Controls for Instagram Videos
Adds video playback controls to Instagram videos embedded in web pages (seek bar, volume, play/pause, download video button).
This tiny and efficient extension adds standard video playback controls to Instagram™ videos. Normally, all you can do with an Instagram™ video is play or pause it, but this extension will expose the native HTML 5 video player which has a seek bar (aka video scrubber), a volume control, a play/pause button, Picture-In-Picture (floating video) button, fullscreen video button, and on *some* videos it will also display a download button!
The extension automatically runs and works on all web pages that embed Instagram™ videos!
How to use it:
1) Load any web page that contains an Instagram video
2) Click the video to make it play
3) That's it - the extension will automatically detect the video and will reveal the control buttons.
Options:
-Control volume and playback speed via hotkey.
-Remember your volume and playback speed for future videos.
See the extension config page via right-clicking the extension icon in your browser bar, then select "Options". Or, just navigate to chrome://extensions/
Default Hotkeys - customizable via chrome://extensions/shortcuts
Windows / Linux:
Alt + UpArrow: Increase Volume
Alt + DownArrow: Decrease Volume
Ctrl + UpArrow: Increase Playback Speed
Ctrl + DownArrow: Decrease Playback Speed
Mac:
Alt + UpArrow: Increase Volume
Alt + DownArrow: Decrease Volume
Command + UpArrow: Increase Playback Speed
Command + DownArrow: Decrease Playback Speed
Notes:
- After you install the extension, make sure to reload the page for any browser tabs that were opened before installing the extension. The extension will not run in those tabs until you do so.
- The download video button doesn't work on many videos anymore due to recent instagram changes, but it does still work on *some*.
- On pages where instagram auto plays videos as you scroll, such as on your home page feed, make sure to play/pause the video by clicking in the center of the video, instead of using the button at the lower left. Otherwise, when scrolling, the video may not stay paused.
Wondering why the extension is broken so much lately?
Read https://rehfeld.us/browser-extensions/controls-for-instagram/instagram-changes
Issues currently being worked on:
-Remember volume and playback speed not working in some cases.
-The volume mute/buttons on the video vs the Instagram GUI aren't always in sync.
-On stories, you must use the instagram play/pause button because the button on the video doesn't work.
Legal:
Instagram™ is a registered trademark. This extension was developed independently of Instagram, by someone who is not related or affiliated with Instagram, without any help or endorsement from them.
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Changelog
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Feb 5th, 2023
V1.33 - Fix for not being able to click controls on some videos on home feed. Also make background shade which covers most of the video on reels pages less visually disruptive.
Feb 2nd, 2023
V1.32 - Another potential fix for some users not seeing controls on some videos. Also, add support for reels.
Nov 24th, 2022
V1.30 - More reliably adjust video height on story videos. Also, potential fix for some users not seeing controls on some videos.
Nov 18th, 2022
V1.29 - Fix video controls not being easily clickable for certain videos. Also, new features: configurable hotkeys for volume and video speed (right the extension icon > options).
Jun 22nd, 2022
V1.28 - Upgrade to manifest v3. This is a technical change, and should not affect any functionality.
Jun 17th, 2022
V1.27 - Make videos stay paused when scrolling on home page if you pause the video by clicking in the center of the video (pausing via the tiny pause button in the lower left will not work). Also, fix bug preventing users with a non-english browser language from using core features.
Jun 2nd, 2022
V1.25 - Adapt to recent instagram updates, fixing sudden lack of video controls. Also, resize the video upwards a bit on stories so the video controls arent covered by instagram comment/like buttons.
May 29th, 2021
V1.24 - More reliably avoid "Send Message" box from overlaying controls on Story videos. Also, hopefully avoid rare case of stuttering videos.
Aug 17th, 2020
V1.23 - Potential Bugfix for disappearing videos/images on some pages.
Aug 5th, 2020
V1.21 - Bugfix for disappearing videos on some pages.
Jul 18th, 2020
V1.19 - On some Story videos, resize the video a bit so the "Send Message" text box doesn't overlay the video controls. 2nd attempt.
May 11th, 2020
V1.18 - Undo previous change to Story videos, which affected some non-story videos and broke them.
May 9th, 2020
V1.17 - On some stories, move the video a bit so the "Send Message" text box doesn't overlay the video controls.
Apr 2nd, 2020
V1.16 - Fix bug sometimes causing wrong video to play when clicking.
Nov 2, 2019
V1.15 - Expand allowed playback rate range.
Oct 30, 2019
V1.14 - Add ability to set video playback speed. Also, enable the "remember volume" feature by default.
Sept 29, 2019
V1.13 - Add ability to automatically remember the volume of videos.
Jun 8, 2019
V1.11 - Update to react to Instagram changes, fixing support for stories page.
May 18, 2019
V1.10 - Show controls on videos in stories. Also, fix play/pause bug when clicking on center of videos.
V1.9 - Update readme.
V1.8 - Efficiency improvement.
V1.6 - More reliably detect videos on instgram.com pages that use modal dialogs.
V1.5 - Update to react to Instagram changes.
V1.4 - Update to react to Instagram changes.
V1.3 - Renamed Extension.
V1.2 - Added trademark notice.
V1.1 - Improve compatibility to work on more sites, including instagram.com website and other, non instagram.com sites.
V1.0 - Initial release.
Latest reviews
are you able to fix the location of the playback controls on stories? it's quite bad right now
it works perfectly,even when the muscle cant be played because of the copywrites,now it can play,thanks
Pretty good, but a bug needs fixing on it. When you restart the video, the video automatically mutes. then when you unmute, you've missed the 1st second of audio and have to restart the video again, to which it mutes itself again. Rinse and repeat.
It works!! And you even can watch it faster by managing the playback speed!
this should already be implemented into instas website. thank you for doing metas job for them
Work without any issues! 8th September 2025
Does the job but volume bar resets after you click on another video.
how to disable video auto play?
Works as described. Thank you!
perfect, the suffer is over
This one is Much better, the controls even disappear after short amount of time, which I loved the most. they don't cover the video. There is also full screen view. Thank you!
So far works perfectly
Does exactly as advertise 10/10
Does exactly as advertise 10/10
Always have to adjust volume for each subsequent video. My Review will go to 5/5 when this issue is fixed. This app is doing all the things it says right except for this quality of life feature which makes the experience more hurtful then helpful.
Has option to remember the volume, but it does not remember... every new video on IG, the volume is back to maximum.
SUPER HELPFUL TQQQQ!!!
Excellent, but it will be some how perfect if the seek bar and the volume give a beautiful UI.
Good afternoon, regarding the "Controls for Instagram Videos" application: when your application is activated, the "Ctrl + Arrow Up" shortcut stops working in Google Sheets. Please resolve this issue.
One click wonder! Works as advertised. Finally, proper video controls for Instagram are back
doesn't save volume. you have to set it after new story
The only thing missing from this extension is the ability to have the playback continue when I am not viewing the tab.
Works, doesn't have arrow key control for changing volume or scrubbing a focused video.
I love this extension
The functionality to remember volume is not working.... totally useless
Does as advertised!
Thanks for this extension, it's very useful. Just one issue: the default keyboard shortcuts conflict with basic browser functionality on all sites, not just Instagram. For example, on macOS, installing the extension immediately breaks the Cmd+up/down shortcuts to go to the top and bottom of the page. This can be worked around in the Chrome settings > Extensions > Keyboard shortcuts, but the user shouldn't need to do that out of the box.
Thanks!!! I needed it
Woohoo. Works and doesn't cause any other trouble. Brilliant, rehfeld. Thank you. PS. You should fix that missing website of yours at rehfeld.us and at least offer a simple tip jar of $2, $5 and $10. You won't make much but you'll make something. The simpler you keep it, the more you'll make. You could also consider a Pro Support button at $25 or $50 for people who would like help with your extensions (less fun, not sure you'd want to do that, but definitely do the simple tip jar page).
Lowered to 2 stars because the volume slider is STILL always set to full volume. It should stay where you set it.
just missing a standard volume setup.
Works as expected. Thank you!
Works as intended as of Feb 2025
Amazing, but I wish you can do something so that PIP can work even when we are out of the tab
It just works
Works as stated.
It works.
It works and is very useful!
Works as promised
Appears to function as described without any fuss.
excellennt works very well
does what it says on the tin.
I use 2 instagram plugins only. This is one of them. And every account that has ever logged in from the PC with this on it has been compromised.
Just installed and it does exactly what I expected: adds video controls to Instagram videos while leaving everything else the same. Haven't (yet?) had the sound problem lots of other people are reporting.
soundlevel resets every video and every video restart.
You can just use volume master extension for the sound volume
Works well. Thank you!
Does not work on reels, it does not save the volume for the next reel...
Update, can you add an option to keep the controls visible without the hover? HOLY ISHT SOMEONE FINALLY MADE THIS! Much respect!
Controls everything except the sound, the seeking in videos is excellent and quick. The only negative is that it doesnt do anything with the sound, which have to be manually messed with every time.
