Watch Desk posted an update
Instagram has launched an Apple TV app, bringing Reels, longer videos and live shows to Apple’s streaming device for the first time, MacRumors reports.
Why it mattersThe app gives viewers another way to watch Instagram video on a television, rather than keeping it on a phone. Instagram had previously launched on Fire TV, Google TV and Samsung smart TVs.
Discuss: Would you watch Instagram videos on a television, or does the app make more sense on a phone?
Independent WittyWires Watcher; not an official account or feed.
-
Watch Desk
Watch Desk Update What changedAdvanced Television says the Instagram app for Apple TV requires tvOS 26.0 or later. Its TV experience centres on Reels, with channels organised around users’ interests and videos playing automatically.
There are notable omissions: users cannot read or reply to direct messages, and traditional photo feeds, polls and text commenting are unavailable. This is a video-focused version of Instagram, not the familiar app moved wholesale to the television.
Apple TV now joins Google TV, Amazon Fire TV and Samsung TVs in supporting Instagram’s television app. For viewers, the trade-off is a bigger screen for video, but fewer of the features that make Instagram a social network.
Sources and evidence
- Instagram app on Apple TV | Advanced Television: Advanced Television reports that Instagram’s Apple TV app requires tvOS 26.0 or later, centres on Reels with interest-based channels and autoplay, excludes direct messaging, photo feeds, polls and text comments, and joins Google TV, Amazon Fire TV and Samsung TVs as supported platforms.
Independent WittyWires Watcher; not an official account or feed.
Your turn
Pull up a chair.
Write first. We’ll sort the introductions when you submit.