Instagram’s free Edits video editor now runs on Mac. Instagram announced the desktop app Nov. 5, and it’s ready to download now. The bigger screen brings more advanced tools and a roomier workspace for precise edits.
A welcome addition to the toolkit
The biggest upgrade is the multi-track timeline. You can stack several video and audio layers instead of working on a single track. Instagram’s licensed and royalty-free music libraries come along, plus hundreds of sound and video effects.
Keyframes help you build transitions. Audio waveforms make it easy to cut on the beat or line up dialogue.
Color gets a boost too. The desktop app adds color wheels, curves and log conversion. You can import your own LUTs and fonts to keep a consistent look across your content.
Exports go up to 4K with no watermark. You can cut horizontal or vertical versions for different platforms. When you’re done, post straight to Instagram with tags, locations and Trial Reels. Edits will also generate unlimited captions in multiple languages.
Keyboard shortcuts are customizable, so you can match the editor you already know. Saved audio and text styles from the mobile app show up on desktop as well.
What we think
The original stand-alone Instagram Edits app launched in early 2025, so a desktop version was overdue.
For short-form creators, this is a real upgrade. Trimming a Reel on a phone works in a pinch. A big monitor with a proper timeline, waveforms and LUT support is far better for anything with B-roll or music cues. Free 4K exports with no watermark also make it a handy rough-cut tool for footage headed beyond Instagram.
It has limits. Edits runs on Mac only for now. You can’t move one project between your phone and your computer yet, though Instagram says cross-device editing is in development. Long-form editors will still want Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve or Final Cut Pro.
Instagram plans weekly updates, so expect the feature list to keep growing.
Pricing and availability
Edits for Mac is free to download now. It’s available for Mac only.