Help and troubleshooting.
Getting set up, saving reels, and what to do when a save does not go through. A failed save always shows a code like RN-101, and every code is explained below.
Getting set up
You connect Instagram once, on a computer. After that, saving from your phone just works.
How do I connect Instagram?
Connect once on desktop with the ReelNotes browser extension. It takes one click, and your session is stored securely on our side, so your phone rides the same connection. You never connect twice, and you never paste a password.
How do I save a reel?
On your phone, open a reel in Instagram, tap Share, and pick ReelNotes. On a computer, use the browser extension or paste the reel's link into ReelNotes. Either way it becomes a searchable Card in a minute or two.
Do I need to install an app?
No app store needed. ReelNotes installs straight from your browser and adds to your home screen with its own icon. Open it on your phone, add it to your home screen, and it behaves like a native app.
I shared a reel and nothing appeared.
Give it a minute or two to process first. If it still does not show, check that Instagram is still connected (reconnect on desktop if needed), and on your phone toggle airplane mode off and on once to refresh the connection, then share the reel again.
When a save does not go through
A failed save always shows a short code. Find yours below for what it means and what to do. The most common one is RN-101, and the fix is usually to reconnect Instagram.
Getting the reel in
Source unavailable
What it meansWe could not fetch this reel. Usually your Instagram session has expired, or Instagram blocked the request.
What to doReconnect Instagram on a computer with the browser extension, then save the reel again. You can also upload the file manually.
Unsupported link
What it meansThat link is not an Instagram reel. ReelNotes works with Instagram for now.
What to doSave an Instagram reel, or upload the media file manually.
Couldn't fetch the media
What it meansThe reel's video could not be downloaded.
What to doTry saving it again. If it keeps failing, reconnect Instagram or upload the file manually.
Reading the clip
Couldn't read the audio
What it meansWe could not pull clean audio out of this clip.
What to doTry saving it again, or upload the file manually.
Transcription failed
What it meansWe could not transcribe the speech in this clip.
What to doTry saving it again.
Couldn't read the on-screen text
What it meansWe could not read the text shown on screen in this clip.
What to doTry saving it again.
Writing the Card
This clip is mostly visual
What it meansThere is little or no spoken narration, so there is nothing to turn into a written Card.
What to doNothing to fix. ReelNotes works best on clips where someone talks through an idea.
Caption and audio didn't match
What it meansThe caption and the spoken audio were about different things, so a reliable Card could not be built. This is common with comedy and skits.
What to doThis is the clip itself, not your setup. Saving it again will not change the result.
Couldn't write original notes
What it meansThe writer could not put this clip into its own words without copying it almost word for word, so it held back rather than save a near copy.
What to doThis is about the clip's content. Saving it again will not change the result.
Couldn't make a clear note
What it meansThis clip could not be synthesised faithfully. For example it may be in another language, or the words may not form a clear point.
What to doTry saving it again.
Couldn't build the note
What it meansWe could not synthesise a Card from this clip.
What to doTry saving it again.
Finishing up
Couldn't finish saving
What it meansProcessing finished but the save could not be completed.
What to doTry saving it again.
Interrupted by a system update
What it meansA system update restarted processing before this save could finish, more than once in a row.
What to doTry saving it again. It should go through now that the update is done.
Something went wrong
What it meansAn unexpected error stopped this save from processing.
What to doTry saving it again. If it keeps happening, email us the code.
Known limits
Which platforms are supported?
Instagram reels for now. Support for TikTok and YouTube may come later, but we would rather do one thing properly than claim everything.
Do carousel posts (multiple images) work?
Not yet. ReelNotes reads reels, which are video. Multi-image carousel posts are not supported at the moment.
What about photo posts or music-only reels?
If there is no spoken narration, there is little for ReelNotes to synthesise, and you may see RN-401. ReelNotes is built for clips where someone explains an idea out loud.
Still stuck?
Email us the code from your failed save and we will take a look. We usually reply within a day.
Looking for how it all works instead? See the FAQ or how it works.