Tech Reference

How to get Instagram on your iPad by downloading the iPhone app version

instagram ipad
It's possible to get Instagram on your iPad by adjusting a filter in your App Store. Alex Ugalek/Shutterstock
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Instagram was designed to be used on the smartphone, with a built-in camera, constant internet connection, and the portability of an iPhone or Android phone. 

While on a computer, you can like Instagram posts, comment on them, and share, but you can't add new content to the platform — unless you know a clever hack

But what about the iPad? While there is no dedicated Instagram app for an iPad, you can still use Instagram on your tablet and engage with the social media platform as much as you would on a phone.

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

iPad (From $329.99 at Best Buy)

iPhone 11 (From $699.99 at Best Buy)

Samsung Galaxy S10 (From $899.99 at Best Buy)

How to get Instagram on your iPad

On your iPad, go to the App Store and search for Instagram.

You'll need to adjust the filter for available apps to include iPhone-specific apps. To do this, tap "Filters" in the top-left corner and select "iPhone Only." 

Once you've searched for and found Instagram with the correct filter, tap "GET" to download the app, then open it and log in with your Instagram account.

How_to_get_Instagram_on_iPad_ _2
Download Instagram in the App Store on your iPad.  Steven John/Business Insider

You might notice that the window Instagram uses does not fill the iPad screen by default. This is because the app is not optimized for your tablet. You can expand the app by selecting the full-screen option in the bottom right corner of your screen, though a black border will still surround the app, and it won't be at an optimal resolution. 

Regardless, you can post and add to your story via the app on your iPad — you're essentially just using the iPhone app on your iPad. 

For a better full-screen content viewing experience, just go to Instagram via the iPad's Safari web browser. However, because it's the browser version, you won't be able to post on Instagram this way. 

 

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Steven John has been a freelance writer for more than a dozen years and has been a regular contributor to Business Insider since 2017. His work includes a focus on the tech world, covering companies including Apple, Microsoft, Meta, Google, and others. He also reviews restaurants, shares how-to cooking articles, and writes general interest pieces.Steven also writes for publications including Architectural Digest, The Daily Beast, Forbes, and more. In the past, he also wrote for New York Magazine, Mashed, U.S. News & World Report and other outlets. He runs his own outdoor lifestyle site, Dad Gear Review, and co-hosts the Fact Trekkers podcast with his son. He has had two novels published, Three A.M. and Outrider. He graduated from Emerson College with a degree in communications focused on filmmaking.He is an avid outdoorsman and can be frequently found in a kayak or on a mountain trail, often with his family along for the adventure.Expertise:Tech industryTech hardwareOutdoorsCookingRestaurantsDIYPopular articles:Microsoft: A history of the software giant co-founded by Bill Gates, its products and services, jobs, layoffs, and moreYouTube is a major entertainment force. Here's the platform's history, plus how to create a channel and upload videos.Inside the life and career of Bill Gates, the Microsoft co-founder, billionaire, and philanthropistTim Cook net worth: How the Apple leader earns and spends his moneyBecoming an Amazon seller is a simple process. Here's what's involved, plus how you make money and get paid.