Table of Contents

How to Add Music to an Existing Instagram Post: A Comprehensive Guide

Unfortunately, you cannot directly add music to an existing Instagram post after it has been published. Instagram doesn’t offer a feature to edit the audio of a post once it’s live. Your best bet is to delete the original post and re-upload it with the desired music. This involves saving the original content (photo or video), crafting a new post, and adding your chosen tune during the creation process.

Understanding Instagram’s Music Policy

Instagram’s music integration is cleverly designed, but with some limitations you need to understand before diving in. The platform primarily intends for music to be added during the initial creation of a post. This allows for proper licensing agreements and user experience optimization. Trying to circumvent this policy by adding music after the fact is not possible within the Instagram app itself.

Step-by-Step: Re-uploading with Music

Since direct editing isn’t an option, let’s walk through the process of re-uploading your content to include music:

Save Your Original Content: Before deleting, ensure you have the original photo or video saved to your device’s camera roll. For videos, this is straightforward. For photos, take a screenshot if you don’t have the original on your phone.
Delete the Original Post: Navigate to the post you want to add music to. Tap the three dots in the top right corner and select “Delete.” Confirm your decision.
Create a New Post: Tap the “+” icon at the bottom of the screen to create a new post.
Select Your Content: Choose the photo or video you saved earlier from your camera roll.
Edit (Optional): Apply any desired filters or make other adjustments to your content.
Add Music: This is the crucial step.
- For photos, tap “Add Music” on the post creation screen (often found at the bottom or accessible via the “Edit” option).
- For videos, the music option appears directly on the post creation screen.
- Search for your desired song in the Instagram music library.
- Select the portion of the song you want to use.
Write a Caption and Add Hashtags: Craft an engaging caption and include relevant hashtags to reach a wider audience.
Post: Tap “Share” to publish your new post with music.

Workarounds and Alternative Strategies

While directly adding music to existing posts isn’t possible, there are a few workarounds to consider. These aren’t perfect solutions, but they might be suitable depending on your specific needs:

Reposting with a Screen Recorder

This method involves using a screen recorder app on your phone to capture the original post playing with added music from another source. This is a bit clunky but can work in a pinch.

Find a music app such as Spotify, Apple Music, or Youtube Music, and choose the song you want to add to the existing Instagram post.
Play the music in the app.
Find your Instagram post while playing the music.
Use a screen recording app to record the Instagram post and the music.
Trim and upload the recorded video to Instagram.

Third-Party Video Editors

You can use third-party video editing apps on your phone or computer to add music to a downloaded version of your Instagram post. Once edited, you can upload it as a new post. Apps like CapCut, InShot, or Adobe Premiere Rush are good choices.

Download your original video using a third-party downloader.
Upload the video into a video editor like CapCut, InShot, or Adobe Premiere Rush.
Select the music you want to add to your video.
Adjust the volume of the video and music so both can be heard clearly.
Upload the video with the music to Instagram.

Considerations for Deleting and Re-uploading

Deleting a post, even to re-upload it with music, has implications:

Loss of Engagement: You’ll lose all likes, comments, and shares associated with the original post.
Timing Matters: Re-posting at a similar time to the original can help recapture some of the initial reach.
Notify Your Followers: Consider adding a story or a new post explaining that you’ve re-uploaded the content with music, especially if it was a popular post.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Can I edit an Instagram post after posting?

You can edit the caption, tag people, add location, or add alt text, but you cannot edit the audio or video itself once the post is live.

2. Why can’t I add music to my Instagram post directly?

Instagram’s design doesn’t allow for direct audio editing of existing posts due to licensing and copyright restrictions.

3. Will I lose my likes and comments if I delete and re-upload my post?

Yes, you will lose all engagement (likes, comments, shares) when you delete a post.

4. What if I don’t have the original photo or video anymore?

If you don’t have the original video, you can screen record it and re-upload. If it’s a photo, take a screenshot. The quality might be slightly reduced, but it’s better than nothing.

5. Are there any apps that can add music to existing Instagram posts?

No apps can directly add music to an existing post on Instagram without deleting and re-uploading. However, video editing apps (like CapCut or InShot) can help you add music to a downloaded version of the post, which you then re-upload.

6. Can I add music to an Instagram Reel after posting?

Fortunately, yes! Instagram Reels allow you to edit and add audio after posting, a feature not available for regular posts.

7. What music can I use on Instagram?

You can use music from Instagram’s licensed music library or original audio you create yourself. Be careful when using copyrighted music from other sources, as Instagram may remove your post or mute the audio.

8. Why is the music I want not available in the Instagram music library?

The availability of songs in the Instagram music library depends on licensing agreements with music labels and artists. Some songs may not be available in certain regions or at all.

9. How do I avoid copyright issues when adding music to Instagram?

The best way to avoid copyright issues is to use music from Instagram’s licensed library or create your own original audio.

10. Is it better to post at the same time when re-uploading the content?

Yes, re-posting at a similar time to the original post can help you recapture some of the initial reach and engagement.

11. What is the best way to notify my followers that I re-uploaded a post?

Create a story or a new post mentioning that you’ve re-uploaded the content with music. This helps inform your followers and encourages them to re-engage with the content.

12. Does adding music to my Instagram posts improve engagement?

Yes, often! Music can make your posts more engaging and appealing to viewers, potentially leading to increased likes, comments, and shares. The right music can significantly enhance the mood and impact of your content.