Instagram Launches Instants App for Disappearing Photos
Instagram introduced Instants, a new photo-sharing feature available both inside the app and as a standalone download. The tool lets users send unedited photos that vanish after viewing or within 24 hours.
forbes.comInstagram released a new feature called Instants that lets users share unedited photos that disappear after being viewed or after 24 hours. The feature is accessible inside Instagram through the inbox and as a separate app. Users can send photos only by taking them in the moment and cannot upload images from their phone galleries.
Users open Instants by tapping the photo pile icon in the Instagram inbox. They then capture a photo, add a caption, and choose to send it to followers or close friends. Recipients can reply with emojis or send their own Instants back. Screenshots and recordings are blocked, and an undo button lets senders retract a photo shortly after sending.
A snooze option lets users temporarily stop receiving Instants by holding the inbox icon and swiping right. As of May 2026, Instants ranked as the top social app in the app store. Meta has added Instants to its lineup of creator tools that already includes Threads for text posts and Edits for short video.
The company positions the new app as an alternative to Snapchat and BeReal for real-time photo sharing.
