just like regular posts, Reels can be optimized. Take advantage of trending audio clips, popular hashtags in your niche, or challenges – these can boost a Reel’s discoverability. But always ensure they are relevant to your content or brand. A Reel that aligns with a viral trend and showcases your product or message can bring in a surge of new eyes. And don’t forget to write a caption and include hashtags on your Reels (you get up to 30 hashtags, just like feed posts) – this can help them appear in searches and relevant feeds. More visibility means more engagement, which in turn boosts reach.

    

5. Plan for Cross-Promotion: Share your Reels to your Instagram Story for even more exposure (and to tease your followers to go watch the full Reel). You can also repost high-performing Reels on other platforms like TikTok or Facebook for extra mileage. Conversely, if you have great short videos from TikTok, consider repurposing them as Reels. Just be cautious of watermarks; Instagram has hinted it de-prioritizes videos with obvious TikTok watermarks. The idea is to leverage the content across channels, expanding your reach beyond just the feed or just one platform.
   

By following these practices, you can enjoy the engagement boost of Reels while still keeping your overall content strategy balanced.

Why Micro-Influencers and Amazon Sellers Should Care

You might be thinking, “This is great general Instagram advice, but what about for micro-influencers, Amazon sellers, and e-commerce brands specifically?” The answer is simple: Reels can be a game-changer for you, and handling them wisely is crucial.

For micro-influencers, who often have smaller follower counts, every bit of reach counts. Reels are an opportunity to punch above your weight class. A single viral Reel can bring a flood of new followers or impressions that would take months to accumulate via regular posts. If you’re collaborating with brands, they love to see those big numbers on reach and engagement – it’s proof their partnership is getting exposure. Hiding your Reels from the feed could mean you’re leaving that exposure on the table. Instead, micro-influencers should use Reels to showcase authentic moments, reviews, or demonstrations of products (classic UGC content) because that authenticity often resonates in the Reels format. Plus, brands often repurpose influencer Reels as testimonials or ads, multiplying the value of that content.

For Amazon sellers and e-commerce brands, Instagram Reels represent a modern-day word-of-mouth. Think of a Reel as a quick infomercial or customer testimonial for your product. User-generated content like unboxing videos, quick product demos, or before-and-after comparisons make for excellent Reels that feel organic rather than ad-like. By sharing these Reels to your feed, you not only engage your existing followers but also tap into Instagram’s powerful discovery engine to reach potential buyers. And because Reels can be discovered by anyone, a small online shop has a chance to get in front of thousands of viewers without a huge ad budget – all through creative short videos.

UGC and Reels go hand-in-hand. Shoppers trust real users more than polished brand ads. If you encourage your customers or micro-influencers to create Reels featuring your products, don’t hide those gems! Share them to your feed for maximum impact. They serve as social proof and often drive viewers to check the product (many creators cleverly use captions like “Product link in bio” or Instagram’s shopping tags).

Finally, consider that Instagram is continually updating features. Today Reels are hot; tomorrow there might be a new format. The best strategy is to stay flexible and focus on content that engages. Whether you’re a fashion micro-influencer showing off a thrift haul or an Amazon gadget seller demonstrating a product in 30 seconds, embracing Reels can boost your growth. And if you’re worried about your profile looking messy, remember the earlier tip – you can always archive or remove a post from your grid later, after it’s had its moment.

(On a related note, platforms like Stack Influence specialize in connecting e-commerce brands with micro-influencers to generate authentic UGC, often in the form of Reels and Stories. These collaborations highlight how short-form videos can drive product discovery and sales by leveraging the creative power of content creators. The success of such campaigns underscores why you shouldn’t shy away from sharing Reels to your feed – the more people that see your content, the better your chances of building a community and customer base.)

Conclusion to Should You Hide Your Instagram Reels from Your Feed?

So, should you hide your Reels from your feed? For most creators and brands, the answer is no. Unless you have a very compelling aesthetic reason or a strategic niche case, the upside of sharing your Reels to your feed far exceeds the downside. Instagram is heavily pushing Reels, and both the data and anecdotal evidence show that Reels can supercharge your reach and engagement. Hiding them means handicapping your content’s performance right out of the gate.

That said, every account is unique. If your entire brand is built on a carefully crafted visual feed (say, a wedding photographer or a minimalist lifestyle blogger), you can still utilize Reels – just maybe keep the less “on-brand” ones off the main grid or use the post-then-remove trick. Always keep your long-term goals in mind. If growing your follower count, increasing engagement, or driving sales is a priority (and for most micro-influencers and e-commerce sellers, it is), then visibility is king. It’s better to have a slightly imperfect grid but reach thousands more people, than a perfect grid seen by only a few.

In the fast-moving world of social media, experimentation is key. Try sharing your Reels to the feed and monitor the results. See how your audience reacts. You might find that your followers love the extra content and don’t mind the change in your feed’s look at all. Or you might find a balance that works for you, such as only sharing higher-quality Reels to the feed and keeping experimental ones in the Reels tab. Use Instagram’s analytics and listen to feedback.

Bottom line: Don’t be afraid to let your Reels shine on your main feed. Instagram created that option for a reason – because they know a lot of people will engage with video content. Take advantage of it! For micro-influencers, content creators, and Amazon sellers alike, Reels can be a powerful tool for growth. By thoughtfully integrating Reels into your content strategy (and using tips like those above), you can enjoy the algorithmic boost of Reels without sacrificing the identity of your brand’s profile. In the end, the question of hiding Reels comes down to a simple idea: if you’ve made a piece of content you’re proud of, why hide it? Share it, promote it, and let it help you connect with more people – that’s what social media is all about.