How to Get Instagram for iPad

There's no Instagram iPad app, but you don't have to live without it

screenshot of instagram.com home page on Safari for iPad
by Scott Orgera
Scott Orgera has been a tech journalist since 2007. He has 25+ years' experience as a programmer and QA leader and several Microsoft certifications.
Updated August 23, 2019

Although there's no specific Instagram for iPad app available and the Instagram app in the App Store is tailored towards the iPhone, there are still ways to enjoy the complete IG experience on your iPad. 

Download the Instagram iPhone App to Your iPad

To get started, you’ll first want to download the Instagram app from the App Store, even if it’s technically an iPhone or iPod touch application. 

  1. Tap the App Store icon, located on your iPad Home Screen.

  2. When the App Store interface appears, search for "instagram."

    While searching the App Store for Instagram you may need to modify the Supports value in the Filters menu if your initial search results are coming up empty.

  3. Tap Get to download and install the official Instagram app. You can also utilize the direct link instead.

    screenshot of the iOS App Store with the Instagram app displayed

How to Post to Instagram From Your iPad

Since you’ve installed the Instagram app you’ll now be able to post to IG right from the iOS Photos app.

  1. Tap the Instagram icon, located on your iPad Home Screen.

  2. When the Instagram app launches, follow the on-screen prompts to sign in to your IG account.

    Instagram on iPad

    Since it’s not tailored for the iPad display, the Instagram app will only render in Portrait Mode. You may want to temporarily shift your tablet into the vertical position while using the app.

  3. Once you’ve successfully logged into Instagram, return to the iPad Home Screen and tap the Photos icon.

  4. When the Photos interface appears, navigate to the album or folder containing the image you wish to post to Instagram and tap it.

    screenshot of the iPad Photos app

  5. Tap the Share icon, represented by a square with an up arrow and located in the upper right-hand corner of the screen.

    screenshot of the iPad Photos app

  6. The iOS Share Sheet should now be displayed, overlaying the bottom half of the screen. Tap More. 

    screenshot of the iOS Share Sheet on iPad

  7. Scroll down, if necessary, and tap the Instagram toggle so it turns green (on). 

    screenshot of the iPad Activities interface

  8. Tap Done. 

  9. A new option should now be visible among the first row of icons in the Share Sheet. Tap Instagram.

    screenshot of the iOS Share Sheet with Instagram option available

  10. An Instagram window will now appear, asking you to write a caption for the photo in question. Type your caption and hashtags, if desired, and tap Share.

    screenshot of the Instagram Photos share interface on iPad

    You may be prompted to grant Instagram access to your photo library. You must agree to this request if you want to continue posting.

  11. Your newly-shared post should now be visible on your Instagram profile.

How to Browse Instagram on Your iPad

While you could browse IG through the iPhone-specific app with its tiny window size and vertical-only layout, that’s far from ideal. You’re better off using a web browser like Safari, which can expand to provide something very close to the full-screen experience that Instagram was intended for.

  1. Open the browser of choice on your iPad and navigate to instagram.com.

  2. When prompted, enter your Instagram credentials and proceed to log in.

    screenshot of the instagram.com login screen in Safari for iPad

  3. Once you’ve signed in successfully you’ll be able to browse IG posts, as well as Like, Bookmark, and comment as if you were using the app.

    screenshot of an Instagram profile in Safari for iPad

There are some notable limitations with the browser interface, such as the inability to post.

How to Add to Your Instagram Story

The process of adding an item to your Instagram Story on iPad is the same as doing so on your smartphone, via the app itself. However, the app does not support Landscape orientation so you’ll need to do so with your tablet in Portrait mode.

Third-Party iPad Apps for Instagram

In addition to Instagram’s official app, there are third-party options available in the App Store that let you view your IG feed in a custom interface. Some also allow you to share new posts. 

Buffer

If you’d like to post to your Instagram profile through a third-party app, Buffer is an ideal choice. While there's a fee required for certain account types, you can post a limited amount of content for free each day, scheduling posts to automatically appear at specific times if you wish. 

Repost for Instagram

If you see a post on someone else’s IG feed and want to post a copy of it on your own profile, this app is the perfect companion. Once installed, simply copy the link to the post in question and open the Repost app. At this point, you’ll be presented with a number of options, allowing you to repost the original content and caption, along with an attribute to the owner in the photo or image itself.

StoryArt

If Instagram stories are your passion, this app provides over a thousand templates, animations, and other goodies to create and enhance a story prior to posting it to your IG profile. There are fees for some of StoryArt’s advanced functionality, but there are plenty of features you can access for free.