The hot social media news this weekend (other than the pending TikTok ban) was Instagram’s decision to move from displaying the 1:1 square photos on the grid to a larger 4:5 display. If you’ve been scrolling through the headlines, you’ve probably seen some slightly dramatic reactions, like “Instagram’s New Grid Update Has Users Fuming—Say Goodbye to Your Perfectly Curated Feed” or “Instagram Wants to Be TikTok So Bad; Switching to Rectangular Grid Over Square.”

The much-debated vertical grid looks great on @braveandmaiden
Instagram has been testing this move to vertical grids since at least August of 2024, and I have to be honest; I’m not mad about it. Sure, it’s going to fuck up your grid, especially if you’ve meticulously curated your feed to work with the square format, but for most of us, this is an opportunity to rethink how we use Instagram’s visual real estate.
I believe Instagram is a sandbox that we’re meant to play in. If you’re too married to a certain aesthetic or way of doing things, you’ll hate your life every time the platform changes (which it does—weekly).
In my original article, Is the Era of Aesthetic Instagram Grids Over? I explored how to balance a cohesive feed with authenticity and flexibility. Many of those takeaways still apply, even with this new update.
Why the Switch to Vertical Feeds Isn't the End of the World
Instagram chief Adam Mosseri, explained in an Instagram Story:
“I know some of you really like your squares. And square photos are sort of the heritage of Instagram. But at this point, most of what’s uploaded, both photos and videos, are vertical in their orientation. And it just is a bummer to overly crop them. I know it's a change. I know it's a bit of a pain, but I think it's a transitional pain.”
I believe this change gives users more room to play. Instead of forcing photos and graphics into a restrictive square, we now have more flexibility to showcase visuals as they’re naturally captured. For instance:
- We no longer need to crop off the tops of people’s heads or cut off their feet to fit a square.
- Posters and graphics with a vertical orientation look way better.
- It opens up new creative possibilities for storytelling and brand identity.
The grid is evolving, but so are the ways we can connect with our audiences.

@barlecote's grid looked fine before

but now you can see the full posters and instead of the tops of heads getting cut off, you can see the whole person.
The Downsides…?
Cropping Challenges
If you’re posting horizontal photos, Instagram will crop them to fit the vertical format on the grid. This means you might lose some details on the left and right sides of the image when viewed on your profile. However, they also give you more control over your posts' display. When posting an image that doesn’t fit the new 4:5 format, you can "fill the frame" or not. If you choose not to fill the frame, you can select a white or black background for the preview, ensuring your full image is visible while still fitting into the grid’s vertical layout.
For even more control, you can create custom “frames” around your image using apps like Canva or SCRL. This allows you to design a preview that complements your overall grid aesthetic while maintaining the integrity of your original photo.
Please remember, regardless of the preview on your feed, horizontal images will still display in full when viewed in the feed or clicked on from the grid. These updates make it easier to work within the new layout without compromising your visuals.

As with before this change happened, you could use a prgram like SCRL or Canva to put a white frame around your photos, both vertical and horizontal.

You can continue doing that, if you care!
Disruption to Existing Grids
This change might feel like a punch in the gut for creators who’ve spent years curating a visually consistent square grid. Carefully planned layouts or seamless grids can now look completely out of sync, leaving a once-cohesive grid feeling chaotic. While this may seem like a purely visual issue, it can impact the perception of professionalism for brands that rely on their Instagram profile as a portfolio. If this change is affecting your past work negatively, first of all, I’m sorry. Secondly, here are some ways you can work with it:
- Now might be a good time to review your feed and archive old posts that no longer ring true.
- If it works with your visuals, you can go into your old posts, tap the three dots in the upper right corner, tap “adjust preview,” then you can choose to have the image fill the screen or choose what color background to (right now the only options are white or black)
- If you’re posting mostly Reels, you can create new covers for existing Reels by tapping the three dots in the upper right hand corner, tapping “edit” (or sometimes “manage Reel” and then “edit”), and then tapping “cover” I recommend using an app like Canva or SCRL to create a cover that fits with your aesthetic.
Note that Instagram has plans to give you even more control over how your feed looks in the future, per this post by
Design Fatigue
Adjusting to a new grid format requires rethinking how you frame your shots, design graphics, and plan your visual strategy. This adds another layer of effort for busy creators and brands, especially if you’ve already scheduled content or rely on older workflows optimized for square formatting.
Collage/Seamless Grids Are (Thankfully) a Thing of the Past
I know some folks loved them, but I’ll admit to being secretly delighted that seamless grids (where one photo is split into squares, intended to be viewed as a whole across the grid) are being disrupted. They’ve always been a headache to create, a pain to consume out of context, and, frankly, kind of a mess when it comes to engagement.
I once stumbled across a seamless grid mid-scroll, and the first square I saw was, unfortunately, the groom’s crotch area from what was obviously part of a larger wedding photo. There was no context, no story—just a bulge. Seamless grids tend to fragment the narrative, leaving audiences confused, disengaged, and, in some cases, clutching our pearls. They also mess with engagement metrics because each piece of the seamless collage must be posted simultaneously, which floods the feed with repetitive content and drives audience fatigue.


Even before this change, seamless/collage grids ended up looking wonky if you didn't keep to posting three posts at a time.
How to Adapt Your Strategy
Here are some tips to make the most of Instagram’s new grid layout:
- Embrace Vertical Formats: Start thinking about how to use the extra space to tell more compelling visual stories. Experiment with portraits, tall product shots, or behind-the-scenes photos that feel more immersive.
- Refresh Your Approach to Aesthetics: Instead of obsessing over a hyper-curated grid, aim for a cohesive but flexible theme. Think about color palettes or visual elements that tie your posts together without limiting creativity.
- Prioritize Engagement Over Perfection: Remember, the feed is just one piece of your Instagram presence. Reels, Stories, and carousels are just as important—if not more so—for connecting with your audience.
- Test and Adjust: As with any platform change, the best way to figure out what works is to experiment. Pay attention to what resonates with your audience and adjust accordingly.
Final Thoughts
Instagram’s move to a vertical grid is a reminder that nothing in social media is static. The platforms we use will continue to evolve, and the best thing we can do as marketers is stay nimble.
As much as I loved the old days of square grids and latte art, I’m excited to see how we can use this new format to get even more creative. To paraphrase the First Law of Thermodynamics, the era of aesthetic Instagram grids isn’t over—it’s just changing.