Instagram's New Grid Layout: Size and Dimensions (2025)
The iconic square grid is gone — what took its place?
Instagram, long recognized for its signature square posts and structured profile grid, recently introduced a change that has left many creators confused and some frustrated.
On January 19, 2025, Instagram head Adam Mosseri announced that the traditional square profile grid would be replaced with a new vertical-friendly layout. This update not only altered the appearance of user profiles but also disrupted profile mosaics, a popular technique where users arranged multiple posts to form a larger image.
In this article, we'll break down Instagram’s new grid layout, explore the updated dimensions, and see how different aspect ratios now appear on user profiles.
Table of Contents
- What is Instagram's New Grid Size (2025)?
- Can You Change Your Instagram Grid Back to the Square Layout?
- Case Study: How Different Image Sizes Appear in the New Grid
- How to Change an Image Thumbnail on The Instagram Profile Grid
- Instagram Profile Mosaics (Grid Pictures)
- Resizing Your Photos and Videos for Instagram
What is Instagram's New Grid Size (2025)?
The recent grid change adjusted the aspect ratio of images on user profiles from 1:1 to a 3:4 aspect ratio.
This update was driven by the fact that most Instagram users post vertical images rather than horizontal ones. Now, vertical images display more of the original photo without requiring users to tap on them.
Can You Change Your Instagram Grid Back to the Square Layout?
No. Since the early 2025 update, users can no longer change their Instagram grid layout. This limitation has led to widespread requests in comment sections and online forums for Instagram to give users more control over their profile grid. However, it seems unlikely that Instagram will introduce this level of customization in future updates.
Case Study: How Different Image Sizes Appear in the New Grid
With the shift from a square to a rectangular grid, many users are curious about how different image sizes — especially square images — will now appear on their profiles.
To test this, I posted nine images with different dimensions to see how Instagram would display them.
As shown below, Instagram now crops all photos to fit the new 3:4 profile grid, regardless of their original aspect ratio. This means each image is center-cropped in the grid view.
However, the original images remain unchanged and will display in their full aspect ratio when clicked on and opened.
Overlaying a 3:4 aspect ratio on both landscape and portrait images best illustrates this cropping in action.
Horizontal photos are cropped on the sides but remain unchanged on the top and bottom. Vertical photos, including square images, are cropped at the top and bottom but remain unaltered on the sides.
Posting Multiple Photos at Once (Carousel)
Another quirk of Instagram is its inconsistency when handling image carousels. Experienced users already know that Instagram enforces a uniform aspect ratio across all images in a carousel, dictated by the first image uploaded. Is this logical? No. Has this changed with the latest update? Also no.
Regardless of the image sizes in your post, the profile grid will always display them in a 3:4 aspect ratio, whether they are part of a carousel or not.
How to Change an Image Thumbnail on The Instagram Profile Grid
To address user frustration, Instagram introduced a new feature that lets users customize image thumbnails on their profiles. This update allows manual adjustments to profile grid thumbnails, ensuring the focal point stays on the chosen subject rather than being automatically centered.
Here’s how to use the new feature to adjust your profile grid layout.
- Select the three-dot icon in the top right of your post.
- Select Adjust Preview from the list of post options.
- Drag and drop your image in the highlighted area to set a new thumbnail. Optionally, you can add a small background border to the top and bottom of your image by selecting Background.
Instagram Profile Mosaics (Grid Pictures)
Perhaps the biggest complaint from users regarding the new Instagram grid is how it impacted existing profiles, especially those with grid mosaics. These mosaics were a popular way to create larger images that were only visible from the profile view.
Unfortunately, the 2025 grid update effectively killed these designs, prompting users to find alternative solutions. While it's still possible to align three images in a row to create a panoramic effect, large image mosaics have yet to make a full comeback.
While it's unclear what Instagram's next big change will be, updates and new features are likely far from over. Adam Mosseri stated that Instagram’s primary focus in 2025 is "creativity and connecting with the people you care about." What this means for the overall user experience remains to be seen, but more changes are undoubtedly on the way.
Resizing Your Photos and Videos for Instagram
While resizing an image won’t affect how it appears on your Instagram profile grid, proper sizing is important in other areas of the app. Whether you're posting a Reel, creating a uniform image carousel, or updating your profile picture, resizing ensures your content is optimized for the best display.
To resize a photo or video using Kapwing on mobile:
- Upload your file to the editor and select Project from the bottom toolbar.
- Tap Resize Project in the expanded menu.
- Choose a preset aspect ratio or enter custom dimensions, then select Resize Project to apply your changes.
Here are some helpful aspect ratios that will come in handy when resizing content for Instagram:
- Stories: 9:16
- Reels: 9:16
- Profile Pictures: 1:1
- Posts: 1.91:1 to 4:5
- Ads: 1:1
Kapwing lets you resize your content effortlessly while storing your project in the cloud for easy access anytime.
