With each new update, Instagram keeps becoming more complex and in 2025, one of the most discussed features was a new page called Friend feed.
The new feature allows the user to view Instagram Reels liked or repinned by their mutual friends, and it will make Instagram feel more personal and social once again. However, it has a frustrating glitch, which many users have reported: Instagram Reels not showing as liked by friends.
In case you had the Friends tab missing or you cannot see the Reels liked by your friends, you are not the only one. The issue is usually based on local rollouts, privacy preferences, old versions of apps, or novel algorithm filters.
In our 2025 guide to the full picture, we will also deconstruct the explanation of why this occurs, why it could be fixed, and how the new Reels algorithm of Instagram is causing you to see what it wants you to see.
What the New “Friends” Reels Feed Is — and Why Your Friends’ Likes May Not Show
In August 2025, Instagram rolled out the Friends Reels feed to select users in the U.S., Canada, and the U.K. The goal? To make Instagram less about random viral clips and more about shared experiences among friends. This feed shows Reels your mutual followers have liked, commented on, or shared publicly.
There are, however, some conditions under which you see your friends ‘ Reels or not. Only in the case when you and your friend follow one another, and the posts of open accounts or the posts on the visibility of Friends are shown as Reels.
The likes on Reels on personal or restricted accounts are not visible because of the new privacy compliance regulations by Instagram, which were launched in 2025.
Also, the implementation is regional, and as such, the Friends Reels feed is not yet available to all countries. Meta corroborated that it will keep on expanding globally until the end of 2025, or even 2026, and users will still experience delays.
Instagram also optimised its reel suggestion algorithm. Not all Reel posts that your friend likes will find their way into your feed; it will only be those the systems consider to be of relevance in your viewing habits and mutual engagement patterns. Thus, not seeing Reels could not be a mistake, but it could be the algorithm that only shows you the content that you are most likely to like.
6 Common Reasons You Can’t See Friends’ Liked Reels
If your Instagram Reels liked by friends aren’t showing, several practical reasons could explain why. Here are the six most common causes reported by users in 2025:
- Outdated App Version – The “Friends” Reels feed requires Instagram v370.0 or newer. Users on older versions won’t see the option until they update their app.
- Mutual Follow Requirement – Only Reels liked by mutual followers (you both follow each other) will appear. One-sided follow relationships are excluded.
- Private or Hidden Activity – If your friend liked a Reel from a private account or turned off “Show activity status,” it won’t appear in your feed.
- Regional Rollout Delays – The Friends Reels feature is available in only 23 countries as of October 2025. Users outside those areas may not have access yet.
- Cached Data Conflicts – Old app cache can block new feature sync. Clearing the cache or reinstalling often restores functionality.
- Temporary Sync or Server Bugs – Instagram occasionally experiences backend sync issues during feature rollouts, which can hide the Friends tab temporarily.
Understanding these causes is key before trying to fix the issue. Often, a simple update or privacy check is all it takes to get the Friends Reels feature working again.
Step-by-Step Fixes: 7 Quick Checks That Solve 90% of “Not Showing” Cases
Here are seven proven solutions that fix the “Instagram Reels liked by friends not showing” issue for most users:
- Update Instagram
- Go to Play Store or App Store → Search “Instagram” → Tap Update.
- Confirm your app version is 370.0 or higher (Settings → About).
- Restart Your Device
- Restarting helps clear background errors and forces Instagram to reload new features properly.
- Clear App Cache and Data
- Android: Settings → Apps → Instagram → Storage → Clear Cache.
- iPhone: Settings → General → iPhone Storage → Instagram → Offload App.
- Confirm Mutual Follows
- Both you and your friend must follow each other. Without a mutual connection, like Reels won’t show.
- Adjust Privacy Settings
- Go to Settings → Privacy → Interactions → Activity Status.
- Make sure Show liked content to friends is enabled.
- Switch Network or Use VPN
- Try changing from Wi-Fi to mobile data, or use a VPN if the feature hasn’t reached your region yet.
- Reinstall the App (Last Resort)
- Uninstall Instagram, restart your phone, and reinstall the app to refresh all system permissions.
According to Meta Community reports (September 2025), users who followed these steps saw their Friends Reels feed restored within minutes.
Privacy Controls & How to Hide (or Opt Out of) Showing Your Liked Reels to Friends
Instagram’s 2025 privacy updates give users more visibility control than ever before. If you don’t want others to see your liked Reels, you can turn them off easily.
To hide liked Reels:
- Open Instagram → Tap menu (☰).
- Go to Settings → Privacy → Interactions → Reels Activity Visibility.
- Disable “Show Reels I’ve Liked to Friends.”
Also, in the Activity Controls, you may switch to a temporary display of Privacy (24 hours to permanently). It is worth mentioning that in this setting, even when it is disabled, the Reel creator can still see your like in case your account is not private.
Instagram introduced this feature to strike a balance between transparency and Privacy. It is off to a lot of users, who do not want to expose their behaviour to the whole world, and, therefore, when you cannot see what your friend likes in Reels, the latter may not have chosen anything.
Why Instagram Made This Change
Instagram’s 2025 algorithm is built around personal connection, interest relevance, and reduced spam. Unlike previous years, where Reels feeds were flooded with viral content, Instagram now emphasises showing you Reels that matter — particularly from friends or creators you trust.
According to Meta’s April 2025 Algorithm Insights Report, users spend 18% more time on Reels when the feed is friend-driven but algorithmically filtered. This means your feed now shows only the most relevant liked Reels from your friends, not every single one.
In short:
- Reels liked by friends are ranked by relevance, not time.
- Irrelevant or repetitive content gets filtered out.
- Private or restricted content remains hidden.
This shift is designed to increase engagement quality, not just volume. So, even if your friend liked dozens of Reels today, you’ll only see the ones Instagram’s AI believes you’ll actually interact with.
If None of the Fixes Work: Report, Wait, or Escalate
If your Friends Reels tab is still missing after all troubleshooting, the issue might be on Instagram’s end. Here’s what you can do next:
- Check Server Status
- Visit meta.com/status or downdetector.com to see if there’s an ongoing outage.
- Report the Problem
- Go to Instagram → Settings → Help → Report a Problem.
- Describe your issue briefly and attach a screenshot. Responses typically arrive within 48–72 hours.
- Wait for Regional Activation
- Instagram plans a full rollout across 50+ countries by December 2025. If you’re outside active regions, the feature will appear automatically once available.
- Join Instagram Beta
- Android users can opt into the beta program on the Play Store to access upcoming features earlier.
- Contact Meta Support (for Verified Users)
- Verified or business accounts can chat directly with Meta Business Support 24/7.
The majority of users state that the problem is automatically fixed after Instagram updates the area. In case the Friends tab does not appear even after one week, it is almost certainly a server or rollout delay, and not a device issue.
FAQs
How to watch Reels liked by friends on Instagram?
Go to your Reels tab → Friends section, where you’ll see videos your mutual friends have liked or shared. Make sure your app is updated to version 370.0 or above for this feature to appear.
Why is the Friends Reels tab not showing up?
It’s usually due to outdated app versions, regional rollouts, or privacy settings. Update Instagram, clear cache, and ensure both you and your friends follow each other to activate the tab.
How to see when a friend likes a Reel?
Currently, Instagram doesn’t show an exact time. However, if your friend recently liked a Reel, it appears near the top of your Friends Reels feed or under the Reel’s “Liked by” section if it’s public.
Does Instagram show liked Reels to others?
Yes, but only within the Friends feed for mutual followers. Your likes on public Reels may appear to friends, but private activity stays hidden unless you’ve enabled visibility in Privacy → Reels Activity Visibility.