How to Change Music After Posting on Instagram

You've crafted the perfect Instagram Reel. The edits are crisp, the story is compelling, and you hit publish. Then you hear it - the wrong song, a sound that doesn't quite fit, or an audio clip that suddenly feels off-brand. That sinking feeling is instantly followed by a frantic search for an edit music button that, as you've probably discovered, doesn't exist. This guide will walk you through exactly what you can - and can't - do about the audio on a post that's already live and give you the best strategies to fix it without losing your hard work.

The Straight Answer: Can You Change Music on an Instagram Post?

Let's get this out of the way first: No, you cannot directly edit or change the music on an Instagram Reel, video, or photo post once it has been published. Instagram doesn't offer a feature to swap out the audio track while preserving the original post's likes, comments, and shares. Once a post is live, its core components, including the video file and its associated audio, are locked in.

There are a few reasons for this limitation, primarily related to music licensing agreements and technical complexity. Music rights are tied to a piece of content at the moment of creation, and allowing users to swap audio tracks later would create a tangle of licensing issues. From a technical standpoint, replacing just the audio stream of a rendered video file on a massive scale is far more complicated than simply editing a caption.

But don't worry. Just because there isn't an "edit audio" button doesn't mean you're stuck. You have effective workarounds that can solve the problem.

Your Best Solution: The Delete and Repost Strategy

The most effective and common solution is to save your video, delete the original post, and re-upload it with the correct music. While it might sound daunting to delete a post that's already gaining traction, doing it quickly minimizes any loss in momentum. Following these steps precisely will make the process smooth and painless.

Step 1: Save Your Video and Preserve Your Content

Before you do anything else, you need to secure your original video and its accompanying text. Time is of the essence, so move through this step as soon as you spot the mistake.

• Save a Backup of Your Original Video File. The best-case scenario is that you still have the final, edited video saved on your phone's camera roll - before you uploaded it to Instagram. This clean version (without any logos or watermarks) is the ideal file to work with.
• What if you don't have the original? If you didn't save the video beforehand, you can download the Reel from Instagram. Tap the three dots on your Reel and select "Download." Be aware: if you used licensed music from Instagram's library, the video will download without any sound to comply with copyright rules. The goal here is just to save the visual component.
• Copy Your Caption and Hashtags. Tap the three dots (...) on your post, select "Edit," and then copy the entire caption and all your hashtags. Paste it into a notes app on your phone for easy access later. This saves you from having to rewrite everything from memory.
• Screenshot Your Engagement (Optional but Recommended). If the post has already racked up some likes and comments you want to remember, take a quick screenshot. This is also useful for tracking performance metrics if you're a business or creator.

Step 2: Delete the Original Post

Once you've saved your video and copied your caption, it's time to remove the post with the wrong music. Navigate to the post, tap the three-dot menu icon in the top-right corner, and tap "Delete." Instagram will ask you to confirm. Remember, this action is permanent, which is why saving your content first is so important.

You can also choose "Archive," which hides the post from your profile but doesn't permanently delete it. However, to re-upload it correctly, deleting is the cleanest path forward.

Step 3: Re-upload with the Right Music

Now you're ready to post it again, this time with the perfect soundtrack. The process is the same as uploading any Reel or video post.

1. Open the Instagram app and start the creation process for a new Reel.
2. Select the video you saved to your camera roll in Step 1.
3. Tap the music icon to open Instagram's audio library. This is your chance to find the audio that you originally wanted. You can search for a specific song, browse trending sounds, or choose from your saved audio.
4. Adjust the clip of the song to match your video's timing perfectly.
5. Paste your original caption and hashtags from your notes app.
6. Review everything one last time, making sure the audio and visuals align perfectly, and tap "Share."

By acting fast, you can often re-upload within minutes of the original post, and your followers may not even notice the change. You get the benefit of a perfectly scored video without disrupting your content flow.

Creative Alternatives if You Absolutely Cannot Delete Your Post

Sometimes, deleting isn't an option. Maybe the post is part of a timed brand collaboration, it's already gone viral, or it has received comments so meaningful that you can't bear to lose them. In these specific situations, you can't change the music, but you can reframe the context a bit.

Method 1: Pin a Comment to Address the Music

A simple and human approach is to acknowledge the audio choice in the comments. You can add a comment explaining the situation and then pin it to the top so it's the first thing viewers see.

Example: "Well, I definitely picked the wrong audio for this moment! 😂 Imagine it with 'Good Days' by SZA instead. That's the real vibe I was going for!"

This approach shows authenticity and lets you connect with your audience over a small, relatable mistake.

Method 2: Edit the Caption

Similar to pinning a comment, you can add an edit to the top of your caption to redirect the viewer's attention or make a joke about the music choice. Just add a line at the beginning like:

"[EDIT: Realized the music is a bit off! Let's pretend it's a silent film, shall we?]"

This works well if you want the clarification to be part of the post itself rather than a separate comment.

Method 3: Share to Your Story with the Correct Music

This is a clever way to present your video with the right music without touching the original post. Here's how:

1. Go to your Reel and tap the "Share" icon (the paper plane).
2. Select "Add to story."
3. Once in the Story editor, tap the speaker icon at the top to mute the Reel's original audio.
4. Next, tap the sticker icon and select the "Music" sticker.
5. Search for the song you actually wanted to use and add it to your Story.

This creates a new piece of content that lasts for 24 hours, pairing your awesome video with its intended soundtrack. You can even add text like, "The audio this video deserved!" to drive the point home.

How to Prevent This from Happening Again

The best long-term strategy is to build a content creation process that minimizes last-minute mistakes. A little bit of planning goes a long way.

Always Use Drafts

Instagram's "Save Draft" feature is your best friend. Instead of rushing to publish, save your completed Reel as a draft. This gives you a chance to step away and review it later with fresh eyes and ears. You can watch it back a few hours later and confirm the video, caption, and music are all exactly as you want them before it goes live.

Listen Beyond the First Few Seconds

Many trending sounds are popular for just a short, catchy clip. Before you finalize your audio choice, listen to the entire portion Instagram lets you select. Check the lyrics and overall vibe to be sure it matches your video from beginning to end and aligns with your brand's voice.

Keep Your Original Files Organized

Make a habit of keeping a clean, watermark-free version of every video you create. Whether it's saved on your phone, a hard drive, or cloud storage, having immediate access to your original assets makes a quick delete-and-repost strategy completely stress-free.

Final Thoughts

While you can't directly swap the audio on an Instagram post after publishing, you have a clear and effective solution: saving your content, deleting the original, and reposting with the correct music. For the rare times that's not possible, using comments or Stories lets you creatively manage the situation.

Planning ahead is the ultimate way to avoid a music muddle. We designed Postbase to streamline this entire process. Using our visual calendar, you can plan, schedule, and review all your content - including Reels and TikToks - long before they're set to publish. This gives you and your team the space to catch small mistakes, like a mismatched audio track, ensuring that what goes live is always your best work.