After more than a decade of requests from users, Instagram is finally working on a native iPad app, according to internal information shared with The Information. The development is part of a larger strategic move by Meta to respond to shifting trends in the social media landscape, particularly in light of increased scrutiny and potential bans surrounding TikTok in certain markets.
Instagram has remained an iPhone-only app since its launch in 2010. Despite repeated calls from users, company leadership has long resisted creating an iPad version. Past comments from Instagram’s head, Adam Mosseri, pointed to limited resources and a lack of user demand as the main reasons for the delay. In 2022, Mosseri said there simply wasn’t a large enough iPad user base to justify the investment, and in earlier years cited staffing limitations as another roadblock.
Currently, iPad users are still relying on the iPhone version of Instagram, which is not optimized for tablet screens. The absence of a dedicated iPad interface has long been a pain point for creators and casual users alike who prefer the larger screen for browsing or editing content.
Details about the iPad version of Instagram are still scarce, including its potential launch window. However, the app appears to be part of a broader push by Instagram to strengthen its position in the short-form video space. The timing coincides with increased efforts to attract creators who may be impacted by the possible TikTok ban.
In a related move, Instagram recently hosted a creator event in New York City to debut a new mobile video editing app called Edits. Designed to compete with CapCut—TikTok’s popular video editing companion, which was removed from app stores earlier this year—Edits gives users tools to craft short-form content directly on their phones. Instagram has also extended the maximum length of Reels from 90 seconds to three minutes, mirroring TikTok’s format, and introduced design changes to bring the user interface closer to its competitor’s layout.
As Instagram ramps up its efforts to retain and attract video creators, the introduction of an iPad app could be a meaningful step toward expanding its reach—especially for content creators who prefer editing and uploading from a larger device.
