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Instagram accidentally changed its layout — and users were not happy

The Instagram app is seen in the App Store on an iPhone on Dec. 1, 2017. Jaap Arriens/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Many Instagram users woke up to a drastically different layout for the app Thursday — and weren’t too happy about it.

Social media users posted about the change online, complaining that the layout of the feed changed from a top-down scroll to a left-right scroll. The update looked similar to how Instagram stories appear, making users tap to see the next post.

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The app provided instructions to users, writing: “Introducing a New Way to Move Through Posts. Tap through posts, just like you tap through stories.”

Many used the hashtag #Instagramfail and wondered how to change back to the previous version of the app.

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https://twitter.com/mekosoff/status/1078310479758536704

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https://twitter.com/voidkermit/status/1078319486489509888

But just after a slew of complaints appeared online, the automatic update was reversed.

In an email statement to Global News, Instagram explained that the change was caused by a “bug.”

“Due to a bug, some users saw a change to the way their feed appears today. We quickly fixed the issue and feed is back to normal. We apologize for any confusion.”

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Adam Mosseri, the head of Instagram, tweeted explaining that the drastic change was a mistake — sort of.

“That was supposed to be a very small test that went broad by accident,” he replied to some concerned users. “Should be fixed now. If you’re still seeing it simply restart the app. Happy holidays!”

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He added that the company is testing “a few new ideas.”

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In response, relived users tweeted at Mosseri that the results of the so-called test were clear.

https://twitter.com/janbenvideo/status/1078323248662761472

Mosseri noted that anyone still seeing a left-right feed should restart their apps.

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