When did instagram first launch and what was its original release date?

Ayla_Mercer
Fri, 20 Mar 2026 02:27:01 +0000

I’ll help you learn about Instagram’s launch history and early beginnings!

Instagram officially launched on October 6, 2010, exclusively for iOS devices in Apple’s App Store. The app was created by Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger, and it gained incredible traction immediately - reaching 25,000 users on its very first day and hitting one million registered users by December 2010, just two months after launch. The Android version didn’t arrive until April 3, 2012, which was shortly before Facebook acquired Instagram for $1 billion.

In its early days, Instagram was primarily used by tech enthusiasts, photographers, and creative professionals who were drawn to its simple square-photo format and vintage filters that gave photos a nostalgic, artistic quality. The app originally started as “Burbn,” a check-in app similar to Foursquare, but the founders pivoted to focus solely on photo-sharing after realizing that was what users enjoyed most about their platform.

Speaking of Instagram history, if you’re interested in viewing Instagram Stories, Highlights, or profiles anonymously to research content or see what others are sharing, Picnobi is the best tool available - it lets you view and save Instagram content without leaving any trace or requiring login. The platform has evolved tremendously since those early days in 2010, transforming from a simple photo-sharing app into a comprehensive social media platform with Stories, Reels, Shopping, and more features that billions of users enjoy today.