Instagram has announced the introduction of support for 3:4 aspect ratio photos on its image and video sharing platform. This update comes as many smartphone cameras use the 3:4 aspect ratio by default, allowing users to upload images without the need for cropping. Previously, the platform supported 5:4 or 1:1 (square) formats. Users can now upload photos in the 3:4 aspect ratio both as single images and in multi-photo carousels.
Retention of Previous Aspect Ratios for Uploads
The announcement regarding the new aspect ratio was made by Instagram head Adam Mosseri on Thursday through a post on Threads, the company’s microblogging service. Mosseri stated, “From now on, if you upload a 3:4 image, it’ll now appear just exactly as you shot it,” highlighting that the platform has adapted to support the same format commonly used by most smartphone cameras.
Additionally, Instagram’s creator broadcast channel clarified that the 3:4 aspect ratio will be applicable to both single-photo uploads and carousel posts. Users are still permitted to upload images in 4:5 and 1:1 formats, although images captured on smartphone cameras may require cropping to fit these dimensions.
An illustration shared via the channel demonstrates the difference between the traditional cropped and the new uncropped formats. The left side of the image showcases a photo adjusted to fit a 4:5 aspect ratio, while the right side displays the taller, uncropped photo, which retains more visual information.
In addition to this aspect ratio update, last month Instagram launched a new Edits app designed for video editing on smartphones. This application aims to compete with CapCut, a rival video editing tool from ByteDance. The Edits app allows users to create and adjust content for various platforms without adding watermarks.
Furthermore, Instagram has introduced a Blend feature, which showcases personalized reel recommendations within Instagram messages. This feature, after a year of testing, is currently available to users on both iOS and Android platforms, providing a tailored viewing experience based on individual user activity.
