How to Fix Music on Instagram

Nothing stops a great Instagram Story or Reel in its tracks faster than music problems. One minute you're ready to post, and the next, you're either staring at a limited library of unrecognizable jingles or getting an error message. We'll get you past the frustration with clear, actionable solutions for every common Instagram music issue, from a restricted library on your business account to random app glitches.

Why Is My Instagram Music Not Working? Understanding the Main Culprits

Before jumping into the fixes, it helps to know what's causing the problem. Most Instagram music issues boil down to one of four things. Find yours below, and you'll know exactly which solution to jump to.

1. You're Using a Business Account (This is the #1 Reason)

This is, by far, the most common reason for a limited music selection. Due to music licensing agreements, Meta can't allow commercial accounts to use popular, copyrighted songs for promotional purposes without a proper (and very expensive) commercial license. To avoid legal trouble, Instagram provides Business Accounts with a limited library of royalty-free music. It's safe for brands to use, but let's be honest – it's mostly generic background tracks that won't help your Reel go viral.

How to know if this is your problem: Your music library is filled with artists you've never heard of and generic options like "Upbeat Corporate Music." You can't find popular songs by major artists that you see other accounts using.

2. You're Facing Regional Restrictions

Music licensing is also complicated by geography. A record label might have an agreement to allow a song on Instagram in the United States, but not in Canada or Germany. If a song isn't licensed for your specific region, it simply won't appear in your library or may be grayed out.

How to know if this is your problem: You see a message that says, "This song is not available in your region," or you try to view a Reel from someone in another country and get a notice that the audio is unavailable.

3. It's an App-Related Glitch or a Bug

Sometimes, the problem isn't about licensing – it's just a simple technical hiccup. The Instagram app stores data (a cache) to run faster, but this data can sometimes get corrupted and cause features like the music library to malfunction. An outdated version of the app can also lead to compatibility issues.

How to know if this is your problem: The music feature was working perfectly yesterday, but today it's crashing, the search bar is broken, or a specific song won't load. The issue feels random and isn't related to your account type.

4. The Music Feature Simply Isn't Available for Your Post Type

Instagram's music library is primarily designed for temporary content like Reels and Stories. You cannot, for example, add a popular, copyrighted song to a standard feed post (a single image or carousel) through the app's music feature. If you do, it will often get flagged for copyright infringement and muted later.

The First Steps: Easy Fixes to Try Right Now

Before you change your account type or dive into more complex solutions, run through these quick troubleshooting steps. These often fix temporary glitches and bugs in just a couple of minutes.

• Update the Instagram App: This is the simplest and most effective fix for most random bugs. Go to the App Store (for iPhone) or Google Play Store (for Android), search for Instagram, and hit the "Update" button if it's available.
• Restart Your Phone: It sounds basic, but a full reboot can clear out temporary system errors that might be affecting app performance. Just turn your phone off and back on again.
• Log Out and Log Back In: Logging out of your Instagram account and then back in can force a refresh and resolve minor syncing issues that can impact features like the music library. You can do this by going to Settings ->, Log Out.
• Clear the Instagram Cache: A clogged or corrupted cache can cause all sorts of problems.
  • On Android: Go to Settings ->, Apps ->, Instagram ->, Storage ->, Clear Cache.
  • On iPhone: iOS doesn't offer a "clear cache" button. The best way to do this is to delete the app and reinstall it from the App Store. Don't worry – this won't delete your profile or content.

If none of those quick fixes worked, your problem is likely bigger than a simple glitch. Let's move on to the more advanced (and more permanent) solutions.

How to Fix the Limited Music Library for Good: Business vs. Creator Accounts

If you're running a business account and are tired of scrolling through the "Inspiring Corporate Pop" library, this section is for you. You have two main options to get access to popular, trending music.

The Best Solution: Switch to a Creator Account

Instagram introduced Creator Accounts specifically for public figures, content producers, artists, and influencers. Because these accounts are meant for individuals building a brand (rather than a traditional business selling products or services), Instagram gives them access to the same massive library of popular music as Personal Accounts.

For most brands and businesses using Instagram today, operating as a "Creator" is a perfect fit. You still get access to analytics, contact buttons, and promotional tools, but you also get the full music library. It's the best of both worlds.

How to Switch to a Creator Account (Step-by-Step):

1. Open your Instagram profile page.
2. Tap the hamburger menu (three horizontal lines) in the top right corner.
3. Go to Settings and Privacy.
4. Scroll down and tap Account type and tools.
5. Tap Switch to Creator Account.
6. Follow the on-screen prompts to select a category that best describes what you do (e.g., "Digital Creator," "Blogger," "Entrepreneur").
7. After confirming, close the app completely and reopen it. Go create a Story or Reel, and you should see the entire commercial music library ready for you to use.

A quick note: In almost every way, Creator Accounts are better for modern brands than Business Accounts. The primary drawback in the past was that some third-party social media schedulers didn't support Creator Accounts, but most modern tools (like Postbase) do.

A Smart Workaround: Change Your Business Category

What if you absolutely must remain a Business Account? Perhaps for specific API integrations or company policy reasons. There's one last trick you can try, though its success can be hit or miss.

Sometimes, changing your business category can fool Instagram into unlocking a wider music selection. By changing your category to something less "corporate," you might regain access.

How to Change Your Business Category:

1. Go to your Instagram profile and tap Edit Profile.
2. Under "Public business information," tap Category.
3. Instead of "Clothing Brand" or "Restaurant," try choosing a more creator-focused category like "Musician," "Artist," "Blogger," or "Entrepreneur."
4. Save your changes and restart the app.

This method isn't guaranteed, as Instagram's enforcement can change, but many users have successfully restored their music library with this simple switch.

Solving Copyright and Regional Issues

Even with the right account type, you might still run into issues with audio being muted or unavailable in certain places. Here's how to navigate those problems.

What to do if "This Song isn't Available in Your Region"

This is a licensing dead-end. There isn't an official way to get around it on Instagram directly. While a VPN (Virtual Private Network) can technically make your device appear as if it's in another country, using one can violate Instagram's terms of service and lead to account issues. It's not a reliable strategy for a brand or business.

The better alternatives:

• Find a similar viral sound. Trends move fast. Check TikTok or Instagram's own Reel trends to find another popular audio clip that is available in your region.
• Use royalty-free music platforms. For videos that rely on a specific vibe, consider using a high-quality, royalty-free music service like Artlist or Epidemic Sound. You can edit your video with the perfect track in an external app and then upload it directly to Reels.

How to Avoid Muted Videos and Copyright Strikes

If your Reel was posted with audio but is now muted, it's because Instagram's copyright detection system flagged the music. This usually happens when you upload a video that was edited with a copyrighted song outside of the Instagram app, without using the official music sticker.

The golden rule: Always add copyrighted music to your videos inside the Instagram app using the music sticker or the audio tool in the Reels editor. When you use Instagram's library, you are covered by their licensing agreements. When you upload a video with a raw audio file of a Drake song you added in CapCut, you're not.

If your video is muted, your options are to replace the audio with a track from Instagram's library, upload a new version using officially licensed audio, or, if you believe the flag was in error and you have the rights to the music, to file an appeal through the notification you received.

Final Thoughts

Fixing music on Instagram usually comes down to addressing one of two things: your account type or a simple technical glitch. By checking for app updates and, if needed, making the switch from a Business to a Creator account, you can solve the vast majority of music library issues and get back to posting engaging, on-trend content.

To keep our own content strategy running smoothly across all platforms, including planning Reels and Stories weeks in advance, we use Postbase. Having a visual calendar allows us to see our entire content plan at a glance, making it easy to pair upcoming videos with the right trending audio without scrambling at the last minute. It makes managing a video-first social media presence feel organized and sustainable.