How to Add a Custom Song to an Instagram Story

Adding the perfect song can completely transform your Instagram Story from a simple update to something memorable and engaging. This guide will show you exactly how to add audio, covering the official method using Instagram's built-in Music sticker and a simple workaround for adding any custom song or sound you want.

Using the Instagram Music Sticker: The Official Method

The easiest and most common way to add music to an Instagram Story is by using the Music sticker. This gives you instant access to a massive library of licensed songs from recording artists you know and love. It’s quick, legally sound, and perfectly integrated into the app.

The process is incredibly straightforward:

1. Create Your Story: Open the Instagram app and swipe right or tap your profile picture to open the Story camera. Take a new photo, record a video, or swipe up to select content from your camera roll.
2. Open the Sticker Tray: Once your media is ready, tap the sticker icon (the square smiley face) at the top of the screen.
3. Select the "Music" Sticker: In the sticker tray, find and tap the sticker labeled "MUSIC." This will open Instagram's music library.
4. Find Your Song: You can search for a specific track, artist, or album. You can also browse the "For You" section or look through genres and moods to find something that fits your vibe.
5. Choose Your Clip: After selecting a song, a timeline will appear at the bottom of the screen. You can slide this bar left and right to select the exact 15-second snippet you want to feature in your Story.
6. Customize the Look: Instagram offers several ways to display the music in your Story.
   • Lyrics: Some songs offer animated lyrics that appear on-screen. You can tap the different font styles to change their appearance and use the color wheel at the top to change the color.
   • Album Art Sticker: You can show the song's album art as a small square or a larger rectangle. Tap the sticker to cycle through the options.
7. Place and Share: Pinch to resize the sticker or lyrics, drag it to the perfect spot, and then tap "Your Story" to share it with your followers.

A Note for Business Accounts

If you have a Business account on Instagram, you might notice that the music library looks a bit different. Instead of popular songs by major artists, you’ll mostly find a library of royalty-free instrumental tracks in what’s called the Meta Sound Collection. Why? Licensing.

Commercial music licenses are incredibly complex, and Instagram provides this different library to protect businesses from copyright infringement lawsuits that could arise from using popular music in promotional content. While it can feel limiting, it’s a safeguard to help you stay compliant. The creative workaround method mentioned next might be a good option if you have the proper rights to a specific song you want to use for marketing.

The Workaround: How to Add Any Custom Song to Your Story

What if the song you want isn't in Instagram's library? Maybe it’s a track from an independent artist, a remix, a B-side, a movie soundbite, or even your own original music. In these cases, you need a different approach. This method involves adding the audio to your video *before* you upload it to Instagram.

Copyright Disclaimer: Before going further, it's important to remember copyright laws. Only use music that you have created yourself or have direct permission or a license to use. Using copyrighted material without the rights to do so can get your content taken down or lead to other penalties.

Method 1: The Simple (But Lower Quality) "Play It Loud" Technique

This is the fastest, lowest-tech way to get a custom sound onto your story. The idea is to play the music on an external speaker while you're recording your video inside the Instagram app.

1. Find another device like your laptop, a tablet, or a smart speaker. Cue up the song or audio clip you want to use.
2. Start playing the audio out loud at a decent volume.
3. Open the Instagram Story camera and start recording your video. Your phone's microphone will capture both the visual content and the music playing in the room.

This technique is great for a lo-fi, spontaneous feel, but the audio quality won't be as clean as other methods. You'll likely pick up background noise, and the music won't sound very rich. But for a quick, in-the-moment Story, it gets the job done.

Method 2: Using a Video Editing App for a Clean Sound

For high-quality, professional-sounding audio, your best bet is to use a mobile video editing app. This lets you layer your video and your custom audio track together perfectly, then upload the final product as one seamless Story.

There are many user-friendly apps available for this, such as CapCut, InShot, or VN Video Editor. The steps are generally the same no matter which one you choose.

Step 1: Get Your Media Files Ready

First, you need your content. Make sure you have both the video (or photo) you want to post and the `mp3` audio file saved directly on your phone. If the audio is on another device, transfer it over.

Step 2: Combine the Video and Audio

Here’s how you’d typically combine your files in a video editing app like CapCut:

• Start a New Project: Open the app and create a new project. Select the video or photo from your camera roll that you plan to post to your Story. If you’re using a photo, you’ll need to adjust its duration on the timeline to cover the amount of time you want the music to play (up to 60 seconds for a full Story segment).
• Add Your Audio: Find the option to "Add Audio" or "Music." Browse your phone's files to locate and import your custom song. The audio will appear as a separate layer on the editing timeline below your video.
• Sync and Trim: Drag the audio track left or right to align it with the video. Find the perfect moment in the song to start. Trim the audio clip so its length matches your video clip. Most apps make this easy by letting you drag the ends of the clip.
• Adjust Volume: If your original video has sound you want to remove, you can typically mute the video clip's audio, leaving only your new music soundtrack.
• Export Your Masterpiece: Once everything looks and sounds right, export the project. Make sure you save it in a 9:16 aspect ratio (standard vertical video) and at a high resolution. The app will save the final video to your camera roll.

Step 3: Upload the Final Video to Instagram

Now that you have a finished video file with your custom music embedded, the rest is easy.

1. Open Instagram Stories.
2. Swipe up to open your camera roll.
3. Select the video you just exported from your editing app.
4. This video already contains your audio, so you don't need the music sticker. You can now add other elements like text, GIFs, polls, or an @-mention. When you're happy with it, share it to your Story.

Going Beyond the Basics: Tips for Music in Stories

Simply adding a song is one thing, but using it effectively is what builds a better brand and creates stickier content. Here are a few ideas to try:

• Match the Mood: The most powerful use of music is to enhance the emotion of your content. A relaxing aural backdrop for a scenic shot, an upbeat anthem for a product launch, or a funny soundbite for a behind-the-scenes blooper all work to make your Story more immersive.
• Tell a Story with Lyrics: Use the lyrics feature of the Music sticker to highlight a certain phrase that aligns with your message. You can have the lyrics appear in sync with the song, adding a dynamic, attention-grabbing element to your visual.
• Create a Brand Sound Identity: If you're a business or creator, using your own distinct audio consistently can build brand recognition. This could be a unique jingle, a voice memo, or a specific audio snippet you add to updates.
• Give Official Credit: If you use the workaround method to feature music from an up-and-coming artist (with their permission, of course), don't forget to use a text sticker to tag their Instagram handle. It builds community and gives them deserved exposure.

Final Thoughts

Whether you're using Instagram's massive licensed library or getting creative with a custom track, adding music is one of the best ways to make your Stories more dynamic and reflective of your personality or brand. The built-in music sticker is perfect for quick, easy fun, while a video editing app gives you total control over the audio experience.

We know that managing modern social media - with all its formats like Stories, Reels, and TikToks - can feel like juggling. Creating high-effort content like a custom-sound Story is one thing, but planning a whole calendar of it is another. At Postbase, we designed our visual calendar and scheduling tools specifically for today's media formats. Planning ahead allows you to build a cohesive content strategy so you can spend less time stressing about what to post next and more time creating the content your audience loves.