How to Watch Instagram Reels in Full-Screen on Phone & PC
Instagram Reels have become a major source of entertainment in today’s time. While watching reels, the app displays the video description along with icons for likes, comments, and shares in the sidebar. However, did you know you can hide these descriptions and UI buttons while watching Reels?
Yes! This is possible thanks to Instagram’s new “View Fullscreen” feature. Although this feature is disabled by default, it can be easily enabled. Its main purpose is to enhance the reel viewing experience without any distractions.

How to Watch Instagram Reels in Full-Screen Mode
Often, the video description and the like, comment, and share buttons can cover important parts of the Reel, making it difficult to take screenshots. However, Instagram’s full-screen view mode improves the viewing experience, especially on smaller screens, by removing these distractions.
#1. On Mobile Phone
If you enjoy watching Instagram Reels on your Android or iPhone, here’s good news: the native “View Full Screen” mode is now officially available in the app. To access it, simply update your Instagram app to the latest version from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.
To watch IG reels in full-screen on Android and iPhone:
- Open Instagram App and Play a Reel.
- Tap on Three-Dot Menu (⁝) in the Bottom Right Corner.
- Tap on View Fullscreen Option.


Instagram will now play reels without video descriptions, account IDs, and UI buttons.
Also read: How to Add Multiple Audio to Instagram Reels
#2. On Desktop
If you use Instagram on your computer or laptop and want to watch Reels in full-screen mode, unfortunately, this feature isn’t officially available for desktop yet. However, you can still view Reels in full screen by using keyboard shortcuts.
To watch IG reels in full-screen on PC:
- Open Instagram.com Website on Any Desktop Browser.
- Click on Reels Option in Left Menu Pane.
- Once the Reel Starts Playing, Simply Press the F11 Key on Your Keyboard.
That’s it! You’re done…
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FAQs
Q 1. Is there any way to watch Instagram Reels in full-screen without rotating my phone?
Answer – Yes! Instagram offers a built-in option to watch Reels in full screen without rotating your device. To use it, play any Instagram Reel, tap the three-dot menu in the bottom-right corner, and select the ‘View Fullscreen’ option.
Q 2. Why is the full-screen option not showing for Instagram Reels?
Answer – If the full-screen mode is missing on Instagram, it could be due to reasons like an outdated app version or corrupted cache. To fix this, update the Instagram app and clear the cache.
I hope you found this article quite helpful and learned how to watch Instagram reels in full-screen mode on Android, iPhone, and PC. If the problem still exists, then let us know by commenting below. Please share this article.