Add music while you're creating the post
The simplest way to add music to an Instagram post is to do it before you share. When you're in the camera or gallery screen creating a new post, look for the music icon — it looks like a musical note and usually sits in the toolbar at the bottom or side of your screen. Tap it, search for the song you want, and Instagram will add it to your post.
The music will play when someone views your post in their feed. You can adjust how loud the music is compared to any video or audio already in the post by using the volume slider that appears after you select a song. If you change your mind about which song, you can tap the music icon again and pick a different one — Instagram lets you swap it out as many times as you want before you post.
Not every song in the world is available on Instagram. The platform only offers music that rights holders have approved for use on the app. If you search for a song and nothing comes up, that song isn't licensed for Instagram posts yet, though it may be available for Reels or Stories instead.
Key Takeaways
- Tap the music icon in the camera or gallery screen while creating a post, search for your song, and Instagram adds it before you share.
- You can adjust the volume of the music separately from any other audio in your post using the volume slider.
- Only songs that Instagram has licensed are available — if a search returns nothing, that song is not approved for posts yet.
- You cannot add music to a post after you've already shared it, so choose your song before you hit Share.
- Music availability varies by country because rights agreements differ by region.
What to do if the music icon doesn't appear
If you don't see a music icon in your camera or gallery screen, the most common reason is that your Instagram app is out of date. Go to your phone's app store — Apple App Store on iPhone or Google Play on Android — search for Instagram, and tap Update if an update is available. Close Instagram completely and open it again after the update finishes.
A second reason the music feature might be missing is your account type. Business and Creator accounts sometimes have different features than personal accounts, and music availability can depend on which one you're using. If you have a business account and music isn't showing up, try switching to a personal account temporarily to see if the feature appears. You can switch back afterward.
If you're in a country where Instagram hasn't rolled out music features yet, the icon won't appear no matter what you do. Music licensing varies by region, and some countries don't have agreements in place yet. In that case, you would need to use a video editor on your phone or computer to add music before uploading to Instagram.
Adding music to a Reel instead of a regular post
Reels — Instagram's short video format — have a larger music library than regular posts. If the song you want isn't available for a standard post, it may be available for a Reel. To create a Reel, open the camera, swipe left until you see "Reels," and then look for the music icon. The process is the same: tap it, search, and select your song.
Reels are designed for music and often perform better in your followers' feeds when they have music attached. If you're willing to post a short video instead of a static image or carousel, you'll have more song choices and your post will likely reach more people. You can make a Reel as short as three seconds, so even a still image with music playing over it counts as a Reel.
Using music from your phone's library
Instagram does not let you upload music files directly from your phone's music library or from apps like Spotify or Apple Music. The music has to come from Instagram's licensed catalog. If you have a song on your phone that you want to use, you would need to use a separate video editing app to add it to your video before uploading to Instagram.
Apps like CapCut, iMovie, or Adobe Premiere Rush let you import a video and add an audio file from your phone. After you've added the music in one of those apps and exported the finished video, you can then upload it to Instagram as a regular post. This workaround takes more steps but gives you access to any music file you own.
Controlling who can hear the music
When you add music to a post, everyone who views that post will hear it — there's no way to make the music play only for certain followers. The music plays automatically when someone scrolls past your post in their feed, though they can mute their phone or lower the volume if they want.
If you're concerned about the music being too loud or distracting, you can lower its volume in the volume slider before you post. You can also choose instrumental versions of songs if they're available in the search results, which some people find less intrusive in a feed.
What happens if Instagram removes a song later
Occasionally Instagram loses the rights to a song and has to remove it from the platform. If this happens to a song you've already posted, Instagram will mute the audio on your post — the video will still be there, but the music won't play anymore. You'll usually get a notification that this has happened.
If you want to restore music to that post, you would need to delete it and create a new one with a different song. Instagram doesn't let you edit the music on a post after it's been shared, so replacing the song means starting over. This is rare, but it's worth knowing in case it happens to something you've posted.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I add music to a post after I've already shared it?
No. You have to add music before you tap Share. Once the post is live, you cannot edit the music or add music if you didn't include it originally. You would have to delete the post and create a new one if you want to change the music.
Will I get in trouble for copyright if I use Instagram's music?
No. Instagram has already paid the rights holders for the music in its library, so you're not breaking any copyright rules by using it. That's why only certain songs are available — Instagram only offers music it has permission to use.
Why does the same song appear in some posts but not others?
Music rights agreements can be different for different types of posts. A song might be available for Reels but not for regular posts, or available in one country but not another. Search for the song in the format you're trying to use to see if it's available there.
Can I use copyrighted music from YouTube or TikTok?
Not directly. You would need to read the audio, add it to a video using a separate editing app, and then upload that video to Instagram. However, doing this with copyrighted music you don't own may violate copyright rules, so only use music you have permission to use or that is in the public domain.