Adding a song to your Instagram profile
You can add a song to your Instagram profile in two places: as the audio track on your profile video (which plays when someone visits your profile), or as a sticker within a Story or Reel. The profile video method is the most visible — it plays automatically when people land on your profile page. To do this, you need to create or upload a video, then select a song from Instagram's music library during the upload process. The song will loop continuously while your profile video plays.
If you want music on your profile but do not have a video ready, you can also add a song sticker to a Story or Reel, which gives you more control over which part of the song plays and how long it appears. Both methods use Instagram's built-in music library, so you do not need to own the rights to the song or upload it yourself.
Key Takeaways
- Profile videos play automatically when someone visits your profile, and you can set a song as the audio track during upload.
- Instagram's music library contains millions of songs, and you can preview how a song sounds before you save it to your profile.
- You can trim the song to start at a specific moment, so the opening seconds of your profile video match the part of the song you want.
- If your profile video already has audio, Instagram will replace it with the song you choose.
- Stories and Reels also support music stickers, which give you a smaller, more temporary way to add a song to your content.
How to add a song when uploading a profile video
Open Instagram and tap your profile icon at the bottom right. Tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) and select Edit Profile. Scroll down and tap Profile Video. You will see an option to choose a video from your phone's camera roll or record a new one. Select or record the video you want to use.
After you choose the video, Instagram will show you a preview screen. Tap Music (or the musical note icon) at the bottom of the screen. A list of songs will appear. You can search for a specific song using the search bar at the top, or scroll through categories like Trending, Pop, or Indie. When you find a song you want, tap it to hear a preview. The song will play over your video so you can see how they match.
Once you have chosen a song, you can adjust where the song starts by dragging the slider at the bottom of the screen. This is useful if you want the video to begin with a specific part of the song rather than the very beginning. Tap Done when you are satisfied, then tap Save to set the video and song as your profile video. The song will now play whenever someone visits your profile.
Searching for the right song in Instagram's music library
Instagram's music library contains millions of songs, but finding the one you want takes a few seconds. When you tap the Music button, you will see a search bar at the top of the screen. Type the song name, artist name, or even a lyric you remember, and Instagram will show matching results. The most popular matches appear first.
If you do not have a specific song in mind, browse the categories below the search bar. Trending shows the most popular songs right now. Moods includes playlists organized by feeling — Energetic, Chill, Romantic, and others. Genres lets you filter by music type. Each category shows a preview of the song's title and artist before you tap it, so you can scan quickly without opening each one.
Not every song in the world is in Instagram's library. If you search for a song and it does not appear, it may not be available on the platform. In that case, you can either choose a different song or use a song you already have on your phone — though this method requires you to upload a video that already contains the audio, rather than adding music during the upload process.
Adjusting the song timing and preview
When you select a song, Instagram shows you a preview of how it will sound with your video. The preview plays the song from the beginning by default, but you can change where the song starts. At the bottom of the preview screen, you will see a slider with a timeline. Drag the slider left or right to move the starting point of the song forward or backward through the track.
This is especially useful if the beginning of a song has a long intro you do not want, or if you want the video to start with a specific lyric or beat. Tap play to hear how the new starting point sounds with your video. You can adjust it as many times as you need before you save. Once you tap Done, the song will start at the point you chose every time someone views your profile video.
Adding a song to a Story or Reel instead
If you want to add music to your content without changing your profile video, you can add a song sticker to a Story or Reel. Open Instagram and tap the plus icon to create a new Story or Reel. Record or upload your video, then tap the sticker icon (a square smiley face) at the top of the screen. Scroll down and tap Music. Search for or browse songs the same way you would for a profile video.
When you add a music sticker to a Story or Reel, the song appears as a small sticker on your content that viewers can tap to hear the song. You can move the sticker around the screen, resize it, or remove it entirely. The music sticker is temporary — it disappears after 24 hours if it is on a Story, or stays permanently if it is on a Reel. This method gives you more flexibility than a profile video because you can post multiple Stories or Reels with different songs without changing your main profile.
Troubleshooting common problems
If you cannot find the Music option when uploading a profile video, make sure you are using the latest version of Instagram. Open your phone's app store, search for Instagram, and tap Update if one is available. Older versions of the app sometimes lack features that newer versions have. After updating, try the process again.
If a song you want does not appear in the search results, it may not be available in your region. Instagram's music library varies by country due to licensing agreements. Try searching for a similar song by the same artist, or look in the Moods or Genres categories for something with a similar feel. If you have already set a profile video with a song and want to change it, go back to Edit Profile, tap Profile Video, and repeat the process — the new song will replace the old one.
If your profile video has audio (like you speaking or background noise) and you add a song, the song will play over the existing audio. You cannot mix them or adjust their volumes separately. If you want only the song to play, you may need to re-record your video without audio, or accept that both will play together.
Removing or changing your profile song
To remove the song from your profile video, go to your profile, tap the menu icon, and select Edit Profile. Scroll to Profile Video and tap it. On the preview screen, tap Music, then scroll to the top and tap No Music. Tap Done and Save. Your profile video will now play without any song.
To change the song to a different one, follow the same steps but select a new song instead of No Music. You can change your profile song as often as you want — there is no limit to how many times you update it. Some people change their profile song weekly or monthly to match their current mood or what they are listening to.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use my own music or a song I recorded myself?
No, Instagram only lets you choose from its music library when adding a song to your profile video. If you want to use your own music, you would need to create a video that already has your song as the audio track, then upload that video as your profile video. The song will play, but it will not appear in Instagram's music library — only your own audio will be heard.
Will people be able to save or share the song from my profile video?
Yes. When someone taps on the song name or the musical note icon on your profile video, they can see the full song details, listen to it, and save it to their own music library or share it with others. This is one reason people use profile videos with songs — it is a way to recommend music to your followers.
Does the song loop if someone watches my profile video more than once?
Yes. If the song is shorter than your video, it will loop and play again from the beginning. If your video is shorter than the song, the song will stop when the video ends. The song always starts at the point you set, even on repeat plays.
Can I add different songs to different Reels or Stories?
Yes. Each Reel and Story can have its own song. Your profile video song is separate from any songs you add to Stories or Reels, so you can have multiple songs across your content at the same time.
What happens to my profile song if Instagram removes it from the music library?
If a song is removed from Instagram's library, your profile video will continue to play it, but new users will not be able to search for it or add it to their own content. Your existing profile video is not affected by library changes.