How to Find Copyright-Free Music on Instagram

Ever spent hours editing the perfect Instagram Reel, only to have its audio muted for a copyright violation minutes after posting? We’ve all been there. This guide gets straight to how you can find and use copyright-free music on Instagram, so your content gets the engagement it deserves without the risk of takedowns. We’ll cover everything from using Instagram’s built-in library (for both personal and business accounts) to sourcing unique tracks from outside the app.

Why Copyright Matters on Instagram (The Short Version)

You can’t just grab any popular song from Spotify and drop it into your video editor. Using licensed music without permission is copyright infringement, and Instagram's automated systems are designed to detect it instantly. Violating these rules can lead to a few serious headaches for creators and brands:

• Muted Audio: Your video will play in total silence, often accompanied by the dreaded warning, “Your video has been muted because it may contain music you don't have the rights to use.” The post remains live, but its impact is completely lost.
• Content Deletion: In more serious cases, Instagram may remove your post entirely. This usually happens after a direct complaint from the copyright holder or for repeated violations.
• Account Suspension (The Worst Case): If you consistently ignore copyright rules, Instagram might place a "strike" on your account or even suspend it permanently. For anyone building a brand or community, this is a catastrophic outcome.

Simply put, understanding how to source music properly isn’t just about following rules, it's about protecting the time and effort you pour into creating your amazing content.

The Easiest Method: Using Instagram’s Built-in Audio Library

The safest and most straightforward way to add music to your Reels and Stories is by using the library provided directly within the Instagram app. This music is licensed for use on the platform, meaning you won’t get hit with a copyright claim. Here’s a quick walkthrough on how to find and use it.

How to Access the Instagram Audio Library:

1. Open the Instagram app and tap the plus icon (+) at the bottom to create a new Reel or Story.
2. Record your video clips or upload them from your camera roll.
3. On the editing screen, tap the music note icon (or the "Audio" button). This will open the Music screen.
4. From here, you can browse trending songs in the "For You" tab or search for specific artists, tracks, or genres using the search bar.
5. Once you've found a song you like, tap on it. You can then use the slider at the bottom to select the exact 15, 30, 60, or 90-second clip you want to use in your video.
6. Tap "Done" to add it to your Reel or Story, adjust the volume levels between the camera audio and the music, and you're good to go!

The Big Catch: Personal vs. Business Accounts

Have you ever searched for a super popular, trending song in the audio library only to find… nothing? You’re not alone. This is the single biggest point of confusion for brands and creators, and the reason comes down to your account type.

• Personal & Creator Accounts: These accounts typically have access to the full music library, which includes millions of well-known songs from major artists like Taylor Swift, Drake, and Beyonce. That's because the music licensing agreements Meta (Instagram's parent company) has with record labels are intended for personal, non-commercial use.
• Business Accounts: These accounts have a much more limited music library. The library consists mostly of general, royalty-free production music from the “Meta Sound Collection.” You won’t find most chart-topping hits here. This is because businesses are using content for commercial purposes (to promote a product or service), and the licensing required for that is entirely different and much more expensive. Instagram protects itself - and you - by restricting access to protect against copyright lawsuits.

If you're wondering how to get popular audio on a business account, the next two sections break down your best options.

Option 1: Switching to a Creator Account

One of the most common workarounds for businesses struggling with the limited music library is to switch their profile from a Business Account to a Creator Account. Creator Accounts are designed for public figures, influencers, and artists, but many small businesses find they serve their needs perfectly well.

Benefits of Switching to a Creator Account:

• Full Music Access: This is the main reason to switch. Creator accounts almost always have access to the same massive library as personal accounts, letting you use popular and trending audio in your Reels.
• Flexible Profile Features: You still get access to professional analytics, contact buttons, and promotional tools, similar to a Business account.

How to Switch Your Account Type:

1. Go to your Instagram profile and tap the three horizontal lines in the top-right corner to open the menu.
2. Go to Settings and privacy >, Creator tools and controls.
3. Tap Switch account type near the bottom of the list.
4. Select Switch to Creator account and confirm.

Note: This switch is usually seamless, but it's a good idea to double-check that third-party apps connected to your Instagram still work as expected. Most modern scheduling and management tools are fully compatible with Creator accounts.

Option 2: Finding Cleared Music on Your Business Account

If switching to a Creator account isn’t an option for your brand, or if you prefer to stay on a Business profile, you can still find good music - you just have to know where to look.

Using the Meta Sound Collection Inside Instagram

The library available to Business Accounts is officially called the Meta Sound Collection. While it doesn't have pop songs, it contains thousands of high-quality tracks that are 100% cleared for commercial use. Treat it like a stock music library.

Tips for Finding Good Tracks:

• Use the "Browse" Feature: When you open the audio tab, tap the "Browse" section. Here you can filter tracks by genre (like Pop, Hip Hop, or Ambient) or by mood (like Bright, Uplifting, or Dramatic). This is much more effective than just searching randomly.
• Focus on a Vibe: Instead of searching for a specific song, search for a feeling. A search for “upbeat acoustic” or “chill lo-fi” will give you usable tracks that set the right tone for your video without infringing on copyright.
• Use "Original Audio": If you see another Business Account create a Reel with a great audio track you don't recognize, tap the scrolling track title at the bottom of their Reel. If it says "Original Audio," you can tap "Use Audio" to create your own Reel with that same sound.

Sourcing Your Own Music from Royalty-Free Libraries

For brands and creators who want complete control over their brand sound or need music for videos edited outside of the Instagram app, royalty-free music libraries are the perfect solution. "Royalty-free" doesn't necessarily mean "free of charge." It means you pay for a license once (either through a subscription or a single-track fee) and can use the music in your projects without paying ongoing royalties per view or play.

Pros of Using External Royalty-Free Music:

• Unique Sound: Your content won't be using the same overplayed trending audio as everyone else, helping your brand stand out.
• Brand Consistency: You can select a few consistent tracks or a specific style of music to build a recognizable audio brand for your followers.
• Legal Peace of Mind: These platforms provide clear licensing certificates that prove you have the right to use the music anywhere, including on paid ads and other social platforms.

Popular Royalty-Free Music Platforms:

• Artlist: A popular subscription-based service with an incredibly easy-to-use search filter. You pay a yearly fee for unlimited downloads from a huge library of high-quality music and sound effects. Great for serious content creators and marketers.
• Epidemic Sound: Another subscription champion, very popular with YouTubers, offering a huge catalog of tracks sorted by genre, mood, and even specific use-case (e.g., "Vlog Music").
• PremiumBeat (by Shutterstock): If you only need a track every now and then, this is a great pay-per-track option. You can buy individual licenses for top-tier production music.
• YouTube Audio Library: Inside YouTube Studio, there's a surprisingly robust library of music and sound effects that you can use completely free of charge, even in monetized content. Just make sure to check if a specific track requires "attribution" (giving credit to the artist in your description).

Final Thoughts

Navigating music copyright on Instagram boils down to knowing your options. You can use Instagram's own diverse audio library by choosing a Creator account for broader access, stick with the commercially-safe Meta Sound Collection on a Business account, or source unique audio from external royalty-free platforms for a distinct brand sound. Whatever path you choose, being mindful of licensing isn't a restriction - it’s just another part of building a professional and sustainable presence online.

Planning your content is half the battle, and finding the right audio is a big part of that. At Postbase, we built our tool for how creators actually make content today, especially short-form video. Since we support video natively for Reels and TikToks, you can upload videos with pre-edited royalty-free music and schedule everything ahead of time from one beautiful, consolidated calendar. This takes the chaos out of managing multiple accounts so you can spend less time juggling apps and more time creating standout content. You can try our visual scheduler for free at Postbase and see how much simpler your workflow can get.