Following earlier rumors in 2025, iPad users finally saw a dedicated Instagram app arrive on their devices on Wednesday. Since the iPad’s original release 15 years ago, Instagram had never been available in the App Store as a download for Apple’s tablet. Instead, users had been stuck with the workaround mobile version, which awkwardly failed to stretch to the iPad’s larger screen size.
It’s not clear why Instagram took so long to appear on the iPad. (We’re baffled by it just as much as you are.)
We’ve tested out the app and found it ready to download and fully functional. A big plus is that it takes up the full screen. However, Instagram has made a few changes, so you’ll have a slightly different experience than on your phone or computer.
What’s new with the Instagram iPad app?
Instagram’s iPad app has a new focus on Reels, which could indicate the direction the app is moving.
When first logging on to Instagram on the iPad, we found a notable difference. Instead of the typical Instagram home screen, the app takes you directly to Reels to start scanning the latest videos. The experience ends up looking similar to scroll-happy TikTok, which seems intentional (and could indicate future changes for the other versions of the app).
It’s nice for those who like checking out all the Reels, but somewhat cumbersome for those who prefer to focus on standard Instagram posts instead.
The iPad app lets you sort by friends’ or latest posts.
The new iPad app also includes a new section called Following, which takes you to classic Instagram posts with a long-requested twist. Following posts are divided into All, Friends only or Latest, giving you different options for your feed.
Other Instagram features on the dedicated iPad app appear more or less identical to existing versions, but we’ll keep you updated if we see any other differences. For now, social scrollers who want a bigger screen to enjoy their Insta pics and Reels have a significant upgrade to explore.
Meta didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
