After years of users constantly nudging Instagram to release an iPad app, the social network is finally launching one today. This means users will no longer need to use the unoptimized iPhone app or the Instagram web version on their iPad.
The new app defaults to the Reels screen, allowing you to scroll and watch short videos on a larger display. The iPad app includes nearly all the consumption features found in the phone app. Stories appear at the top, and you can access different options like your following feed, direct messages, Search, Explore, and notifications from the left-hand sidebar.
Instagram’s Feed on iPad offers three viewing options. The “All” tab shows recommended posts and Reels from accounts you follow. The “Friends” tab displays posts and Reels from mutual followers. The “Latest” tab presents posts and Reels in chronological order. You can also reorder these feeds to suit your preference.
Until now, Instagram on an iPad was merely a blown-up version of the iOS app, which was not a pleasant experience. The company has revamped the experience specifically for the big screen. For example, when watching a Reel, you can view comments on the side. In the messages tab, you can open a specific conversation while still seeing all your active chats listed on the left.
While Instagram has existed for nearly 15 years, the company did not make an iPad app a priority until now. Instagram head Adam Mosseri had stated multiple times in the past that the company was in no hurry to develop an iPad version. This lack of an official app previously led to the creation of third-party viewers designed to improve the Instagram experience for iPad users.
Earlier this year, The Information reported that Instagram was finally building an iPad app. The new Instagram app for iPad is available for all iPads running iOS 15.1 or later.