Instagram for TV Expands With Bigger Screen Reels and Stories
Instagram for TV, the app that brings Reels to your living room, just got a meaningful upgrade. It's now available on Samsung Smart TVs (2020 models and newer) in the US, joining Amazon Fire TV and Google TV, where it was already available. According to Meta, that combination now covers the majority of connected TV hardware found in American homes, meaning most people won't need to buy a new device to try it.
What's new and useful right now
- Casting from your phone: send a Reel straight from the Instagram app on your phone to your TV in a few taps, including videos you've already saved to your Saved tab.
- Stories on the big screen: catch up on friends' and creators' Stories without everyone crowding around one phone.
- Interest-based channels: Reels are grouped by category (comedy, sports, travel, trending, and more) so you're not stuck with one undifferentiated feed.
- A dedicated home for horizontal video is being tested, aimed at content actually shot for a widescreen format instead of vertical clips stretched to fit.
Why this is genuinely convenient
If you've ever tried to show a friend or family member a Reel by huddling around a small phone screen, this solves that directly. Casting means you don't have to AirPlay awkwardly or email yourself a video; it's built into the app you already use. The interest-based channels also make Instagram for TV function more like a background, lean-back viewing experience, similar to flipping through channels, rather than something that demands the same active scrolling attention your phone does.
What's coming next
Meta says it's also exploring longer-form and episodic content designed specifically for TV, plus live creator broadcasts, though these are still in the experimental stage with no firm rollout date. Instagram is clearly positioning itself to compete for living-room screen time alongside YouTube and other streaming apps, not just phone-based scrolling time.
Practical tip: if you have a Fire TV, Google TV, or a compatible Samsung Smart TV, search for the Instagram app in your TV's app store, sign in (many devices let you approve sign-in from your phone instead of typing a password), and you can add up to five accounts on one device, which is handy for households where multiple people want their own personalized feed.