All You Need to Know About Instagram’s Format Change (And How to Fix Your Ruined Feed)
So, Instagram did a thing. They changed something pretty fundamental about how photos appear on your feed. And if you're someone who puts a lot of thought into your profile's aesthetic, this is kind of a big deal. Let's dive into what's changed (and how to deal with it)!
What is the New Default Image Format on Instagram?
Remember those perfect square posts? They're gone. Instagram now defaults to a 4:5 vertical aspect ratio for all feed posts on mobile devices. This taller format fills more screen space, but it's causing headaches for creators who built their aesthetic around the classic 1:1 square format.
So, what does that mean to you if you post on Instagram, whether as a brand, influencer, or just a regular user? You need to start fresh, only posting in 4:5 format from now on.
Don’t worry; our AI Generator supports this popular aspect ratio, so you can start creating high-quality content right away. Check out some examples below:
Why is the New IG Aspect Ratio Controversial?
The switch hit hardest for accounts using grid layouts - where multiple posts created a larger, cohesive image. Imagine spending hours planning and creating those multi-image posts. Then, poof! Instagram changes the rules.
Suddenly, your giant image is broken. The squares are no longer aligned, and the design looks messy and disjointed. All that hard work seemingly went down the drain.
Let's look at a couple of examples to really bring the point home. Here's how one brand's feed looked like in square format:
You can clearly see how the new format 4:5 throws off the entire look and cuts off parts of the text on mobile when paired with 1:1 images:
The impact of the change is even more visible when comparing this carefully curated square feed:
To this jumbled mess:
How to Fix Your Broken Instagram Feed?
Social media aesthetics aren't just about looking pretty - they're about brand identity and professional presentation. When a feed breaks, it can impact engagement, brand perception, and ultimately, business results. But many people don't want to abandon their old posts and the artistic effort behind them.
In this case, it's best to use an image editing tool to resize those old square photos to fit the new, taller shape. You might be worried that this could take forever, especially if you have a lot of pictures. What if I told you there was an easy way to make your old photos IG-ready? Here is where our AI Resizer comes in.
Resize Images to the 4:5 Format with AI
AI Resizer is the quickest and simplest way to adjust your feed to Instagram’s new format. The best part? You won't end up with awkwardly stretched photos. Our tool doesn’t just stretch or squeeze your images—it intelligently expands them where needed, keeping your visuals looking sharp and natural.
First, identify which posts need updating. Then, open AI Resizer, choose the 4:5 aspect ratio, and upload your images. Rather than manually editing each image, use our batch resizing feature to convert multiple posts simultaneously.
While Instagram's new format might be a pain, with getimg.ai, you don't have to stress about it. We are here to help you keep your feed looking fantastic. Check out our AI Generator and AI Image Resizer today. Your followers will thank you!
Agnieszka Zabłotna
As a Founder's Associate at getimg.ai, Agnieszka dives deep into AI-driven image creation, focusing on practical, innovative ideas. With a background in content creation, she explores the intersection of technology and art, offering insights into how AI is revolutionizing image generation.