You can add a song to a post after publishing, but only if you edit the post itself
Instagram lets you add or change the song on a photo or video post after you publish it, but the process depends on what type of post you made. If you posted a photo with a caption, you can add music by editing the post. If you posted a video, you can add music the same way — but if the video already has audio, adding a new song will replace it, not layer on top of it. The music appears to anyone viewing your post, and you can swap it out for a different song whenever you want.
The catch: you cannot add music to a post if it was shared as a Reel, a Story, or a carousel (multiple photos or videos in one post). For those formats, you would need to delete the original post and create a new one with the music included from the start.
Key Takeaways
- Open the post you want to edit, tap the three dots in the corner, and select "Edit post" to access the music option.
- Tap "Add music" and search for the song by title or artist, then select it and choose how much of the song plays.
- If your video already has audio, adding a new song will replace that audio entirely — you cannot have both.
- You cannot add music to Reels, Stories, or carousel posts after publishing; you must delete and repost those formats.
- The song you add will be visible to anyone who views the post, and you can change it to a different song at any time.
How to edit a photo post and add music
Open Instagram and go to your profile. Find the photo post where you want to add music, then tap the three dots (the menu icon) in the top right corner of the post. A menu will appear with several options — select "Edit post."
Once you are in edit mode, scroll down past the caption and location fields. You will see an "Add music" button. Tap it to open the music library. Search for the song you want by typing the artist name, song title, or both. When you find the song, tap it to select it.
After you select the song, Instagram will show you a preview of how long the song is. You can choose which part of the song plays by dragging the slider to pick a start point — this is useful if you want just the chorus or a specific 15-second clip rather than the full song. Once you are happy with your choice, tap "Done" and then "Save" to update the post.
How to edit a video post and add or replace music
The process for video posts is almost identical to photos. Open the post, tap the three dots, and select "Edit post." Scroll down and tap "Add music."
Here is the important difference: if your video already has audio — voices, background noise, or an existing song — adding new music will replace that audio completely. You will lose the original sound. If you want to keep the original audio and add music on top of it, you cannot do that through Instagram's edit feature. You would need to delete the post and create a new video using a video editor on your phone before uploading it again.
If your video has no audio or you are okay with replacing what is there, search for and select your song the same way you would for a photo. Choose the part of the song you want to use, then tap "Done" and "Save."
What happens when you add music to a post
Once you save the edit, the song appears on your post when ready. Anyone who views the post will see a music note icon and the song title at the top of the post. If someone taps that icon, they can listen to the full song on Spotify or Apple Music (depending on what is available in their region), and they can add the same song to their own posts.
The music plays automatically when someone watches the video or views the photo — they do not have to tap anything to hear it. If the post is a video, the music plays alongside any other audio that was already there (unless you replaced it, as described above).
Formats you cannot add music to after posting
Instagram Reels, Stories, and carousel posts cannot be edited to add music after you publish them. If you posted a Reel and want to add music, you have to delete the Reel and create a new one. The same applies to Stories — once a Story is live, you cannot edit it to add music. For carousels (multiple photos or videos in one post), music cannot be added after publishing either.
If you realize you want music on one of these formats, the only option is to delete the post and start over. This is why it is worth adding music before you publish if you are posting a Reel or Story — you cannot go back and fix it later.
Changing or removing music from a post
If you already added a song to a post and want to swap it for a different one, follow the same steps: open the post, tap the three dots, select "Edit post," and tap "Add music." You can search for a new song and it will replace the old one. If you want to remove the music entirely, tap "Add music" but do not select anything — just tap "Done" without choosing a song, and the music will be removed when you save.
You can change the music on a post as many times as you want. There is no limit to how many times you can edit a post or swap songs.
Why Instagram might not let you add music to a post
If you tap "Add music" and see no songs appearing, or if the button is grayed out, a few things could be happening. First, check that you are using the latest version of Instagram — older versions sometimes have bugs that prevent the music feature from working. Go to your phone's app store and update Instagram if an update is available.
Second, music availability varies by country and region. Some songs are not available in all places due to licensing agreements. If a song you want is not showing up in the search results, it may not be licensed for your region. Try searching for a different song to see if the feature is working at all.
Third, if you are trying to add music to a very old post (more than a few months old), Instagram sometimes has trouble loading the edit screen. Try closing the app completely and opening it again, or try editing the post from a different device.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I add music to a post someone else made?
No. You can only edit posts on your own account. If you want to share someone else's post with music, you can save it or share it to your Story, but you cannot edit the original post or add music to it.
Will adding music to an old post change when it appears in people's feeds?
No. Editing a post to add music does not change its timestamp or push it back to the top of people's feeds. It will stay in the same place in your profile and in people's feeds as if nothing changed.
What if the song I want to add is not in Instagram's music library?
Not every song is available through Instagram's music library. If you cannot find a song, try searching for a cover version or a remix — sometimes those are available when the original is not. If the song truly is not available, you cannot add it through Instagram's edit feature.
Can I add music to a post if I have a private account?
Yes. The music feature works the same way on private accounts as it does on public ones. Only your followers will see the post, but the music will still play when they view it.
Does adding music to a post cost anything?
No. Adding music to your posts is free. You do not need Instagram Premium or any paid subscription to use the music feature.