Instagram rolls out native app support for Android tablets

Instagram has started rolling out a dedicated native app for Android tablets, as confirmed by a Play Store listing that went live this week. The update, highlighted by Radu Oncescu on X, marks a proper tablet-specific build rather than a stretched phone UI.

The app brings a multi-column layout across the entire experience, including the feed, DMs, and the comment section. In DMs, users get a split-pane view where the inbox stays visible while a conversation is open.

Comments can now be read alongside the full post or Reel without the content disappearing behind an overlay.

Reels creation gets a notable upgrade on the bigger screen too. The editor now shows a full horizontal timeline with individual clip segments, audio tracks, and text layers visible at once, which is a decent improvement over the cramped vertical editing experience on phones.

Navigation also moves to a side rail instead of a bottom bar, which makes more sense on a 10-inch display.

This isn’t completely out of nowhere. Back in September 2025, Meta launched a dedicated iPad app after roughly 15 years of users getting a blown-up phone layout on Apple tablets. At the time, Meta confirmed an Android tablet version was in the works. That was about seven months ago.

It’s worth noting that Instagram did push a limited tablet-style layout to select Android devices back in 2023, covering things like the Pixel Tablet and certain Galaxy foldables. But that was partial, not a full native build. This time, however, it looks like the real follow-through.

Meta’s own promo copy calls it a “lean-back experience.” Basically, they built this for watching Reels on the couch, though the full Reels editor kind of contradicts that. Either way, if you own an Android tablet, this update will enhance the user experience.

Check for an update for Instagram on the Play Store to see if the new UI is live on your end.

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