Instagram seems to have begun rolling out a new feature dubbed ‘Get the full Picture’ that apparently lets you “share photos in their original aspect ratio.” I already see a lot of confusion surrounding the feature on platforms like Reddit and even Threads.
The mention of “original aspect ratio” has left some under the impression that Instagram will no longer crop photos at all if you use the new ‘Get the full picture’ feature. But that’s not what it does. Instead, it simply lets you post both horizontal and vertical images in the same carousel post. However, anything beyond Instagram’s vertical and horizontal aspect ratio tolerances will still get cropped.
While many users seem to have just started getting the feature (or have only just noticed it), it seems to have begun rolling out late last year, but back then users said they weren’t able to use it. If you’re still confused about what the feature is all about, check out this Reel below:
View this post on Instagram
The rollout’s been a slow burn since late 2024, leaving some users just now catching on — or still waiting. That staggered release has only fueled the confusion. In my testing, I was able to use the feature on the Android and iOS app without any hiccups. So give it a shot and see if you can use it too.
Your profile grid? Still crops the first image to 4:5, but tap into the post, and each photo shines in its intended ratio as you swipe. So, it’s a win for creative freedom — less wrestling with uniform crops — but keep those aspect ratio guidelines in mind to avoid unexpected chops.
That said, feel free to let us know if you’ve received the feature yet on your Instagram account. Note that it’s not tied to an app update and instead seems to be enabled with a server-side tweak.