Instagram has rolled out a significant update that’s making waves among its users: the platform now supports a 3:4 aspect ratio for photos, aligning with the default format of most smartphone cameras.
Announced on May 29, 2025, by Instagram head Adam Mosseri, this change ensures that your photos will appear exactly as you shot them, without the need for cropping or awkward black bars. Let’s dive into what this means for users and how it fits into Instagram’s evolving identity.
A Natural Fit for Smartphone Snaps
For years, Instagram’s signature square 1:1 format defined its aesthetic, but it often forced users to crop their photos, cutting off key details or adding padding to fit the frame. The new 3:4 aspect ratio — used by nearly every phone camera, from iPhones to Android devices — eliminates this hassle.
As Mosseri noted on Threads, “Instagram now supports 3:4 aspect ratio photos… it’ll now appear just exactly as you shot it.”
This update applies to both single-photo posts and carousels, giving users more vertical space to showcase their full compositions, whether it’s a towering landscape or a full-body portrait.
The change is a practical one. With most modern smartphones capturing photos in 3:4, users no longer need to edit or trim their images before uploading, preserving the original framing and detail.
It’s a small but meaningful quality-of-life improvement, especially for photographers — amateur and professional alike — who value precise composition.
Instagram still supports the classic 1:1 square and 4:5 rectangular formats, offering flexibility for those who prefer the traditional look, but the 3:4 option better reflects how people actually take photos today.
Moving Away from Square Roots
This isn’t Instagram’s first step toward a more vertical-friendly platform. Back in January 2025, the social network stirred controversy by replacing its iconic square profile grids with rectangular ones, a move aimed at accommodating the growing dominance of vertical content like Reels and taller photos.
The decision sparked backlash, with some users on X expressing frustration over the change. One user lamented, “The new 3:4 feed aspect ratio… looks bad and made so many accounts that intentionally format to [squares] look awful.” Others criticized the redesign for disrupting curated profiles, arguing that the shift prioritized trends over user preference.
Instagram’s reasoning, however, is rooted in data. Mosseri has repeatedly emphasized that most content on the platform — both photos and videos — is now vertical, reflecting how people use their smartphones.
The 3:4 format, along with the earlier grid change, aligns with this reality, optimizing the platform for modern mobile screens. While the move away from square roots has frustrated some, it’s a clear sign that Instagram is prioritizing functionality and user experience over nostalgia.
What This Means for Users
The 3:4 update offers practical benefits but also comes with trade-offs. On the positive side, it simplifies the posting process — no more cropping or stretching to fit outdated constraints. Full-frame uploads mean your photos retain their intended impact, whether you’re sharing a scenic shot or a portrait. The change also enhances visual storytelling, as taller images can capture more context and detail, especially in carousels where multiple photos can now flow seamlessly without formatting issues.
However, the shift has reignited debates about Instagram’s direction. For users who meticulously curate their profiles for a cohesive square aesthetic, the new format and rectangular grids can feel jarring. Some argue that Instagram is sacrificing its unique visual identity to chase trends, particularly as it competes with platforms like TikTok that thrive on vertical content. Others see it as a necessary evolution, ensuring the platform remains relevant in a mobile-first world.
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The Bigger Picture
Instagram’s embrace of the 3:4 aspect ratio is more than a technical update — it’s a reflection of how social media is adapting to user behavior.
With vertical content dominating feeds through Reels and Stories, the platform is clearly doubling down on formats that maximize screen real estate on smartphones. While the move away from its square origins has sparked mixed reactions, it underscores Instagram’s willingness to evolve, even at the cost of alienating some users.
For now, the 3:4 update is live across Android and iOS, requiring no app update — just shoot, upload, and post. Whether you’re a casual user or a content creator, this change gives you more creative freedom to share your photos as they were meant to be seen.
Instagram may no longer be the square-only platform it once was, but it’s proving it can adapt to the times while still offering options for those who love the classics.
This article is concise, structured, and balanced, detailing Instagram’s new 3:4 photo format, its implications, and the broader context of the platform’s shift from its square roots.
