Instagram’s Edits app has completed one year since launch, ahead of its second year of development, marking a milestone in its growth as a mobile video editor and creative studio built for creators.
Led by Brett Westervelt, the app was designed to bring the entire creative workflow—from ideas to final video—into one place. Before launch, the team worked closely with creators and repeatedly refined the product through internal reviews, often questioning whether it was ready and meeting the expected creative standards on Instagram.
Instagram Edits turns one
On April 22, 2025, Edits was launched with a foundation of essential editing tools. The team acknowledged that several ideas were still in development, but decided that releasing the product and improving it through real-world feedback was the best approach.
Since launch, Edits has received continuous updates driven by creator input, with more than 130 feature additions rolled out over the past year through weekly releases.
Core editing tools and platform approach
At launch, Edits included essential mobile video editing features such as trimming, captions, audio controls, and color adjustments. It also introduced an in-app teleprompter that helps creators record scripts more smoothly, with adjustable text size and speed control.
The platform is focused on reducing friction in the creative process by combining key editing functions into a single mobile workflow, removing the need to switch between multiple tools.
What’s coming next
In its second year, Edits will expand both functionality and customization. Planned updates include:
- Bilingual caption support
- Advanced color adjustment tools
- Speed curve editing controls
- Increased tool customization options
The app is also evolving into a broader creative workspace. The Ideas tab brings together saved reels, audio, notes, and inspiration in one place.
Upcoming personalization and productivity features include:
- Personalized inspiration feeds based on user activity
- Post insights and comment summaries
- Weekly AI-generated creative suggestions
- Ability to pin frequently used tools
- Enhanced follower insights
- Project-based themes for structured editing workflows
Creative community and learning focus
Edits is built around community-driven creativity and learning. It highlights workflows from creators such as ethanbarber.co and cole bennett, allowing users to learn directly from real creative processes.
The platform also promotes educational use of features, including the AI Restyle snow effect, which gained traction through tutorials by creators like miranda morey.
Templates are designed as learning tools, enabling users to open full project files, view how content is structured—including effects and audio—and reuse or adapt them for their own work.
Future updates will expand templates with more advanced editing capabilities such as overlays, keyframes, and enhanced video effects, along with improved ways to share creative building blocks within the app.
Outlook
Instagram says Edits will continue developing as a unified creative platform focused on supporting the full content creation journey—from initial idea to final output.
The long-term direction centers on improving editing tools, personalization, and community-based learning features, with creator feedback continuing to directly shape future updates.