New Instagram Updates and Top Features in 2025

Instagram continues to evolve, and the most recent Instagram update in 2025 has introduced some of the platform’s most impactful features yet. While some users are excited about the new tools, others may feel unsure how to adapt. For businesses, creators, and casual users alike, understanding these updates is essential to remain relevant and leverage Instagram effectively.

The key question on everyone’s mind is: what's new in instagram update this year? From Reels improvements and Stories enhancements to Notes, feed updates, Quicksnap, and monetization features, Instagram is providing new ways to create, share, and engage. This guide explores all the new ig features, explains step-by-step usage, and details why these updates are significant for anyone aiming to grow their online presence.

New Instagram Updates 2025

Instagram’s focus in 2025 is on interactivity, personalization, and improved social experiences. These recent instagram updates are designed to not only enhance the user experience but also create new opportunities for brands, creators, and everyday users. Each update provides tools for better engagement, more creative expression, and streamlined content management. Understanding how to use these features effectively is key for anyone looking to grow their presence on the platform.

Reposts

Instagram now allows users to repost public Reels and feed posts. This new ig feature helps content reach new audiences while giving proper credit to the original creator. Reposting encourages collaboration and helps amplify user-generated content, which can increase authenticity and trust for brands. It also allows creators to share relevant content without having to produce entirely new posts. This tool is particularly beneficial for businesses promoting partnerships, highlighting customer stories, or curating engaging content for their feeds.

How to use Reposts:

1. Tap the share arrow under a post or Reel.

2. Select Repost.

3. Confirm to share it in your feed.

Instagram Map

The Instagram Map enables users to explore posts by location or share tagged locations privately with friends. This update is especially useful for local businesses looking to attract nearby customers. By highlighting posts from specific locations, the map encourages exploration and discovery of products, services, or events. Users can interact with businesses or check out trending spots in their area. Brands can benefit greatly from appearing on the map, as it increases visibility and engagement within a local community.

How to use Instagram Map:

1. Open Explore and tap the Map view.

2. Search for a location or tap an existing tag.

3. View posts from that location or share it privately with selected friends.

Quicksnap

Quicksnap introduces a temporary photo messaging experience within Instagram DMs. Photos sent via Quicksnap disappear after being viewed, similar to other ephemeral messaging apps. This feature encourages spontaneous sharing and adds a playful, casual element to conversations. Businesses can leverage Quicksnap to share exclusive behind-the-scenes content or limited-time promotions with followers. It is ideal for creating a sense of urgency and personal connection with your audience.

How to use Quicksnap:

1. Open Direct Messages.

2. Tap the camera icon next to the search bar.

3. Capture a raw photo and send it; it will vanish after viewing.

Notes Updates

Instagram Notes now offer enhanced styling, music integration, and Spotify sharing. This allows users to post text updates in more visually engaging ways. Brands and creators can use Notes to announce new products, share updates, or post mood boards that reflect their brand identity. Music integration adds another layer of expression, helping users convey emotions or highlight trends. Notes now function as a mini communication hub for followers to see and interact with short updates quickly.

How to share a Spotify track in Notes:

1. Open Notes in your inbox.

2. Tap the music note icon.

3. Select a song to share with followers.

Stories Comments

Instagram now allows followers who mutually follow each other to comment directly on Stories. Previously, interaction was limited to emoji reactions or DMs. This new feature provides visible engagement and encourages real-time conversation around Story content. For brands, it creates opportunities to respond directly to comments and foster a sense of community. It can also drive greater visibility as interactions are now part of the Story experience itself.

How to use Story Comments:

1. Open a Story.

2. Tap the comment bar at the bottom.

3. Type and send your comment; it will be visible to the creator.

Feed Updates and Cover Photo Adjustment

Instagram has rolled out feed-focused improvements to give users more control over their profiles. These updates enhance content presentation and make profiles more visually appealing.

Editing Reels Cover Photo

Users can now edit the thumbnail image of a Reel after it has been posted. This new ig feature helps maintain a cohesive aesthetic across your feed and encourages users to click on content that looks visually appealing. Brands and creators can update cover photos to match seasonal campaigns, align with marketing themes, or simply improve engagement. By choosing a compelling thumbnail, users can increase view rates and ensure their profile maintains a polished, professional look.

How to edit Reels cover photo:

1. Open your Reel on your profile.

2. Tap Edit.

3. Select Change Cover and choose a new thumbnail or upload a custom image.

4. Save changes.

Dedicated Reels Tab

A dedicated Reels tab now exists on user profiles, consolidating all video content in one place. This makes it easier for visitors to find Reels without scrolling through the entire feed. The tab also increases the discoverability of video content and encourages longer engagement times. Instagram is testing a standalone Reels app, which suggests the platform is prioritizing short-form video to compete with other platforms. Creators can showcase their work in a more organized way, making it simple for followers to browse and interact.

How to use the Reels tab:

1. Go to any profile.

2. Tap the Reels icon in the profile menu.

Browse all Reels posted by that user.

Reels New Features and Updates 2025

Instagram continues to emphasize short-form video, and these new ig features improve creation, engagement, and monetization.

Friends Tab in Reels

The Friends Tab highlights Reels that friends have liked, commented on, or reposted. This feature helps users discover content through social connections and increases engagement with relevant content. It also encourages users to interact with friends’ activity, driving organic sharing and conversation. For creators, the Friends Tab allows content to reach new audiences more efficiently. This feature promotes social discovery and strengthens the platform’s community experience.

How to use Friends Tab:

1. Open Reels.

2. Tap Friends Tab.

3. Scroll through content your friends interacted with.

Related Blogpost: How to Increase Brand Awareness Through Digital Marketing

Auto-Scroll Mode

Auto-Scroll provides hands-free viewing of Reels, allowing users to consume multiple videos consecutively without manual scrolling. This feature improves engagement by keeping viewers on the app longer. It also gives creators a better chance to have their content seen and shared, as users are more likely to watch multiple Reels in a row. Auto-Scroll can help maintain viewer attention and increase overall watch time. This feature enhances the platform’s usability and provides a smoother viewing experience.

How to enable Auto-Scroll:

1. Play any Reel.

2. Tap Auto-Scroll.

3. Reels will continue playing automatically.

Pause on Tap

Pause on Tap allows users to stop a Reel instantly and resume viewing at their convenience. This provides more control over how users consume content. Brands and creators can benefit by ensuring viewers can absorb details like text overlays, product features, or step-by-step instructions. The feature also reduces frustration for users who want to review specific parts of a video. Overall, it enhances the viewing experience and supports deeper engagement.

How to pause a Reel:

1. Tap anywhere on the video to pause.

2. Tap again to resume playback.

Edits App

The new Edits app is a standalone video editor integrated with Reels. It offers advanced tools including AI animations, green screens, and multi-layer timeline editing. Creators can produce professional-level videos without needing third-party software, streamlining content production. This app is particularly valuable for businesses and influencers seeking polished, high-quality content to increase engagement and brand authority. It also helps maintain consistency in visual style across multiple posts.

How to use Edits for Reels:

1. Download the Edits app.

2. Import or record a video.

3. Apply animations, effects, or timeline edits.

Export directly to Reels.

Shopping and Monetization Tools in Instagram 2025

Instagram has expanded monetization options to help creators and businesses earn revenue directly from the platform.

Product Tagging

Users can now tag products in Reels, Stories, and feed posts. This makes it seamless for followers to shop directly from content. Product tagging increases visibility for merchandise and simplifies the purchase journey for consumers. It also enables creators to integrate e-commerce into their content strategy without requiring external links. Businesses can track performance metrics to refine campaigns and improve ROI.

How to tag a product:

1. Create a Reel, Story, or feed post.

2. Tap Tag Products.

3. Select products from your catalog.

4. Publish your post.

Fan Subscriptions

Fan subscriptions allow creators to offer exclusive content, giving followers access to bonus Reels, Stories, or posts. This creates a recurring revenue stream and rewards loyal fans with premium content. Businesses can use subscriptions to share insider updates, early releases, or exclusive promotions. The feature encourages content consistency and deeper engagement from subscribers. By integrating subscriptions, creators strengthen community ties while monetizing their most dedicated followers.

How to enable subscriptions:

1. Switch to a Creator or Business account.

2. Enable Subscriptions in settings.

3. Offer subscriber-only content or perks.

These 2025 Instagram updates offer more ways to connect, share, and engage than ever before. By understanding and using these tools effectively, users, creators, and businesses can make their content more interactive, discoverable, and visually appealing. 

Conclusion

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Instagram’s 2025 updates are among its most comprehensive to date. From Quicksnap and Story Comments to Notes improvements, Reels upgrades, cover photo editing, a dedicated Reels tab, and monetization tools, the platform provides more ways than ever to create, share, and engage. Staying informed about what's new in instagram update is essential for brands, creators, and anyone serious about growing online.

Smart VAs empowers businesses to make the most of Instagram’s 2025 updates by providing a dedicated team of Virtual Assistant specialists. Social Media VAs create and schedule posts that align with the latest features like Stories Comments, Reels enhancements, and Notes updates. Video Editing VAs ensure that Reels are polished, engaging, and optimized with eye-catching edits, transitions, and thumbnails. Graphic Design VAs design visuals that match your brand aesthetic across feed posts, Stories, and Reels covers. Additional VAs can handle tasks like caption writing, audience engagement, and analytics tracking, ensuring every updateis fully leveraged. 

With a coordinated team from Smart VAs, businesses don’t just keep up with recent instagram updates and new ig features, they turn these tools into strategies for growth, engagement, and increased revenue on Instagram. Book a call now!

Frequently Asked Questions

• What are the newest Reels features introduced in 2025?

  The newest Reels features in 2025 include the Friends Tab, Auto-Scroll, Pause on Tap, Edits app, Reels cover photo editing, a dedicated Reels tab, product tagging, and monetization options. The Friends Tab allows users to discover content through their friends’ interactions, making Reels more social and personalized. Auto-Scroll enables hands-free viewing, which encourages longer watch times and continuous engagement. Pause on Tap gives viewers control over how they consume content, making the experience more user-friendly. Meanwhile, the Edits app provides professional editing tools within Instagram, and cover photo adjustments improve visual appeal. Finally, monetization options and product tagging offer creators new ways to generate revenue directly from Reels.

• How do the 2025 Reels updates help boost engagement?

  The recent instagram updates are designed to increase user interaction and content visibility. Features like the Friends Tab make it easier for users to engage with content that is socially relevant to them. Auto-Scroll keeps viewers watching multiple Reels consecutively, which increases total watch time. Pause on Tap gives users more control, encouraging them to stay on a Reel longer to view details. Editing options like cover photo adjustments enhance the visual appeal of posts, which can improve click-through rates. Monetization tools, such as subscriptions and product tagging, motivate creators to produce more content consistently, ultimately boosting overall engagement.

• Are the new Reels tools available to all users or just creators?

  Most of the editing and interactive tools are available to all users, allowing anyone to take advantage of features like Auto-Scroll, Pause on Tap, and Friends Tab. However, monetization tools, including fan subscriptions and product tagging, are exclusive to Creator or Business accounts. This ensures that professional creators and businesses have the resources to generate revenue while casual users can still enjoy and interact with content. Access to the Edits app and Reels tab is universal, enabling high-quality content creation for all users. Overall, the updates balance accessibility with advanced tools for creators looking to grow their presence and earnings on Instagram.

• How can businesses benefit from the new Instagram Map feature?

  The Instagram Map allows businesses to increase local visibility by showcasing posts tied to specific locations. For restaurants, shops, or event venues, this means potential customers can discover them organically while browsing nearby content. It also encourages foot traffic by highlighting trending spots and creating opportunities for user-generated content to appear on the map. This feature is especially powerful for small businesses aiming to attract a local audience without heavy ad spend.

• What is Quicksnap, and how can creators use it effectively?

  Quicksnap is Instagram’s new disappearing photo messaging tool within DMs. Unlike Stories, Quicksnap is private and vanishes after being viewed. Creators can use it for exclusive behind-the-scenes previews, flash sales, or limited-time promotions to create urgency. This adds a playful, personal touch to audience interaction and helps brands build stronger, more authentic connections with followers who value exclusivity.

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