Meta is finally building a full Instagram app for iPad

After years of user requests, Meta has reportedly started developing a dedicated Instagram app for iPad.

The move may be tied to growing pressure on TikTok and its parent company ByteDance from U.S. authorities. With a potential TikTok ban looming and the Trump administration’s new trade policies taking shape, Meta seems to be strengthening its own platforms in the U.S. market.

Until now, iPad users had to rely on a scaled-up version of the iPhone app — far from ideal in terms of usability and features. A fully native iPad client could significantly improve the experience for users who rely on tablets for creating and consuming content.

Instagram chief Adam Mosseri had previously downplayed the idea, saying in both 2022 and 2023 that the iPad audience wasn’t big enough to prioritize, and that the team had limited resources.