How to Record Hands-Free on Instagram

To record without holding the button, use Hands-free in the Story camera: it starts recording with one tap and stops with a second tap, and a clip can run up to 60 seconds (EaseUS). For Reels, use the Timer: it counts down 3 or 10 seconds and then records on its own (Hollyland).

Record a Story hands-free

1. Open the Story camera.
2. Tap the small arrow in the tools on the left and choose Hands-free.
3. Tap the record button once to start and once more to stop (Hollyland, TechCult).

The steps are the same on iPhone and Android. Hands-free clips used to stop at 15 seconds. In September 2022 Instagram stopped splitting Story videos under 60 seconds into 15-second parts (Social Media Today).

Record a Reel without holding the button

1. Open the Reels camera and tap the Timer (stopwatch) icon on the left.
2. Choose a 3- or 10-second countdown.
3. Drag the slider to set how long the clip records, then tap Set timer.
4. Tap record. After the countdown, the camera records and stops by itself (TechCult, Hollyland).

One timed take runs up to about 90 seconds. A Reel can now be up to 20 minutes long, though Instagram only recommends Reels of 3 minutes or less to people who don’t follow you (Instagram). So for a longer Reel, record a few clips in a row or upload a video from your camera roll (Hollyland).

New to Reels? Start with how to make a Reel on Instagram.

Can’t find Hands-free?

• The Story tools on the left are collapsed. Tap the small arrow to see all of them.
• Hands-free is a Story tool. In the Reels camera, look for the Timer instead.
• Update Instagram from the App Store or Google Play, then open the camera again.

FAQ

How long can a hands-free Story clip be?

Up to 60 seconds.

How long can a Reel be?

Up to 20 minutes, or up to 3 minutes if you want Instagram to recommend it to people who don’t follow you. More in how long a Reel can be on Instagram.

Do I need another app to record hands-free?

No. Hands-free and the Reels timer are built into Instagram’s camera.

What should I film?

See our Instagram Reels ideas.