It’s been one of the most requested apps for years, and now it’s finally here: Instagram has launched its first-ever iPad app, now rolling out on the App Store.
Built for Bigger Screens
While the iPhone app worked on iPad with the stretched-out iOS version, this is the first time Instagram has built a dedicated iPadOS app. And Meta is leaning into the larger display in a very specific way — by making Reels the main focus.
When you open the app, instead of your feed, you’ll land directly in Reels. Instagram says the goal is to deliver a “lean back entertainment” experience that feels more at home on a bigger screen. Stories still sit at the top, messaging is a single tap away, and there’s more breathing room overall thanks to a multi-column layout for DMs, notifications, and browsing.
Smarter Feeds for Personalization
The iPad app also introduces a new Following tab system that lets you jump between three types of feeds:
- All – Recommended content from accounts you follow.
- Friends – Posts from accounts you follow that also follow you back.
- Latest – A chronological feed of recent posts.
Even better, you can customize the order in which these feeds appear, so your iPad experience feels more tailored.
Part of a Bigger Push
This marks Instagram’s debut on iPad, but it’s also part of a broader push by Meta to bring its core apps to larger screens. Just a few months ago, WhatsApp finally made its way to iPad as well.
After years of users asking “Where’s the iPad app?”, Instagram has finally delivered. Whether Reels-first was the right choice is up for debate — but at least now you don’t have to live with a stretched-out iPhone version.
Are you downloading Instagram on iPad today, or sticking to your iPhone?
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