How to Add Music to an Instagram Post

Adding the perfect song to your Instagram post can transform it from just another scroll-by into content that truly connects with your audience. This guide breaks down exactly how to add music to every type of Instagram content - from single-photo posts and Reels to carousels and Stories. We’ll also cover tips for choosing the right track and navigating common issues like music limitations for business accounts.

Why Bother Adding Music to Your Instagram Posts?

In a fast-moving feed, audio is one of the most powerful tools you have to stop the scroll. Music does more than just fill the silence, it injects personality, sets the mood, and captures attention instantly. A well-chosen track can make your content more memorable, more shareable, and more effective at telling your story.

• Boosts Engagement: Posts with music, especially Reels using trending audio, often see higher reach and engagement because they tap into current conversations and trends on the platform.
• Establishes Brand Vibe: The music you choose becomes a part of your brand identity. Whether it's upbeat and energetic, calm and reflective, or vintage and quirky, a consistent audio style helps your audience instantly recognize your content.
• Enhances Storytelling: Music can turn a simple photo slideshow into an emotional recap or a product video into an exciting launch. It's the emotional layer that visuals alone can't always provide.

How to Add Music to an Instagram Feed Post (Photo, Carousel, & Video)

Instagram finally rolled out the ability to add music directly to standard feed posts, including single images, multi-photo carousels, and video clips. This feature is a game-changer for bringing static content to life.

Here’s the step-by-step process:

1. Start Your Post: Open Instagram and tap the plus (+) icon at the bottom of the screen. Select “Post” to open your camera roll.
2. Select Your Media: Choose the single photo, multiple photos for a carousel, or a video you want to share. Tap “Next.”
3. Edit Your Visuals: Apply any filters or edits you’d like and then tap “Next” again.
4. Tap the Music Icon: On the final screen where you write your caption, you'll see an option to “Add Music.” It's typically located just below the “Add Location” option. Tap it.
5. Browse for a Song: This opens Instagram's music library. You can search for a specific track, artist, or genre using the search bar at the top. You can also explore curated suggestions in the “For You” tab or browse lists based on mood or genre in the “Browse” tab.
6. Select and Trim Your Clip: Once you find a song you like, tap on it. A timeline editor will appear at the bottom of the screen. You can slide the bar left or right to select the exact segment of the song you want to feature in your post. You can also tap the number icon (which defaults to '30') to choose a clip duration, typically between 5 and 90 seconds.
7. Finalize Your Post: After selecting your snippet, tap “Done.” You'll be returned to the caption screen. Write your caption, add your tags and location, and hit “Share.” Your post will now appear in the feed with your chosen music playing automatically.

Just like that, your static image post now has its own soundtrack, making it far more dynamic and engaging in the feed.

How to Add Music to an Instagram Reel

Reels are Instagram’s short-form video powerhouse, and music is the heart of what makes them work. Unlike feed posts where music is an add-on, audio is an integral part of the Reel creation process.

Using Trending or Saved Audio

The most effective way to gain reach with Reels is often by using trending audio. This helps your content get discovered by users who are engaging with that specific sound.

1. Find an Audio Clip: As you scroll through the Reels feed, pay attention to the audio other creators are using. If you see a sound with an upward-pointing arrow next to its name, it’s currently trending.
2. Use It or Save It: Tap on the song title at the bottom of the Reel. This will take you to the audio page. From here, you can tap “Use audio” to start creating your own Reel immediately or tap “Save audio” to keep it for later.
3. Access Saved Audio Later: When you're ready to create your Reel, open the Reels editor, tap the Audio icon (a music note), and then tap on “Saved” to find your collection of sounds.

Adding Music from the Library

If you have a specific song in mind, you can add it directly from the library.

1. Open the Reels Editor: Tap the plus (+) icon and select "Reel."
2. Select “Audio”: On the left side of the screen, tap the music note icon to open the audio library.
3. Search for Music: Similar to a feed post, you can search for a track or browse recommendations. You can also import audio from one of your own videos.
4. Choose Your Segment: Once you tap a song, you'll see the audio scrubber bar. Drag it to select the part of the song you want to use for your Reel. This is important for timing your video cuts to the beat.
5. Record or Upload Your Clips: With your audio selected, you can now record your video segments or upload them from your camera roll. The audio will play while you record, making it easier to line up actions or lip-sync.
6. Review and Share: After your video clips are ready, you can add text, stickers, and effects. On the final page, add your cover image, write your caption, and press “Share.”

How to Add Music to an Instagram Story

Instagram Stories offer another creative canvas for music, perfect for adding energy to everyday moments.

1. Open the Story Creator: Swipe right from your home feed or tap your profile picture with the plus icon.
2. Capture or Upload Content: Take a photo, record a video, or upload media from your gallery.
3. Open the Sticker Tray: Tap the sticker icon (the smiley face square) at the top of the editing screen.
4. Select the “Music” Sticker: Tap on the “Music” sticker to open the audio library.
5. Find Your Song: Search for your desired track or pick from one of the suggestions.
6. Customize the Sticker: After you select a song, you can customize how the sticker appears on your Story. You can choose to display the song lyrics (if available), the album art with the song title, or just a small, subtle box showing the track name. You can also use the slider bar at the bottom to choose the exact part of the song you want to play.
7. Position and Share: Drag the sticker to position it wherever you want on your Story, pinch to resize it, and tap “Your Story” to share it with your followers.

It's a simple process that adds a professional-feeling touch to even the most basic of Stories.

Troubleshooting: "Why Can't I Add Popular Music?"

This is one of the most common points of frustration, especially for brands and businesses. If you're struggling to find popular, chart-topping songs, you're not alone. The reason almost always comes down to your account type.

• Personal & Creator Accounts: These accounts have access to Instagram’s full licensed music library, featuring millions of popular songs from major artists. This is because they are designed for personal use and expression, where commercial use is not the primary intent.
• Business Accounts: Due to music licensing laws, Instagram Business accounts do not have access to the same library of commercial tracks. Doing so would violate copyright agreements, as businesses would be using the music for commercial gain (promoting a product or service). Instead, Business profiles have access to Meta’s Sound Collection, a massive library of royalty-free music and sound effects that are cleared for commercial use.

What's a Business to Do? Your Options

While you won’t find Taylor Swift in the royalty-free library, you still have great options:

1. Use the Meta Sound Collection: Don't dismiss it! It's a vast library with thousands of professional-quality tracks sorted by genre, mood, and pace. You can absolutely find something that fits your brand’s vibe.
2. Switch to a Creator Account: If your brand is more personality-driven (like a coach, influencer, or public figure) and you're not a traditional "business" (like a retail store or a SaaS company), switching to a Creator account might be a better fit. You'll get access to the full music library plus a few creator-specific analytics tools. Just be mindful of Instagram’s terms of use.
3. Use Original or Trending Audio on Reels: The rules are a bit different for Reels. Businesses can often use trending audio that was originally created or uploaded by another user, as this promotes platform engagement. This is the best way for businesses to tap into popular trends.
4. License Music Externally: Use a service like Epidemic Sound or Artlist to find high-quality, commercially licensed music. You can download the track, edit it into your video using a third-party app (like InShot or CapCut), and then upload the finished video to Instagram.

Final Thoughts

Adding music is one of the easiest yet most impactful ways to elevate your Instagram content. Whether it’s setting a mood on a beautiful photo, jumping on a trend with a Reel, or making a Story more dynamic, the right audio choice helps you create content that doesn't just get seen - it gets felt.

Once you get comfortable adding audio to your content, organizing it all becomes the next challenge. At Postbase, we built our visual calendar and scheduling tools specifically for today's content formats. After we got tired of fighting with older tools that felt clunky with video, we made it simple to upload your finished Reels and video posts, schedule them for the perfect time, and see your entire multi-platform strategy laid out in one clean view.