Instagram's First Draft cuts the tedious part out of editing Reels

Instagram has a new editing tool that does the boring work for you. First Draft automatically trims dead air and silent gaps from multiple video clips, then stitches them into a Reel ready for further editing or immediate posting — all in under 10 seconds, per TechCrunch. If you've ever stared at a blank editing timeline unsure where to start, this is aimed squarely at you.

How it works

You can trigger First Draft two ways: select clips from your Reels gallery and tap the button, or record fresh footage directly inside the Instagram camera. Either way, the tool scans your clips, cuts the pauses, and lays everything out on the editing timeline. From there you can tweak the order, trim further, add audio, and publish to your feed or Stories — or just post the draft as-is.

The AI question

Meta is being careful with its language here. Instagram has not labeled First Draft an AI feature. Engadget reports that Meta classifies it as machine learning rather than artificial intelligence — a distinction that sidesteps the stricter scrutiny applied to AI-labeled tools. In practice, the difference is semantic: the feature automates editing decisions that you'd otherwise make by hand.

That framing also separates First Draft from the AI-specific tools inside Meta's standalone Edits app, keeping the feature's identity closer to a smart shortcut than a full creative co-pilot.

The catch: Android users wait

First Draft is rolling out on iOS only. There's no announced timeline for Android, which hands a short-term advantage to CapCut's Auto Cut — a comparable feature from ByteDance that already works across both platforms. For most US and UK iPhone users that gap won't sting, but it's a real gap all the same.

The feature is free and tied to your existing Instagram account. Look for the First Draft button in the Reels camera and gallery once the rollout reaches you.