Blurry Instagram photos on your iPad became a running joke among tablet users, but Meta finally ended the decade-long wait on September 3, 2025. The company launched its first dedicated Instagram app for iPad, available now on the App Store for devices running iPadOS 15.1 or later.
Unlike the frustrating scaled-up iPhone version you’ve been tolerating, this native app rebuilds Instagram’s interface specifically for larger screens. The biggest surprise? Your iPad Instagram now opens directly to Reels instead of the traditional photo feed, signaling Meta’s aggressive push toward video consumption on tablets.
Multi-Column Layouts Transform Tablet Social Media
Browse messages while watching videos, or check notifications without losing your place in content.
The new iPad app introduces multi-column layouts that actually make sense for a 10-inch screen. You can browse DMs and notifications simultaneously while Reels play in the main column—no more constant app switching that breaks your flow.
Comments expand dynamically during video playbook without pausing content, creating the kind of seamless experience TikTok popularized. The enhanced Following tab offers three customizable views:
- All (recommended content)
- Friends (mutual follows only)
- Latest (chronological posts)
Stories sit prominently at the top for quick updates, while messaging gets more accessible positioning for the kind of multitasking iPad users actually want.
Meta Doubles Down on Tablet Strategy
Following WhatsApp’s iPad launch, Instagram’s arrival suggests renewed focus on larger-screen social experiences.
This launch follows Meta’s WhatsApp iPad app rollout, indicating the company recognizes tablets as legitimate social media devices rather than productivity-only tools. According to TechCrunch, Reels now accounts for up to 50% of time spent on Instagram among the platform’s 2 billion monthly users.
The timing aligns with growing iPad sales and user demands for optimized social experiences that don’t feel like blown-up phone apps. Instagram’s iPad transformation arrives fashionably late but thoroughly redesigned. Your tablet finally gets the Instagram experience it deserved, with video-first consumption that matches how people actually use larger screens.
