Finally, The Official Instagram App For Ipad Has Arrived - Here's What's New

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Apple iPad Pro M4 (11-inch) moving iPadOS 26
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ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

  • Meta conscionable announced a autochthonal app type of Instagram for iPadOS 15.1 and later.
  • The app is free and disposable successful nan App Store now. 
  • It looks different than nan mobile version, pinch immoderate absorbing ways to curate your feed. 

At agelong last, you tin now scroll Instagram connected your iPad. After years of requests by iPad users, it will beryllium disposable successful the App Store for iPadOS 15.1 and later starting September 3rd, 2025. 

It's an evident update that takes advantage of nan iPad's ample screen, arsenic antecedently iPad users were forced to usage nan mobile type aliases unfastened Instagram successful a browser, a notoriously clunky experience. 

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The tablet type is custom-built for nan device's proportions, though it does look a spot different than nan mobile version. Instagram really wants to item Reels -- nan platform's short-form video contented to rival TikTok -- truthful erstwhile you unfastened nan app connected an iPad, it goes consecutive to nan Reels page. 

Meta's official property release cites nan iPad's shape facet for this choice, saying "we've redesigned nan acquisition to bespeak really group usage bigger screens coming -- for thin backmost entertainment." 

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Meta

While this whitethorn beryllium true, it's besides a smart move connected Meta's portion to see much users successful nan app pinch an accent connected short-form videos that could pat into TikTok's contented marketplace share. It's nary surprise, since Instagram has been investing heavy successful nan format complete nan past fewer years -- moreover playing pinch nan thought of making a standalone app. 

For now, though, nan ample surface connected a tablet affords much breathing room for content, moving comments to nan near of photograph posts, and to nan correct of Reels, which show a batch much successful 1 glimpse to trim nan magnitude of scrolling and clicks. 

Besides nan accent connected Reels, nan Instagram app for iPadOS features immoderate improvements to provender curation. There's a caller vertical UI paper to let contented to inhabit nan full display, including a "Following" tab, which narrows down your provender to posts from accounts you follow. 

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Tapping nan "All" tab will show nan default provender pinch suggested content, and nan "Latest" tab arranges posts successful chronological order. Apple acknowledges that users person agelong requested these features, arsenic nan app's existent mobile type offers very fewer ways to curate your feed. 

Additionally, your DMs will look a batch for illustration Meta's Messages app, pinch acquainted bluish bubbles and a overmuch larger show for much connection contented astatine a glimpse without nan request to scroll. 

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Meta

Even much interesting, nan caller tablet type of Instagram isn't constricted to nan iPad. Meta stated successful nan official release that an Android type of nan app will besides beryllium disposable soon, though nary circumstantial day was mentioned. 

Instagram's occurrence has propelled it past nan likes of Facebook, truthful it makes consciousness for Meta to put successful versions of nan app that are optimized for devices beyond nan smartphone. The tablet type besides makes a bully testing crushed for nan caller provender features, truthful they could perchance beryllium rolled retired to nan mobile app successful nan adjacent future. 

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