Hallelujah, the specter of the (as soon as once more delayed) TikTok ban may simply get Instagram customers the factor they have been ready for since 2010—an iPad app. Over the previous couple of years, Instagram repeatedly made it clear that the iPad is simply not a precedence for the corporate, however now it appears that evidently might need modified.
In response to a brand new report from The Info, Instagram is planning to take full benefit of TikTok’s unsure authorized standing within the US to introduce some new options that will fill the void left by its competitor’s potential exit from the market.
Again in 2022, Instagram head Adam Mosseri replied to a tweet from tech influencer Marques Brownlee, denying requests for an iPad app by saying that “It’s nonetheless simply not a large enough group of individuals to be a precedence. Hoping to get to it sooner or later, however proper now, we’re very heads down on different issues.”
However now, in 2025, The Info says it is spoken to a Meta worker who reportedly has entry to the corporate’s plans for catching up with TikTok, which lastly embody (however will not be restricted to) an iPad app. The transfer would see the corporate launch a local iPad resolution that might higher maintain as much as TikTok’s, which has full-screen video playback in vertical mode, and even a devoted panorama mode that fills up empty house with feedback and different options.
Why we desperately want an Instagram app for iPad
Instagram on a pill simply is sensible. The display screen is greater, and higher, and it is rather more gratifying to look at the brand new, longer type Reels content material on a pill sized display screen. To not point out the truth that so many creators consumer the iPad to edit the Reels and photographs posted on the community anyway. Having a devoted Instagram app would do wonders for his or her workflow.
Then there are individuals like me, who use Instagram on the Mac and iPad, to curb their iPhone dependancy and display screen time. I discover that it is simply simpler to be aware of your social media when it is not in your smartphone, and I would like to not must fiddle with the online app or iPhone app compatibility to do this.
Find out how to add the Instagram net app to the iPad
Credit score: Khamosh Pathak
However simply because Meta is engaged on an Instagram app doesn’t suggest that it may be out there shortly. The corporate may additionally change its plans, too.
For now, your finest wager for utilizing Instagram on an iPad is to make use of the online app. Lately, Instagram’s web site expertise has gotten significantly better. It is now not only a bare-bones web site. There’s the vertical sidebar, and DMs present up in a two-pane interface that is truly usable.
What do you suppose to date?
Plus, if you happen to go to the Reels tab, you get the same infinite feed of scrolling Reels movies such as you do on the Instagram app. In fact, the one distinction is that it is not going to be almost as clean or responsive because the official app.
You may even separate the online app from Safari. After opening the web site, faucet the Share button and use the Add to Dwelling Display screen possibility. Then, faucet Add. A New Instagram “app” will present up on the house display screen.
Whenever you faucet on the Instagram “app,” it’s going to now open the Instagram web site as its personal little app, with no toolbars, tabs, or different web sites.
It’s also possible to strive utilizing the blown up Instagram iPhone app in your iPad
Credit score: Khamosh Pathak
Alternatively, you may also simply set up and use the iPhone Instagram app in your iPad. It really works, however by default, it shows in a comically small iPhone sized window in the course of your display screen. You may develop the window dimension utilizing the Zoom button, and that makes it sort of satisfactory.
The upside to this strategy, if you happen to can cope with the blown-up interface, it that it is extra function wealthy than utilizing the web site. For instance, on the internet app, you’ll be able to’t repost to Tales or settle for collaborators. Operating the Instagram iPhone app, even within the ridiculous blown-up mode, has no such limitations.
