It’s quite surprising that after all this time, Instagram still lacks a dedicated app for the iPad. The iPad made its debut in 2010, shortly followed by the Instagram app. Yet, nearly 15 years later, there is still no official version of the app tailored for the iPad. However, recent reports suggest that this could soon change, as Meta is now exploring the possibility of developing an iPad-specific Instagram app.
According to The Information and The Verge, Instagram for iPad is finally in the development phase. While Meta has yet to provide official confirmation and it remains uncertain when the app might be released, this is still more progress than we have seen in a long time.
Whenever questioned about the development of an iPad app, Meta typically either dismissed the inquiry or claimed it wasn’t a priority. Notably, Adam Mosseri, the head of Instagram, once remarked on X (formerly Twitter): “It’s still just not a big enough group of people to be a priority. Hoping to tackle it at some point, but right now, we’re heavily focused on other initiatives.”
In response to his comments, some users pointed out that the user base could grow if there was a dedicated app. Mosseri offered some intriguing insights, noting that expanding to different platforms increases operational overhead. He also mentioned that competition from TikTok and YouTube — titans in the social media landscape — has necessitated that Instagram adapt. Furthermore, he hinted at resource limitations, stating, “We are leaner than you think,” suggesting the team may have lacked sufficient resources to focus on the iPad app.
Despite the absence of an official app, users can still access Instagram on their iPads. However, the experience is less than ideal. They can either use the iPhone app, which doesn’t display well on a larger screen, or the website version, which is functional. Nonetheless, many users would prefer a dedicated app optimized for the iPad.
If these reports are accurate, what catalyst led to this change? According to The Information, the ongoing turbulence surrounding TikTok has prompted Meta to focus more on Instagram.
With Apple making headlines as they confirm WWDC dates and work on iOS 19, it would be exciting to see Meta expedite the app’s release for the iPad. However, the timeline regarding its availability remains uncertain.
