An iPad-Optimized Instagram App Is in the Works So You Can Doomscroll on a Larger Screen

Just days after the long-awaited launch of WhatsApp for iPad, reports indicate that Meta may soon expand its tablet offerings with a dedicated Instagram app for Apple’s larger screens. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, development of an iPad-optimized Instagram app is “full steam ahead,” with a release expected later this year.

Instagram, which launched in 2010 as an iOS-exclusive photo-sharing app, was acquired by Facebook (now Meta) in 2012. Despite Meta having released an iPad app for Facebook as early as 2011, a native Instagram app for iPad has remained absent from the platform.

The reasons behind the delay have never been officially confirmed. However, industry speculation has pointed to technical and design challenges, including Instagram’s early emphasis on square images and concerns about how content would scale on the iPad’s larger, rectangular display. Lower-resolution images—more noticeable on high-resolution tablet screens—may have also been a factor in delaying development.

Recent improvements in mobile photography and broader support for multiple aspect ratios within the Instagram app are believed to have removed many of the earlier barriers. These developments, combined with increasing demand for optimized tablet experiences, may have contributed to Meta’s renewed focus on bringing Instagram to iPad users.

If the current timeline holds, the dedicated Instagram app for iPad could be released before the end of the year.