Instagram Finally Lands on iPad, 15 Years Later

It only took a decade and a half, but Instagram is finally making its way to the iPad. Starting Wednesday, September 3rd, users will be able to download a dedicated Instagram app built specifically for Apple’s tablet.

Don't expect the app to feel exactly like the one on your phone. The biggest change is that it will open directly to a feed of Reels—Instagram’s short-form videos—instead of the traditional primary feed of photos and videos from accounts you follow. This change makes it clear where Instagram's priorities lie.

This move makes sense in the current climate. TikTok has been under heavy political and regulatory pressure in the U.S., and back in April, reports hinted that Meta was dusting off long-standing plans for an iPad app. Suddenly, “someday” turned into “okay, now.”

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On the iPad, Stories will still sit at the top of the homepage, and users can switch over to a Following tab that offers something closer to the traditional Instagram feel, including the option for a chronological feed. The bigger screen also unlocks new conveniences: comments will appear beside full-size Reels instead of covering them, and the DMs page looks a lot like Messenger on desktop, with your inbox displayed alongside active chats. According to Meta, this refreshed layout is also “coming soon” to Android tablets.

For years, Instagram head Adam Mosseri argued that the number of people asking for an iPad app wasn’t large enough to justify the resources. But things have shifted. The growing number of kids and young adults using tablets has likely changed the equation, and TikTok’s uncertain future in the U.S. may have given Meta the push it needed.

One thing is obvious, though: Instagram on tablets isn’t really about the photo grid anymore. It’s about Reels. The company has been steadily doubling down on short-form video by extending clip length, adding repost and fast-forward options, and even trying to lure TikTok creators onto its platform. With the new iPad app, Instagram is planting a flag; the future of its tablet experience is short-form video all the way down.

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