It is actually great timing that you asked—Instagram just launched a dedicated TV app this month (December 2025).
While many remember the old “IGTV” app that was shut down years ago, this new version is a completely different experience focused on Reels.
The New Instagram for TV (Launched Dec 16, 2025)
This new app is designed specifically for “lean-back” viewing on large screens. Here is the breakdown of what it is and how it works:
- Platform Availability: It launched first on Amazon Fire TV devices (including Fire TV Stick 4K, 4K Max, and Omni QLED Series) in the United States. Expansion to other smart TV platforms and countries is expected soon.
- The Main Focus: The app is almost entirely dedicated to Reels. It organizes them into themed “channels” like Comedy, Music, Sports, and Hidden Gems.
- Key Features:
- Autoplay: Reels play continuously with sound, so you don’t have to scroll manually.
- Family Sharing: You can pair up to five different Instagram accounts to one TV app, allowing family members to switch between their personalized feeds.
- Engagement: You can “Like” videos and view comments directly on the screen, though you cannot post your own content from the TV.
- Teens & Safety: The app includes safety filters and follows a PG-13 rating. For teen accounts, the daily time limits set on their mobile app will also apply to their TV viewing.
How is this different from IGTV?
You might be thinking of the standalone IGTV app that launched in 2018. That app focused on long-form, vertical video (up to 60 minutes) but failed to gain traction and was officially discontinued in March 2022. This 2025 launch is Instagram’s second attempt at the big screen, this time leaning into the massive popularity of short-form Reels to compete with YouTube and TikTok’s TV apps.
