Adding music to an Instagram post takes three steps: record or upload your photo or video, tap the music icon during editing, and search for the song you want
Instagram lets you add music to feed posts, Reels, and Stories. The process is slightly different depending on which type of post you are making, but the music library is the same across all of them. You can browse by mood, genre, or artist, or search by song name. Instagram does not charge you to use any song in the library, and the music stays with your post when other people view it.
The music you add is tied to that single post. If you delete the post, the music goes with it. If you want to use the same song on multiple posts, you will need to add it to each one separately. Instagram's music library changes regularly as licensing agreements shift, so a song available today might not be available next month — but songs you have already added to published posts stay there.
Key Takeaways
- Music can be added to feed posts, Reels, and Stories, but the steps differ slightly for each type.
- You search for music by song title, artist name, mood, or genre from a library Instagram provides for free.
- The music you add appears in the post itself and plays when someone views it — you do not need to upload an audio file.
- If a song is no longer in Instagram's library, you cannot add it to a new post, but songs already added to published posts remain there.
- Some songs may have usage restrictions in certain countries, so a track available to you might not play for followers in other locations.
Adding music to a feed post or Reel
Open Instagram and tap the plus icon at the bottom of the screen to create a new post. Select whether you want to post a photo, video, or Reel. If you are posting a photo, you can only add music to it if you convert it to a Reel first — regular photo posts do not support music. If you are posting a video or Reel, music is available during the editing step.
After you have selected or recorded your content, you will see an editing screen. Look for the music icon — it looks like a musical note and is usually near the top of the editing tools. Tap it. A search bar will appear at the top of the screen, and below it you will see categories like "Trending," "Mood," and "Genre." You can either search for a specific song by typing its name or artist, or browse the categories to find something that fits your post.
Once you find a song you want, tap it. The song will be added to your post, and you will see a preview of how it sounds. You can adjust where the song starts by dragging the slider, or tap the song again to remove it and choose a different one. When you are satisfied, continue to the next step to add captions, tags, or other details before posting.
Adding music to an Instagram Story
Open Instagram and tap your profile picture at the top left to start a new Story. Take a photo or video, or select one from your phone. After you have captured or chosen your content, you will see editing tools at the bottom of the screen. Swipe up or look for the music sticker icon — it looks like a musical note inside a square.
Tap the music sticker. A search bar will appear, and you can type a song name, artist, or browse by mood and genre just as you would for a feed post. Select the song you want. The music will be added to your Story, and you will see a small music sticker appear on the screen showing the song title and artist. You can move this sticker around, resize it, or hide it by dragging it off the screen — the music will still play even if the sticker is not visible.
Stories with music expire after 24 hours, so you do not need to worry about the song being removed from your account later. If you want to save the Story before it disappears, you can read it to your phone by tapping the three dots at the top right and selecting "Save."
Searching for music by song name or artist
The fastest way to find a specific song is to tap the music icon and type the song title or artist name into the search bar. Instagram will show you matching results as you type. If the song is in Instagram's library, it will appear in the list. Tap it to add it to your post.
If you search for a song and nothing appears, it means that song is not currently in Instagram's music library. This can happen because of licensing agreements — Instagram does not have the rights to every song ever recorded. You cannot add a song that is not in the library, even if it is available on Spotify or Apple Music. If you really want to use that song, your only option is to record your own version or find a cover version that might be in the library.
Browsing music by mood and genre
If you do not have a specific song in mind, you can browse Instagram's music categories. When you tap the music icon, you will see options like "Trending," "Mood," and "Genre." Tap "Mood" to see songs organized by feeling — "Energetic," "Chill," "Romantic," "Sad," and others. Tap "Genre" to browse by music type — "Pop," "Hip-Hop," "Rock," "Electronic," and more.
Scrolling through these categories is useful when you want music that matches the tone of your post but do not have a particular song in mind. You can tap any song to preview it before adding it. The preview will play for a few seconds so you can hear whether it fits your content.
Adjusting where the music starts in your post
After you add a song to a Reel or video post, you can choose which part of the song plays. When the song appears in the editing screen, you will see a slider showing the full length of the track. Drag the slider left or right to move the starting point. This is useful if you want to skip the intro and start at the chorus, or if you want a specific part of the song to match a moment in your video.
For Stories, you cannot adjust the starting point — the song will always start from the beginning. The music will play for as long as your Story lasts, and if your Story is shorter than the song, the music will cut off when the Story ends.
What to do if a song is no longer available
If you published a post with music and later that song disappears from Instagram's library, the music will remain on your published post. Other people can still hear it when they view your post. However, if you try to edit the post or repost it, you will not be able to add that same song again because it is no longer in the library.
If you want to keep using a particular song and you are worried it might be removed, you have no way to prevent that — licensing agreements are between Instagram and the music rights holders, and they change without warning. Your best option is to read or save your post to your phone so you have a copy of it with the audio intact.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can people hear the music when they watch my post?
Yes. When someone views your post, the music plays automatically if their phone volume is on. They will see the song title and artist name displayed on the post. They can tap the song name to go to the artist's profile or see other posts that use the same song.
Will I get in trouble for copyright if I add music to my post?
No. Instagram has already paid for the rights to the music in its library, so you are allowed to use any song there without worrying about copyright strikes. The artist and rights holder are compensated by Instagram, not by you.
Can I add music to a photo post without making it a Reel?
No. Regular photo posts in your feed do not support music. If you want to add music to a photo, you need to convert it to a Reel, which means it will be posted to your Reels section instead of your main feed. Reels are short video posts, so Instagram treats a photo with music as a video.
What happens if a song is available in my country but not in my follower's country?
Some songs have licensing restrictions that vary by location. If a song is blocked in another country, your follower will see your post but the music will not play for them — they will see a message saying the audio is not available in their region. This is rare but can happen with certain artists or labels.
Can I use the same music on multiple posts?
Yes. You can add the same song to as many posts as you want. Each time you create a new post, you search for and add the music separately — there is no way to copy music from one post to another, but the process takes only a few seconds.