Instagram is expanding Reels-viewing beyond mobile, the social network announced on Tuesday. The company is piloting IG for TV, a new experience that lets you watch Reels on TV, starting with Amazon Fire TV.<\/p>\n
By bringing Reels to TVs, Instagram can better compete with YouTube, which largely dominates the TV space<\/a>. Instagram likely wants viewers to switch to its TV app while watching content on the couch, similar to flipping through TV channels. For example, you could be watching something on Netflix and decide you don\u2019t have the attention span for a movie or episode, and decide to watch Reels instead.<\/p>\n IG for TV is personalized to each user, as it shows Reels based on the content and creators you enjoy on the Instagram app. Reels will be organized into channels and categories based on topics such as comedy, music, and lifestyle, making it easier to explore different types of videos.<\/p>\n Reels will also play automatically, so you won\u2019t have to keep scrolling to watch what\u2019s next. You still have the option to skip to the next Reel. You can like, view comments, and re-share reels.<\/p>\n Users have the option to pair IG for TV with their Instagram app and add up to five accounts in one home. Or, they can choose to create a new account just for TV viewing. <\/p>\n It\u2019s worth noting that IG for TV shouldn\u2019t be confused with IGTV, which was Instagram\u2019s app for watching long-form content before being shut down<\/a> in 2022. <\/p>\n The launch of the TV app doesn\u2019t come as a surprise, as Instagram head Adam Mosseri said in October that the company was planning a dedicated TV app. <\/p>\n Techcrunch event<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSan Francisco<\/span> \u201cWe\u2019re exploring TV,\u201d Mosseri said at Bloomberg\u2019s Screentime event<\/a>. \u201cTV is an increasingly important surface, it\u2019s been very important for YouTube [\u2026] it\u2019s been very important for TikTok. So we\u2019d like to figure out how to make sure that we show up in a compelling way on all the relevant devices.\u201d<\/p>\n Mosseri went on to note that it was a mistake for the company not to have explored a TV app earlier, and that he wishes they had done so a few years ago.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IG-FOR-TV-SEARCH-1_16_9.png?w=680\")
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t|<\/span>
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tOctober 13-15, 2026<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n