Alexis Kestler
Finding the best Reels to watch on Facebook can be a challenge with so many videos floating around. But have no fear – searching for entertaining, informative and useful Reels is easy once you master Facebook‘s built-in search tools.
As a social media expert and techie, I‘ll walk you through everything you need to know to search for Reels on Facebook like a pro. Whether you want to find Reels from your favorite creators, on trending topics or based on your previous likes and saves, this guide will help.
A Quick Intro to Facebook Reels
But first – what exactly are Facebook Reels?
Reels are short videos ranging from 15 seconds to 90 seconds in length that play sequentially in a feed format, similar to TikTok or Instagram Reels.
A screenshot showing the Facebook Reels feed
Reels offer creators a fun new way to produce entertaining short-form vertical videos using audio, AR effects, timers and more.
As a viewer, you can:
- Like and comment on Reels
- Follow creators to see more of their content
- Save Reels to watch again later
- Share Reels with friends
Reels autoplay as you scroll vertically through the feed. And thanks to Facebook‘s powerful recommendation algorithm, it‘s easy to discover highly relevant and engaging Reels based on your interests and online activity.
Facebook first began testing Reels in select countries in 2020. Reels then launched globally for iOS and Android in February 2021.
And Reels have exploded in popularity ever since!
According to Facebook, over 140 billion Reels are played across Facebook and Instagram every day. And that number will likely continue rising.
Many creators now produce Reels as their primary short-form video content – especially after TikTok‘s uncertain future during 2020 and 2021.
For brands and businesses, Reels offer a fun new way to creatively engage their audience. And for viewers like you, it means tons of entertaining videos just a tap away!
Next, let‘s dive into how you can find all this great Reel content.
How to Watch Reels on Facebook
Reels live within a dedicated Reels feed on Facebook – both in the mobile app and desktop site. Here‘s how to access it:
Watch Reels on Mobile
Open the Facebook app and tap the Reels icon on the shortcut menu at the bottom:
The Reels icon in the Facebook app
This will open your Reels feed where you can scroll vertically through videos:
Scrolling through the Facebook Reels feed
Watch Reels on Desktop
On desktop, click the Reels icon in the left sidebar menu to open your Reels feed:
Accessing Reels on the Facebook desktop site
From either view, Reels will auto-play as you scroll. Tap/click any Reel to expand it.
You may also come across Reels naturally mixed into your main News Feed if friends have shared them. So you can discover Reels both passively and by intentionally opening the Reels feed.
Now let‘s get into the good stuff – how to search for Reels!
Search for Reels by Keyword or Hashtag
The most straightforward way to search Facebook Reels is using keywords.
For example, if you want to find funny cat Reels, search for "funny cats reels" or "#catreels".
You can search right from the Facebook app by tapping the search bar at the top:
Searching for Reels from the Facebook app
Or on desktop, use the search bar at the top of the Facebook site:
Searching for Reels on the desktop site
In both cases, you‘ll see results for Reels containing your search terms. Tap/click any Reel to watch it.
This search method works great to find Reels on specific topics like:
- Funny animal Reels
- Recipe Reels
- Workout motivation Reels
- Book review Reels
- Small business spotlight Reels
- Product demo Reels
Basically, if a topic interests you and Reels exist about it, you can find them through keyword search. Hashtags work great too to uncover Reels on very specific subjects.
You can get creative and combine keywords too. Like searching for "live music Reels" or "hiking with dogs Reels". Go wild!
Of course, you‘re not limited to keyword searches. You can also find Reels using these other search filters…
Search for Reels by People or Pages You Follow
Rather than search broadly by topic, you may want to find Reels specifically from creators and brands you already follow.
The easiest way is to visit their Facebook profile or Page and look for the Reels tab:
Viewing someone‘s Reels on their profile
Tap on Reels under their profile name to see any they‘ve posted. If they actively use Reels, this is the best place to watch all their videos in one place.
You can also search for Pages you follow. For example, searching "Example Brand Reels" will showcase any Reels shared to that brand‘s Page.
So explore Reels from your favorite people and brands! They may be producing entertaining or useful content perfect for you.
Up next – how to rediscover Reels you‘ve previously liked or saved.
Find Your Saved Reels
As you come across Reels you love, you can save them by tapping the bookmark icon to view later:
Saving a Reel on Facebook
Saving is perfect for bookmarking cooking tutorials, motivational speeches, product demos, and any other Reels you want to rewatch.
But how do you actually find those saved Reels again? Simple:
On Mobile:
- Open Reels
- Tap your profile picture
- Select the Saved tab
- Scroll through your saved Reels!
On Desktop:
- Click Saved in the left sidebar
- Scroll down to the Reels section
- Click any saved Reel to open it
Think of saved Reels like creating your own custom library of awesome videos to refer back to.
Next up – tracking down those liked Reels!
Locate Your Liked Reels
In additional to saving Reels, you can also like them by tapping the Like button as you scroll through your feed.
To find liked Reels and watch them again:
On Mobile:
- Open the Reels feed
- Tap your profile picture
- Select Liked to see your liked Reels
On Desktop:
- Click the arrow on your profile picture
- Choose Activity Log from the menu
- Select Likes and Reactions in the sidebar
- Scroll down to find Reels you‘ve liked
Likes make it easy to replay funny, inspiring or informative Reels you enjoyed but didn‘t necessarily save.
Tip: Pay attention to the number of Likes on each Reel too. Sort by most liked to uncover the truly viral hits!
Advanced Reels Search Filters
Facebook‘s search gives you a few other ways to filter Reels beyond just keywords and people.
For example, you can search:
- Reels uploaded in the past hour, day or week to find the latest trends
- Reels from specific locations like "Portland Reels"
- Reels hashtagged with specific emojis like "#⚽️ Reels" for soccer videos
You can also combine filters, like searching "Yoga Reels from Austin last 24 hours".
Play around with search modifiers to uncover super specific types of Reels. The options are nearly endless!
Reels Search Tips and Tricks
Here are a few extra pro tips for mastering Facebook Reels search:
Use Reels hashtags: Include relevant Reels hashtags like #reels and #facebookreels in searches to further filter results.
Try alternate spellings: If a search doesn‘t return many Reels, try alternate spellings like "yoga" vs. "yogga". This catches relevant content with typos.
Follow creators you enjoy: When you find Reels creators you love, follow them to catch all their latest videos.
Turn on post notifications: Enable notifications from favorite Pages and profiles so you never miss their new Reels.
Use Facebook Watch: Reels also appear on Facebook Watch. So check Watch to uncover additional Reels to view.
Create your own! Finally, don‘t forget you can make your own Reels too. Get creative!
Common Reels Search Questions
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions around searching for Reels:
Are Instagram Reels recommended on Facebook?
Yes! Since Facebook and Instagram are owned by Meta, Reels created on either platform appear across both apps.
How do I make my own Reels?
It‘s easy to create Reels on Facebook. Just record or upload clips, add effects and music, then share as a Reel post. Get creative!
Why can‘t I find the Reels option?
Make sure your Facebook app is updated to the latest version. On desktop, Reels appears in the left sidebar. If missing, switch view settings.
How do I control who sees my Facebook Reels?
When you first share a Reel, the audience is set to public. But you can limit visibility to only friends or a custom list. Adjust this in the audience selector when posting.
Get Discovering with Facebook Reels!
Reels make it so easy to discover tons of fun, helpful and interesting short videos based on your preferences and interests.
Now that you know how to search Reels on Facebook using keywords, filters and more, it‘s time to start watching!
Find Reels from your favorite people and brands or discover new ones. Save and like Reels to refer back to. And create your own to join in on the Reels fun!
Happy Reels watching! Let me know if you have any other questions.
