You can change music on an Instagram post after you've published it, but only if you're using Reels
Instagram lets you swap out the audio track on a Reel you've already posted, but not on a regular photo or video post. If you posted a Reel with music and want to use a different song, you can edit it directly from your feed without deleting and reposting. The process takes about a minute and keeps all your likes, comments, and shares intact.
Regular photo posts and video posts don't have an edit-music option — if you want different audio on those, you'll need to delete the post and upload a new one. Stories also can't be edited after posting, so you'd need to delete and reshare those too.
Key Takeaways
- Only Reels can have their music changed after posting; regular posts and Stories cannot be edited for audio.
- To change Reel music, tap the three dots on your post, select Edit, then tap the music icon to choose a new track.
- Instagram's music library includes millions of songs, but availability varies by country and some songs may not be available in your region.
- Changing a Reel's music keeps all existing likes, comments, and shares — you don't lose engagement when you edit.
How to edit music on a Reel you've already posted
Open Instagram and go to your profile. Find the Reel you want to change and tap the three dots (the menu icon) in the top right corner of the post. A menu will appear with several options — select Edit. This opens the editing screen for that Reel.
Once you're in the edit screen, look for the music icon (it looks like a musical note). Tap it to open Instagram's music library. You can search for a specific song by typing the title or artist name, or you can browse through playlists and trending tracks. When you find the song you want, tap it to preview how it sounds with your video. If you like it, tap Done or the checkmark to confirm. Then tap Save at the bottom of the screen to explore the change to your posted Reel.
What happens to your post when you change the music
Your Reel stays in the same place on your profile and keeps the same caption, hashtags, and tagged people. All the likes, comments, and shares you've already received stay on the post — changing the music doesn't reset your engagement or make the post disappear from your followers' feeds.
The change takes effect when ready, so anyone who watches the Reel after you edit it will hear the new music. People who already watched it with the old music won't see a notification that you changed it, but if they watch it again, they'll hear the new track.
Why you might not see certain songs in the music library
Instagram's music library is large but not unlimited, and song availability depends on your location and licensing agreements. Some artists or record labels don't allow their music on Instagram, so those songs won't appear in the library even if they're available on Spotify or Apple Music. Independent artists sometimes upload their own music to Instagram's library, but not all of them do.
If you search for a song and it doesn't show up, try searching for the artist name alone, or look through playlists in your genre to find similar tracks. You can also check whether the song is available in your country — Instagram sometimes restricts certain music by region due to licensing rules.
Changing audio on regular posts and Stories
If you posted a regular video (not a Reel) with music or sound, you can't edit the audio after posting. Your only option is to delete the post and upload a new version with different music. The same applies to Stories — once a Story is published, you can't change its audio. You'd need to delete it and post a new Story instead.
To avoid this, check the audio before you post. Play back your video in full before hitting Share, and make sure the music or sound is what you want. If you're unsure about a song choice, save the post as a draft instead of publishing it right away, and come back to it later when you're certain.
Using music from your phone's files instead of Instagram's library
When you create a Reel, you can add music from Instagram's library or use audio that's already in your video file. If your video already has music or sound recorded on it, that audio will play when you post — you don't need to add anything from the library. However, if you want to replace that original audio with a different song, you'll need to use a video editor on your phone to swap the audio before you upload to Instagram.
Instagram doesn't let you upload your own music files directly from your phone's storage. If you have a song on your phone that you want to use, you'd need to edit it into your video using an app like CapCut, iMovie, or Adobe Premiere Rush before you post to Instagram. Once the audio is part of your video file, you can upload it as a Reel.
Troubleshooting when the Edit option doesn't appear
If you tap the three dots on a Reel and don't see an Edit option, it's usually because the post is a regular video or photo, not a Reel. Check whether the post has the Reel icon (a film strip or play button) in the corner. Only posts marked as Reels can be edited for music.
Another reason Edit might not appear is if you're looking at someone else's post. You can only edit your own posts. If you're on your profile and still don't see Edit, try closing the Instagram app completely and reopening it — sometimes the menu doesn't load properly on the first try.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change the music on a Reel someone else posted?
No, you can only edit posts on your own account. If you want to use a different song with someone else's video, you'd need to read the video (if they allow it), edit it yourself, and post it as your own Reel with proper credit to the original creator.
Will changing a Reel's music affect how many people see it?
Changing the music shouldn't hurt your reach, but it also won't boost it. Instagram's algorithm doesn't penalize edited posts, but it also doesn't give them a second push the way it does for new posts. Your Reel will continue to show up in feeds the same way it did before the edit.
What if the song I want isn't in Instagram's music library?
If a song isn't available, search for similar tracks by the same artist or in the same genre. You can also check whether the song is restricted in your country. If it's truly not available anywhere in Instagram's library, you'll need to use a different song or edit the audio into your video file before posting.
Can I remove the music from a Reel after posting it?
Yes, you can replace the music with silence or with a different track. When you edit the Reel and tap the music icon, you can select a silent or ambient track from the library, or choose a song with very little sound. There's no "remove all audio" option, but you can effectively mute a Reel by selecting quiet background music.