Instagram for TV: Watch on Samsung Big Screen Now
Watch Instagram Reels and Stories on Samsung TV with new themed channels and casting features for shared viewing.
Jun 23, 2026 (Updated Jun 23, 2026) - Written by Christian Tico
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Instagram for TV Now Live on Samsung Smart TVs in the U.S. with Stories and New Features
Meta has officially expanded Instagram for TV to Samsung Smart TVs across the United States, marking a major milestone for the platform's living room strategy. This rollout brings the ability to watch Reels and Stories on the big screen, joining earlier availability on Amazon Fire TV and Google TV devices. Users can now enjoy content from friends and creators in a more immersive setting designed for shared viewing with family and friends.
What Is New With Instagram for TV on Samsung TVs
The updated app on Samsung devices introduces Stories as a core feature, allowing users to view the latest updates from their favorite accounts directly on the television. Previous versions focused primarily on Reels, but this expansion ensures a more complete Instagram experience on the big screen.
- Watch Stories from friends and creators on the TV
- Group Reels into topic-based channels like music, sports, and travel
- Support for Samsung Smart TVs from the 2020 model year onward
The app organizes Reels into curated channels based on interest categories, making it easier to discover content that appeals to everyone in the room. This feature encourages social viewing by aligning content with common interests such as music, sports, and travel.
Experimental Features Being Tested
Meta is currently testing two new features designed to enhance how users discover, share, and enjoy Instagram content with people around them. These experimental tools aim to bridge the gap between mobile and television experiences.
Casting Reels and Videos to the TV
One of the tested features allows users to cast Reels from their smartphone or videos from the Saved tab directly to their TV. This functionality provides a seamless way to move digital content from a handheld device to a larger display without complex setup steps.
Dedicated Home for Horizontal Videos
The second experimental feature is a dedicated home screen for horizontal videos. This dedicated space makes it easier to find content that is optimized for landscape viewing on computers and TVs rather than the vertical format typical of mobile phones.
How to Install and Use Instagram for TV
To get started, users with compatible Samsung Smart TVs (2020 models and newer) can search for the Instagram for TV app in the TV's app store. Once installed, the app launches with a familiar interface that prioritizes Reels and Stories for easy navigation.
Sign in using your standard Instagram username, email, or phone number and password. The app supports notifications and allows for a safe, shared viewing environment that is ideal for family time.
Future Plans for Video Content on TV
Meta is also investigating opportunities to introduce longer video formats, including episodic series and live broadcasts on TV. These additions could eventually transform the living room into a hub for extended storytelling and real-time events beyond the short-form content currently available.
Conclusion
The expansion of Instagram for TV to Samsung Smart TVs in the U.S. brings a new dimension to how users interact with social media content. With the addition of Stories, topic-based channels, and experimental features like casting and horizontal video hubs, the platform is paving the way for a more immersive and shared viewing experience.
Instagram for TV is not just scaling content to a bigger screen, but fundamentally reengineering social media from an individual, vertical habit into a collective, horizontal living room experience that competes directly with traditional streaming by leveraging shared interest channels. This shift suggests Meta is betting that the future of social engagement lies not in solo scrolling, but in synchronized group viewing that transforms passive consumption into active social rituals.
What experimental features is Meta testing for Instagram on TV?