How to Post a Spotify Song on Instagram

Sharing your favorite Spotify track on Instagram is a perfect way to set a mood, connect with your followers, or just show off your excellent music taste. Whether you want to add a song to your Story, create a music-backed Reel, or share a track with your friends, there are a few simple ways to make it happen. This guide will walk you through every method, from the official one-click share to clever workarounds that give you more creative control over your posts.

Sharing a Song Directly to Your Instagram Story

This is the simplest and most direct method for sharing what you're listening to right now. Spotify and Instagram have a built-in integration that makes this process seamless. It doesn't play the music directly in the Story, but it creates a stylish, tappable link back to the song in Spotify.

Here’s how to do it step-by-step:

1. Find Your Song in Spotify

Open the Spotify app on your phone and navigate to the song, album, or playlist you want to share. Let the song start playing or have it paused on the screen.

2. Open the Share Menu

Look for the share icon. It typically looks like three dots (…) or a box with an arrow pointing upwards. This icon is usually located near the song title.

• On the "Now Playing" screen, it’s often in the bottom-right or top-right corner.
• In a playlist view, you can tap the three dots next to the specific song title.

3. Select "Instagram Stories"

Once you tap the share icon, a menu will pop up with various sharing options. Scroll until you see "Instagram" or "Instagram Stories" and tap it. In some versions, you might just see an "Instagram" option, which then lets you choose between Stories and Messages.

4. Customize and Post Your Story

Spotify will automatically open your Instagram app and generate a Story for you. This Story will feature the song’s cover art, title, and the artist's name, all presented as a clean, interactive sticker. Your followers can tap this sticker to open the song directly in their Spotify app.

Before you post, you can get creative:

• Change the Background: Tap the color circle at the top of the screen to cycle through different background gradients that Spotify automatically pulls from the album art. Want to use your own photo or video? Create a new Story, add your media first, and then follow the steps to add the music sticker manually (we cover this next!).
• Resize and Reposition: Pinch, drag, and rotate the Spotify sticker just like any other element in your Story. Place it wherever you like.
• Add More Elements: Use Instagram’s creative tools to add GIFs, text, polls, or other stickers to make your Story more engaging. Tag the artist to show them some love!

Once you’re happy with how it looks, just tap “Your Story” to share it with your followers.

How to Add Playable Music to Your Instagram Stories &, Reels

The direct share method is great for linking, but what if you want the song to actually play in your Story or Reel? For that, you’ll use Instagram’s own Music Sticker. This feature taps into Instagram's licensed music library, which includes most popular songs you'd find on Spotify.

Adding Playable Music to an Instagram Story

This is perfect for adding a soundtrack to a photo, a video clip, or even just a plain background.

1. Create a New Story

Open Instagram and swipe right or tap the plus (+) icon and select "Story." You can take a new photo, record a video, or upload one from your camera roll.

2. Open the Sticker Tray

With your photo or video on the screen, tap the sticker icon at the top (it looks like a square smiley face).

3. Select the "Music" Sticker

In the sticker tray, find and tap the sticker labeled "MUSIC." This will open up Instagram’s music library.

4. Find and Select Your Song

You can browse through songs in the "For You" tab, check out different moods and genres, or use the search bar at the top to find the exact song you want. Type in the song title or artist's name and tap on the result you're looking for.

5. Customize the Audio Clip

Once you select a song, Instagram will let you customize it:

• Choose Your Snippet: Use the slider at the bottom to scrub through the song and select the specific 15-second segment you want to play in your Story. Pro tip: Pick the chorus or the most recognizable part of the song.
• Change the Appearance: You can choose how the music sticker looks. Options include displaying the album cover art, a simple text sticker with the song title, or dynamic, karaoke-style lyrics that appear on screen as the song plays. Tap through the different font and style options to see what you like best.
• Adjust the Color: For some sticker styles, you can tap the color wheel at the top to change the color of the text or background.

When you're finished, tap "Done." You can then resize and move the sticker around your Story. Post it, and your followers will now hear the music playing as they view it!

Adding Music to an Instagram Reel

Music is the heart of a great Reel. Here’s how you can add your chosen Spotify track to your next short-form video masterpiece.

1. Start a New Reel

Open Instagram, tap the plus (+) icon, and select "REEL."

2. Select Your Audio

Before you even start recording, tap the Audio icon (it looks like a musical note) on the left side of the screen. This will take you to the same music library you use for Stories.

3. Find and Add Your Song

Search for the song you want to use. Once you find it, tap on it. Just like with Stories, you can use the slider to select the specific clip of the song you want to feature in your Reel. The maximum length will depend on the length of your Reel (up to 90 seconds).

4. Record or Upload Your Video

With the audio selected, you can now record your video clips. The music will play in the background as you record, helping you time your actions to the beat. You can also upload pre-recorded videos from your camera roll. The audio you selected will be automatically applied to your entire Reel.

From there, you can add effects, text, and other edits before sharing it with the world.

The Workaround: Adding Any Spotify Song to an Instagram Post

What if you want to feature a specific song in a standard Instagram Feed post? Instagram doesn’t allow you to add music to a static photo post. A post must be a video (i.e., a Reel) to contain music. If Instagram's library doesn't have the song or you want a longer, custom clip, the screen recording method is your best friend.

A Quick Note on Copyright: Using this method for promotional or business content can be risky. Instagram's music library consists of songs they have licensed for a reason. Screen recording and using copyrighted audio without permission can lead to your video being muted or taken down. This method is generally best for personal, non-commercial use.

1. Prepare Your Visual and Audio

First, get your visual ready. This can be a static image you want to turn into a video or a video clip. Open the Spotify app and find the song you want to use. Cue it up to the part you want to record.

2. Start Screen Recording

Next, you’ll start a screen recording on your phone with the microphone audio on. This will capture both what’s on your screen and the music playing from Spotify.

• On an iPhone: Swipe down from the top-right corner to open the Control Center. Press and hold the "Screen Recording" button (a circle within a circle). Make sure "Microphone" is set to "On," then tap "Start Recording."
• On an Android: Swipe down from the top of the screen to open the Quick Settings panel. Find and tap the "Screen Recorder" tile. Make sure it's set to record "Media sounds and mic."

3. Record Your Content

With the recording started, switch back to your photo or play your video clip while the Spotify song plays in the background. Let it record for as long as you need (up to 90 seconds for a Reel).

4. Stop the Recording and Edit

Once you’re done, stop the screen recording. The video will be saved to your phone's camera roll. Now, you need to clean it up. Use your phone’s built-in video editor or a simple app like CapCut or InShot to trim the beginning and end of the recording, removing the parts where you were starting and stopping everything. You just want the clean final product.

5. Upload to Instagram

Finally, upload the edited video to Instagram as a Reel. You can write your caption, add hashtags, and post it to your feed just like any other video. You've successfully added a custom Spotify track to your post!

More Than Just Sharing: Why Music Matters for Your Social Strategy

Sharing music isn't just a fun feature, it's a powerful tool for brand building and engagement.

• Set the Vibe: Music instantly communicates a mood. A coffee shop sharing a chill lo-fi track with their morning latte post creates a relaxing vibe. A fitness brand using a high-energy anthem in a workout Reel motivates their audience. The music you choose becomes a part of your brand identity.
• Connect Personally: Sharing your favorite song or a "track of the day" is a simple, human way to connect with your followers. It shows personality beyond your product or service and makes your account feel more authentic.
• Boost Engagement: An Instagram Story with background music is far more captivating than a silent one. Music can hold a viewer's attention longer, increasing the chances they'll watch your entire Story or Reel. Use the question sticker to ask followers for their song recommendations to start a conversation.
• Support Other Creators: When you share a song, especially from an emerging musician, don't forget to tag the artist! It's a great way to cross-promote, build community, and give a shout-out to creators you admire.

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re doing a quick share to your Story, soundtracking a cinematic Reel, or using a creative workaround for a feed post, sharing Spotify music on Instagram is a fantastic way to make your content more dynamic and expressive. The methods are simple once you know them, giving you a powerful tool to connect with followers and build your personal or brand identity. Start with the basics and don't be afraid to experiment to see what resonates with your audience.

As you get more comfortable creating Reels and video content with custom audio, planning your posts becomes even more important. Personally, I use Postbase to manage everything in one place. Its visual calendar is a game-changer for planning content, especially when organizing video-centric campaigns for Reels and TikTok. Being able to schedule all my content and see what’s coming up across all platforms helps me stay consistent and focus on creating amazing visuals and sound without the administrative headache.