How to Add Music to Instagram Posts to Increase Engagement

Music can be a valuable tool when posting and sharing content as it not only sets the tone, but also boosts engagement and can even build broader brand recognition. Luckily, you can now add music to Instagram posts in addition to Reels and Stories - opening up another avenue to connect with and captivate followers. 

Here’s how to add music to Instagram posts, Reels, and Stories. 

Do I Have to Add Music to My Instagram Content? 

You don’t have to add music to every post — music-free content can still make an impact. A quiet or peaceful post (like ducks swimming in a pond or a vivid sunset) might even be more effective without added audio, bringing the viewer a sense of calm.

But music can also add dimension and set the right mood — one that helps get your point across. Here are a few more benefits:

Tell a Story

Adding music to Instagram Reels and posts is an effective storytelling technique. Not only does it evoke emotions from the viewer, but it also helps pace the video and highlight important moments. You might use quieter song sections to showcase text and louder ones to build engagement. 

Music is also a powerful way to alter viewers’ perceptions. Picture a video of someone running through a field. Bright, inspirational music implies they’re happy and free — but add a dramatic, suspenseful song, and you might think something’s chasing them.

Participate in Trends

You can use trending audio for more than just TikToks and Reels. Adding popular songs to feed posts and Stories might pique the algorithm’s attention — suddenly, your content’s on the Explore page, leading to more views from potential followers. People can also find your content when they search for the song you used.

Add Depth to Photos

While a static image can convey emotions, music adds another dimension to engage with, intensifying the viewer’s emotional connection. 

Music can also increase a post’s relatability, in turn improving the post’s ability to resonate with viewers. Say you share your travel photography on Instagram. A photo of Venice on its own might not resonate with as many people as one paired with a popular song that invokes wanderlust.

How to Add Music to Instagram Videos and Photos

Here’s how to add music to a feed post:

1. Open Instagram and click on the plus sign to start a new post. Choose “Post” at the bottom.
2. Select a photo or video. To post multiple, click the button of stacked squares above the camera roll, below the image preview.
3. Make any edits and tap or click “Next.” 
4. Tap or click the music note at the top of the screen to add audio. You can also select “Next,” then “Add music” under the captions, tags, and location options. The app recommends popular tracks, but you can see a complete list by tapping the arrow to the Instagram music library. 
5. Select a song.
6. Move the trimmer along the audio bar to highlight the song clip you want to play. You can also shorten it by moving the ends of the trimmer tool. 
7. Tap or click “Done.” 
8. Hit “Share.” 

Adding Music to Other Instagram Content Types

Stories offer a casual way to share, whether you’re posting daily vlogs or quick snapshots of your life. Adding a song to a Story gives it flair and encourages viewers to keep watching. Share a band you just discovered, support a new release, or add a song that describes how you feel that day.

Reels are short-form videos many Instagram users scroll through to discover new content. They’re the perfect place to use popular songs and soundbites and boost your content’s place in the algorithm, potentially attracting new followers. You can even tap the “Trends” icon on Instagram to see popular songs and choose one that suits your content.

How to Add Music to an Instagram Story

Here’s how to add music to a Story with the music sticker on Instagram: 

1. Open the Instagram app and click the plus sign on your profile photo in the upper left-hand corner. 
2. Add a photo or video or shoot a new one. 
3. On the next screen, tap the Stickers icon in the top-right corner, which looks like a smiley face. 
4. Choose the “Music” option. Search for the right track and trim the part you want to play. You can also tap on the music sticker to show lyrics or a static player icon. 
5. Tap “Done.” 

How to Add Music to Instagram Reels

Here’s how to add music to Reels:

1. Open the Instagram app and click on the plus sign at the bottom of the screen. 
2. Select the Reel option from the bar at the bottom of the screen.
3. Select a photo or video (or multiple) to add to the Reel. 
4. Hit “Next.”
5. Tap the music note icon at the top of the screen. 
6. Search for a song to add.
7. Use the trimmer to pick the clip you’ll play behind the video.
8. Add any Reel captions or tags and hit “Done.”

How to Add Your Own Music to an Instagram Story, Reel, or Post

Adding your own music to Instagram posts is a great way to share them with an audience. If your music’s already on a streaming platform like Apple Music, Spotify, or SoundCloud, you can probably find it through Instagram’s library. You can also share songs and albums from a streaming app directly to a Story, making it easier for new listeners to tap and save the song.

Don’t worry if your music isn’t streaming yet. Record a video with a song playing in the background, or use an editing app to add it to a video before uploading. Just note that the audio might be lower quality if you record it instead of layering it in. 

When you’re looking for a unique sound and don’t have the musical expertise to create your own, try Captions’ AI Music feature. The app can generate a one-of-a-kind track to help you stand out. Here’s how:

1. Open the Captions app and tap “Create.” Upload the video you want to add music to.
2. Select “Music” from the toolbar at the bottom of the screen.
3. Choose a genre, mood, and theme to generate a song. Select more than one genre or mood for a more specific track, like a sad rock song that’s also mysterious.
4. The app renders the sound and plays it for you. It automatically matches the length of the video. If you’re happy with the result, click “Apply.” 
5. Edit the music’s intensity, volume, or ducking. 
6. Click “Export” to save the video and post it to Instagram. 

Add Music to Instagram Videos With Captions

Adding popular songs makes your posts engaging, and unique tracks set them apart. 

No matter the goal, you can use Captions AI to create your own music in seconds. Add one-of-a-kind, royalty-free music to YouTube videos, Instagram posts, and more. You can select different moods and themes to match a video’s storyline — and adjust as many times as you need. Captions does it all 10x faster with the power of AI.