How to Fix Audio Unavailable on Instagram Post

You spent hours editing the perfect Instagram Reel, timed every cut to the beat, and hit share feeling great - only to see the dreaded “This song is currently unavailable” or “Audio unavailable” message slapped across your masterpiece. It’s one of the most frustrating things to happen to a creator or social media manager. This guide explains exactly why this happens and gives you clear, actionable steps to fix the problem on your existing posts and prevent it from ever happening again.

Why Does Instagram Say 'Audio Unavailable'?

That silence where your perfect soundtrack should be isn't just a random glitch. It’s almost always caused by one of four things happening behind the scenes on Instagram’s platform. Understanding the "why" is the first step to finding the right fix.

1. Music Licensing and Copyright Restrictions

This is the most common reason your audio disappears. Think of the songs available on Instagram like songs on a radio station’s playlist - they don't own the music, they license the right to play it. Here’s how that impacts you:

• License Expiration: When Instagram's license agreement with a record label or artist expires and isn't renewed, the platform legally loses the right to use that music. Consequently, they have to mute it on every post that uses it, both old and new.
• Artists Pulling Their Catalogs: Sometimes, artists or labels decide to remove their music from the platform altogether. We saw a big example of this in early 2024 when Universal Music Group (UMG) pulled their entire catalog from TikTok over a licensing dispute. Overnight, videos featuring artists like Taylor Swift, Drake, and Olivia Rodrigo went silent. The same thing can happen on Instagram.
• Newly Protected Audio: An indie artist might have uploaded a song and allowed a creator to use it. If that artist later signs with a big record label, their music suddenly falls under new, stricter copyright rules, and the audio gets retroactively muted. Understanding how to use licensed music on Instagram is crucial to avoid these issues.

Essentially, your post might be perfectly fine one day and silent the next because of legal agreements and business decisions completely outside of your control.

2. Geographic Location Blocks

Music licensing is incredibly complex and often fragmented by country. A record label might have a deal with Instagram for the United States but not for Canada or Germany. This creates two distinct problems:

• Your Viewer's Location: If you use a sound that's licensed in your country but someone from a country where it’s not licensed views your Reel, they will see the “Audio Unavailable” message. You might not even realize it’s happening since the audio works perfectly fine for you and your local audience.
• Your Location: If you travel abroad and create a Reel using a trending sound from that region, it might become unavailable to your home audience once you return. You accidentally used a song that isn't cleared for your primary viewership.

3. Using a Business Account Instead of a Creator Account

This is a huge one, and many users don't realize the massive difference between account types when it comes to music. Due to commercial licensing laws, Instagram legally cannot offer the same full library of popular music to businesses that it offers to individuals.

• Business Accounts: These accounts have a much more restricted music library. They are primarily given access to Instagram’s collection of royalty-free music and sounds because the platform assumes a business will use the music for commercial purposes (to sell a product or service). Using a popular Drake track to advertise your coffee shop can lead to serious legal trouble.
• Creator Accounts: These accounts are designed for public figures, influencers, artists, and content producers. They have access to the full library of popular and trending music because the usage is considered non-commercial self-expression.

If you're an influencer but your profile is still set as a "Business Account" from years ago, you are limiting your content's potential. You won't have access to most trending sounds, and even if you find a way to use one, it's far more likely to be muted later for licensing violations. To check or make the switch is very simple. Go to Settings >, Account >, Switch account type. Your insights and other professional features will remain intact once you do this.

4. A Simple Technical Glitch

Sometimes, the answer is far less complicated. An app can just misbehave. The problem might not be with your post at all but with the Instagram app on your device.

• Outdated App: An old version of Instagram might have bugs that have been fixed in newer updates.
• Corrupted Cache: Your phone stores temporary data to help apps load faster. Sometimes, this data becomes corrupted and causes weird issues like audio not playing correctly.
• A Temporary Server Issue: The issue might be on Instagram's end and will resolve itself in a few hours.

How to Fix 'Audio Unavailable' on an Existing Post

Okay, now for the solutions. Start with the easiest diagnostic steps and work your way up to a re-upload if all else fails.

Step 1: Diagnose the Audio Itself

Before you do anything else, figure out if the problem is licensing or a glitch. It makes planning your next move much easier.

1. Open your Instagram Reel that has the muted audio.
2. Tap on the original audio title scrolling at the bottom of the screen (it will look something like "Original audio - [artist name]").
3. This will take you to the audio page for that sound.

If the page says something like "This sound is not licensed for use" or "This audio is no longer available," you've found your answer. The problem is a licensing issue. Unfortunately, this means you cannot get the sound back on that specific post. Your only real option is to skip to Step 4 and re-upload. If the audio page looks normal and plays the sound just fine, the problem is likely a technical glitch with your app or device. Proceed to Step 2.

Step 2: Perform Basic App Maintenance

Just like turning a computer off and on again, these simple troubleshooting steps clear out technical cobwebs and solve a surprising number of app-related problems.

Give these a try in order:

1. Update Your Instagram App: Go to the App Store (for iPhone) or Google Play Store (for Android) and check for any available updates for Instagram. Install them.
2. Clear Your Cache: On Android, go to Settings >, Apps >, Instagram >, Storage >, Clear Cache. On iPhone, the process is a bit different, your best option is to offload the app (Settings >, General >, iPhone Storage >, Instagram >, Offload App) and then reinstall it. This clears temporary data without deleting your account info.
3. Log Out and Log Back In: Simply logging out of your Instagram account and signing back in can sometimes re-establish a stable connection to their servers.
4. Restart Your Phone: When in doubt, a full reboot of your device can solve any OS-level issues that might be interfering with the app's performance.

After trying these, check your post again. If the audio is back, you're all set! If not, the issue may be more stubborn.

Step 3: How to Re-upload Your Post If Necessary

No one wants to delete a post that's already gained traction, but if the audio is gone for good due to licensing, it's the only path forward. Here’s how to do it strategically to minimize the damage:

1. Save Your Video: Tap the three dots on your muted Reel and hit "Save to your device." Heads up: this will save the video without its original audio. It's better than nothing, though.
2. Pick New Audio: Find a new, popular, and legally available sound clip from Instagram’s audio library that fits the vibe of your video. A different song can change the feel of the video, so try to find one with a similar tempo or emotional tone that fits your video.
3. Create a New Reel: Start a new Reel and upload your downloaded video clip. Learning how to edit Instagram Reels effectively will help you sync it to your new audio choice as best you can.
4. Re-Share and Redirect: After publishing the new version, share it to your Instagram Stories using the "New Post" sticker. You could even add text like, "Our last post lost its sound, so here’s version 2.0!" to drive your engaged followers back to the new post. Consider pinning the new Reel.

How to Prevent "Audio Unavailable" in Your Content Moving Forward

Fixing is one thing, but preventing is even better. Adopting these habits will dramatically reduce the chances of your content going silent in the future.

1. Prioritize Using 'Original Audio' or Instagram's Library

• Use Instagram's Audio Library: Your absolute safest bet is to rely on the music Instagram provides directly within the app. Learn how to access Instagram's music library to find suitable sounds by scrolling through the "For You" selection or searching for sounds with the music note icon.
• Create and Use Original Audio: Even better? Create your own. A voiceover, a sound byte you recorded yourself, or a challenge you start is "Original Audio." It will never have licensing issues because you are the original creator. This is an awesome way to build a recognizable brand sound and produce standout, shareable content.
• Use Royalty-Free Sources Carefully: If you use music from services like Epidemic Sound or Artlist, make sure your subscription covers social media platforms and connect your socials where required.

2. Use the Correct Account Type (Creator vs. Business)

This is too important not to mention again. Do an audit on your account. Are you primarily selling products and services? Stick with a Business account and use the royalty-free sound collection. Are you an influencer, personality, or content creator? You absolutely should be using a Creator account. To check or make the switch is very simple. To switch, go to Settings >, Account >, Switch account type. Your insights and other professional features will remain intact once you do this.

3. Save Your Final Edited Video Before Uploading

Make this a non-negotiable step in your workflow. Before you even get to the caption screen on Instagram, save the final, fully-edited video (with sound) from your editing app (like CapCut, Splice, or VN) to your phone's camera roll. This practice also helps ensure you upload high-quality Instagram Reels. That way, if your Reel ever gets muted, you have the high-quality source file with hardcoded audio ready to go. You won't have to start editing from scratch or mess around with trying to save a muted video from the IG platform.

Final Thoughts

Facing the "Audio Unavailable" message is always a setback, but it's usually fixable once you understand the root cause. Whether it's a deep-seated licensing issue, the wrong type of account for your brand, or just a simple technical glitch, you now have the tools to diagnose what went wrong and fix it. By being more strategic with your audio and saving your final edits before posting, you can save yourself many headaches in the future.

A smooth and predictable content workflow can save you from many of these unexpected hiccups. One of our core missions at Postbase was to build a rock-solid, reliable platform made for video creators - especially for Reels. Our scheduling platform makes sure your content goes out exactly how you intended it to. We worry about the technical details, allowing you to focus on creating content with audio that connects, instead of scrambling to fix muted posts.