Adding Music to Your Instagram Posts: A Comprehensive Guide

Want to elevate your Instagram game and inject some energy into your content? Adding music is the secret weapon you need. You can add music to your Instagram Stories, Reels, and even your Feed posts using a simple, built-in feature. Just tap the music icon when creating your content and browse Instagram’s extensive music library, or use your own.

Understanding the Basics: Music Across Instagram Formats

Instagram has fully embraced the power of music to enhance user engagement. Let’s dive into how you can add those sweet tunes to each type of post:

Instagram Stories: Setting the Scene

Instagram Stories are designed for ephemeral content, and music is the perfect way to add a temporary vibe.

1. Create Your Story: Start by capturing a photo or video within the Instagram app, or upload one from your camera roll.
2. Access the Music Sticker: Tap the sticker icon (the square smiley face) at the top of the screen.
3. Select the Music Sticker: Look for the “Music” sticker in the sticker menu.
4. Browse or Search: You can browse trending songs, explore categories (like mood or genre), or search for a specific track by artist or title.
5. Choose Your Clip: Once you’ve found your song, select the portion you want to use. Instagram lets you choose a specific 5-15 second clip.
6. Customize the Appearance: Customize how the song title and artist appear on the screen. You can choose different fonts, colors, and display styles.
7. Position and Resize: Drag the music sticker to place it where you want it on your Story, and pinch to resize it.
8. Post Your Story: Tap “Your Story” at the bottom left to share it with your followers.

Instagram Reels: The Soundtrack to Viral Success

Reels are all about short-form, engaging video content, and music is absolutely essential.

1. Open Reels: Navigate to the Reels tab (the clapperboard icon) at the bottom of the Instagram app.
2. Record or Upload: Record a new video directly within the Reels interface, or upload a video from your camera roll.
3. Add Music Before or After Recording: You can tap the music icon at the top of the screen before you start recording, or after you’ve captured your video.
4. Browse or Search: As with Stories, browse trending songs, categories, or search for a specific track.
5. Choose Your Clip: Select the portion of the song you want to use.
6. Adjust Audio Levels: You can adjust the relative volume of the music and the original sound from your video. This is crucial for balancing your audio.
7. Add Other Effects: Enhance your Reel with text, stickers, filters, and other effects.
8. Share Your Reel: Add a caption, hashtags, and choose whether to share it to your Feed. Then, tap “Share.”

Instagram Feed Posts: Adding Music (Indirectly)

While you can’t directly add music within a static Instagram feed photo post the way you can with Stories and Reels, there are a few workarounds.

1. Create a Video Instead: The most effective method is to convert your photo into a short video clip (even a still image displayed for a few seconds). You can then use Instagram Reels or a third-party video editing app to add music to this video.
2. Use Third-Party Apps: Apps like InShot, CapCut, and others allow you to create videos with music and then post them to your feed.
3. Consider Copyright: Ensure the music you use is licensed appropriately or that you have permission to use it.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Sometimes, adding music doesn’t go as smoothly as planned. Here are some potential problems and how to fix them:

• Music Sticker Not Showing Up: This is often due to using a business account. Check if you have a business account and if this is the case, you will have limited Music library. You can try switching to a personal account (temporarily) to access the full library, but note that this might affect other features.
• Music Not Available in Your Region: Instagram’s music library varies by region due to licensing agreements. If a song isn’t available in your country, you won’t be able to use it. Using a VPN does not resolve this issue as Instagram is able to detect your true region based on your account’s registration details.
• Copyright Issues: Instagram is strict about copyright. Using copyrighted music without permission can result in your post being muted or removed. Stick to music from Instagram’s library, or obtain the necessary licenses.
• App Glitches: Sometimes, the issue is simply a bug in the Instagram app. Try closing and reopening the app, or updating it to the latest version.

12 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Adding Music to Instagram

Here are some frequently asked questions with detailed answers to further clarify the process.

1. Can I use my own music on Instagram?

Yes, but with limitations. For Reels, you can upload your own original audio. For Stories, you must use a third-party app to add your music to the video before uploading it to Instagram. Feed posts require the same third-party app approach, effectively creating a video with your music.

2. Why can’t I find certain songs on Instagram Music?

Music availability on Instagram is dependent on licensing agreements, which vary by region. Certain songs may be unavailable in your country due to these agreements.

3. How do I change the song after I’ve already selected it?

In Stories and Reels, you can simply tap the “Music” sticker or icon again. This will bring you back to the music selection screen, where you can choose a new song. Remember to delete the previous song you choose, if it is still there.

4. How long can my music clip be?

For Stories, music clips can be between 5 and 15 seconds long. For Reels, the clip length depends on the overall length of your Reel, but can be anything between a few seconds and the total length of your reel.

5. Can I add lyrics to my Instagram Story?

Yes! When you select a song in your Story, some songs will automatically display the lyrics. You can choose different lyric styles and customize their appearance. This feature depends on whether lyrics are available for the specific song in Instagram’s library.

6. How do I adjust the volume of the music relative to my video?

In Reels, after adding music, you’ll see an “Audio control” option. Tap it to adjust the volume of the music and the original audio from your video independently. Ensure that the volume of music is not drowning out your video content.

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

Instagram is strict about copyright. Using copyrighted music without permission can lead to your post being muted, removed, or even your account being penalized. Always use music from Instagram’s library or obtain the necessary licenses for any copyrighted tracks.

8. Can I add music to multiple slides in my Instagram Story?

Yes. The most common method is to simply add one music sticker to each individual Story slide. This way, the song restarts and aligns with the change of scene.

9. Is it possible to create my own audio and use it as music for my Instagram Reels?

Yes! If you’ve created your own original music, you can upload it to Instagram. When creating a Reel, select the “Audio” tab, then select “Import Audio,” and then choose the audio file to import from your phone.

10. Can I save a Reel with music to my camera roll?

Yes, you can save a Reel with music to your camera roll. However, depending on the settings, the saved video might not always include the music due to copyright restrictions or other limitations. Also, be wary of watermarks if you use a 3rd party app to create your video.

11. My music sticker is missing. How do I get it back?

First, make sure you’re using the latest version of the Instagram app. If the sticker is still missing, try clearing the app’s cache and data (this might require you to log back in). If that doesn’t work, consider uninstalling and reinstalling the app. If problems persist, contact Instagram support.

12. How do I find trending music on Instagram for my Reels?

The Reels audio selection screen usually highlights trending songs and audio clips. Look for the “Trending” section or the trending arrow icon next to songs. Experiment with different sounds to discover what resonates with your audience.

By understanding the nuances of adding music to different Instagram formats and troubleshooting common issues, you can unlock a powerful tool to elevate your content and captivate your audience. Experiment, be creative, and let the music speak!