You can add music to Instagram posts on a computer, but only through the web version's limited music sticker — not through the full music library that the phone app offers
Instagram's web version on a computer does not have the same music tools as the mobile app. When you upload a photo or video to Instagram from your computer's browser, you get a music sticker that links to songs, but you cannot browse a full catalog or preview how the music will sound with your post before publishing. If you want the full music experience — searching by mood, seeing lyrics, or picking the exact moment a song starts — you need to use your phone instead.
The workaround that gives you the most control is to add music to your video file itself before uploading it to Instagram. This way, the music is permanently part of the video, and it will play the same way on computer, phone, and in other people's feeds. This method also means you keep the music even if you share the video elsewhere.
Key Takeaways
- Instagram's web version has a music sticker for posts, but it does not show you a searchable music library or let you preview the music before you publish.
- Adding music directly to your video file before uploading gives you more control and works the same way on any device.
- Free video editing software like DaVinci Resolve, CapCut, or Shotcut can add music to video files on your computer without watermarks.
- If you use the Instagram music sticker on the web, the music will only play for people who tap the sticker — it is not background music for the whole post.
How to use the music sticker on Instagram's web version
Open Instagram in your web browser and go to the create screen by clicking the plus icon at the top. Upload a photo or video. After you upload, you will see editing tools on the right side of the screen. Click the sticker icon (it looks like a square smiley face) and scroll down to find the music sticker option.
When you tap the music sticker, a small search box appears. Type the song name, artist, or mood you are looking for. Instagram will show you a short list of results. Click the song you want. The sticker will show the song title and artist name on your post, and when someone taps it, the song will play a preview. This is different from the phone app, where the music plays as background audio for the whole post.
The music sticker is useful if you want to credit a song or let people discover music you like, but it does not add sound to your post itself. If you want actual background music that plays automatically when someone views your post, you need to add it to the video file before uploading.
Adding music to a video file before you upload
The most reliable way to add music to an Instagram post on a computer is to edit the video first, then upload it. This works because the music becomes part of the video file itself, so it will play the same way everywhere — on the web, on phones, in stories, and if you share it to other platforms.
You will need a video editing program. Free options that work well and do not add watermarks include DaVinci Resolve (Windows and Mac), CapCut (Windows and Mac), and Shotcut (Windows, Mac, and Linux). All three let you import a video, add an audio track, adjust the volume, and export the finished file.
The basic steps are the same in any of these programs: import your video, drag an audio file or music file into the audio track, adjust the timing so the music starts and stops where you want it, and export the file as an MP4. Then upload that finished video to Instagram as you normally would.
Where to find music files to add to your video
You need an audio file on your computer to add to a video. Music you buy from iTunes or read from Spotify is usually protected by copyright and cannot be added to videos you plan to share publicly. Instagram will detect it and either mute the audio or remove the post.
Free music that you can legally use includes royalty-free libraries like Pixabay Music, Pexels Music, YouTube Audio Library (if you have a Google account), and Incompetech. These sites let you read MP3 files that you can add to your video without copyright strikes. Some require you to credit the artist in your caption, so check the license for each song before you use it.
If you want to use a popular song that is not royalty-free, Instagram's phone app has a built-in music library that handles the licensing for you — but that library is not available on the web version. In that case, the phone app is your only option.
Why the phone app has more music options than the web version
Instagram's mobile app connects to music licensing agreements that the web version does not have. When you use the music feature on your phone, Instagram has already paid for the rights to let you use those songs in your posts. The web version does not have this same setup, so you cannot access the full music library from a computer.
This is why Instagram recommends using the phone app if you want access to popular music. The web version is designed more for uploading and managing posts than for creating them from scratch. If music is important to your post, switching to your phone for that step is usually faster than trying to work around the web version's limits.
Uploading your video to Instagram after adding music
Once your video has music added to it and you have exported the file, uploading it to Instagram on your computer works like any other post. Go to the create screen, select your video file, and upload it. Instagram will process the video, which usually takes a few minutes. You can add a caption, tags, and location as usual.
Check that the audio is working before you publish. Click the preview button to watch the video with sound. If the music is too quiet or too loud, you can go back and re-export the video from your editing program with different volume settings, then upload the new version.
One thing to note: if you use copyrighted music that is not royalty-free, Instagram may mute the audio or flag the post, even if you added it yourself. The platform scans uploaded videos for music it recognizes. Stick to royalty-free music or music from Instagram's own library (which you can only access on the phone app) to avoid this problem.
When to use the phone app instead of the computer
If you want to use popular, copyrighted music in your post, the phone app is the only way to do it legally on Instagram. The app's music library includes songs from major artists, and Instagram has already licensed them for you to use. You cannot get this on the web version.
The phone app also lets you add music after you have already posted a photo or video, which the web version does not allow. If you posted something and want to add music to it later, you have to edit the post on your phone.
For everything else — adding royalty-free music, editing videos, or managing your posts — the computer works fine. The choice between phone and computer usually comes down to which music you want to use and how much control you need over the editing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I add music to an Instagram post after I have already published it on a computer?
No, not through the web version. You can edit the caption, location, and other details, but you cannot add or change music after publishing on a computer. You would need to use the phone app to add music to an existing post.
Will Instagram remove my post if I add copyrighted music to a video file myself?
Possibly. Instagram scans videos for copyrighted music and may mute the audio or remove the post if it detects a song you do not have rights to use. Use royalty-free music or music from Instagram's own library (phone app only) to avoid this.
What video file format should I use when I upload to Instagram?
MP4 is the safest choice. Most video editing programs can export to MP4. Instagram also accepts MOV and other formats, but MP4 usually uploads fastest and has the fewest compatibility issues.
Do I need to credit the artist if I use royalty-free music?
It depends on the license. Some royalty-free music requires a credit in your caption, and some does not. Check the license page for each song before you read it. Most sites make this clear in the read section.
Can I use music from YouTube in my Instagram video?
Only if the video itself is from YouTube and you are sharing it directly to Instagram. If you read audio from a YouTube video and add it to your own video, you are likely violating copyright. Stick to royalty-free sources or Instagram's music library.