How to Add Background Music to an Instagram Post

Adding the right music to your Instagram post can transform it from a standard piece of content into a memorable one that stops the scroll. A well-chosen track can set a mood, grab attention, and even help your content reach a wider audience through trending audio. This guide provides a clear walkthrough on how to add background music to Instagram Stories, Reels, and standard video posts, whether you're using Instagram's library or your own audio.

Why Does Background Music on Instagram Matter So Much?

Before getting into the how-to, it’s worth understanding why this small step makes such a big impact. In an endless feed of content, audio is one of the most powerful tools for creating an emotional connection. Think of it like a movie soundtrack - it guides the viewer’s feelings and keeps them engaged.

• It Captures Attention Immediately: A familiar or trending song can make someone pause and pay attention in the first few seconds, which is all the time you have to make an impression.
• It Sets the Mood: Are you posting a cinematic travel video, a high-energy workout, or a relaxing cooking tutorial? The music instantly communicates the vibe before a single frame is fully processed.
• It Boosts Reach with Trending Audio: On Instagram Reels, the algorithm heavily favors content that uses popular sounds. Tapping into a trend by using the right audio can expose your post to thousands of people who don't already follow you.
• It Creates a Stronger Brand Identity: Consistently using a certain style of music can help define your brand’s personality, making your content instantly recognizable to your followers.

How to Add Music Directly in Instagram

Instagram has made it incredibly simple to add licensed music to your content through its massive library. The process varies slightly depending on whether you’re creating a Reel, a Story, or an in-feed video post.

Adding Music to an Instagram Reel

Reels are audio-driven, making music a fundamental part of the creation process. You can select your audio either before or after recording your clips.

Option 1: Choosing Music Before Recording

This method is great when you want to synchronize your video clips to a specific song.

1. Open the Instagram app and swipe right or tap the ‘+’ icon at the bottom and select Reel.
2. On the left-hand menu, tap the Audio icon (a musical note).
3. This opens Instagram’s music library. You can browse through the For You recommendations, see what’s trending, or use the Search bar at the top to find a specific artist or song title.
4. Once you tap on a song, you can listen to it. Use the slider bar at the bottom to scrub through the track and select the specific 15, 30, 60, or 90-second clip you want to use for your Reel.
5. Tap Done. The chosen audio will now be added to your Reel editor. As you record your clips, the music will play, helping you time your actions to the beat.

Option 2: Adding Music After Recording or Uploading

If you already have a video ready, you can easily lay a music track over it.

1. Open the Reel editor and either record your video clips or upload them from your camera roll.
2. Once your clips are in the timeline, tap the Audio icon from the menu at the top of the editing screen.
3. Search for and select your desired song, just as you would in the previous method.
4. After selecting your track, you'll be taken to the audio mixing screen. Here, you'll see two volume sliders: one for your Camera Audio (the sound from your original video) and one for the music you just added. This is incredibly useful - if your video includes you speaking, you can turn the music volume down to avoid overpowering your voice.
5. Adjust the volumes, tap Done, and finish editing your Reel.

Adding Music to an Instagram Story

Adding music to stories is done through a feature called "stickers." It's fast, easy, and offers a fun way to display lyrics.

1. Open the Instagram app and swipe right to open the Instagram Stories camera, or tap your profile picture with the ‘+’ icon.
2. Take a photo, record a video, or upload one from your camera roll.
3. Once your content is on the screen, tap the Sticker icon (a smiley face in a square) at the top.
4. In the sticker tray, select the Music sticker.
5. Browse or search for the song you want to add. Just like with Reels, you can select which part of the song you want to play by using the slider.
6. After choosing the segment of the song, you can customize how the sticker appears. Some songs have lyrics support, allowing you to show the lyrics on screen in different fonts and animations. If lyrics aren't available, you can choose from several sticker styles that show the song title and artist.
7. Drag the sticker to position it anywhere you want on your Story, pinch to resize it, and then share it.

Adding Music to an In-Feed Video Post

Instagram now also allows creators to add music from its library directly to regular, in-feed video posts (not Reels).

1. Tap the ’+’ icon at the bottom of the app and select Post.
2. Choose the video you want to upload from your gallery and tap Next.
3. On the editing screen, tap the Music icon at the top of the screen.
4. Search for and select a song from the library.
5. Choose the clip duration and the specific segment of the song you want to use, then tap Done.
6. Just like with Reels, a volume control screen will appear. You can adjust the balance between your original video audio and the background music you added.
7. Tap Next, write your caption, and share your post.

The Business Account Limitation: What You Need to Know

Have you opened the music library only to find a very limited selection of generic-sounding songs? This is a common issue for Business accounts. Due to music licensing agreements, Instagram cannot allow businesses to use popular, copyrighted music for commercial purposes - like promoting a product or service. Instead, they provide access to Meta’s Sound Collection, a library of royalty-free music and sounds that are safe for commercial use.

If you’re running a business and want to use better music, you have a few options:

• Switch to a Creator Account: Creator accounts have access to the full music library. If your Instagram presence is more about personal branding or content creation rather than a traditional business front, this switch might make sense for you. You still get access to analytics and creator tools.
• Use Royalty-Free Music from Third Parties: Create your video outside of Instagram using a video editor and add music you've licensed from a royalty-free service.
• Create Your Own Original Audio: If you use a custom sound or a voiceover in a Reel, it becomes "Original Audio." This is a great way to start your own trend and avoid licensing headaches altogether.

Using Third-Party Apps for More Creative Control

While Instagram’s built-in tools are convenient, they can be restrictive. For more professional and unique videos, many creators edit their content in third-party apps before uploading.

Popular Apps for Video Editing: CapCut, InShot, and Adobe Premiere Rush.

Using one of these gives you several advantages:

• Precise Editing: You can make much more precise cuts and align video clips perfectly to the beat of a song.
• Better Sound Mixing: You gain finer control over audio levels, fade-ins, and fade-outs.
• Use Your Own Licensed Music: If you subscribe to a service like Epidemic Sound or Artlist, you can use high-quality, unique tracks that aren't overused on Instagram.

The general workflow is simple:

1. Download your chosen music from your subscription service.
2. Import your video clips and the audio track into an app like CapCut.
3. Edit your masterpiece, synchronizing visuals to the audio.
4. Export the final video file to your phone.
5. Upload it to Instagram as a Reel or video post. Pro tip: Even after uploading, you can check Instagram for the official version of your background track. If it's available, add it and mute your "Camera Audio," as Instagram’s algorithm may favor use of its native audio library.

Tips for Choosing the Best Background Music

Knowing how to add music is only half the battle. Choosing the right music is what makes your content shine.

• Browse Trending Reels First: Before creating, spend 10 minutes scrolling the Reels feed. What songs keep popping up? Look for the little arrow icon next to the audio name, which indicates it's a trending sound. Using a currently popular audio can give your reach a serious lift.
• Match the Pace and Vibe: An energetic, fast-paced song works for a fitness Reel but feels jarring on a calm, aesthetic coffee-making video. A simple rule is to match the energy of the music to the energy of your visuals.
• Let the Lyrics Tell a Story: A song’s lyrics can add another layer of meaning or humor to your video. Find a track where the hook lyrically relates to what’s happening on screen for extra impact.
• Don't Be Afraid of Niche Sounds: Trending audio is great, but don't ignore music that perfectly fits your specific audience. Using a song that connects with your niche community can build a stronger bond than a generic pop hit.

Final Thoughts

Adding music is a simple but incredibly effective way to make your Instagram content more engaging, professional, and discoverable. Whether you're using Instagram's sticker for a quick Story or a full editing app for a cinematic Reel, mastering audio selection will immediately elevate the quality of your content.

Once your video is perfectly edited with the right soundtrack, getting it published is the final step. Creating a consistent content calendar with engaging video can feel demanding, which is where effective planning and scheduling come in. Our platform, Postbase, was designed from the ground up for modern video content like Reels and Shorts. You can easily schedule your videos across all your platforms from a single visual calendar, ensuring your content goes live exactly when it should - without wrestling with clunky tools or worrying if your post will actually publish on time.