You can change a song on an Instagram post after you publish it, but only if you uploaded a Reel
Instagram lets you swap out the audio track on a Reel you have already posted, but not on a regular photo or video post. If you posted a Reel with one song and want to use a different one, you go back into the post, tap the three dots, select "Edit audio," and choose a new track from Instagram's music library. The change takes effect when ready for anyone who views the post after that point.
Regular photo posts and standard video posts do not have an edit audio option. If you posted a video with background music and want to change it, your only option is to delete the post and upload a new version with different audio. Stories also cannot be edited after posting — you would need to delete and repost.
Key Takeaways
- Only Reels allow you to change the song after posting; regular video posts and photos cannot be edited for audio.
- To change a Reel's song, tap the three dots on your own post, select "Edit audio," and pick a new track from Instagram's music library.
- The new song replaces the old one when ready for all viewers, and the change does not affect likes, comments, or shares already on the post.
- If you want to change audio on a regular video post, you must delete it and upload a new version.
How to edit the audio on a Reel you posted
Open the Reel on your profile or in your feed. Tap the three dots in the top right corner of the post (on your own posts only — you cannot edit other people's Reels). A menu appears with options including "Edit audio." Tap that option.
Instagram opens its music library. You can search for a specific song by title or artist, browse trending audio, or scroll through categories like "Pop," "Hip-Hop," or "Chill." Select the song you want. Instagram shows you a preview of how it will sound with your video. Tap "Use audio" or "Done" to confirm. The new song replaces the old one on your Reel, and the change is live when ready.
What happens to your post when you change the song
The new audio appears on the Reel for everyone who watches it from that moment forward. People who already watched the Reel with the old song will see the new one if they watch again. All existing likes, comments, and shares stay on the post — changing the audio does not reset the engagement or notify followers that the post was edited.
The original creator credit for the old song disappears once you switch to a new one. If the old song was a trending audio that other users were using, your Reel will no longer appear in the chain of posts using that audio. Your Reel will instead appear in the chain for the new song you selected.
Why you might want to change a Reel's audio
You may realize after posting that the song does not fit the mood of the video, or that a different track would work better with the timing of your content. You might also change the audio if the original song becomes less popular or if you want to align your Reel with a trending sound to reach more people.
Sometimes the audio you chose sounds different when played back on the Reel than it did in your head while editing. Changing it lets you fix that without deleting the post and losing the engagement it has already gathered.
Limitations and what you cannot edit on a Reel
You can only change the audio track itself. You cannot adjust the volume of the audio, add multiple songs, or layer audio on top of the original once it is posted. If you need those kinds of changes, you have to delete the Reel and upload a new version.
You also cannot edit the video itself after posting — no cropping, trimming, or adding text overlays. The edit audio feature is the only post-upload edit Instagram allows for Reels. If you want to make changes beyond the audio, deletion and reposting is your only path.
How to change audio on a regular video post
Regular video posts (not Reels) do not have an edit audio option. If you posted a standard video with background music and want to change it, you must delete the post. Tap the three dots, select "Delete," and confirm. Then upload the video again with the new audio track.
Before you delete, take note of any captions, hashtags, or location tags you used, because you will need to add them again when you repost. You will also lose all likes, comments, and shares that were on the original post. For this reason, many people choose to leave a regular video post as-is rather than delete it and start over.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change the song on an Instagram Story?
No. Stories cannot be edited after posting. If you want to change the audio on a Story, you must delete it and post a new version. Stories also disappear after 24 hours, so the window to fix them is limited.
Will changing a Reel's audio notify people who already watched it?
No. Followers do not receive a notification that you edited the audio. The change is silent — only people who watch the Reel again after the edit will hear the new song.
Can I use my own music or a song not in Instagram's library?
When you edit audio on a posted Reel, you can only choose from Instagram's music library. If you want to use a song that is not there, you must delete the Reel and upload a new version with your own audio file added during the upload process.
Does changing the audio affect the Reel's reach or algorithm performance?
Changing to a trending audio may help your Reel reach more people, since it will now appear in that audio's chain. Switching away from a trending audio may reduce visibility if the original song was driving views. The change takes effect when ready.