News in short
- Instagram has launched a dedicated app for Apple TV, expanding its video experience beyond smartphones.
- Users can watch Reels, longer creator videos and live shows on their televisions.
- Cross-device playback lets users resume videos where they left off.
- The app requires tvOS 26.0 or later and is available as a free download.
- The launch follows Instagram’s expansion to Amazon Fire TV, Google TV and Samsung smart TVs.
Instagram is expanding beyond smartphones with a dedicated app for Apple TV. The new app lets users watch Reels, longer creator videos and live shows directly on their televisions.
The launch gives Instagram users another way to enjoy video content without watching everything on a phone. It also brings the platform further into the living room, where streaming services and video-sharing apps compete for viewers’ attention.
The Instagram app for Apple TV launched on October 23 and is available through the App Store. It requires tvOS 26.0 or later.
Instagram app brings Reels and creator videos to Apple TV
The new Instagram app lets Apple TV users browse videos from creators and watch longer-form content on a television. Users can also watch live shows and search for creators and other accounts directly through the app.
One of its useful features is cross-device playback. Users can pick up where they left off when switching between screens, making it easier to continue watching content without starting over.
The app is available as a free download. However, its listing includes optional in-app purchases, such as Instagram Badges and Meta Verified subscriptions.
The app carries a 13+ age rating and includes age-assurance and parental-control options. Its listed download size is approximately 660.9MB.
For users who primarily watch Instagram videos on their phones, the television app offers a different viewing experience. Reels and creator videos can now appear on a larger screen, making it easier to watch content with friends and family.
Instagram expands its television app strategy
Apple TV is not Instagram’s first move into television viewing. Meta began testing an Instagram television app on select Amazon Fire TV devices in December 2025, initially bringing the experience to users in the US.
Instagram subsequently expanded its television experiments to Google TV in February 2026 and Samsung smart TVs in June 2026, according to the supplied report.
The Apple TV launch continues this shift towards larger screens. Instagram has traditionally focused on mobile-first content, but its television apps give creators another way to reach viewers.
The move also reflects the growing importance of video across social platforms. Reels, longer videos and live broadcasts can keep users engaged beyond the traditional smartphone experience.
What Apple TV users need to know
Apple TV owners need a device running tvOS 26.0 or later to install the Instagram app. They can find it through the Apple TV App Store.
The app is free to download, although certain features and services may involve additional purchases. The listing also highlights age-related safeguards for younger viewers.
Instagram has not disclosed additional details about a wider rollout to other television platforms in the supplied report. However, its existing presence on Fire TV, Google TV and Samsung smart TVs suggests that the company is continuing to develop its television experience.
For now, the Apple TV app offers another way to watch Instagram videos beyond a phone or computer. Its success will depend on whether users want to bring their everyday social video habits into the living room.
