Instagram Reels Not Getting Views? Here's the Actual Fix (2026)

If your Instagram Reels aren't getting views, you've probably already searched for solutions and found the same recycled advice everywhere: post at the right time, use trending audio, be consistent. The problem is that none of that actually addresses why your Reels are dying.

The first thing you need to understand is that zero views and low views are two completely different problems. Zero views usually means something is technically wrong with your account - a shadowban, a glitch, or Instagram simply doesn't trust you yet. Low views means your account is fine, but the algorithm tested your content, people didn't watch, and Instagram stopped pushing it.

This guide covers both. We'll figure out which one you're dealing with and actually fix it.

How Instagram Decides Who Sees Your Reel

Before we get into fixes, you need to understand how the algorithm actually works. It's not random, and it's not personal - it's a system optimizing for one thing: keeping people on the app.

  1. You post a Reel. Instagram shows it to a small test group - some of your followers plus some non-followers who might be interested based on their behavior.
  1. Instagram watches what happens. Did people watch past the first 3 seconds? Did they watch the whole thing? Did anyone rewatch it? Did they like, comment, save, or share?
  1. The algorithm decides. If the test group engaged (especially watch time and completion rate), Instagram pushes your Reel to a larger audience. If they scrolled past, your Reel dies and Instagram stops showing it.

This is why two nearly identical Reels can have wildly different results. One hooks people in the first 3 seconds and keeps them watching, the other doesn't, and the algorithm rewards the first one while burying the second.

The two metrics that matter most:

Everything else - likes, comments, shares - is secondary. They're signals that support watch time, but watch time is king.

Part 1: Is Your Account Broken? (Zero Views)

If you're getting literally zero views - not low views, but actually zero - something might be technically wrong, and you should rule that out before blaming your content.

Check Your Account Status

Instagram has an official tool that tells you if your content is being suppressed. Most people don't know it exists.

How to find it: Profile → Settings → Account → Account Status

You'll see checkmarks for:

Green checkmarks = You're fine. Your account isn't the problem.

Something flagged? It'll show you what's wrong. You can appeal directly from this screen if you think it's a mistake.

The Delete-Repost Trap

Did you post a Reel, delete it, then repost it? This can tank your reach.

Instagram may recognize the same content and deprioritize it, or the delete-repost pattern can look spammy to the algorithm. Same issue if you immediately edit your post after publishing - some creators report the algorithm "resets" their distribution when you do this.

The fix: If you need to correct something minor, leave it. Small errors don't kill videos. If it's a major issue, wait a significant amount of time before reposting with meaningful changes - don't just repost the same thing.

It Might Just Be a Glitch

Instagram has had multiple view-counting bugs over the years where views get stuck at zero even when people are watching. If you're getting likes and comments but the view count shows zero, it's probably a glitch.

Try:

If views are still stuck after that but engagement is happening, it's on Instagram's end. It usually resolves itself.

New Account? Instagram Doesn't Trust You Yet

If your account is new, Instagram hasn't figured out who to show your content to yet. The algorithm needs to see consistent posting behavior before it starts pushing your Reels to non-followers.

This isn't a punishment - it's just how the system works. Keep posting consistently and it will improve.

Quick check: If your Account Status shows green checkmarks, you're not caught in a delete-repost loop, and you ARE getting some views (even 50-200), your account is fine. The problem is your content.

Keep reading.

Part 2: Why Your Content Isn't Getting Pushed (Low Views)

Your account is healthy, but your Reels are dying. This is a content problem, and there are specific reasons why.

Your Hook Is Weak (And It's Killing Your Reach)

Instagram shows your Reel to a test group first, and if they scroll past in the first 3 seconds, your Reel is dead - the algorithm literally stops pushing it. Those first 3 seconds determine everything.

Most people think a hook is just a "catchy opener," but a good hook actually creates an open loop - it introduces a question, tension, or curiosity that can only be resolved by watching the rest of the video.

This is why vague hooks like "You need to see this" or "This changed everything" don't work anymore. They're empty promises. There's no specific open loop to close.

Strong hooks are specific:

The specific hook creates a clear question in the viewer's mind that they need answered. They watch to close the loop.

If you want to see this in action, check out our complete guide to Instagram hooks with examples for different niches.

This applies to your whole video, not just the opening. If your hook promises something, the entire video should build toward delivering it. Each section should open a small loop that keeps viewers watching to the next part. This is how you maximize watch time - not by being "entertaining" in some vague sense, but by structuring your content so viewers feel compelled to keep watching.

Your Pacing Is Off

Even with a good hook, if your video drags, people leave. And when people leave, the algorithm stops pushing.

Signs your pacing is off:

The fix:

Good pacing isn't about being manic or rushed - it's about making sure every second earns its place in the video.

You're Too Generic

"5 tips for better Instagram Reels." Okay, but so are 10,000 other creators posting the exact same thing.

The algorithm is designed to surface content that's specific and unique. When you're generic, you're competing with everyone. When you're specific, you're the only option for that exact topic.

Generic vs. Specific:

Specificity also means having a point of view. What do you believe that others in your niche don't? What's your take? What's the thing you'd tell a friend that you wouldn't see in a generic tips article?

This is also reflected in your hook. Broad hooks attract broad audiences who aren't that interested. Specific hooks attract smaller audiences who are very interested - and that interest translates to watch time and engagement, which the algorithm rewards.

You're Blending Into the Feed

If your Reels look like everyone else's Reels, why would anyone stop scrolling? This doesn't mean you need fancy editing or expensive equipment - it means you need to give people a reason to watch you specifically.

Ask yourself:

It also helps to study what's working for successful creators in your niche. What hooks do they use? What formats? What's their pacing like? You don't want to copy, but you do want to understand what's working and why so you can bring your own angle to it.

Your Content Isn't Valuable (Or Shareable)

Ask yourself honestly: would someone tag a friend in your Reel? Would they save it to reference later? Would they share it to their story?

If the answer is no, your content might not be providing enough value. And value doesn't just mean "educational." Value can be:

If someone finishes your Reel and thinks "that was fine," you've lost. You want them thinking "I need to save this" or "my friend needs to see this."

The Fix: A Quick Diagnostic

Before you post your next Reel, run through this:

Account health (zero views):

Content check (low views):

If you're consistently nailing these and still not seeing results, give it time. SEO and algorithm favor take weeks to build. Keep posting, keep iterating, and pay attention to what works.

The Biggest Leverage Point: Your Hook

If you only fix one thing, fix your hooks. Everything else in this guide matters, but none of it matters if people scroll past in the first 3 seconds. Your pacing can be perfect, your value incredible, your perspective unique - but if your hook doesn't stop the scroll, no one will ever see it.

The hook is the highest-leverage fix for low views because it directly impacts whether your Reel survives the algorithm's test group.

Strong hooks:

This is genuinely hard to do consistently, and most creators struggle with hooks more than any other part of content creation. If you want to study what works, our Instagram hooks guide breaks down hook formulas by niche with real examples.

Need help?

If you're spending hours trying to write hooks that actually work, Captain Hook AI generates scroll-stopping hooks trained on viral content patterns. It takes your topic and gives you hooks that create open loops, build anticipation, and keep viewers watching.

Because the best content in the world won't save you if no one makes it past the first 3 seconds.