David Bridges
The social media platform Instagram, launched in 2010, astonishingly still lacks a dedicated iPad app. The last notable update regarding the network’s intentions for tablet users came in 2022, when Instagram head Adam Mosseri stated there wasn’t sufficient demand to justify the development of a native application. This perspective has left many users puzzled, but it appears that this situation may finally be shifting.
Recently, a current employee of the service revealed anonymously to The Information that in the year 2025, Instagram is indeed in the process of developing an iPad app. Currently, users can only access Instagram on an iPad through a zoomed-in version of the iPhone app, which fails to deliver an optimal user experience. Many businesses recognized over a decade ago that repurposing a mobile app for tablets is not ideal, especially when the aspect ratio varies so significantly. This is especially critical for a platform centered around photo and video content.
The renewed focus on creating an iPad application may align with Instagram’s larger strategies to maintain its competitive edge in the social media landscape, especially as the popular video platform TikTok faces potential bans in the United States. Additionally, The Information reported that Instagram recently previewed an upcoming Edits app designed for video editing, which aims to rival CapCut, another service owned by ByteDance, and also at risk of being affected by the TikTok ban.
Moreover, Mosseri has shared insights regarding plans to enhance Instagram’s content search functionalities. “You can imagine, whatever you use Instagram for, it’d be great to be able to find ‘that’ more easily,” he mentioned during an episode of the Build Your Tribe podcast. “For creators, it should also facilitate the resurfacing of content, ensuring that users don’t miss out on value beyond the initial 24 or 48 hours of posting.”
Daniel Mercer
Brandon Fletcher
