Instagram is testing a new look for your profile grid: rectangular images instead of the squares that have always been there. Adam Mosseri revealed this vertical grid test in an Instagram story. The square grid was designed back when people only uploaded photos to Instagram.
Today, most uploads on Instagram are vertical: 4×3 images and 9×16 videos. According to Mosseri, fitting these into a square is “pretty brutal.”
Currently, when you go to the Reels tab on Instagram, you'll see the Reels in a rectangular grid, so the new test won't be a new thing for the social media platform. Thankfully, the new test will also show photos, not just Reels.
The new look during testing. | Photo credit – Arles A. Pinzón Molina on Threads
The test is currently running for a small number of users and Instagram is waiting for feedback before expanding the availability of the new design.
I'm sure not everyone will be happy with the change. I like the current look, I'm used to it, but at the same time I'm tired of Instagram having to crop and adjust my images into a square format. A vertical format looks better on today's images and I personally am looking forward to this change.