How to Find Non-Licensed Music on Instagram

You’ve created the perfect Reel, but finding the right song without risking a copyright strike or having your audio muted feels nearly impossible. The wrong track can instantly get your content taken down, harming your reach and wasting all your hard work. This guide will walk you through exactly how and where to safely find non-licensed and royalty-free music, so you can focus on making great content without worrying about copyright flags.

Understanding Music Copyright on Instagram

Before looking for music, it helps to know what you're up against. Most popular songs you hear on the radio or on Spotify are protected by copyright. Using them without permission (a license) can get you in trouble. This is especially true for Business and Creator accounts, which Instagram holds to a higher standard because they're often using the platform for commercial purposes.

Here’s what can happen if you use copyrighted music you don't have the rights to:

• Your Video Gets Muted: The most common outcome. Instagram’s algorithm detects the song and silences the audio on your video.
• Your Video is Removed: In some cases, your Reel or Story might be completely removed for violating Community Guidelines.
• Your Account Gets Flagged: Repeated offenses can lead to account restrictions or even suspension.
• Geographic Blocking: The music might be licensed for use in some countries but not others, meaning your video will be blocked for audiences in specific regions.

The difference between a Personal and a Business/Creator account is significant here. Personal accounts have access to Instagram’s full music library, including major artists, for non-commercial use. Businesses and creators, however, have a much more limited library called the "Meta Sound Collection," which consists of tracks cleared for commercial use. It might seem restrictive, but it’s designed to protect you legally.

Option 1: Use Instagram’s Meta Sound Collection (The Safest Bet)

The easiest and most secure place to find non-licensed music is directly inside Instagram. The Meta Sound Collection is a library of thousands of royalty-free tracks and sound effects you can use in your Reels and Stories without a worry. If you have a Business or Creator account, this is the default library you see when you tap the music sticker.

How to Access and Use the Meta Sound Collection

Finding the right track is simple when you know your way around the library. Follow these steps:

1. Start a Reel or Story: Open the Instagram app and swipe right or tap the plus icon to start creating a new piece of content.
2. Open the Music Library: Once you've recorded or uploaded your clip, tap the music note icon at the top of the screen. This is your gateway to the audio library.
3. Browse and Search: You'll see two main sections: “Music” and “Original Audio.” Stick to the “Music” tab. Here, you’ll find a search bar at the top and curated sections like "For You" and "Browse."
4. Use the "Browse" Feature: The "Browse" section is your best friend for discovery. You can filter tracks by genre (like Pop, Hip Hop, or Ambient) or by mood (like Upbeat, Dreamy, or Bold). This is way more efficient than just searching for random words.
5. Preview and Select: Tap on any song to hear a preview. You can scrub through the track to find the perfect 15-, 30-, or 60-second snippet for your video. Once you’ve found it, tap "Done" to add it to your Reel.

While this library doesn’t have the latest chart-topping hit, it has a massive collection of high-quality instrumental and vocal tracks that can perfectly match the vibe of your content. Investing a few extra minutes in browsing a mood or genre is much smarter than grabbing a trending song that could get your video muted.

Option 2: Royalty-Free Music Subscription Services

If you're creating a high volume of video content and find Instagram’s native library too limiting, a royalty-free music subscription service is a fantastic investment. These platforms offer massive, studio-quality libraries of music and sound effects for a monthly or annual fee. Once you subscribe, you get the necessary licenses to use their tracks on social media, in ads, and on other platforms.

The key benefit here is quality and choice. The music on these sites is often composed by professional artists and sounds far more premium than generic freebie tracks. This is the secret weapon used by most successful YouTubers and content creators.

Here are a few of the most popular and trusted platforms:

• Epidemic Sound: Known for its huge, high-quality library and incredibly user-friendly search function. You can filter by genre, mood, tempo, and even find tracks with or without vocals. Their licensing is straightforward, covering social media, podcasts, and more.
• Artlist: Offers a massive catalog with a simple, all-inclusive license. Pay one fee, and you can download an unlimited number of tracks to use forever, even if you cancel your subscription later. They also have a collection of sound effects and stock footage.
• Soundstripe: Another top contender with a highly curated library. Their music is organized into playlists that make it easy to find what you're looking for, whether it’s a high-energy track for a fitness video or a calm melody for a tutorial.

How to Use Music from These Services

The workflow is a bit different but gives you more creative control:

1. Find Your Track: Search and browse the platform to find the perfect song for your video.
2. Download the Music: Download the MP3 or WAV file to your computer or phone.
3. Edit Your Video Off-Instagram: Use a video editing app like CapCut, InShot, VN Editor, Adobe Premiere Rush, or Final Cut Pro. Import your video clips and the downloaded music track.
4. Sync and Export: Edit your video to the rhythm of the music. This method allows you more precise control than the in-app editor.
5. Upload to Instagram: Upload the final video, with the music already baked in, directly to Reels. Since you have the license, you don't need to worry about copyright claims.

Option 3: Free Music Archives and Creative Commons Sources

If your budget is tight, there are places to find free music, but it requires a bit more care. Many of these sites rely on Creative Commons (CC) licenses, which are free to use but often come with specific rules you have to follow.

The most common rule is attribution, which means you have to credit the original artist in your post. Forgetting to do so is a violation of the license.

Here are a few reputable places to look:

• YouTube Audio Library: One of the best free resources. Found within your YouTube Studio, this library contains thousands of free songs and sound effects. You can filter by tracks that require attribution and those that don't.
• Pixabay Music: Pixabay offers a wide variety of royalty-free music that is safe for commercial use and doesn't require attribution, though crediting the artist is always appreciated.
• Free Music Archive (FMA): A huge repository of music, but it’s critical to check the license for each individual song. The FMA uses various Creative Commons licenses, and some may not be cleared for commercial use. Look for songs with a CC0 (Public Domain) or CC-BY (Attribution) license.

A word of caution: Always double-check the licensing details on these platforms. Just because a site is called "free" doesn't mean every track is cleared for a business's Instagram post. Reading the fine print for each song is your responsibility.

Option 4: Create or Commission Your Own Original Audio

The ultimate way to build a memorable brand on social media is to have a sound that is uniquely yours. Creating or commissioning original audio puts you in complete control and ensures you will never have a copyright issue.

There are a couple of ways to do this:

• DIY with Simple Tools: Apps like GarageBand (for Apple users) are surprisingly powerful and beginner-friendly. You can create simple loops, jingles, or background melodies without any musical expertise. Becoming the “creator” of an original audio on Instagram means others can use your sound, giving you free promotion every time they do.
• Commission a Musician: Platforms like Fiverr and Upwork connect you with freelance musicians and composers from around the world. For a reasonable fee, you can describe the exact sound you want, and they’ll create a custom track for you. A unique audio jingle can become an instantly recognizable part of your brand's video content.

This approach moves beyond simply finding "safe" music and transitions into strategic brand building. A signature sound makes your content stand out in a sea of sameness.

Final Thoughts

Finding non-licensed music for your Instagram content doesn't have to be a source of stress. Between Instagram's built-in Sound Collection, professional royalty-free services, and free archives, you have more options than ever to add the perfect soundtrack to your videos legally and safely. Choosing the right method depends on your budget, brand, and how much time you want to invest.

Ultimately, creating great social content is about balancing creativity with an efficient workflow. While you master the art of selecting the perfect, brand-safe audio, other parts of the management process can still feel chaotic. To help with the rest - like planning your videos on a visual calendar, scheduling them across every platform from one place, managing all your comments, and tracking your analytics - we built Postbase. Our goal is to streamline the entire social media management process, giving you back valuable time to focus on creating content that connects.