Instagram Gets a New Logo After Nearly a Decade but There's a Catch

Instagram has updated its wordmark for the first time in nearly a decade, giving the familiar "Instagram" lettering a subtle redesign. However, the change doesn't extend to the app icon, which means the colourful camera logo you've been tapping for years is staying exactly the same.

Instagram head Adam Mosseri confirmed the refreshed wordmark via a post on the social media platform. This makes it the brand's first notable update to its lettering since the visual identity refresh in 2016.

Mosseri writes that the new wordmark is "Cleaner and more modern, with references to the original and the simplicity and craft that’s always made it Instagram."

The new wordmark keeps Instagram's familiar cursive-inspired design but tweaks several letterforms, including the "s", "r" an "g", for a more refined look. It's a relatively subtle change that keeps the branding recognisable while giving it a slightly newer feel.

While the Instagram wordmark has changed, the Instagram app icon remains untouched. The familiar square camera logo with its pink, purple and orange gradient will continue to appear on home screens.

So, if you are expecting a new Instagram icon after seeing reports about the company's "new logo", there's nothing to update just yet. The redesign is limited to the written Instagram name used across the platform and its branding. For now, that's it.