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
- Open the Story camera.
- Tap the small arrow in the tools on the left and choose Hands-free.
- 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
- Open the Reels camera and tap the Timer (stopwatch) icon on the left.
- Choose a 3- or 10-second countdown.
- Drag the slider to set how long the clip records, then tap Set timer.
- 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.