How to see friends liked reels on Instagram has become one of the top questions users ask, especially in 2025 when Reels dominates the platform. Instagram Reels is no longer just about short, fun videos — it’s now the heartbeat of trends, education, entertainment, and community building. With billions of views daily, Reels is where friendships connect through shared laughter, interests, and inspirations.
But here’s the challenge: unlike the early days of Instagram, when you could check a friend’s entire “like history” in the Following Activity tab, today’s Instagram is more private. That makes it harder to track exactly which reels your friends are enjoying.
Does that mean it’s impossible? Absolutely not. With the right tricks, you can still see glimpses of your friends’ liked reels, understand their interests, and even use this information to deepen your own Instagram strategy.
This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about how to see friends liked reels on Instagram — from built-in features to clever workarounds, safe practices, limitations, and pro tips for staying in sync with your friends.
Why People Want to See Friends’ Liked Reels
Before we dive into the steps, it’s worth understanding why this question matters so much. Wanting to see your friends’ liked Reels isn’t just about curiosity — it’s about discovery, connection, and staying in tune with what’s trending.
- Content Discovery: Friends often act as personal “curators.” By knowing what Reels they like, you can uncover fresh, funny, or inspiring videos that you might have missed otherwise. Their interests can lead you to creators or trends that align with your taste.
- Trend Spotting: Many viral challenges, dances, or memes start small before they take over the platform. If your friends are liking those Reels early, you can catch on to trends faster and join the fun before everyone else.
- Relationship Building: Talking about Reels your friends enjoy is a simple but effective way to connect. Sending a Reel back with a message like “I saw you liked this too!” can spark a conversation or strengthen friendships through shared humor and interests.
- Influencer Insights: For content creators and marketers, seeing what influencers or potential collaborators are liking provides valuable insight. It helps you understand their taste, engagement style, and the type of content that resonates with their audience.
- Algorithm Clues: Instagram’s algorithm tends to recommend content that aligns with your network’s activity. If your friends like a certain type of Reel, there’s a higher chance you’ll start seeing similar content on your Explore page or feed — a subtle way Instagram keeps you connected through shared interests.
Can You Still See Friends’ Liked Reels on Instagram?
Here’s the short, honest answer:
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You cannot see a complete history of all reels your friends liked.
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Instagram removed that feature in 2019 to increase privacy.
But — and this is key — you can still catch glimpses of your friends’ reel activity. Instagram shows hints through “Liked by” notes, algorithmic suggestions, and mutual engagement displays.
Think of it less like a full list and more like a highlight reel of what your friends are interacting with.
How to See Friends Liked Reels on Instagram
Here’s where things get practical. If you’re asking how to see friends liked reels on Instagram, these are the most effective methods available in 2025.
1. Look for “Liked by [Friend’s Name]” Under Reels
When you open a reel, Instagram sometimes highlights if your friend has liked it. For example: “Liked by Sarah and 1,250 others.”
1. Open a reel from your feed or Explore page.
2. Tap on the likes counter.
3. Search for your friend’s name in the list.
This is the most direct way to confirm if a friend liked a specific reel.
2. Use the “Following” Tab for Reels and Posts
Instagram now has two feeds:
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Home Feed (algorithmic, personalized mix)
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Following Feed (chronological posts and reels only from people you follow)
By switching to the Following feed, you’ll notice reels your friends recently engaged with. While it doesn’t show their likes directly, Instagram often pushes content popular among your network.
Pro tip: Check this feed daily to stay in sync with friends’ reel activity.
3. Engage with the Explore Page
Instagram’s Explore page is heavily influenced by your network’s activity. If your friends are liking a lot of cooking reels, you may start seeing similar reels show up.
Think of it like Instagram saying: “Hey, people you care about liked this — you might too.”
4. Watch for Saved and Shared Reels
Some friends save reels instead of liking them. While you can’t see their full Saved list (it’s private), you can:
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Look for reels they repost to their Stories.
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Check reels they DM to you.
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Notice reels that appear in group chats.
These are strong signals of what content they value most.
5. Check Notifications for Friend Activity
Instagram occasionally sends push notifications like: “Emily liked a reel by @CreatorName.”
How to maximize this:
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Turn on activity notifications for close friends.
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Enable “Reels notifications” in your Instagram settings.
6. Directly Ask and Share Reels with Friends
The simplest (and often best) method: just ask.
Friends usually love sharing their favorite reels — it becomes a fun back-and-forth exchange.
Create a dedicated group chat for reel sharing. It’s the most natural way to stay updated on each other’s likes.
7. Third-Party Apps: The Truth
Many apps claim to show you “all your friends’ likes.” But here’s the reality:
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They violate Instagram’s policies.
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They can put your account at risk.
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Most of them don’t even work anymore.
Recommendation: Stick to official methods. The risk of losing your Instagram account isn’t worth it.
Pro Tips to Stay Connected with Friends’ Reels Activity
Want to go beyond the basics? These pro tips can help you stay aligned with your friends’ reel tastes:
- Interact More with Friends’ Content: The algorithm rewards mutual engagement. The more you like, comment, and DM with a friend, the more reels you’ll see that they’ve engaged with.
- Create Shared Reel Collections: Instagram lets you make collaborative collections where multiple people save reels together. Suggest this with your close friends.
- Follow Interest-Specific Hashtags: If your friend is into #FitnessReels or #CookingHacks, follow those hashtags. You’ll automatically see reels they’re likely to like.
- Use “Close Friends” Lists on Stories: Encourage friends to share reels on Stories to their Close Friends circle. This way, you’ll get a direct window into what they enjoy.
- Analyze Your Explore Page Regularly: Pay attention to the reels Instagram is recommending. Often, they’re influenced by your friends’ interactions.
Final Thoughts
If you’re wondering how to see friends liked reels on Instagram in 2025, the answer is that while you can’t see a full list, there are still many ways to discover what your friends are enjoying. From checking “liked by” mentions on reels to using the Following feed, notifications, hashtags, and direct sharing, you can stay in sync without violating privacy rules.
Instead of relying on old features or risky apps, focus on organic engagement: create reel-sharing groups, follow trends together, and use Instagram’s new tools for collaboration. That way, you’re not just tracking what your friends like — you’re actively building stronger connections with them.
FAQs About Seeing Friends’ Liked Reels on Instagram
1. Can I see what Reels my friends liked on Instagram?
Unfortunately, Instagram doesn’t currently allow users to directly see which Reels their friends have liked. This limitation is due to Instagram’s privacy settings — the platform has moved toward protecting user interactions from being publicly visible. While you used to be able to see other people’s likes and comments through the old “Following Activity” tab, that feature was removed.
If you’re curious about your friends’ preferences, the best way is to observe what kind of Reels they engage with publicly — like those they comment on, share, or post to their Stories.
2. Why did Instagram remove the “Following Activity” tab?
Instagram removed the “Following Activity” tab in 2019. According to Instagram, this decision was made to simplify the user experience and make the app feel more private and personal.
Before, that tab showed everything your friends did — who they followed, what they liked, and what they commented on. While it was useful for discovering new content, many users felt it invaded privacy. Today, your activity feed only shows your own notifications, such as likes and comments you receive.
3. Is there any indirect way to know what Reels my friends like?
Yes, there are a few indirect clues you can look for to figure out what Reels your friends enjoy:
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Check their Stories: Many users share their favorite Reels on Stories.
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Look at their comments: If your friend comments on a Reel, you can see it (as long as the account is public).
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Notice what they save or share: If they send you Reels directly, it’s often something they personally like.
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Engage with similar accounts: Instagram’s algorithm tends to show you content similar to what your friends engage with, so your Explore page might reflect their interests too.