Four Posts Across?! Instagram Just Quietly Updated Its Layout

Instagram’s Desktop Glow-Up: What Changed & Why It Matters

If you recently opened Instagram on your desktop, you probably did a double-take: the grid is now four posts wide, not three. That means your profile reads more like a gallery and less like a cramped photo dump. It’s subtle, but the change pushes creators and brands to be more intentional about how their visuals flow.

Spacing, color balance, post order — it all becomes more noticeable in this wider layout.

Why the 4:5 Aspect Ratio Still Rules

Instagram continues to lean into the vertical format. The 4:5 ratio is becoming a safe bet for posts and previews, meaning that square (1:1) or landscape shots risk getting awkwardly cropped or saddled with white space. If your visuals aren’t optimized for 4:5, now’s the time to rework them.

iPad’s Long-Awaited Upgrade: Native App Is Here

After years of users operating Instagram as a blown-up phone app on iPad — with blurry uploads and awkward gaps — the native Instagram iPad app is finally live.

Key changes:

• The app opens directly to Reels — a strong signal of where Instagram’s betting.

• There’s a new “Following” tab with All, Friends, and Latest feed options.

• Comments can expand alongside Reels without interrupting playback, and DMs are shown side-by-side (in two-pane layout) for smoother multitasking.

• 
  

This version not only fixes long-standing UX complaints but reinforces Instagram’s direction: short-form video + deeper engagement.

What Instagram’s Testing Now: Reels + DMs Take Priority

Instagram isn’t stopping at layout tweaks. It’s testing a new menu bar that gives Reels and Direct Messages (DMs) their own tabs — pushing classic photo content further back in the experience.

The “+” button for creating posts is being swapped for a shortcut to messaging, and Search is getting repositioned. This is part of Instagram’s push to make its most-engaged features front-and-center.

Some regions are even testing Reels as the default feed you land on when opening the app — a clear nod to TikTok’s “always video first” design.

What It Means for Creators, Brands & Agencies

• Visual strategy matters more: With four-wide grids, inconsistencies in your visual branding are easier to spot.

• Video-first is non-negotiable: If Instagram continues to reposition Reels so aggressively, static images may lose ground.

• Stay flexible: As they test new layouts and tabs, what works today might need adjustment tomorrow.

• Revisit formatting: 4:5 is your safe bet. Avoid letting your visuals get chopped or misplaced.

• Monitor menu tests: Changes to navigation (e.g. pushing content behind tabs) could impact reach and how followers engage.