Instagram has launched its first dedicated app for Apple’s iPad, giving users access to the social media platform on a larger screen. The new version places short-form video feature Reels at the centre of the experience and introduces a new Following tab for easier content discovery.

Reels and Stories on bigger screens

Meta, Instagram’s parent company, said on Tuesday (date not provided) that the iPad app was designed to reflect how people use tablets for “lean back” entertainment. Upon opening the app, users will be directed to Reels, with Stories appearing at the top of the feed and direct messaging one tap away.

The redesign also allows comments to be expanded without shrinking Reels, enabling users to watch videos and read reactions simultaneously. Notifications and messages are displayed side by side, reducing the number of taps needed to navigate between features.

New Following tab with custom feeds

Alongside the iPad launch, Instagram has introduced a new Following tab, offering three viewing options:

All: Recommended posts and Reels from all followed accounts. Friends: Content from accounts that mutually follow each other. Latest: A chronological feed showing the most recent posts first.

Users can prioritise the order of these feeds to customise their browsing experience.

Global rollout and Android plans

The Instagram iPad app is available globally from Tuesday on devices running iPadOS 15.1 or later. The app is free to download from the Apple App Store.

Meta also said the updated large-screen layout will be extended to Android tablets “soon”, though no timeline was provided.

Catching up with rivals

Instagram’s move brings it in line with rival apps such as TikTok and YouTube, which already provide optimised tablet versions. The lack of an iPad app had been a frequent request from Instagram users for years, with many relying on the stretched iPhone version.

The update signals Instagram’s intent to make Reels the core of its user experience, as the company continues to compete with TikTok for short-form video engagement.

Meta did not specify when the Android tablet design will be released. The company is expected to continue refining its large-screen offerings, with further updates likely as user feedback from the iPad rollout comes in.