How to Add Music to Instagram Reels (In-App and From an Editor)
Add music to Instagram Reels with the Audio button in the reel editor, or edit with royalty-free music in an app and upload the MP4. Rules and fixes inside.
Instagram6 min read
The short answer
To add music inside Instagram, start a reel, tap the Audio (music note) button, search or browse for a track, choose the part of the song you want and tap Done. If you want exact beat sync or the song isn't available to your account, edit the reel in a separate app with royalty-free music, export the MP4, and upload it with the music already in the file.
Both methods are covered below, along with why some accounts can't use certain songs and what copyright rules actually apply.
Method 1: Add music in the Instagram app
This is the fastest route for most personal accounts. The steps are similar on Android and iPhone.
- Tap the plus button and choose Reel
- Record clips or select videos and photos from your camera roll
- Tap the Audio or music note button
- Search by song, artist or mood, or browse suggested and saved audio
- Drag the slider to pick the part of the song you want
- Adjust the volume of the music and of your original clip audio
- Tap Done, then Next to add a caption, cover and share
What audio you can use inside Instagram
Instagram's Help Center describes three kinds of audio for reels: your own original audio, original audio from another Reels creator, and tracks from the Instagram audio library. Licensed audio from the library has to be attributed to the artist with the track name, which Instagram handles automatically when you pick a song from the library.
Instagram also notes that downloading your reel won't save music you added from its library. If you want a copy of the finished reel with music to keep or post elsewhere, add the music in your editor instead.
Why some songs aren't available (business accounts and regions)
Instagram's licensed music is intended for personal, non-commercial use. According to its Help Center, a song may be unavailable because the library isn't available for your account type or in your country or region. Some business accounts see a limited selection or no licensed music at all.
Two more limits are worth knowing. Instagram says boosted reels (reels turned into ads) can't use licensed music, and recommends royalty-free music or original audio instead. Changes to rights-holder agreements can also mute a track in a post later, even though the video stays up.
The alternative Instagram offers is Meta's Sound Collection, a set of royalty-free tracks and sound effects available to accounts that can't use the full licensed library.
| Situation | Licensed library | What to use instead |
|---|---|---|
| Personal account | Usually available | Royalty-free if you want the MP4 to keep its music |
| Creator account | Often available, varies by region | Royalty-free or original audio for branded posts |
| Business account | Limited or unavailable | Sound Collection, royalty-free tracks, original audio |
| Boosted reel (ad) | Not allowed | Royalty-free music or original audio |
Method 2: Add music in an editor, then upload
Editing with music outside Instagram gives you exact control. You can cut every clip on a beat, fade the track in and out, duck it under a voiceover, and the music is baked into the file. That also means the same MP4 works on other platforms.
The catch is that you must have the right to use the track. That rules out simply ripping a pop song. Use royalty-free music with a clear licence, music you made, or music you have a licence for.
- Open your editor and set a 9:16 project
- Add your clips or photos
- Add a royalty-free track and trim it to the section you want
- Line up cuts with the beat and set fade in and fade out
- Set music volume lower under any speech or voiceover
- Export 1080 x 1920 MP4 and upload it to Instagram as a reel
- Skip adding a song in Instagram so the two tracks don't clash
Copyright basics for reel music
Royalty-free does not mean no rules. It means you don't pay per play, but the licence still sets conditions. Read the licence of every track you use.
| Licence | What it allows | What you must do |
|---|---|---|
| Public domain / CC0 | Use for any purpose | Nothing required, credit is a kind gesture |
| CC BY | Use for any purpose, including commercial | Credit the artist, usually in your caption |
| CC BY-SA | Use and adapt | Credit the artist and share adaptations under the same licence |
| Commercial pop song | Only what its owner licenses | Use it via Instagram's library or get a licence |
Balancing music with voice and original sound
If someone speaks, set the music low enough that every word is clear, then lift it between sentences. If your clips have useful sound (laughter, waves, a crowd), keep a little of it under the music; it makes the reel feel real.
In Instagram's editor you can adjust the volume of the music and the original audio separately. In most editors you can also add a voiceover track, which is handy for tutorials and travel recaps.
How to credit music in your caption
When a licence asks for attribution, put the credit in your Instagram caption. Keep it short and specific: the track title, the artist, where you found it and the licence. For example: "Music: 'Morning Walk' by Jane Doe, CC BY 4.0, via Openverse." If there is a link for the licence, include the licence name so viewers can look it up.
If you use the same track across several reels, credit it every time. Each post is a separate use.
Picking music that fits the reel
Choose the track for the mood first, then for tempo. A travel recap usually wants something bright with a steady beat. A memorial or anniversary reel wants something slower, with space between notes so photos can breathe. A tutorial often works best with quiet, simple music that stays out of the way of your voice.
Listen to the section you plan to use, not just the start of the song. Many tracks open quietly and only hit their stride after 20 or 30 seconds. In both Instagram and most editors you can choose the start point, so pick the part with the clearest beat or the hook.
- Upbeat montage: steady, mid to fast tempo with clear drums
- Emotional reel: slower piano, strings or acoustic guitar
- Talking or tutorial reel: soft background music with no vocals
- Comedy or trend: the recognisable sound or audio that carries the joke
Fixes when music won't work
| Problem | Try this |
|---|---|
| Music button missing or empty | Update the app; check if your account type limits the library |
| A specific song is missing | It may not be licensed in your region; use a similar royalty-free track |
| Music muted after posting | The rights changed; re-post with royalty-free music |
| Downloaded reel has no music | Library music isn't saved on download; add music in your editor |
| Music out of sync | Edit to the track in your editor so sync is baked into the file |
Add royalty-free music in ReelXo
ReelXo lets you browse and download royalty-free tracks inside the app from Openverse, with licences such as CC0, public domain, CC BY and CC BY-SA. Some of them ask for credit, so add the artist name to your caption when the licence requires it. You can loop a track, fade it in and out, set its volume, and record a voiceover on top.
Templates are timed so cuts land on the beat, so a photo montage or travel recap is synced without moving every clip by hand. Export a watermark-free MP4 and upload it to Instagram with the music already in place.
Frequently asked questions
Why can't I add music to my Instagram reel?
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The licensed library may not be available for your account type or region, which often affects business accounts. Use Meta's Sound Collection, original audio, or edit with royalty-free music before uploading.
Can business accounts use popular songs on reels?
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Usually not freely. Instagram's licensed library is for personal, non-commercial use, and many business accounts have limited or no access. Royalty-free music is the safer option for brands.
How do I add my own music to an Instagram reel?
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Edit the reel in a video editor with your track, export it as an MP4, and upload it. Make sure you own the music or have a licence that allows the use.
Does a downloaded reel keep the Instagram music?
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No. Instagram's Help Center says downloading your reel won't save music you added from its library. Add music in your editor if you need a copy with sound.
Is royalty-free music free of copyright?
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No. It is still copyrighted, but licensed so you don't pay per use. Follow the licence terms, such as crediting the artist for CC BY tracks.