Instagram Experiments with Full-Screen Mode for Immersive Reels Viewing
Justin Jarvis / Instagram Full-Screen Mode
Instagram is experimenting with a new Full-Screen mode for Reels for some users. When long-pressing a Reel, users now have the option for Full Screen Mode alongside Cutout Sticker and Save/Unsave a Reel. Enabling Full-Screen mode allows users to watch the Reel without any user interface elements like the handle, caption, and engagement count.
Why It Matters: Full-Screen mode offers users a clearer, more immersive way to watch Reels, similar to TikTok’s Clear Mode. As most Reels are posted in vertical format, it provides an optimized viewing experience on mobile devices without distractions.
With Instagram also testing a vertical profile grid, this is another example of the platform catering to content that maximizes mobile device screen space and aligns with how people publish to the platform today.
