After years of holding out, Meta appears to be preparing to launch a dedicated Instagram app for the iPad before the end of 2025. According to multiple reports, internal testing is already underway, signaling a shift in the company’s approach to supporting Apple’s tablet ecosystem.
Although Meta has maintained a Facebook app for the iPad since 2011, it has notably overlooked its other major platforms when it comes to native tablet support. Instagram, one of Meta’s most widely used apps, has remained confined to a mobile-only interface, requiring iPad users to rely on the iPhone version or web browser for access—a workaround that offers a less-than-ideal user experience.
Recent developments suggest that this long-standing gap may finally be addressed. The release of a dedicated WhatsApp app for iPad last week points to a broader effort by Meta to extend full app functionality across device types. And now, with reports of Instagram undergoing active internal testing on iPad hardware, the company seems poised to fill one of its most conspicuous product voids.
The absence of an iPad-specific Instagram app has long puzzled users, especially given the tablet’s popularity for content creation and media consumption. Social media platforms have increasingly emphasized video and high-resolution imagery—areas where the iPad’s larger screen would provide clear benefits. Despite repeated user requests over the years, Meta had resisted committing to the development, citing resource allocation and platform priorities. That stance, however, appears to be softening.
While no official release date has been confirmed, the expectation is that Meta will roll out the iPad version of Instagram sometime in 2025, provided there are no significant delays during testing. If it does arrive as anticipated, it will mark a significant—if overdue—step toward feature parity across Meta’s app portfolio and potentially improve the Instagram experience for a sizable segment of its user base.
nstagraThe move also positions Meta to compete more directly in the tablet space, where user demand for platform-optimized social apps remains strong. Whether this signals a broader commitment to iPadOS development remains to be seen, but for now, Instagram’s long absence from the iPad may finally be coming to an end.
