What are the current Instagram Reels video size and spec requirements?

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PAGE: https://alison.com/course/instagram-marketing-in-2021-grow-followers-organically

PROMISE: Learn organic growth tactics and profile basics to fix visual reach issues

WHO: Beginner small business owners who want to grow Instagram presence without paid ads

WHYNOW: Reels remain a primary discovery channel and account optimisation directly affects visibility

DESC: Do you want to boost your Instagram following and use it to sell products? This free social media course has the tips, tactics and tools you need for Insta.

BEFORE: Reels feel disconnected from the brand visual identity

BEFORE: Profile bio and username confuse potential customers

BEFORE: Posts lack clear prompts for followers to engage

AFTER: Content strategy supports organic reach alongside visual improvements

AFTER: Profile elements are optimised for discovery and clarity

AFTER: Every post includes a purposeful next step for the audience

GAIN: Understanding of organic follower growth methods

GAIN: Search friendly profile setup techniques

GAIN: Tactics for adding effective calls to action and bio links

STEP: Reels look unpolished and fail to attract new followers || Explain the process involved in growing your followers organically || Apply consistent posting rhythms and content types that support long term audience growth

STEP: New visitors leave immediately because the profile looks messy || Create a professional profile having a name and username that is search engine optimised || Align the account identity with search terms so the profile reads clearly to visitors

STEP: Engagement drops because posts do not prompt user interaction || Discuss the necessity of adding an ‘call to action’ and links to a bio on Instagram || Add clear calls to action and bio links to guide followers toward desired actions

NOTFOR: Advanced users seeking specific video editing or motion design tutorials

NOTFOR: Businesses that only need paid advertising campaign management

FACT: Average duration: 1.5-3 Hours (Contains Video)

FACT: CPD-accredited certificate available

FACT: Beginner level

COVERS: Having completed this topic, you will be able to:

COVERS: Create a professional profile having a name and username that is search engine optimised

COVERS: Discuss the necessity of adding an ‘call to action’ and links to a bio on Instagram

COVERS: Distinguish between sourced content and created content

COVERS: State the correct way of using hashtags and the importance of scheduling your postings

COVERS: Outline the different ways to dominate Instagram stories and keep your followers engaged

COVERS: Evaluate your post analytics

COVERS: Summarise how the number of shares on a post can help you decide the type and style of the next post that will engage new users

COVERS: Explain the process involved in growing your followers organically

COVERS: Define Influencer marketing and how it can help reach out to your targeted audience with good ROI

COVERS: Analyse giveaways as the fastest form of growing followers

COVERS: Social Media Marketing

MODULE: Instagram Marketing || Creating a Memorable Profile | Increase Your Followers Organically

What you are probably seeing

You notice that your vertical videos look grainy or compressed when you upload them to Instagram, which usually happens when the file size is too low or the resolution is under 1080 pixels in width.

You see black bars or blurry edges around your content because the aspect ratio of your source file does not match the 9:16 vertical format that Reels requires for a full-screen experience.

Why it happens

Instagram prioritizes content that matches its native vertical display, so it compresses or crops files that are not in the correct 1080×1920 resolution, leading to a loss in visual quality and a less professional look.

Using the wrong aspect ratio forces the algorithm to fit your video into a vertical frame, which often distorts the subject or leaves empty space, causing viewers to lose interest and scroll away from your profile.

What changed recently

Step by step

1. Set your editing timeline to 1080×1920 pixels at a 30 or 60 frames per second rate to match the standard Reels resolution.

2. Keep your video files under 4GB in size and use H.264 or H.265 codec formats to ensure compatibility and faster processing.

3. Export your final clips using a high bitrate setting to prevent compression artifacts that make the video look pixelated on mobile screens.

4. Preview your Reel in the Instagram app before posting to check that important text or visual elements are not cropped by the user interface buttons.

5. Update your export presets regularly to reflect any changes in Instagram guidelines so your content always displays with a clean, full-screen look.

Ways to go further

Start here: Instagram Marketing: Grow Followers Organically For when you want to increase organic reach alongside visual improvements.. Open the free course on Alison ↗

Better fit: Best Instagram Marketing Strategies to Follow and Implement in 30 days For when you are planning a full Instagram strategy that includes Reels.. Open the free course on Alison ↗

Affiliate links: CHEAPUNO may earn a commission if you buy through them, at no extra cost to you.

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