3 Minutes
After years of requests, Instagram has finally released a native iPad app. The new app aims to adapt the social network’s core experiences—Reels, Stories, messaging, and the feed—to larger screens running iPadOS 15.1 and later. While not every element fills the entire display, the redesign brings tablet-focused UI improvements and a few new navigation options designed specifically for iPad users.
Product features
Reels-first experience
Opening the app drops you into Reels so you’re immediately presented with short-form video optimized for a bigger screen. Reels can stay at full size while you expand comments, taking advantage of the iPad’s extra screen real estate.
Stories and messaging
Stories remain positioned at the top of the interface, and messaging is accessible with a single tap—bringing parity with the mobile experience while prioritizing accessibility on tablets.
New Following tab
The iPad app introduces a three-mode Following tab: 'All' (recommended posts and reels from accounts you follow), 'Friends' (content from mutual follows), and 'Latest' (a chronological feed showing the newest posts first). This gives power users more control over discovery and timeline sorting.
Comparisons and advantages
Compared with the iPhone app, the iPad version reflows content to take advantage of a larger canvas while dealing with varied aspect ratios across Apple's tablet lineup. The main advantage is a more immersive Reels and viewing experience on a tablet, plus multitasking-friendly layouts. That said, the central feed may still appear constrained on some models due to differences in aspect ratio between iPad and iPhone.
Use cases and market relevance
Content creators, social media managers, and casual viewers who prefer consuming video and Stories on a larger screen will benefit most. For brands and marketers, the native iPad app provides a better environment for editing, monitoring engagement, and presenting visual portfolios. The release also signals Instagram’s commitment to expanding its presence across tablet devices and optimizing its mobile software for diverse hardware.
Availability
Instagram for iPad is rolling out globally on iPadOS 15.1 and later. Instagram says the tablet design will arrive on Android tablets soon, extending support for larger-screen devices across platforms.
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