Trial reels: how to show a video to strangers without your followers seeing it

Plenty of people are afraid to try a new format: what if followers don’t like it? Since December 2024, Instagram has an answer — trial reels. Instagram first shows a video like this only to people who don’t follow you. It doesn’t appear on your profile, and within a day you can see how it landed.

1 / 4How it works

1. 01
   Strangers first

   A trial reel is shown to people who don’t follow you.

2. 02
   Not on your profile

   The video doesn’t appear on your profile, in your Reels tab or in your followers’ feeds.

3. 03
   Results in 24 hours

   Stats show up after a day: how many people watched, how long they watched, whether they liked or shared it.

4. 04
   Then, everyone

   If the video did well, you can share it with everyone yourself, or turn on a setting that lets Instagram do it automatically if it performs well within 72 hours.

2 / 4How to turn it on

1. 05
   Professional account

   The feature is for professional accounts — creator and business.

2. 06
   A reel as usual

   Shoot or upload your video, add text and music.

3. 07
   Switch on Trial

   On the last screen before posting, turn on the Trial toggle and publish.

4. 08
   Check the results

   A day later, compare the trial video’s stats with your regular reels.

3 / 4What to use it for

1. 09
   A new format

   Trying a kind of video you’ve never made before? See how strangers react first.

2. 10
   Two openings

   The same video with two different first seconds: see which one people watch longer.

3. 11
   A new audience

   Want new people to discover you? A trial reel goes straight to them.

4 / 4Good to know

1. 12
   Followers may still see it

   If someone sends it to them, or they land on the page for its audio, location or effect.

2. 13
   Views may come slowly

   Instagram needs time to find people who’ll be interested in the video.

✓The bottom line

A trial reel is a free way to test an idea on an audience that doesn’t know you. Try something new, look at the numbers, and show your followers what worked.

Wondering what your page is missing? Take the 30-second test →