Instagram adds First Draft feature to trim clips for Reels automatically
Meta's First Draft feature automatically trims pauses and clips, giving Instagram creators a faster starting point for Reels.
Instagram is introducing a new video editing feature designed to reduce the amount of manual work involved in creating Reels. Called First Draft, the tool automatically trims selected video clips and removes pauses or silences, giving creators a rough edit they can refine before publishing.
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The feature is intended to handle some of the more repetitive parts of video editing while leaving creative decisions to the user. Instagram says First Draft can create an initial version of a Reel in seconds, letting creators spend more time on the overall presentation rather than manually cutting footage. The feature is initially rolling out on iPhone, with Meta yet to confirm when it will be available on Android.
First Draft creates an initial Reel edit
First Draft works by analysing video clips selected by the user and identifying sections that can be shortened. For talking-head videos, for example, it can remove pauses and periods of silence. It can also bring together useful sections from several clips to produce an initial version of a Reel.
To use the feature with existing footage, users can open Instagram’s Reels Gallery, select one or more clips and tap the “First Draft” button. Instagram then processes the footage and places the resulting clips into a timeline. The user can review the edit before moving into the full editor or publishing the Reel.
First Draft can also be used directly after recording new footage through Instagram’s camera. This gives creators another way to move quickly from recording to a basic edit without first having to organise and trim each clip manually. Instagram says the tool suits formats including multi-clip montages, talking-head videos, and day-in-the-life content.
The automated edits are also reversible, meaning the feature does not lock users into the decisions it makes. Creators can adjust or reorder clips and continue editing the Reel using Instagram’s existing tools. The approach positions First Draft as a starting point rather than a replacement for manual editing.
Instagram keeps First Draft separate from AI
First Draft arrives as Meta adds more automated and AI-based tools across its social media services. However, Instagram has confirmed that the new feature does not use artificial intelligence. Instead, the company describes it as using machine-learning technology to perform the automated editing.
That distinction sets First Draft apart from some competing video-editing features. Adobe, for example, offers automated editing capabilities through its Firefly platform, while CapCut has its own automatic editing tools. Instagram’s approach focuses more on handling the basic first stage of editing directly inside the platform where videos are created and shared.
The move also follows Meta’s launch of Edits, a separate video-editing application, in April 2025. Edits was developed to provide creators with a broader set of tools for producing short-form videos, including features intended to simplify the process of making Reels. First Draft, however, is being introduced directly within Instagram rather than requiring users to move their footage to another application.
Keeping the feature inside Instagram could make the editing process more convenient for casual creators. Instead of opening a separate editor for basic trimming, users can create an initial cut in the same app they use to record and publish the video. The company has also left room for creators to make their own changes before sharing the final result.
The tool is aimed at faster Reels creation
Instagram’s latest update reflects the growing importance of short-form video to the platform. Reels have become a central part of Instagram’s experience, increasing the pressure on creators to produce regular video content while keeping the editing process manageable.
For people who record long clips before turning them into shorter videos, automatically removing pauses could save significant time. Instagram says First Draft can produce its initial edit in less than 10 seconds. However, the resulting video remains a draft that may require additional work before it is ready to publish.
The feature is not designed to make every creative decision automatically. Users can still determine the final sequence, timing, music, text and other elements. This gives First Draft a narrower role than fully automated video-generation systems, emphasising the removal of repetitive editing tasks rather than producing a finished Reel without user input.
Automated editing also has limitations. Selecting the most useful moment from a clip can depend heavily on context, and automated cuts may not always match what a creator considers the most important part of a video. As a result, First Draft is likely to work best as a starting point that reduces manual trimming, rather than as a complete editing solution.
First Draft is currently rolling out on iOS, and Instagram has not announced an Android release date. The feature gives iPhone users a faster way to turn raw footage into an initial Reel while keeping control of the final edit.
Meta is continuing to expand Instagram’s video creation tools, and First Draft represents a relatively practical addition to that effort. By handling routine trimming without removing creators from the editing process, the feature could make it easier to move from raw clips to publishable short-form videos.