Media

Instagram is testing a new Reels-first interface in India and South Korea

Ken Metral

29 Sep 2025 — 1 min read

Credit: Instagram/Meta Platforms, Inc.

Instagram is redesigning its app to put short videos front and center, testing a new Reels-first interface in India and South Korea.

What’s Changing in the New Design

The experimental layout mirrors the design Instagram recently debuted on its first iPad app. Key changes include:

Reels-first navigation: The Reels tab now takes the second spot on the navigation bar, making short-form videos easier to reach.
Stories up top: Stories remain pinned at the top of the app.
DM button repositioned: Direct messages now live at the center of the navigation bar.
New Following tab: A redesigned Following tab sits next to Reels, offering three ways to browse:
- All – recommended posts and reels from accounts you follow
- Friends – content only from mutuals
- Latest – the newest posts and reels

Users can also swipe to move between tabs for smoother navigation.

Cosmico - Instagram is testing a new Reels-first interface in India and South Korea — Credit: Instagram/Meta Platforms, Inc.

Why Instagram Is Doing This

The redesign highlights Instagram’s growing focus on short-form video and private messaging — two areas driving much of its recent growth.

Just last week, parent company Meta announced that Instagram now has more than 3 billion monthly users, crediting much of that momentum to Reels. According to Meta, Reels are reshared 4.5 billion times across its platforms each day.

By spotlighting Reels and DMs more prominently in the interface, Instagram is betting on strengthening both content discovery and user engagement.

Limited Test, Global Plans

For now, the new design is only being tested with a limited set of users in India and South Korea. But Instagram confirmed that its goal is a global rollout once testing is complete.

If successful, the update would mark one of Instagram’s most significant navigation overhauls in recent years — reshaping the way billions of users interact with the app daily.

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