---
title: "Instagram launches Instants, view-once photos for close friends"
description: "Instagram rolled out Instants globally: quick, unedited photos that can be viewed once, combining ideas from Snapchat and BeReal."
url: https://kurddevelopers.com/en/news/instagram-instants-feature
language: en # English
type: news
published: 2026-05-13T16:57:00.000Z
updated: 2026-11-02T04:22:44.000Z
author: "Osamah Ismail"
author_url: https://kurddevelopers.com/en/author/1
section: "Mobile"
tags: ["Instagram","Instants","Meta","Social Media"]
sources: ["TechCrunch","Meta Newsroom"]
image: https://kurddevelopers.com/uploads/2026/11/instants-instagram-85e45d3f.png
translations:
  ku: https://kurddevelopers.com/news/instagram-instants-feature
  ar: https://kurddevelopers.com/ar/news/instagram-instants-feature
publisher: Kurd Developers
publisher_url: https://kurddevelopers.com/
---

# Instagram launches Instants, view-once photos for close friends

> Instagram rolled out Instants globally: quick, unedited photos that can be viewed once, combining ideas from Snapchat and BeReal.

![Image: Instagram](https://kurddevelopers.com/uploads/2026/11/instants-instagram-85e45d3f.png)

## What it is
**Instants** lets you share quick, real-life photos with **Close Friends** or mutual followers.

## How it works
- Captured only with Instagram's **in-app camera**: no edits, no camera-roll uploads. Text can be added.
- Viewable **once** and available for **24 hours**.
- Per Meta, recipients **can't screenshot** or record them; they can react, reply or send one back.

## More
- Instants are kept in a private archive for up to **one year**.
- **Undo** removes an unopened Instant.
- A standalone Instants app is being tested in **Spain** and **Italy**.

**Sources:** TechCrunch, Meta Newsroom

---

Published by [Kurd Developers](https://kurddevelopers.com/) on 2026-05-13. Cite as: “Instagram launches Instants, view-once photos for close friends”, Kurd Developers, https://kurddevelopers.com/en/news/instagram-instants-feature