How to Find Sounds on Instagram

Finding the right audio for your Instagram Reel isn't a small detail - it's a massive part of the strategy. A trending sound can dramatically increase your reach, connect with new audiences, and make your content feel timely and relevant. This guide will walk you through several methods for discovering the perfect audio, from simple browsing within the app to more advanced strategies for spotting trends before they peak.

Why Does Audio Matter So Much on Instagram?

Before jumping into the "how," it's helpful to understand the "why." Audio is one of the most powerful signals you can send to the Instagram algorithm. When you use a sound that's trending, you're essentially telling the platform, "My content is part of a larger conversation happening right now." Instagram then has an incentive to show your Reel to people who have already engaged with other videos using that same sound.

But it's not just about the algorithm. Audio does three key things for your content:

• It Sets the Vibe: The right track instantly communicates the mood of your video - whether it's funny, inspirational, educational, or motivational.
• It Grabs Attention: A popular or catchy sound can stop a user mid-scroll. The first few seconds are everything, and a familiar tune provides a hook.
• It Creates a Meme Format: Many trends are built around specific audio clips. Using the sound allows you to participate in that trend, reinterpreting it for your own business or niche in a way that feels instantly recognizable to viewers.

Method 1: The 'On-the-Ground' Approach - Find Sounds From Your Feed

The most organic way to find current, popular audio is by simply scrolling through your Instagram Reels feed. This is your primary source for what's active and engaging in real-time. The key is to scroll with intention, not just passively consume.

How to Spot and Save Trending Audio

As you browse Reels, keep an eye out for sounds you hear repeatedly. Repetition is the first sign of a trend. Here's what to look for and how to act on it:

1. Look for the Trending Arrow: Some trending sounds will have a small, diagonal upward-pointing arrow next to the audio name at the bottom of the Reel. This is Instagram's official indicator that a sound is gaining momentum. See this? Pay attention.
2. Tap the Audio Name: At the bottom left of any Reel, you'll see the name of the sound or song. Tap it. This will take you to the audio's main page.
3. Check the Audio Page: On this page, you can see how many Reels have been created with that specific sound. While there's no magic number, a track with tens of thousands of uses (or hundreds of thousands) is likely at its peak. A sound with just a few thousand might be on its way up, giving you a chance to be an early adopter.
4. Save, Don't Forget: The most important step! See a sound you like? Don't assume you'll remember it later. Tap the "Save Audio" button at the top of the audio page. This adds it to your personal library so you can easily find it when you're ready to create.

Using Your Saved Audio Library

Once you've saved a collection of potential sounds, accessing them is simple.

• Start creating a new Reel.
• Tap the music note icon on the left-hand menu to open the Audio Library.
• At the top of the screen, tap "Saved."
• You'll see a list of every sound you've ever saved. Just tap the one you want to use for your new Reel.

This "save as you go" method is the single best habit for any creator. It allows you to collect inspiration naturally, so you're never starting your content creation from a blank slate.

Method 2: Explore the Instagram Audio Library

If you're looking for something specific or just want to browse categories, Instagram's built-in Audio Library is your next stop. It's a powerful but sometimes overlooked tool.

To access it, open the Reels creator and tap the Audio icon. Inside, you'll find two main tabs: For You and Browse.

The "For You" Tab

This section is curated by Instagram based on your activity. It shows you sounds it thinks you'll like, based on Reels you've watched, accounts you follow, and content you've previously created. It's a great place to start because it's usually filled with popular and relevant clips. You'll often find trending songs and viral voiceovers here without having to hunt for them.

The "Browse" Tab

This tab is where you can explore more methodically. It's organized into helpful categories, such as:

• New Releases: Want to be the first to use a new track from a popular artist? Check here.
• Original Audio: A fantastic source for finding voiceovers, funny soundbites, and user-generated audio trends.
• Genres: Looking for a specific vibe? You can browse by categories like Pop, Hip Hop, R&,B/Soul, and more.
• Themed Collections: Instagram often curates selections based on holidays, seasons, or current events (e.g., "Summer Vibes," "Halloween Sounds").

Don't be afraid to just tap around and listen. You might discover a perfect sound you wouldn't have found otherwise.

Method 3: Advanced Strategies for Spotting Trends Early

Finding a trending sound is good. Finding it before it becomes over-saturated is even better. The best social media managers look beyond Instagram to anticipate what's coming next.

Watch TikTok Closely

It's no secret that many (if not most) of Instagram's audio trends originate on TikTok. Trends often appear on TikTok a week or two before they hit critical mass on Instagram. By spending some time on your TikTok "For You" page, you get a preview of what's coming.

Your strategy here is the same as on Instagram: scroll with intent. When you hear a sound catching on, find its source on Instagram (a quick search often does the trick) and save it. You'll be ready to use it at an earlier stage of its viral life cycle.

Follow Trend-Spotting Accounts

There are entire accounts on both Instagram and TikTok dedicated to identifying and sharing trending audio. These creators do the work for you, often providing instructions on how to use the sound or showcasing examples of the trend in action.

Search for terms like "trending sounds" or "Reels audio trends." Following a few of these curators can give you a steady stream of ideas and save you a lot of time scrolling.

Look to Spotify and Pop Culture

Many trending audio clips are not new songs. Often, they are older tracks that have found a second life online. Pay attention to songs featured in major TV shows (like Stranger Things, which made Kate Bush's "Running Up That Hill" a global smash) or movies.

You can also check out Spotify playlists. Search for playlists like "Viral Hits" or look at the Top 50 charts. This can give you a clue as to which commercial songs are gaining traction in an online format.

A Note on Original Audio and Commercial Music

Not every sound you use has to be a trending pop song. There are two other important categories to understand.

Original Audio

When you upload a Reel with a sound that isn't from Instagram's library - like your own voiceover, a sound captured from your environment, or an original music clip - it becomes "Original Audio." If other people start using your sound, your profile name remains attached to it, driving original source credit and traffic back to you. Creating a useful or funny original sound is an excellent way to build brand authority.

Commercial Music for Business Accounts

Due to music licensing laws, Instagram Business Accounts may have a more restricted audio library than Creator or personal accounts. You might find you can't access many popular songs from top artists. This is to protect both you and Instagram from copyright infringement.

If you have a business account, your best bet is to focus on a few key areas:

• The Royalty-Free Library: Instagram provides a vast library of royalty-free music that any business can use safely. You can still find great tracks here, so take the time to browse.
• Trending Original Audio: Voiceovers, soundbites, and remixes created by users are generally fair game and form the backbone of many viral trends.
• Your Own Original Audio: Create voiceovers explaining your product, share testimonials, or record unique ambient sounds. This is often the most brand-aligned strategy anyway.

Final Thoughts

Putting it all together, finding sounds on Instagram is an active process of discovery. It's part research, part intuition. By learning to watch your feed for clues, using the audio library effectively, and looking outside the app for inspiration, you can build a solid content strategy that feels fresh, engaging, and in sync with the current online conversation.

Once you've found the perfect sound, the work is only partially done. The next step is weaving those great content ideas into a consistent posting schedule. We built Postbase to solve this exact problem. Once you find your trending audio, you can upload your video, set it to the sound, and schedule it directly from our visual calendar across multiple platforms like Instagram and TikTok, ensuring your content goes live at the perfect moment, every time. It keeps you organized and ahead of the game.

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