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How to Add a Song to Your Instagram Post: The Definitive Guide

Adding music to your Instagram posts elevates them from static images or videos to dynamic, engaging experiences. It’s a powerful tool for expressing mood, adding context, and even driving engagement. To add a song to your Instagram post, follow these simple steps, which vary slightly depending on the type of post you’re creating:

Start Creating Your Post: Open Instagram and tap the “+” icon at the bottom of the screen to create a new post. Choose whether you want to create a Feed Post, Story, or Reel.
Upload or Capture Your Content: Upload an existing photo or video from your gallery, or capture a new one directly within the Instagram app.
Access the Music Feature: The way you access the music feature depends on the type of post:
- For Stories: After uploading or capturing your content, tap the sticker icon at the top of the screen. Select the “Music” sticker.
- For Reels: After capturing or uploading your video in the Reels editor, tap the “Music” icon (a musical note) on the left side of the screen.
- For Feed Posts: Unfortunately, Instagram doesn’t currently allow adding music directly to regular feed posts before posting. However, you can add music to your video through a third-party app before uploading it to Instagram.
Browse and Select Your Song: A music library will appear. You can browse through popular songs, search for a specific artist or track using the search bar, or explore different genres.
Choose Your Snippet: Once you’ve found the song you want to use, you can select the specific portion of the song you want to play in your post. Typically, you’ll have control over a slider to choose the starting point and duration (usually up to 15 seconds).
Customize Your Music Sticker (Stories Only): For Stories, you can customize the appearance of the music sticker. You can choose to display the song title and artist, the album art, or even just a lyric display. You can also adjust the sticker’s size and placement on your Story.
Adjust Volume: In some cases, particularly with Reels, you might be able to adjust the volume of the music and the original audio of your video. This lets you balance the music so it doesn’t overpower your speaking or other sounds in the video.
Post Your Content: Once you’re happy with your music selection and placement, continue editing your post (adding captions, hashtags, etc.) and then post it!

Understanding Instagram Music Limitations and Alternatives

It’s crucial to remember that Instagram’s music library is governed by copyright laws. This means that the music available to you may vary depending on your location and the type of account you have (personal vs. business). Business accounts sometimes have more restricted access due to licensing agreements. Also, you can’t add the music to the Feed post directly.

If you’re facing limitations with Instagram’s music library, consider these alternatives:

Using Third-Party Video Editing Apps: Apps like InShot, CapCut, and Adobe Premiere Rush allow you to add music to your videos before uploading them to Instagram as a feed post. These apps often have their own libraries of royalty-free music or allow you to import your own tracks.
Creating Original Music: If you’re musically inclined, consider creating your own music. This guarantees you full control and avoids any copyright issues.
Using Royalty-Free Music Libraries: Several online libraries offer royalty-free music that you can use in your Instagram content without worrying about copyright infringement. Examples include Epidemic Sound, Artlist, and PremiumBeat.

Mastering Music for Instagram Reels

Reels are a powerful tool for reaching a wider audience on Instagram, and music is a key component of their success. Here are a few extra tips for using music effectively in your Reels:

Trends are Your Friend: Pay attention to trending songs and audio clips on Instagram. Using popular sounds can significantly increase the visibility of your Reel.
Sync Your Visuals to the Beat: Editing your video to the beat of the music can create a more engaging and visually appealing experience.
Use Original Audio Wisely: If you’re using your own voiceover or sound effects in your Reel, make sure to balance the volume with the music so that both are clearly audible.
Experiment with Different Genres: Don’t be afraid to try out different genres of music to see what resonates with your audience.
Add Lyrics for Engagement: Displaying lyrics on screen can make your Reels more interactive and engaging, encouraging viewers to sing along or tap to see more.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Why can’t I find the music sticker on Instagram Stories?

The music sticker might be unavailable due to a few reasons. First, ensure your Instagram app is updated to the latest version. Second, the feature might not be available in your region due to licensing restrictions. Also, if you’re using a business account, you might have limited access compared to personal accounts.

2. Can I add music to existing Instagram posts?

Unfortunately, no. You can only add music when creating a new Story or Reel. For feed posts, you’ll need to add the music using a third-party app before uploading.

3. How long can the music clip be on an Instagram Story?

The length of the music clip in an Instagram Story depends on the length of the Story itself. If your Story is 15 seconds or less, you can use the full 15 seconds for music. For longer Stories, you can still only select a 15-second clip.

4. How do I change the song after posting an Instagram Story?

You cannot change the song after posting an Instagram Story. You’ll need to delete the Story and recreate it with the desired music.

5. Can I use my own music on Instagram?

If you own the rights to the music, you can use it. If not, you’ll need to use royalty-free music or obtain the necessary licenses to avoid copyright infringement. Upload your original music via a third-party app and then import it into your video before uploading to Instagram.

6. Why is Instagram music not working on my phone?

Possible reasons include an outdated Instagram app, a poor internet connection, regional restrictions, or a bug in the app. Try updating the app, checking your internet connection, and restarting your phone. If the problem persists, contact Instagram support.

7. Can I add music to carousel posts on Instagram?

No, Instagram doesn’t allow you to add music directly to carousel posts. You’ll need to add the music to the video elements within the carousel using a third-party app beforehand.

8. How do I find trending music on Instagram Reels?

Instagram often highlights trending music within the Reels editor. Look for songs with a trending arrow icon or those featured prominently in the music library. Also, pay attention to the songs being used by popular creators.

9. Will adding music to my Instagram post affect my reach?

Using trending music can potentially increase your reach, as it can help your content be discovered by more users. However, the quality of your content and its relevance to your audience are also important factors.

10. What happens if I use copyrighted music without permission?

Instagram has algorithms that detect copyrighted music. Your post might be muted, removed, or your account could face penalties, especially if you’re a business account. It’s always safer to use royalty-free music.

11. How can I adjust the volume of the music in my Instagram Reel?

Within the Reels editor, tap the music icon. This usually brings up volume controls where you can adjust the volume of the music and the original audio of your video separately.

12. Can I use music from Spotify or Apple Music on Instagram?

No, you cannot directly use music from Spotify or Apple Music within Instagram. These services have different licensing agreements. You need to use music directly from Instagram’s library or add music through a third-party app that allows you to use music you have the rights to.