Instagram Finally Launches Dedicated iPad App After 15 Years, Focuses on Reels

After more than a decade of requests, Instagram has finally launched its dedicated iPad app, giving Apple tablet users a long-awaited upgrade. Available now on the App Store, the app introduces a multi-column layout optimized for larger screens, offering smoother navigation and a richer visual experience.

Instagram on iPad

The Instagram iPad app includes all familiar features — Stories, feed, direct messages (DMs), Explore tab, and notifications — but with a fresh design to make full use of the iPad’s display. The biggest change is its emphasis on Instagram Reels, as the app opens directly to Reels by default, highlighting Meta’s continued push into the short-form video market to compete with TikTok and YouTube Shorts.

For years, iPad owners had to rely on the iPhone version of Instagram, stretched awkwardly to fit a larger screen. Now, with a dedicated Instagram iPad app, Apple users finally get a seamless experience tailored to tablets. The move also follows the rollout of WhatsApp for iPad, signaling Meta’s broader effort to optimize its most popular apps for the Apple ecosystem.

The new Instagram iPad app brings all core features like Stories, DMs, and feed but puts extra focus on Reels, making it the default landing page. Meta has also introduced a dedicated Following tab with three filters: “All” (content from followed accounts), “Friends” (mutual followers), and “Latest” (chronological posts and Reels). This update enhances user experience by combining entertainment with better content organization, finally giving Apple iPad users a tailored Instagram experience after years of waiting.

With Reels at the center of the app, creators can expect higher engagement, as short videos are prioritized in user feeds. This update could help boost content creation, influencer marketing, and brand promotion on Instagram, particularly for businesses targeting iPad users.

The new Instagram iPad app is available to download now from the Apple App Store. Whether you’re browsing Stories, watching Reels, or chatting via DMs, the iPad version offers a better multitasking experience with more immersive visuals.