May 14, 2026 13:31:00

Instants, a casual app for sharing 'now' photos, has launched independently from Instagram.

On May 13, 2026, Instagram announced a new feature called ' Instants ' that allows users to share real-time events without filters. While it can be used within Instagram, it will also be available as a separate app.

Introducing Instants: Share in the Moment on Instagram | About Instagram

https://about.instagram.com/blog/announcements/introducing-instants-for-sharing-in-the-moment

Introducing Instants: A New Way to Share in the Moment
https://about.fb.com/news/2026/05/instants-share-in-the-moment/

If a friend shares a photo with you via Instants, it will appear in the bottom right corner of your Instagram inbox.

Tapping a photo shared via Instants in your inbox will launch a separate app where you can view the post. A key feature of Instants is that shared photos are deleted after being viewed once.

To post, tap the camera icon in the upper right corner of Instants. Alternatively, you can access it from the dedicated app that directly launches the Instants camera.

After taking and selecting a photo, you can post it by choosing who to share it with, such as close friends or users you mutually follow. While Instagram allows you to easily edit photos with filters and brightness, Instants has no editing features, making it quick and easy to share.

Instants posts are one-time posts that cannot be viewed repeatedly and disappear after 24 hours. Since screenshots and screen recordings are also disabled, you can share content casually without worrying about it being saved or spread later.

Meta explained the intention behind releasing Instants: 'We've introduced a new feature that makes it easy to share moments with friends. It's a way to share casual, everyday photos that disappear after your friends have viewed them. No editing or pressure required, just share your everyday life as it is.'

Instants will be available worldwide as an Instagram feature starting May 13, 2026. In some countries, the Instants app will be available, allowing users to directly open Instants, take photos, and share them immediately.