How to Fix "We Restrict Certain Activity" on Instagram

You've spent time creating the perfect Instagram Story, found a song that absolutely captures the mood, and tapped "share" - only to be met with that frustrating "Audio Unavailable" message. It's a common issue that can throw a wrench in your content flow, but it's almost always fixable. This guide will walk you through exactly why this happens and provide clear, step-by-step solutions to get your sound back on track for your audience.

Why Is the Audio on Your Instagram Story Unavailable?

Before jumping into the fixes, it helps to understand what's causing the problem. Usually, it boils down to one of a few common reasons, and figuring out which one applies to you is the first step to solving it.

• Music Licensing and Copyright Rules: This is the number one reason. Instagram has licensing agreements with music labels that dictate where and how songs can be used. Some artists or labels might not allow their music to be used in certain countries or for business purposes.
• Regional Restrictions: A song that's available in the United States might not be licensed for use in Germany or Japan. If your followers are in a region where the song isn't licensed, they won't be able to hear it.
• Business Account Limitations: This catches many brands and businesses off guard. Standard business accounts have a more limited music library called the "Sound Collection." This library only contains royalty-free tracks to protect businesses (and Meta) from copyright infringement lawsuits. Creator and Personal accounts have access to the massive, popular music library.
• App Glitches or Bugs: Sometimes, it's not you, it's the app. A temporary bug can cause the audio feature to malfunction, showing the "Audio Unavailable" error even when there isn't a licensing issue.
• An Outdated App Version: Running an old version of Instagram can lead to all sorts of strange behavior. Features evolve, and if your app hasn't been updated, it might struggle to handle newer content formats or audio licenses correctly.
• The Original Sound Was Removed: If you're trying to use an audio clip from another user's Reel or Story, that sound might have been removed by Instagram for copyright violations, or the original creator may have deleted their video.

The Quick Fixes: Try These First

Let's start with the simplest solutions that can often solve temporary glitches or technical hiccups. Run through this checklist before diving into the more complex issues.

1. Restart the Instagram App

Just like turning a computer off and on again, a simple app restart can clear minor bugs. Don't just close it and reopen it from your recent apps, force-close it completely.

• On iOS (iPhone): Swipe up from the bottom of the screen (or double-press the Home button on older models) to open the app switcher. Find the Instagram app and swipe it up to close it.
• On Android: Go to Settings >, Apps, find Instagram, and tap Force Stop.

After closing it, reopen the app and check if the audio is working in your Story.

2. Check Your Internet Connection

A weak or spotty internet connection can prevent Instagram from properly loading all the elements of a Story, including the music rights data. Try switching from Wi-Fi to cellular data, or vice versa, to see if that helps. A quick refresh can sometimes be all it takes.

3. Update Your Instagram App

An outdated app is a common source of problems. Developers regularly release updates that patch bugs and improve compatibility. Head to the App Store (iOS) or Google Play Store (Android), search for Instagram, and see if there's an "Update" button waiting for you. If there is, install it.

4. Clear Instagram's Cache

Over time, cached data can become corrupted and cause weird issues within the app. Clearing it can often restore normal functionality without deleting your personal data like photos or DMs.

• On iOS: The only way to truly clear the cache is to uninstall and reinstall the app. Go to Settings >, General >, iPhone Storage >, Instagram and tap "Offload App" (this saves your data) or "Delete App" and then reinstall it from the App Store.
• On Android: You have an easier option. Go to Settings >, Apps >, Instagram >, Storage &, cache and tap "Clear Cache."

5. Restart Your Phone

If the above steps don't work, a full phone restart is the final quick fix. It clears out your device's temporary memory and can resolve deeper software conflicts that might be affecting app performance.

How to Solve Licensing and Business Account Problems

If the quick fixes didn't work, the issue is almost certainly related to music licensing. How you solve it depends on what type of Instagram account you have.

For Business Accounts

If you're running a business profile, you've likely run into the dreaded limited music library. This is intentional. To avoid legal trouble, Instagram only gives you access to a royalty-free music library. Trying to use popular, copyrighted songs will often result in the "Audio Unavailable" error for your viewers.

Solution 1: Switch to a Creator Account

This is the most effective solution for most service-based businesses, influencers, and personal brands that don't need heavyweight business tools. Creator accounts get full access to the popular music library while retaining access to analytics and contact buttons. For many, there's no downside.

Here's how to switch:

1. Go to your profile and tap the three horizontal lines (the "hamburger" menu) in the top right corner.
2. Navigate to Settings and privacy >, Creator tools and controls.
3. Tap on Switch account type.
4. Select Switch to Creator Account and follow the on-screen prompts.

Note: You might lose access to certain third-party apps that require a Business Profile API. Check your integrations before making the switch, though this is rare for most users.

Solution 2: Use an Original Audio or Royalty-Free Music

If you must remain a Business account, your best bet is to avoid the popular music library altogether. You can create your own audio by simply talking in your Story or uploading a video with your own sound. Alternatively, you can use an external video editing app (like CapCut or InShot) to add music to your video before you upload it to Instagram.

If you take this route, be sure to use music you have a license for. Services like Epidemic Sound, Artlist, or even Canva's audio library offer vast collections of royalty-free tracks you can use without worrying about copyright strikes.

For Personal and Creator Accounts

Even with full music library access, you might still encounter audio problems, typically due to regional licensing blocks. If your followers are in a different country, they might not be able to hear a song that works perfectly for you.

Solution 1: Use Trending Sounds from Reels

One of the best workarounds for adding audio to stories is to create original content via Reels. Often, sounds that are trending in Reels have broader licensing agreements than static library songs. Find a Reel with a sound you like, tap the audio at the bottom, and then tap "Use audio" to create your own Story or Reel. This method seems less prone to regional blocks.

Solution 2: Add Music with a Sticker (The Right Way)

Sometimes, the trick is just re-adding the music. When sharing a post from your feed to your Story, don't rely on its original audio. Instead, share the post and then add the song you want manually using the "Music" sticker in the Story editor. This re-establishes the audio source from your end and often solves the playback issue.

Solution 3: Screen Record the Audio

This is a last-resort workaround, and the audio quality may be slightly lower, but it works. Find a song on an app like Spotify or Apple Music and play it. Use your phone's screen recording feature to capture the video and audio of another photo or video with the music playing in the background. Then, upload that screen-recorded video to your Instagram Story. The sound is now embedded in the video itself, making it immune to Instagram's music licensing checks.

Final Thoughts

Running into the "audio unavailable" error on Instagram Stories can be a real headache, but the fix is usually straightforward. By walking through quick technical checks like updating your app and then diagnosing the root cause - most often music licensing rules for business accounts - you can get your content back up and playing correctly for your audience.

Staying on top of your content calendar means minimizing these frustrating little roadblocks. We understand that because our team is made up of marketers who have dealt with these exact challenges for years. That's why we built Postbase to be modern and reliable. We designed it for the content formats that matter today - like Reels and Stories - so you can visually plan and schedule your posts with confidence, knowing they'll go live exactly as you intended, without weird glitches or connection problems getting in your way.