Facebook to Make All Videos Shared as Reels
Facebook will soon combine its traditional video uploads with Reels, as shared in an official announcement, sending every uploaded video, whether short or long, as a Reel. This unified format removes the need to choose between “Upload Video” or “Create Reel” and eliminates any format or length restrictions.
Users will retain full control of their audience settings, default privacy will match your Feed preferences, with prompts to adjust when posting. The rollout will start in the coming months on personal profiles and Pages.
Reels will replace both the former video upload flow and the “Video” tab, renamed “Reels” even for long-form content.
Yes, Facebook even renamed the Videos tab to the Reels tab:
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| Credit: Facebook |
This is evidently Meta’s push to standardize all video content under the Reels format, vertical or horizontal, short or long, making it the default format across Facebook.
What this means for users and creators?
While your current videos will stay there and will be converted to Reels in upcoming months, here's what Facebook said:
"Video content you’ve already shared isn’t going anywhere, it will remain on your profile or Page... However, every new video you create and post moving forward will be a reel."
And here's what you need to understand:
- No need to choose formats when posting videos.
- All video uploads will appear as Reels—replacing the old “Feed” video experience.
- Audience control remains unaffected.
- Reels will support any video length and aspect ratio.
- User reaction—mixed at best
Some Android users already experiencing Reels everywhere have voiced frustrations. For example, one Redditor lamented (back in 2023 posts):
“All videos now look like reels. I want the old classic videos back where I can skip some parts and can see how long the video is.”
Another explained how to work around the change by navigating to the legacy Video tab:
“Click on a video that you liked and then go to their page… click their videos and VOILA! The videos will be actually videos and not reels!!!”
Common alternatives include clearing app cache, uninstalling and reinstalling, or switching off professional profile mode, each with varying effectiveness.
Should you be concerned?
If you prefer having video length indicators, playback progress, or being able to skip around freely, expect to face those limitations.
Facebook is aligning everything under the Reel format for consistency, likely prioritizing engagement metrics over traditional controls.
Tips to retain classic video playback on Facebook app
- Access someone’s profile → Videos tab
- Use “Watch” or “Live Video” entry points from the main menu
- Try resetting via cache clear, reinstall, or disabling professional profile mode
These workarounds may grant access to the old video feed, at least temporarily, for some users.
This marks a significant shift in Facebook’s approach: treating all video as short-form, swipeable content. Whether that benefits your content strategy depends on audience expectations and engagement goals.
If your focus is discovery, it's likely to help; if depth and control matter, prepare for adaptation.
