Meta Tests Reels-First Facebook Feed in India
Some Facebook users in India now open the app straight into full-screen video, with an option to switch back to the classic feed.
Meta has begun testing a new Facebook experience in India that opens the app directly into full-screen video for some users, the company confirmed. Under the test, those users land on Reels rather than the traditional Feed when Facebook launches. The test was reported by techcrunch.com.
Participants can opt out of the full-screen format and return to a Feed-first experience, and the classic feed remains available through a second tab in the app.
Facebook head Tom Alison first outlined the plan in July, saying Meta intended to start testing it later that year in video-heavy countries outside the U.S. He also said Meta would explore bringing the experience to the U.S. in 2026.
Meta has been reshaping Facebook around short video. In 2024 the company said all new videos posted to Facebook would be shared as Reels regardless of length or format, and renamed the app's Video tab to Reels. In 2025, Meta tested a Reels-first experience for some Instagram users in India and South Korea.
India is Facebook's largest market by users. Meta's advertising tools indicate an audience of more than 400 million people there, and Meta has said young adults spend about 60% of their time on the app watching video.
Quick answers
What is Meta testing on Facebook in India?
A version of Facebook that opens directly into full-screen video for some users in India, with the classic feed available as a second tab.
Can users switch back to the old Facebook feed?
Yes. Users in the test can opt out and return to a Feed-first experience.
Will this Reels-first experience come to the U.S.?
Tom Alison said in July that Meta will explore bringing the user experience to the U.S. next year.