Adding a song to Instagram takes three taps and works on both Stories and regular posts
You can add music to an Instagram Story or a regular feed post directly from Instagram's built-in music library. The process is nearly identical for both: you create or upload your content, tap the music icon, search for or browse the song you want, and Instagram places it on your post. The song plays when someone views your Story or post, and you can control how much of the song plays and where it starts.
Instagram's music library includes millions of songs, but not every song ever recorded. The availability depends on licensing agreements, which means some independent artists or very new releases may not be there yet. You cannot upload your own audio file to use as a song — you must choose from what Instagram offers.
Key Takeaways
- Open your Story or create a post, then tap the music note icon to access Instagram's song library.
- Search by song title, artist name, or browse by mood and genre to find what you want.
- Once you select a song, drag the slider to choose which part plays and how long it plays for.
- You can adjust the volume of the song separately from any other audio on your post or Story.
- Songs added to Stories disappear after 24 hours; songs on feed posts stay as long as the post does.
Adding music to an Instagram Story
Open Instagram and tap your profile picture in the bottom right to go to your Stories camera. Take a photo or video, or swipe up to upload one from your phone. Once you have your content on screen, look at the top of the screen for a row of icons. Tap the music note icon — it looks like a single eighth note.
A menu will open showing you song options. You can search for a specific song by typing the title or artist name in the search box at the top, or you can scroll through the suggestions organized by mood (like "Chill," "Happy," "Workout") or genre. Tap any song to preview it. Once you find one you like, tap it again to add it to your Story.
After you add the song, you will see a slider at the bottom showing the full length of the track. Drag the slider left or right to choose which part of the song plays. You can also see how many seconds of the song will play — Instagram defaults to about 5 to 15 seconds depending on the song. Tap and drag the handles on either end of the slider to shorten or move the section. When you are done, tap "Done" and then post your Story as usual.
Adding music to a feed post
Tap the plus icon at the bottom of your screen to create a new post. Choose "Post" from the menu, then upload a photo or video from your phone. Once your content is selected, tap "Next" at the bottom right. On the editing screen, look for the music note icon and tap it.
The song library works the same way as it does for Stories — search by title or artist, or browse by mood and genre. Select the song you want, then adjust the slider to choose which part plays and for how long. You can make the song play for the entire length of your video or just a few seconds. Tap "Done" when you are satisfied with your choice.
After adding the song, you can continue editing your post by adding captions, tags, or location information. When you are ready, tap "Share" to post it to your feed. The song will play whenever someone watches your post, and it will stay there as long as your post does.
Searching for songs versus browsing by mood
If you know exactly what song you want, use the search box at the top of the music library. Type the song title, artist name, or even a few lyrics if you remember them. Instagram will show you matching results, and you can tap to preview before adding.
If you are not sure what song you want but you know the vibe you are going for, scroll through the mood and genre categories. "Chill" and "Lofi" work well for relaxed content, "Trending" shows what is popular right now, and "Workout" or "Party" match high-energy posts. This is also a good way to discover songs you might not have thought to search for.
Adjusting the song length and starting point
After you add a song, Instagram shows you a timeline with the full track. The part that will play is highlighted in a lighter color, and the rest is grayed out. To change where the song starts, drag the left handle to move the starting point forward or backward. To change how long it plays, drag the right handle closer to or farther from the left handle.
For Stories, Instagram usually defaults to 5 to 15 seconds of music. For feed posts with video, you can make the song play for the entire length of your video or just part of it. If your video is 30 seconds long but you only want 10 seconds of music, drag the right handle to the 10-second mark. The song will stop playing when your video ends, even if the track continues.
Controlling the volume of the song
When you add a song to a video post that already has audio (like a video where you are talking), Instagram lets you adjust the volume of each separately. Look for a volume slider or audio controls on the editing screen — this is usually near the music note icon or in a separate audio section.
You can turn the song volume all the way down if you want to keep only your original video audio, or turn your original audio down and let the song be the main sound. For Stories, if your photo or video already has sound, the song will play on top of it. There is no separate volume control for Stories, so the song and any existing audio will play together at full volume.
Troubleshooting when you cannot find a song
If you search for a song and it does not appear in Instagram's library, it may not be available in your region due to licensing restrictions, or it may be too new or too obscure for Instagram to have licensed. Try searching for a cover version or a remix of the song — sometimes those are available when the original is not.
If a song was available before but has disappeared, it may have been removed due to a licensing change. This happens occasionally when agreements between Instagram and music labels expire or change. In that case, you will need to choose a different song. If you have already posted content with that song, the post will not be removed — the song just will not play for new viewers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I add a song to a post I already published?
No. You can only add music when you are creating a new post or Story. If you want to add a song to an existing post, you will need to delete it and create a new one with the music included.
Will I get in trouble for copyright if I add a song to my post?
No. Instagram has licensing agreements with music labels and publishers, so the songs in the library are cleared for use. Instagram handles the copyright side — you will not receive a strike or takedown notice for using a song from the official music library.
Can other people hear the song if they mute their phone?
No. The song only plays if the person viewing your post has their phone volume on. If they have muted their device, they will see your post but not hear the audio or music.
What happens to the song if I share my post to Facebook or another platform?
If you share your Instagram post to Facebook, the song may not play on Facebook due to different licensing agreements. The video or photo will still be there, but the audio may be silent or replaced. Check the post after sharing to see what happened.
Can I use the same song on multiple posts?
Yes. You can add the same song to as many posts and Stories as you want. There is no limit to how many times you use a particular track from Instagram's library.