How Can I Edit Instagram Reel Videos on My Phone?

You and your friends aren't the only ones experiencing FOMO. When Tiktok exploded its popularity as the newest and hottest social video platform, Instagram had to respond.

Instagram Reels Videos are an excellent way to create quick tutorials, start a viral dance trend, or simply engage with your audience in a new way. Luckily, it's never been easier to film, edit, and polish a great video within the same app—whether that's Instagram or an innovative third-party tool.

Keep reading to learn how to film and edit Instagram Reels videos all from your phone.

What Are Instagram Reels Videos, And How Are They Different From Stories?

Reels is a relatively new feature Instagram added to its platform in August 2020. Reels are endlessly looping videos designed to compete with the popular Tik Tok video format. Any Instagram account can post a Reel in their main grid, but users can also scroll through a feed of suggested Reels (exactly like Tiktok).

Every Instagram Reels video can...

be up to one minute long
be filmed, edited, and embellished all in the same tool in one sitting
add text boxes, emoji stickers, gifs, AR overlays, and other features
include original audio, choose music from Instagram's music library, or sound effects created by other users
be shared to Instagram stories or in a private Instagram message

The way Instagram Reels can only last one minute and replay on an endless loop makes them stand out from regular Instagram video posts. The option to scroll through suggested Reels algorithmically, is also a unique feature.

Instagram Reels are different from stories for the same reasons and don't expire. Every Reel is published to the creator's main profile grid (or the Reels tab on their profile) and will stay there until archived or deleted.

Why Are Instagram Reels So Important?

Reels encourage continuous engagement in a way other Instagram posts can't. They're also competing for popularity with TikTok and appeal to users who prefer fast-paced content.

When it comes to branding and marketing yourself on Instagram, the algorithm rewards frequent posting. The more a user posts Reels, the more likely Instagram is to promote that user's content. Try to get featured on the explore page and the continuous scroll of suggested Reels in the Reels tab.

How To Edit Instagram Reels Videos in the Instagram App

You'll see Reels as an option when you tap on the "+" button to create a new post. Once you open the Reels video creator, you'll see five tools on the left of the screen:

Audio - Select a song to play in the background, search for popular soundbites created by other users, or select a sound you've saved to your favorites. (You can also skip this and create your original audio with your phone or tablet's built-in microphone)
Speed - Increase or decrease the speed of what you're filming without impacting the audio
Effects - Choose from endless filters, AR effects, overlays, etc.
Timer - Set your phone to automatically start filming once you've had enough time to take a few steps back and get ready
Align - Allow your camera to show you where you were standing in a previous clip for seamless transitions in your next clip

These features are everything most people need to make great reels with jump cuts and special effects. Everything from aspect ratio to sound quality can be changed with your fingers in the Reels editor screen.

However, if you're interested in making your Reels stand out even more through the effects the regular Instagram app does’t have...

The Best Apps For Editing Instagram Reels Videos Outside of Instagram

There are third-party video editing apps just for advanced video editing Instagram content. Mojo app, for example, is one of the only Instagram Reel editing apps that lets users include animations. Mojo also lets you use pre-made layouts designed by creatives from all over the world.

Mojo is free to install and just as easy to use as the built-in Instagram Reels feature. New templates, text styles, and animations are available monthly to Mojo app users. A subscription to MojoPro enables users to access even more templates and effects at any time.

Mojo is especially useful for brands wanting to animate their logo and create branded templates. With the Pro feature, social media marketers can save collections of text and images that match their company colors to use in every Instagram promotional video. For a new video editor app, it packs a punch.

Once you're satisfied with the video you've shot and edited in the Mojo app, you can upload it directly to Instagram. Or, save it to your phone's camera roll to upload later.

How Often Should I Post New Instagram Reels?

Most social media marketers recommend posting a new Reel to your Instagram account 5x per week to drive up engagement and bring in new followers. However, the best upload schedule is any that you can stick to consistently without compromising quality. Your Reels should match your brand and be fun to watch, more than anything else.

The most popular Reels tend to be "How To" tutorials with useful information, makeup tutorials, and dance videos. In general, Reels that are made to be visually in sync with the audio in the background perform the best. Most users also respond well to captions/subtitles if there's speech in the video, for those times they can't have their sound on or they simply struggle to understand what's being said.

Take Your Instagram Content to The Next Level

Now that you know how to edit Instagram Reels videos on your phone and in video editing apps, the best next step is to practice. The best way to become skilled at scripting, filming, editing, and consistently uploading Instagram Reels is to do it as often as possible.

Download the Mojo Instagram video editing app for free, and get started on your first Reel right now.

Looking to upgrade your social content? Subscribe to Mojo Pro today and get started!