After rumors earlier in 2025, iPad users finally saw the Instagram app arrive on their devices on Wednesday, appearing in the App Store after 15 years of avoiding the iPad. Since its original release, Instagram has never been available as a download for Apple's larger screen.

While it's not certain why Instagram took so long to appear on the iPad, we've tested out the app and found it ready to download and fully functional. However, Instagram has made a few changes that indicate its latest priority, so you will have a slightly different experience than on your phone or computer. 

What's new with the Instagram iPad app?

When first logging on, we found something unusual about the iPad Instagram: it takes you directly to Reels to start scanning the latest videos instead of the typical Instagram home screen. The experience ends up looking similar to scroll-happy TikTok, which seems intentional on the part of Instagram (and could indicate future changes for the other versions of the app). It's nice for those who like checking out all the Reels, but somewhat cumbersome for those who prefer to focus on standard Instagram posts instead. 

Fortunately, the new iPad app also includes a new section called Following, which takes you to the classic Instagram posts with a long-requested twist. Following posts are divided into All Friends only, or the Latest posts so you only see what's been going on instantly. 

Other Instagram features appear more or less identical to existing versions of the app, but we'll keep you updated if we see any other differences. For now, social scrollers who want a bigger screen to enjoy their Insta pics and Reels have a significant upgrade to explore.

Meta didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.