How to Import TikTok Audio into Instagram Reels

You found the perfect trending audio on TikTok, and you know it would be gold for your next Instagram Reel. The only problem? It hasn't made its way over to Instagram's audio library yet. This guide shows you exactly how to import TikTok audio into your Instagram Reels quickly and easily. We’ll walk through the best method for a high-quality result, cover a simple backup plan, and touch on a few things to keep in mind, like copyright.

Why Bother Using TikTok Audio on Reels?

You might be wondering if it's worth the extra few steps. In many cases, it absolutely is. Being one of the first to bring a booming TikTok trend over to Instagram can give you a serious edge. Here’s why:

• First-Mover Advantage: Trends often explode on TikTok days or even weeks before they saturate Instagram. By using the sound early on Reels, you can catch the algorithm's attention while the trend is still fresh and novel to the Instagram audience, giving your content a better chance to stand out.
• Find Your Niche Sounds: TikTok's algorithm is great at surfacing hyper-specific, niche sounds that might not ever reach the mainstream on Instagram. If a sound is perfect for your community, bringing it over allows you to connect with your audience in a way that feels unique and authentic to your brand.
• Creative Freedom: Sometimes, the original sound on TikTok includes a specific skit, creator's voiceover, or remix that isn't available anywhere else. If that original audio is essential to your video idea, importing it is the only way to execute your vision perfectly.

The Simplest Way: Use Instagram’s Built-in Import Feature

A few years ago, getting a TikTok sound onto an Instagram Reel was a clunky, multi-step process. Thankfully, Instagram has made this incredibly simple with its built-in "Import Audio" feature. This is the cleanest, most reliable way to get the job done without losing audio quality.

The core idea is simple: you'll download the TikTok video to your phone (without the watermark) and then use Instagram to "pull" the audio out of that video file. Here’s how to do it, step-by-step.

Step 1: Find the TikTok and Copy the Link

Open TikTok and navigate to the video with the audio you want to use. You don't need to save or "favorite" the sound itself, you just need the video.

1. Tap the "Share" icon on the right side of the screen (it looks like an arrow).
2. In the share menu, tap "Copy Link." The link to the video is now saved to your clipboard.

Step 2: Download the TikTok Video Without the Watermark

To keep your Reel looking clean and professional, you want to download the TikTok video without the distracting watermark that bounces around the screen. Instagram's algorithm tends to favor original content, and uploading a video with another platform's watermark isn't the best look.

You’ll need to use a third-party website or app for this. There are many free options available on the web.

1. Open your phone's web browser and search for a term like "TikTok video downloader without watermark."
2. Pick one of the popular services from the search results (SnapTik or SSSTIK is a common choice).
3. Paste the link you copied from TikTok into the download field on the website.
4. Click the download button. The site will process the video and give you an option to download a watermark-free version.
5. Save the resulting MP4 video file directly to your phone’s camera roll or photo library.

Step 3: Open Instagram and Start a New Reel

Now, head over to the Instagram app. You can swipe right from your home feed or tap the plus (+) icon at the bottom of the screen to open the creation menu.

1. Select "Reel" to open the Reel editor.
2. Now you can film your video clips or upload them from your camera roll as you normally would. For this process, you just need to get to the main editing screen.

Step 4: Use the "Import Audio" Function

This is where the direct import happens. Once you have a video clip on your Reels timeline, you'll see a row of editing icons on the left side of the screen.

1. Tap the music note icon to open the Instagram Audio library.
2. At the top of the audio search screen, you’ll see a button labeled "Import." Tap it.
3. Your phone's video library will open. Find and select the watermark-free TikTok video you downloaded in Step 2.
4. Instagram will automatically extract the audio from that video. You’ll see the audio track at the bottom of the screen and can drag the slider to select the exact 15, 30, 60, or 90-second clip you want to use.
5. Tap "Done." The TikTok audio is now successfully added to your Instagram Reel!

From here, you can continue making your Reel - add text, arrange your clips, and time them to the beat of your newly imported sound.

Back-up Method: The Screen Recording Workaround

Sometimes, downloaders might be down, or a specific video might be giving you trouble. If you can't seem to download the video successfully, the screen recording method is a solid, though slightly lower-fidelity, backup plan. The steps are almost identical, but you’ll start by recording the video instead of downloading it.

1. Screen Record the TikTok: Open the TikTok video you want. Pull down your phone's control center (on iPhone) or notification shade (on Android) and start a screen recording. Let the video play through with the audio turned up. Once it's done, stop the recording.
2. Trim the Recording: Open the screen recording in your phone’s photo app. Use the trim tool to cut out the beginning and end, so only the TikTok video itself is left.
3. Import into Reels: Follow the same "Import Audio" steps from Method 1. When you get to the import screen, just select your freshly trimmed screen recording instead of the downloaded file. Instagram will pull the audio from it just the same.

An Important Note on Copyright and Attribution

Moving audio between platforms can get a little tricky when it comes to copyright rules. While Meta (Instagram's parent company) and TikTok have licensing agreements for millions of popular songs, those agreements are platform-specific. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Attribution is Good Practice: Whenever possible, give credit to the original creator of the sound or trend in your Reel's caption. A simple "Audio via @[username] on TikTok" or "Inspired by @[creator]" is a great way to show respect and helps others find the source.
• Risk of Muting: Instagram's content ID system is constantly scanning for copyrighted material. If it flags your imported audio, it could be muted, and your Reel will lose its sound. This happens most often with well-known songs from major artists. Original, creator-made sounds are usually safer.
• Business Account Limitations: Keep in mind that Instagram Business accounts have stricter rules about using commercial music due to licensing laws. If you have a business account, you may have more success with original, user-generated sounds (voiceovers, remixes, weird niche audio) rather than a track from a top-40 artist.

Make It Your Own: Don't Just Copy the Trend

Now that you have the sound, the last step is to create a killer Reel. It can be tempting to recreate the TikTok trend exactly as you saw it, but the best content often adds a new angle or a unique twist that resonates with your audience.

How to Add Your Spin:

• Connect it to your niche: How can you apply this trend to your industry? If you're a fitness coach and a "day in my life" audio is trending, use it to show a day in the life of a personal trainer.
• Use high-quality visuals: Invest time in getting good lighting and clear clips. Your content will look more professional and trustworthy.
• Edit on the beat: Pay close attention to the rhythm of the audio. Use an app like InShot or CapCut to line up your video transitions perfectly with the beat drops, which makes the video immediately more satisfying to watch.
• Leverage text overlays: Add on-screen text to tell a story, share a quick tip, or provide more context. This makes your Reel more accessible and engaging, especially for people watching without sound.

Final Thoughts

Bringing trending TikTok audio over to your Instagram Reels is a powerful strategy for grabbing attention and jumping on cultural moments before they become overused. With Instagram's "Import Audio" feature, the process is now more straightforward than ever, removing the technical headaches and letting you focus on the creative side of things.

Once you get into the rhythm of creating content for multiple short-form video platforms, keeping everything organized is the next challenge. At Postbase, we built our platform specifically for creators and marketers who live in Reels and TikToks. We designed our visual content calendar so you can plan everything in one place, schedule your posts reliably, and track what’s working across platforms without the chaos. Since everything is streamlined, you can put all your energy into making great content, not just managing it a week at a time.