Instagram launches Apple TV app with Reels, longer videos, and live shows

Instagram has finally come to Apple TV, debuting a dedicated app for Apple’s streaming box. The new app brings Instagram Reels, longer videos, and live shows to the TV, letting users watch their favorite creators on a bigger screen and enjoy content with friends and family.

According to Apple’s TV-specific App Store release data, the app was first released on October 23, 2026, as version 66.0, with no official announcement from Meta. An archived listing from October 19 did not include Apple TV compatibility. The app needs at least tvOS 26.0 and can be downloaded from the Apple TV App Store.

Instagram comes to the big screen

The new Instagram app is designed primarily for watching video content rather than recreating every feature of the mobile experience. You can discover Reels, watch longer videos and shows, follow your favorite creators, and resume watching across supported screens.

According to Meta, the TV experience is positioned as a way to watch content together. Instead of passing a phone around, users can enjoy entertaining videos on their living room TV with friends and family.

The Apple TV launch follows Instagram’s broader expansion. The company began testing its TV experience on Amazon Fire TV devices in the United States in December 2025. It then expanded to Google TV in February 2026 and Samsung smart TVs in June.

Building on Instagram’s TV experience

In June 2026, Meta announced new features it was testing for Instagram for TV, including a dedicated home for horizontal videos, channels organized around your interests, and casting Reels from your phone to the TV. It also said it was exploring new formats such as longer creator videos, episodic series, and Live on TV. The Apple TV app’s listing already mentions longer videos and live shows, though Meta only confirmed casting for Google TV and Fire TV at the time.

However, the Apple TV app isn’t a complete substitute for Instagram on your iPhone. Its primary purpose is video discovery and playback, so you shouldn’t expect every feature from the mobile app to be available in the TV interface.

How to get Instagram on Apple TV

You can download Instagram directly from the Apple TV App Store. The app is free to download, although Instagram offers in-app purchases. To install it, you need an Apple TV running tvOS 26.0 or later, which covers the Apple TV HD and every Apple TV 4K model. The app is rated 13+ and includes parental controls, which is worth setting up on a shared family TV.

The launch gives Instagram another way to reach audiences beyond mobile devices. As Meta continues developing more viewing experiences, Apple TV could become an important part of its strategy to make Instagram a more social, living-room-friendly video platform.