Instagram’s latest update is wreaking havoc on users’ meticulously curated profiles – and, it’s safe to say, the change has not gone down well.
Over the weekend, the platform quietly tweaked the design of profile grids, changing the shape of the posts from square to rectangle.
If you’re just scrolling through Instagram to keep up with your mates or celebs, you probably didn’t even notice the update.
What are Instagram users saying?
But for frequent users and influencers who put thought into designing their profiles with creative layouts – like checkerboards, horizontal lines, or gallery-style arrangements – this change has caused quite a stir.
These thoughtful patterns, often blending quotes, close-ups, and landscapes to tell a cohesive visual story, have been completely jumbled up by the new aspect ratio, leaving users scrambling to rethink their entire Instagram aesthetic.
“The instagram update is HORRENDOUS and ugly…years and years SINCE INCEPTION of people carefully crafting square grids… to this… horrendous ugly mess…change it back or give us the option as users,” tweeted one incensed user.
“Whoever had the brilliant idea to change the grid from squares to rectangles? Yeah I hope you get fired,” said another, with an image of their botched grid.
How to adjust your Instagram grid previews
So, is there a way to revert to the old design? Not exactly. Although you can adjust how images appear on your Instagram grid after the update, it’s unclear if it will fix your wonky collages.
Here’s what you can do:
- Click the three dots at the top right of an image
- Select “Adjust Preview”
- Use the “Fit” or “Fill” options to modify how the image displays in the grid.
- “Fill” zooms in on the image to fill the entire rectangular frame, which may crop parts of the pic, making it look like they have a border around them (which can be set to white or black)
Instagram isn’t budging despite backlash
In a video announcing the update, Instagram boss Adam Mosseri explained the change was made because most content on the platform is now vertical, and cropping it too much is a “bummer”.
He acknowledged that, while the shift may be a “bit of a pain” initially, it’s a “necessary transition” that will ultimately allow users to showcase “more of their content as intended”.
And, if you don’t like it, we have bad news: it sounds like the update is here to stay. Plus, there are more changes on the way that may be just as divisive.
Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri says users will have to adjust to the new design
Matt Winkelmeyer / Getty Images for WIRED
Elaborating on the new features in a series of posts on Threads (Instagram’s sister app and X rival), Mr Mosseri acknowledged the negative feedback and admitted that Instagram hadn’t given users enough notice about the change.
He promised to improve the ability to customise thumbnails, recognising that many users had spent time perfecting their grids.
Additionally, Instagram plans to move highlights into the grid and create a tool that will allow users to reorder their entire profile. A new feature will also allow posting directly to the grid, bypassing the feed.
“This plan may very well change as we iterate over the next couple months, but I’m hoping sharing our intentions early will help avoid any more harsh surprises,” Mr Mosseri said.
Instagram reveals Edits app and longer Reels
Notably, the update was rolled out while the world was closely following the fallout from the TikTok ban.
The short-form video app, and Instagram’s main rival, was briefly taken down in the US for one day before the president-elect, Donald Trump, vowed to restore it, promising to find a solution that would allow the app to continue operating.
Capitalising on its competitor’s troubles, Instagram also unveiled a new video-editing app called Edits (similar to TikTok’s CapCut), along with support for longer reels of up to three minutes.
