AI Video Analyzer for TikTok & Instagram Reels
You posted, you waited, and the numbers came in lower than you hoped. Upload up to 4 screenshots of that video's TikTok or Instagram analytics and get a plain-English read on hook retention, reach and engagement: what worked, what hurt and what to change next. No video upload or account connection needed.
What it diagnoses
Find the row that sounds like your video, so you know what to fix first. The middle column shows what the analyzer reads in your screenshots. The last column is the usual fix; your own report is based on your own numbers.
| What you're seeing | What the analyzer reads | Typical fix |
|---|---|---|
| People scroll away in the first few seconds | Retention (where viewers drop off) and average watch time compared with the video's length | Rework the opening: say the payoff in the first line and cut any "hey guys, so today" intro. Rewrite the opening with the Hook Generator |
| Views, but hardly anyone finishes | Watched full video (TikTok) and the retention curve after the hook | Cut the slow middle and get to the payoff sooner |
| People watch, but views stop growing | Views next to traffic sources (TikTok) or viewers, Instagram's count of unique accounts that saw the reel | Test a hook that makes sense to someone who has never seen your account |
| Views, but no likes, comments, shares or saves | Likes, comments, shares and saves together | Give people a reason to act: end on a question they can answer in one word, or a tip they'll want to save |
| Almost no views at all | Views. With very few views, the report says the sample is small and treats the read as a direction to test, not a verdict | Rule out a likely restriction first: see why Reels get 0 views and why TikToks get 0 views |
Which screenshots to upload
All your screenshots need to come from the same video. You can add up to 4, as PNG, JPG or WebP files. If a screen is missing, that's fine: the analyzer works with what it can see and marks anything it couldn't read as not visible.
TikTok
- Open TikTok Studio, go to Analytics, then Content, and select the video.
- Screenshot the video's Overview tab (TikTok's summary of that post's numbers).
- If you have them, add the retention view and the Viewers tab for a sharper read.
The most useful numbers to have on screen: video views, average watch time, watched full video, retention, likes, comments, shares and saves, and traffic sources when TikTok shows them. A scrolling screenshot captures the most in one go.
Instagram Reels
- Go to the Reels tab on your profile and open the reel.
- Tap View insights.
- Screenshot the overview. Add the retention or audience screens too if you have them.
Per Instagram's help center, reel insights need a public account (personal or professional) and cover reels posted on or after May 14, 2021, for up to two years after posting. The reel insights include views, watch time, viewers, average watch time and follows.
Testing a new idea with a trial reel? Upload its insights screenshots after the first 24 hours.
What a report looks like
Every report runs in the same order:
- The read: a one-line headline on what happened, a short explanation and the key findings. If the video has only a few views, it says the sample is small and to treat the read as a direction to test, not a verdict.
- The numbers: the metrics it found in your screenshots. Anything it couldn't see is marked as not visible.
- Where viewers left: a retention curve with the drop-off moments marked. This only appears when your screenshots include real retention data.
- What happened: what worked and what hurt, each tied to the evidence it saw.
- Do this next: one change for your next video and, where it can, how you'll know it worked, plus up to two other fixes worth trying.
If a screenshot doesn't show a single video's analytics, the report tells you that instead of guessing. Reports save to your account, so the last read is there when you plan the next video.
It starts from what happened
The analyzer doesn't score your video file or promise you a viral one. It reads the numbers TikTok or Instagram already recorded for that video, so the diagnosis starts from what happened to your video. Run it once the video has been live long enough to collect views; the more views, the firmer the read.
Fix what it finds
- Weak first seconds? Rewrite the opening with the Hook Generator.
- Middle dragging? Rebuild the script around one tight point.
- Stuck near zero and refreshing the app? Start with the checks for Reels with 0 views or TikToks with 0 views.
- Think it's a TikTok shadowban? Check TikTok's own account signals first. If they're clean, the Analyzer shows where viewers dropped off.
- Worried about an Instagram shadowban? Check your Account Status first. If it's clear, the Analyzer shows what your Reel's numbers mean.
- Not sure if your watch time is good? See what the numbers mean.
- No views yet to analyze? Start with the free Video Flop Checker.
- Worried it's a restriction, not the video? Start with the honest shadowban check.
- Want the number first? Use the free engagement rate calculator, then bring the screenshots here for the why.
- Checking length or size before your next post? See the video specs for Reels, TikTok and Shorts.
Frequently asked questions
What is an AI video analyzer?
An AI video analyzer reads information about a video and explains how it performed. The Captain Hook AI analyzer reads screenshots of a TikTok or Instagram Reel's analytics, diagnoses hook retention, reach and engagement, and tells you what to change in your next video. It doesn't need the video file.
Why did my TikTok or Reel get no views?
The analyzer separates three causes: people left in the first seconds, the video wasn't shown to many people, or it was shown but few people engaged. Upload the analytics for that video and the analyzer tells you which one it was and what to change next. If the video has close to zero views, there's not enough to read yet, so start with the 0-views guides for Reels and TikTok.
Does 0 views mean I'm shadowbanned?
Not necessarily. Zero views can be a likely restriction, likely normal fluctuation, or a likely content or retention issue. With almost no views there is insufficient evidence to tell them apart from analytics alone. The analyzer needs views to read, so check the 0-views guides first.
Which screenshots do I need?
The analytics for the one video you're checking. On TikTok, open TikTok Studio, then Analytics, then Content, select the video and screenshot its Overview tab. On Instagram, open the reel from your profile and tap View insights. Add retention or viewer screens if you have them.
Do I need to upload my video, or just the analytics?
Just the analytics screenshots: up to 4 of them, all from the same video. There's no video file to upload; the analyzer reads the numbers you already have.
What does average watch time mean?
How long people watched before scrolling away, on average. Instagram's help center defines it as total watch time divided by the number of initial views. A low average watch time compared with your video's length usually means the hook didn't hold. If watch time is healthy but reach is low, the problem is more likely distribution than the content itself.
What is a good retention rate for a TikTok or Reel?
It depends on video length and niche, so a single universal number is misleading. What matters is where people dropped off relative to your hook and your first beat. The analyzer reads your specific numbers and tells you whether the drop-off looks like a real problem.
Why is my reach dropping even though my content looks the same?
It can come from a hook that stopped landing, the platform showing the video to a different audience, or engagement (comments, shares, completion) slipping. The analyzer separates these out instead of lumping them into one vague "reach is down."
Can I save past reports and track improvement?
Yes. Reports save to your account, so you can compare a new analysis with past ones and see whether your hook retention is improving.
Can I try it for free?
Yes. The Free plan includes video analyses and needs no credit card. Creator and Pro plans add more analyses; compare plans when you need them.
Does it work for YouTube Shorts?
Not yet. The analyzer currently reads TikTok and Instagram Reels analytics only. For Shorts, read why Shorts get no views and diagnose them with YouTube Studio's own metrics.
Got a video that sank? Drop its analytics screenshots in and get the read before you film the next one. Free to try, no credit card.