After more than a decade, Instagram has finally released a fully native iPad app. As of September 3, 2025, users can download a version specifically designed to make full use of the tablet’s larger interface, not just a stretched version of the iPhone app .
The experience starts immediately with Reels, Instagram’s quick-video feature rivaling TikTok, which now opens by default on launch. Stories remain easily accessible at the top, and there’s a new “Following” tab to view content in a more traditional format. It offers multiple viewing options: a mix of recommended posts (All), posts from mutual followers (Friends), and a chronological stream (Latest).
Related: Instagram Tests Picture-in-Picture for Reels
The iPad’s screen also brings interface enhancements: when interacting with Reels, comments appear alongside the video, and the messaging section uses a dual-pane display for more intuitive navigation. Meta confirmed this iPad-optimized layout will also be coming soon to Android tablets.
Why this matters:
This launch ends a long‐standing complaint from users who were forced to rely on clunky scaled-up versions or the web interface.
Meta emphasizes that it carefully crafted the new app to suit larger screens and to spotlight Instagram’s most popular features, especially Reels .
