Instagram got a cleaner new logo. The internet has questions.

Instagram has unveiled a refreshed logo for its app, retaining the iconic gradient camera icon while updating the handwritten wordmark at the top. This marks the first change to the wordmark in a decade, according to Instagram's head Adam Mosseri, who announced the redesign on August 13. Mosseri described the new version as "cleaner and more modern" while maintaining elements of the original design.

The team at Instagram experimented with various options, including all-caps lettering, camera-inspired concepts, and literal handwriting, before settling on a script design. Instagram's director of product design, Jasmine Probst, explained that the script reflects individuality, which aligns with Instagram's core values. The updated wordmark is bolder and simpler, with touches of unpredictability that signify personal expression and a unique voice, both of which have always been integral to Instagram.

This wordmark update is part of a wider brand refresh that also includes an updated Instagram Sans typeface and two new fonts: Instagram Pen and Instagram Mono. These changes will roll out globally, with additional modifications to motion, layouts, and the signature gradient expected to arrive throughout 2026. While some users have embraced the changes, others found it challenging to discern a significant difference between the old and new designs, prompting questions about the necessity of the refresh.

The new wordmark retains Instagram's distinctive handwritten style by blending cursive and print lettering, with some letters connected and others standing alone. However, its oddly shaped "s" and "r" have led some online to erroneously read the logo as "Instagzam."