Instagram is finally available on iPad — ending a decade-and-a-half drought for tablet owners. The dedicated iPad app is available to download now from the App Store.
The long-awaited application arrived on September 3, marking the end of a 15-year wait since Instagram's original iPhone launch. During that time, it was possible for iPad owners to install the iPhone version of the app and expand it 2x to take-up more of the screen real estate on the iPad's larger screen.
However, the all-new Instagram experience on iPad differs significantly from iPhone.
For starters, the interface utilises multiple columns, allowing you to browse while simultaneously viewing direct messages or notifications without leaving your main feed. On the iPhone, you constantly need to switch back and forth on the app's pages to see everything.
When you launch the application, you'll also immediately encounter Reels, Instagram's short-form video feed, taking centre stage. This represents what Instagram calls a "lean-back entertainment" approach, prioritising short-form videos on your tablet's larger display.
The interface utilises multiple columns, allowing you to browse while simultaneously viewing direct messages or notifications without leaving your main feed
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There's a brand-new Following section offering three viewing modes. There's 'All' for suggested content from accounts you follow, 'Friends' showing posts from mutual connections, and 'Latest' presenting a chronological timeline of when photos and videos were posted. You can arrange these options according to your preferences by simply tapping on one of the modes.
There's a brand-new Following section offering three viewing modes: 'All', 'Friends', and 'Latest'
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When watching Reels, you can expand the comments section without pausing or obscuring the video content. For instance, the messaging feature displays conversations and your inbox side-by-side, making better use of the tablet's screen space.
Stories appear above the Reels section rather than atop your standard feed, as on iPhone. The application opens directly to Reels instead of the traditional feed, reflecting Meta's emphasis on video content for tablet users. You'll find all standard creation tools, like the in-app editing features available, matching the iPhone's functionality.
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Instagram's arrival on iPhone in 2010 sparked requests for a tablet version began almost immediately, yet Meta consistently declined to develop one.
"People have asked for this for a while," Meta acknowledged in their announcement, addressing the 15-year delay. The company's Instagram chief previously cited resource constraints as the reason, despite Meta's multi-billion-dollar status.
While applications appeared for Android, web browsers and even Windows Mobile over the years, iPad users remained excluded. Android tablets received an optimised Instagram interface in 2023, making the iPad's wait even more peculiar.
The move also comes shortly after Meta delivered WhatsApp for iPad earlier this year after similar delays, having promised it in 2023. You can download the free application from the App Store if your iPad runs iPadOS 15.1 or newer, and it's available globally.
If you can't locate the application immediately, Meta suggests waiting briefly before searching again, as the rollout continues across regions.