One of the standout changes in Instagram for iPad is its new landing page that opens directly to Reels, Instagram’s popular short-form video format. This shift reflects how people use bigger screens today—favoring relaxed, immersive entertainment over rapidly scrolling through photos. The Reels feed fills the screen, complemented by Stories positioned at the top for quick access to updates from friends and favorite accounts. Messaging is integrated seamlessly with just one tap, making it effortless to connect with others while enjoying video content.

The New Following Tab: Personalized and Organized Feeds

In response to user feedback requesting easier ways to see updates from preferred accounts, the iPad app introduces a new "Following" tab. This tab allows users to customize how they view content from accounts they follow with three distinct feed options:

• All: Recommended posts and Reels from all accounts the user follows.

• Friends: Recommended content from accounts that mutually follow the user.

• Latest: A chronological feed showing the most recent posts and Reels first.

Users can also reorder these feeds to prioritize what they want to see first. This offers Instagram users more control and helps prevent missing important updates, especially valuable given the algorithm-driven nature of Instagram’s traditional feed.

Optimized for Bigger Screens with Multitasking

Instagram’s iPad version takes full advantage of the larger display by offering multitasking-friendly layouts. Notifications and messages can be displayed simultaneously on screen, reducing the number of taps needed to manage interactions. When watching Reels, users can now expand comments while the video remains full-size, ensuring uninterrupted viewing while catching up on reactions and conversations. This design strikes a balance between offering more features and maintaining simplicity for an enhanced user experience.

Availability and Future Plans for Android Tablets

Instagram for iPad is available globally on devices running iPadOS 15.1 and later, and the app can be downloaded for free from the Apple App Store. Meta, Instagram’s parent company, has confirmed that a tablet-optimized version for Android devices will be launching soon, addressing demand from Android tablet users who have yet to receive a similarly enhanced Instagram experience.