Connect your Spotify account to Instagram in three steps
You can link Spotify to Instagram so that songs you're listening to appear on your Instagram Story, and so you can share individual tracks or playlists directly to your feed. The connection happens through Instagram's settings, not through Spotify itself. Once linked, you'll see a music sticker option when you create a Story, and a share button when you play any song in Spotify.
The process takes about two minutes and requires that both apps are installed on your phone. Instagram and Spotify don't charge for this feature — it's built into both apps at no extra cost.
Key Takeaways
- You connect Spotify to Instagram through Instagram's settings, not the Spotify app, by going to Settings > Linked Accounts > Spotify.
- Once connected, a music sticker appears when you create a Story, letting you search for and add any song from Spotify's library.
- You can also share individual songs or playlists directly to your Instagram feed by tapping the share button inside the Spotify app.
- Your Spotify account name and listening history are visible to anyone who sees your Story or post unless you change your privacy settings.
- You can unlink the accounts at any time through the same Instagram settings menu, which stops new music posts but doesn't delete old ones.
How to link Spotify through Instagram Settings
Open Instagram and tap your profile icon in the bottom right corner. Then tap the three horizontal lines (the menu) in the top right, and select Settings and Privacy. Scroll down and tap Linked Accounts, then look for Spotify in the list. Tap it, then tap Connect. Instagram will ask you to log into your Spotify account — enter your Spotify username or email and password. Once you confirm, you'll see a green checkmark next to Spotify in the Linked Accounts menu.
If you don't see Spotify in the Linked Accounts list, make sure you're using the current version of Instagram. Check your phone's app store (Apple App Store or Google Play Store) and update Instagram if an update is available. You also need to be logged into an Instagram account that's at least a few days old — brand-new accounts sometimes can't link third-party apps when ready.
Adding a music sticker to your Instagram Story
After Spotify is linked, open Instagram and start creating a new Story by tapping the camera icon or swiping left from your home feed. Take a photo or video, or select one from your phone's camera roll. Then tap the sticker icon (it looks like a square smiley face) at the top of the screen. Scroll through the sticker options until you see Music, and tap it.
A search box will appear where you can type the song name, artist name, or album name. Spotify's library is enormous, so searching by artist name usually works fastest if you're not sure of the exact song title. Once you find the song you want, tap it. Instagram will add a music sticker showing the song title, artist, and a small album cover. You can resize and move the sticker around your Story before posting. The sticker will play a 15-second preview of the song when someone taps it.
Sharing songs directly from the Spotify app
You don't have to use Instagram Stories to share music — you can also post songs directly to your Instagram feed from Spotify. Open Spotify and play any song. Tap the three dots (more options) at the bottom right of the now-playing screen. Select Share, then tap Instagram Stories or Instagram Feed, depending on where you want the song to appear.
If you choose Instagram Feed, Spotify will open Instagram and let you add a caption and choose who can see the post before you publish it. If you choose Instagram Stories, the song will be added as a sticker similar to the method above. This route is faster if you're already listening to music and want to share what you're hearing right now.
What your followers see when you share music
When you add a music sticker to your Story, your followers see the song title, artist name, and album cover. They can tap the sticker to hear a preview of the song, and tapping again takes them to that song in Spotify (if they have the app installed). Your Spotify username appears on the sticker, so people know it's you sharing the music.
If you post a song to your Instagram feed, it appears as a card with the album cover, song title, and artist. Followers can tap it to listen on Spotify. Unlike Stories, feed posts stay on your profile permanently unless you delete them, so think about whether you want that song linked to your account long-term.
Privacy and what Spotify shares with Instagram
When you link Spotify to Instagram, Spotify shares your username and the songs you're actively listening to at the moment you create a Story or post. Spotify does not share your full listening history or your saved playlists automatically — only the specific song you choose to share. However, anyone who visits your Instagram profile and sees your past Stories or posts will know what music you've shared.
If you're concerned about privacy, you can change who sees your Stories in Instagram's privacy settings. You can also unlink Spotify from Instagram at any time by going back to Settings > Linked Accounts > Spotify and tapping Disconnect. This stops new music posts from being created, but it doesn't delete Stories or feed posts you've already published.
Troubleshooting common connection problems
If the Spotify option doesn't appear in Instagram's Linked Accounts menu, the most common cause is that one of the apps is out of date. Update both Instagram and Spotify through your phone's app store, then try again. If you're using an older phone or an older version of either operating system (iOS or Android), the feature may not be available — Spotify integration requires reasonably current software on both sides.
If you can connect but the music sticker doesn't appear when you create a Story, try closing and reopening Instagram. If that doesn't work, disconnect Spotify from Instagram's settings, wait 30 seconds, and reconnect. If you're still having trouble, log out of Instagram completely, log back in, and try linking Spotify again. These steps clear out temporary glitches that sometimes prevent the connection from working properly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I share music to Instagram if I use Spotify Free instead of Spotify Premium?
Yes. The ability to share songs to Instagram works on both free and paid Spotify accounts. The only difference is that Spotify Free users hear ads when they listen to music in the Spotify app, but sharing to Instagram is not restricted by account type.
What happens to my music posts if I unlink Spotify from Instagram?
Your old Stories will disappear after 24 hours (as all Stories do), but feed posts will stay on your profile. Unlinking just stops you from creating new music posts — it doesn't delete anything you've already published. The old posts will still show the song title and artist, but the interactive sticker won't work anymore.
Can people see my full Spotify listening history through Instagram?
No. Instagram only shows the specific songs you choose to share. Your saved playlists, your liked songs, and the rest of your listening history remain private unless you manually share them. Only the songs you actively post to Stories or your feed are visible to your followers.
Why does the music sticker only play a 15-second preview?
Instagram limits music stickers to short previews to avoid copyright issues. If someone wants to hear the full song, they tap the sticker and it takes them to Spotify, where they can listen to the complete track if they have a Spotify account.
Can I share music to Instagram if my account is private?
Yes. Your privacy setting (public or private) doesn't affect whether you can share music. It only affects who can see your Stories and posts — if your account is private, only your followers see your music shares.