In this guide
For an available Instagram track, create a Story and select Music from the sticker tray. For your own audio file, add it to a video in an editor first, export and preview the video, then upload it to your Story.
To add music to an Instagram Story, create a Story with a photo or video, open the sticker tray and select Music. Search the available songs, select the excerpt and preview the Story before sharing. To use an audio file of your own, add it to a video in an editor and upload the exported video instead.
The two methods do different things: Instagram's sticker selects a track from the music available to your account; a prepared video carries an audio mix in the file. Neither method guarantees rights for every use.
Choose the right method
Sharing to the Feed instead? See how to add music to an Instagram post or photo carousel.
| Your goal | Starting point | Check before sharing |
|---|---|---|
| Use a song offered by Instagram | Add the Music sticker in the Story editor. | Listen to the selected excerpt with the image or video. |
| Use your own recording | Combine the sound and visual in a video editor before uploading. | Confirm the exported file contains the sound and you can share it. |
| Keep spoken audio audible | Balance voice and music in the available controls or your video project. | Listen through a full quiet sentence on a phone speaker. |
Add a song using the Music sticker
- Start a Story. In Instagram, open the Story creation flow and capture or select a photo or video.
- Open the sticker tray. Tap the sticker icon and choose Music, if it is available to your account. Search for a song or browse the options shown.
- Choose the excerpt. Select the track and use the available controls to choose the portion that fits. Choose an offered sticker or lyrics display if desired.
- Preview with sound. Check the start and end, the crop, and the balance with any speech in the original video. Adjust what the editor allows, then share when satisfied.
Meta describes choosing a photo or video and adding the Music sticker in its Stories music announcement. Its Add Yours Music sticker is a separate interactive prompt that invites others to share a song. Features and labels can change by version, location and account.
Add your own music to an Instagram Story
- Gather the files. Use a local audio file and a photo or video you have permission to publish. Keep the originals.
- Make a video. Open a video editor, add the photo or video to a project, then import your audio as a separate timeline track. Set the image duration if starting with a still photo.
- Choose and balance the sound. Trim and position the excerpt. If the video has speech, lower the music and check that the original audio remains enabled. Listen to the beginning and ending for abrupt cuts.
- Export and upload. Save a new video, play that saved file with sound, then select it when creating the Story. Preview the Instagram version and check any notices before sharing.
On iPhone, the iMovie walkthrough explains adding a file to a movie project. The audio trimmer can prepare a mono or stereo MP3 or WAV of up to five minutes and 50 MiB locally. Download the excerpt and import it into your editor; the trimmer does not upload to Instagram or edit the video.
Embedding audio does not add your track to Instagram's licensed library or guarantee a reusable music sticker. It also does not bypass platform restrictions or replace permission to use the recording and composition.
Fix common Story music problems
| Problem | What to try |
|---|---|
| Music sticker or song is missing | Check the sticker tray and the options offered to your account; update the app and try again. Availability may vary by location, account and licensing. Choose another permitted track if necessary. |
| No sound in the uploaded video | Play the exported file outside Instagram first and check the phone's playback volume. Return to the project to check track mute and export settings if the file itself is silent. |
| Music covers the voice | Lower music in the original project or available Story controls, then preview a quiet spoken sentence. If voice and music are already mixed together, return to separate source tracks where possible. |
| Audio is muted after posting | Review any platform notice and check your permissions and the track's availability. A different editor cannot guarantee the track will remain available. |
Music rights and commercial use
Access to a song for listening, a credit in the Story, or a song's presence in an editor does not automatically grant all the rights needed for publication. Check permission for both the recording and composition, and check Instagram's current rules for your account and intended use. Commercial posts and promotions can have different restrictions from personal sharing.
Common questions
Can I add music to a photo Story?
Yes, when the Music sticker is available, select a photo and add an available song in the Story editor. For your own audio file, make a video with the photo and soundtrack first, then upload that video.
Can I add music without a visible music sticker?
One way to include your own permitted audio without adding the Music sticker is to embed it in a video before uploading. This is a different workflow from choosing a library song through the sticker.
Can I add the same music to a Reel?
Reels use a separate creation flow and audio controls. See how to add music to Instagram Reels and check the available tracks and rights for that post.