Key Takeaways:
- You can add music to Instagram photo posts, video posts, Reels, and Stories from Instagram’s music library directly in the app. Instagram lets you use 5 to 90 seconds per post.
- You cannot edit or change music on an Instagram post after it's already been published without deleting and re-uploading.
- To use your own music or a track that isn't in Instagram's library, you'll need a video editor like VEED’s AI-powered suite.
- VEED now includes 55,000+ royalty-free tracks and 250,000 sound effects from Epidemic Sound—cleared for commercial use across Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and more.
- If you can't add music to your Instagram post, the most common fixes are updating the app, switching from a business to a creator account, or checking your region's music availability.
Over 2 billion users visit Instagram every month, and the platform's own data consistently shows that posts with music outperform those without. Whether you're a solo creator, a brand, or a marketer managing multiple accounts, music is one of the fastest ways to make your content feel polished and worth watching.
The problem is that Instagram's native music tools only go so far. You're limited to what's in their library, locked to 90 seconds, and stuck working on mobile. If you want to use your own audio, a track that isn't available in your region, or get more control over exactly how music sits in your video, you'll need a proper video editor.
This guide covers every scenario: adding music before you post, editing or changing music after posting, removing it, using your own audio, working from a desktop, and fixing it when the feature won't cooperate.
Jump to a specific section:
- How to Add Music to Instagram Posts
- How to Add Music to Instagram Stories
- How to Add Music to Instagram Reels
- How to Edit or Change Music on an Instagram Post After Posting
- How to Remove Music from an Instagram Post
- How to Add Music to Instagram Posts with VEED
- How to Add Music to Instagram on a Computer
- Does Adding Music to Instagram Posts Actually Help?
- Why Can't I Add Music to My Instagram Post?
[#TOC1]How to add music to Instagram posts[#TOC1]
Instagram's 'Music in Feed' feature lets you add 5 to 90 seconds of music to your feed posts. It's available for both photo and video posts, though the steps differ slightly between the two.
How to add music to a photo feed post
A static photo post won't always stop a scroll on its own. A well-chosen track can change that. Here's the step-by-step process:
1. Open Instagram, tap the + icon at the top, and choose Post from the options.
- Select the picture from your gallery or take one using your mobile device’s camera, then tap Next (or the arrow icon on Android).
- Tap Add Music to browse Instagram's library by genres, moods, and themes, or pick a track from the 'For You' section.
Tap the play icon next to any track to preview it before committing.
- Set the clip duration to anywhere between 5 and 90 seconds. Drag the slider to select the exact part of the song you want.
Tap Done in the top right corner (or the arrow icon on Android), then write your caption and add hashtags before hitting Share.
Note: Instagram does not currently let you import your own music track for photo feed posts from within the app. For that, you'll need to use a video editor like VEED; more on that below.
How to add music to a video feed post
Adding music to a video feed post follows slightly different steps. You also get access to voiceover and audio controls, which gives you more flexibility over the final mix.
- Open Instagram, tap the + icon, and choose Post.
Select the video from your gallery or record one using your device’s camera, then tap Next (or the arrow icon on Android).
- If the video is longer than 90 seconds, tap Trim in the bottom left corner to shorten it, then tap Done.
- Tap the music icon at the top of the screen.
- Browse recommended tracks or search for a specific song. Tap the play button to preview before you choose. You can also add voiceover and sound effects from this screen.
- Use the slider to select which part of the track plays, then tap Done in the top right corner.
- Tap Controls in the top left to adjust the volume balance between your original audio, the music track, and any voiceover.
Drag each slider to your preferred levels, then tap Done.
- Preview the video with the added music, then tap Next to add your caption and hashtags before posting.
[#TOC2]How to add music to Instagram stories[#TOC2]
Stories are one of the most-watched formats on Instagram. Adding music is simple and the music sticker gives you a few visual display options as well.
Tap the + button, choose Story, and select the photo or video you want to use from your camera roll.
- Tap the sticker icon at the top of the screen.
- Tap the Music sticker.
- Browse trending tracks or search for a specific song using the search bar. Tap the play icon to preview.
- Drag the slider to choose which part of the track plays. Tap Done when you're happy with the selection.
- You can also adjust how the music sticker looks on your story — different fonts display the song name and lyrics differently.
Once you've added music to your story, share it with your followers. For more on how to use stories for growth, check out these Instagram story ideas that help you grow your followers and your business.
[#TOC3]How to add music to Instagram reels[#TOC3]
Instagram reels consistently deliver double the engagement rates compared to other post types, and the right music is a big part of that performance. Many creators also use background music in talking-head reels to ride trending audio and pull in more views.
1. Tap the + icon and choose Reel from the options.
Select your video from the gallery or record one.
- Tap the music icon on the right side of the screen.
- Browse recommended tracks, choose from your saved songs, or import audio from your device. Use the play button to preview.
- Use the slider to select your preferred section of the track, then tap Done.
- Tap Add to preview your reel with the music applied.
- To add voiceover or sound effects, tap the Music icon again.
- Tap Controls to adjust the volume levels for original audio, camera audio, and voiceover.
Use the sliders to find the right balance, then hit Done.
- Tap Next to add your cover, caption, and hashtags before sharing.
[#TOC4]Can you edit or change music on an Instagram post after posting?[#TOC4]
No—and this is one of the most common points of confusion about Instagram music. Once a post is published, the audio is locked. Instagram does not let you swap, replace, or add music to a feed post, carousel, or reel after it goes live.
This is by design. Instagram licenses music at upload time, and those licensing agreements are tied to the specific track on that specific post. Allowing audio edits after publishing would break those agreements, which is why the option simply doesn't exist; not even through the Edit menu.
What you can do through the Edit menu on a published post is update the caption, add tags, or change the location. Audio is not editable from there.
What to do if you posted with the wrong music (or no music)
Option 1: Delete and re-upload
The only direct way to change the music on a published post is to delete it and start over. You'll lose all likes, comments, and shares from the original post, so weigh that before proceeding.
- Go to the post and tap the three dots (...) in the top right corner.
- Select "Delete" and confirm.
- Tap + to create a new post, select the same photo or video, and add the correct music before hitting Share.
Tip: Copy your original caption before deleting so you can paste it straight into the new post.
Option 2: Use the Reels Remix feature
If the post is a video, you can use Instagram's Remix feature to recreate it as a new reel with different audio. Tap the three dots (...) on the post and select Remix. This creates a new reel alongside the original rather than replacing it.
How to avoid this problem entirely
The cleanest fix is to add music before you ever upload to Instagram. If you use VEED's add audio to video tool to embed your chosen track directly into the video file, the music travels with the video no matter where you post it. You're not dependent on Instagram's in-app music layer at all, which means there's nothing to get locked, muted, or lost after posting.
You can choose from 55,000+ royalty-free tracks via the Epidemic Sound library built into VEED, preview them against your video before committing, and export a finished file that's ready to upload. No reuploads; no licensing surprises.
[#TOC5]How to remove music from an Instagram post[#TOC5]
Unfortunately, you cannot remove music from your Instagram post after it’s been uploaded and published. The best way to go about it is to delete the original post and upload your new photo or video without the audio.
[#TOC6]How to add music to Instagram posts with VEED[#TOC6]
Instagram's built-in music tools work for quick posts, but they have real limits: 90-second maximum, no way to use your own tracks for photo posts, and a library that varies by region. If you're creating content for a brand or posting professionally, these restrictions can hinder your progress.
VEED's add audio to video tool lets you layer any track you want onto your video before exporting it, so the music is baked in and plays at full quality regardless of what platform you're posting to.
On top of that, VEED now includes direct access to Epidemic Sound — 55,000+ artist-made tracks and 250,000 sound effects, royalty-free and cleared for commercial use across Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, and beyond. The license is built into your VEED plan. No separate Epidemic Sound subscription is needed, no credits are required, and there is no risk of your post getting muted after you share it.
Here's how to use VEED to add music to your Instagram content:
1. Sign up if you haven't already, or log into VEED. Click Create new project and upload your video from your device.
2. Resize your video for Instagram by clicking Settings and choosing your preferred spec from the Size dropdown. For Reels and Stories, use 9:16.
- Go to Audio from the sidebar. You have three options here:
- Upload your own track from your device
- Epidemic Sound — browse 55,000+ royalty-free tracks by genre, mood, or keyword. Preview the track in real time against your video before adding it.
- Record a voiceover or use text-to-speech
Tip: Use VEED's text-to-speech tool to generate realistic voiceovers directly from written text. Useful for reels where you want narration without recording yourself.
4. The audio track will appear in the timeline at the bottom of the editor. Click on it to access controls: adjust the volume, speed, and duration, or replace the track entirely. You can also use the AI-powered Clean Audio feature to remove background noise from your original video audio.
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5. (Optional) Customize your video to make it more attention-grabbing with sound waves and progress bars from the Elements tab.
6. (Optional) Add subtitles using VEED's AI-powered auto subtitle feature. Go to Subtitle, click Auto subtitle, and let the AI generate them. You can edit for accuracy and choose a display style.
7. Click Export in the top right corner. Under Quality, choose Instagram from the dropdown to match Instagram's recommended specs. Click Export again to download and share.
Because the music is embedded directly in the video file, it plays at full quality when posted, is not subject to Instagram's 90-second cap, and won't be stripped out or muted the way unsupported in-app tracks sometimes are.
[#TOC7]How to add music to Instagram on a computer[#TOC7]
Instagram's desktop site does not support adding music natively. If you're managing content from a PC or Mac, the only reliable way to add music to an Instagram post on a computer is to use a web-based video editor before uploading.
VEED runs entirely in the browser. No download required. So it works on any computer. Here's the short version:
- Go to VEED and create a new project.
- Upload your video or photo.
- Open the Audio tab and add music from your files or from the Epidemic Sound library.
- Export the video with the music baked in.
- Upload the finished file to Instagram through the desktop site or Meta Business Suite, which supports direct Instagram posting from desktop.
This workflow also applies to adding music to Instagram carousel posts with multiple photos—upload the images to VEED, set up the slideshow, add your audio, and export as a single video before uploading to Instagram.
[#TOC8]Does adding music to Instagram posts actually help?[#TOC8]
Generally, yes. Music serves a few practical functions that most content platforms reward:
- Watch time: Posts with music tend to hold attention longer, and watch time is one of the factors Instagram's algorithm weighs when deciding how broadly to distribute your content.
- Trending audio: When you use a trending track on a Reel, Instagram may surface your content to users who have engaged with that audio before, expanding your reach beyond your existing followers.
- Mood and brand recall: The right track can reinforce the mood of your content and make it more memorable. For brands in particular, a consistent audio identity builds recognition over time.
- Engagement rate: Posts with matching, well-chosen music have been shown to generate more saves and shares, both of which signal strong engagement to the algorithm.
That said, the quality of the music choice matters. Using a mismatched or low-quality track can undercut otherwise excellent content. If you want music that sounds professional and won't get your post muted due to licensing issues, use tracks from a cleared library like Epidemic Sound—available directly in VEED.
[#TOC9]Why can't I add music to my Instagram post?[#TOC9]
If the music option is missing or not working, here are the most common causes and fixes.
Your app isn't updated
The music feature rolled out progressively. If you're on an older version of the Instagram app, go to the App Store or Google Play and update to the latest version.
You have a business account
Instagram restricts its music library for business accounts in many regions due to music licensing limitations. If you're set to a business profile and can't access the full music library, consider switching to a creator account—which has broader music access—through Settings > Account > Switch account type.
Your region's library is limited
Music availability on Instagram varies by country. Certain tracks are cleared for use in some markets but not others. If you're working from a region with limited music access, using VEED with the Epidemic Sound library is a reliable workaround — those tracks are globally cleared.
The music sticker isn't available for that post type
Not all post formats support every audio option. Collaborative posts, posts already under a licensing flag, and some boosted posts may have limited or no music editing capabilities.
Your video contains original audio with rights conflicts
If Instagram's rights detection flags music already in your video file, it may mute the post or block the upload entirely. The safest fix is to use royalty-free music, like the tracks available through VEED's Epidemic Sound integration, so you never run into this issue.
Let's recap
Here's what to remember:
- Adding music in-app: Works for photo posts, video posts, reels, and stories. You get 5–90 seconds from Instagram's library.
- Editing music after posting: Instagram does not let you change or replace music on a published post. The only real options are delete and re-upload, mute the audio, or use the Reels Remix feature to recreate the post with new audio.
- Adding your own music: Instagram doesn't support custom audio for photo posts natively. Use VEED's add audio to video tool to embed any track before exporting.
- Using royalty-free tracks: VEED's Epidemic Sound integration gives you 55,000+ commercially cleared tracks in the same editor—no extra subscription needed.
- Working from desktop: Instagram's desktop site doesn't support native music. Edit in VEED, export, then upload the finished file.
- Troubleshooting: Check for app updates, switch to a Creator account if you're on a business profile, and switch to cleared audio if your post is getting muted.
🔧 Next step: Open VEED's add audio to video tool, upload your video, and browse the Epidemic Sound library to find a track that fits your post.
