Instagram music not working? 17 quick ways to fix
I’m a full time blogger so I’ve been doing this a while. And it’s a nightmare and I’m always googling myself why Instagram music not working?
Instagram music stopped working for me a number of times, both on stories AND on reels. I’ve figured out how to fix it, a number of different ways. Trust me, if it’s the first time it happens,
I know how annoying it is to upload your favorite song for the app’s error message to then tell you you cannot use it and there are quite a few possible reasons as to why this might be! Here’s your very simple and straight forward guide to fixing Instagram music. I actually have to thank my followers and fellow Instagram users for some of the tips, as you guys helped me out. I thought I would share this simple guide on here so everyone has access to this info! n nLots of them are straight forward updates etc., but in all honesty, you may need to get a VPN application – just a little warning for ya!
You might be interested in other blogs I have on Instagram stories (after you fixed the issue):
120 best and trending songs to add to your stories – it includes bits on copyright laws, copyright infringement, royalty free music etc.
Instagram is one of the most popular social media platforms in the world. It has over a billion daily users who share photos, videos, and stories, and I’m one of them. I love sharing my travel adventures and lifestyle updates. One of the great features of Instagram is the ability to add music to your stories, reels, and videos. However, sometimes the music feature may not work properly, leaving you with a frustrating experience. In this blog post, we’ll explore 15 quick fixes for Instagram music not working.
The Instagram Music feature
Music has become a game changer when it comes to Instagram reels and stories. Music is integral to all of the content that’s currently posted on Instagram. In my other blog, I talk about how music evokes emotion; be it excitement, happiness, laughter, love, darkness, edginess, energy… you name it! The Instagram story music feature is a great way to connect with your audience. Sharing your love for recording artists (Swifties, Gaga fans, Elton – you name it) is one of the best ways.
What countries have Instagram Music?
The UK, USA, Australia, New Zealand, Sweden, France, Canada, and Germany. It may work in other countries as the app updates worldwide.
What if I live outside one of these countries?
You may need to use a VPN service (skip to the VPN to find out more). BUT FIRST, go through the list to eliminate any other problems.
How do I add music to my Instagram story?
Fire up your Instagram application then click the little plus button! You may need to go to your Instagram profile first to see it. Upload a story, then check to see if you have an Instagram music sticker by clicking on this icon. You’ll see a button that says ‘music’. Click on the music sticker, use the search bar to find a genre of music tracks or a specific song title.
How do I add music to my Instagram Reel?
It’s actually even easier to add music to a reel. When you click to upload a reel, you can see an ‘Audio’ button on the very left hand side, as screenshotted in this image.
Android vs iPhone: What’s better when it comes to Instagram?
It may depend on the type of mobile device you have – I’ve had both iPhone and android. I’m torn between which phone I prefer; I think I prefer android phones, but for whatever reason, Instagram / TikTok and other applications tend to be better on iPhone. My android phone has more bugs, and for whatever reason I couldn’t use 50% of music I selected for no apparent reason – extremely annoying. It’s a shame, because the android device I had was great. Quick tip for android users – it’s a good idea to keep updating your phone’s software!
17 fixes for Instagram Music not working n
And I cannot stress this enough…. DO THE FOLLOWING STEPS IN ORDER!
1. Time to check if you need to update Instagram
Before trying any other fixes, make sure you have got the latest version of Instagram. Most of the time your phone will schedule automatic updates so you have the current version of Instagram features, but if it doesn’t, you can do it manually. Instagram updates its app regularly to fix bugs and add new features. Head to the google play store or the ios app store for ios devices (you’ll need to search for Instagram, then click on the button ‘update’. If it says ‘open’ then there are no updates to be done and you can move onto the next step.
2. Check if your phone has a new update that needs to be installed
How many times have you postponed your phone updates? Now might be a good time. If your phone hasn’t been updated for a while, sometimes the issues arise because you’re using an old version of the phone software that is a bit buggy.
Now go back to step one! Check to see if the Instagram app has updates to install in the app store after you’ve updated your phone.
3. Log out and log in
Sometimes logging out of your Instagram account and then logging back in can fix the problem and I did it 2-3 times. Go to your profile, tap on the three horizontal lines on the top right corner, scroll down to the bottom and tap on ‘Log Out’. Once you’ve logged out, log back in and try adding music again. This is super frustrating but it did actually work for me once so it’s worth giving it a go.
4. Clear cache and data
Clearing the app cache and data of your Instagram app can fix many problems, including Instagram music not working. Go to your phone settings, select ‘Apps & notifications’, find Instagram and tap on ‘Storage & cache’. Then, tap on ‘Clear cache’ and ‘Clear storage’. You should also be able to do this through your Instagram settings.
5. Restart your phone
Restarting your phone can sometimes fix issues with apps. Press and hold the power button on your phone, and then tap on ‘Turn off’ or ‘Restart’.
6. Check your internet connection
I’m told that a shoddy, poor internet connection could potentially be the reason. Make sure you have a stable internet connection and try again. If you’re using Wi-Fi, try switching to mobile data (cellular data), or vice versa. 4G and 5G, apparently can make a difference, so worth checking.
7. Use the search bar
If you’re looking for a specific song, use the search bar in the Instagram music library. Type in the name of the song or the artist, and see if it comes up.
8. Try using a different device
If none of the above fixes work, try using a different device to add music to your Instagram content. This can help determine if the problem is with your device or with the Instagram app.
9. Check if you even have the Music Sticker on stories
If you don’t have the music sticker button available on stories, then have a look at the next point along for a solution.
10.Choose a different song
Sometimes, the problem may be with the song you’re trying to add. Try choosing a different song from the Instagram music library or from your own music library on your phone. Popular songs from artists like Dua Lipa, Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, Justin Bieber, Billie Eilish, Doja Cat, J Balvin, Harry Styles, Sean Paul, and many more are available in the Instagram music library.
11. Use a royalty-free music app
If you can’t find the right song in the Instagram music library or your own music library, try using a royalty-free music app like Epidemic Sound, Artlist, or AudioJungle. These apps have loads of high-quality music that you can use without worrying about copyright issues.
12. Creator account vs business account vs personal account
It might depend on your account type, personal, or professional account. Try changing accounts. Some of the types of accounts are different on IG, some are newer than others, and therefore, there are often bugs and issues that haven’t had time to be ironed out properly. I have a creator profile, but the Instagram business profile is meant to be very similar. Try changing accounts to see if that makes a difference. n
Go to Settings > Account > Switch Account Type
If you have a private account, try switching it to public and back again to see if it makes any difference. n
13. If it says ‘Music not available’, you might need to use a VPN
If it says ‘Music not available’, this usually means that music is not available in your region or country (IG says it officially has music in The UK, USA, Australia, New Zealand, Sweden, France, Canada, and Germany). I was travelling through the Maldives when I got this message, meaning I couldn’t upload ANY reels. That meant I needed to use a VPN.
What is a VPN?
To be honest, I didn’t have the slightest clue what a VPN was but decided to give it a go when I heard that it could help me access music on Instagram that wasn’t available in the country I was in. A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is like a secret tunnel that allows you to access the internet securely and privately, through a remote server. In simple terms, it routes your connection through a different country. It hides the current location of your real IP address through third-party apps. I use Express VPN which is always set to England, which is where my home is. If I’m travelling back and forward between countries, the app keeps changing, meaning I have music some days, and don’t on other days.
A VPN acts as a shield, or an extra safety mechanism – it makes it super difficult for anyone to intercept or monitor your online activities, including your internet service provider or hackers.
But how does this help with accessing music on Instagram? Well, sometimes certain songs or music features on Instagram may be restricted in certain countries due to licensing agreements or other legal restrictions. However, by using a VPN, you can connect to a server in a different country where the music is available and access it as if you were located there.
What VPN can I use? Are there any free ones?
I use Express VPN which I pay for, and it’s actually fantastic. I tried to find some free VPNs, but to be honest they weren’t great. A lot of them are ‘free’ for 7 days, or 30 days. Or the are free but only allow you to use a certain amount of data. So I end up using Express VPN which is just 13 USD pm.
14. Reboot your phone
This may sound a little extreme, but it might be worth rebooting your phone. My old phone simply would not allow any music use on Instagram no matter what I tried, so this was the only option, OR to get another phone. I knew it was a problem with the phone because the exact same music worked on my account when I borrowed someone else’s phone to try.
15. Contact the Instagram support team
This one is likely to take a bit longer, but if you believe you should have music when you don’t, then get in touch with IG! You can do this through the app by going to your Instagram profile > account settings > Help.
Temporary ways around not having music!
16. Use the Spotify app or Apple Music
If you’re having trouble finding a specific song in the Instagram music library, try using the Spotify app, Apple Music, Deezer or whatever.. You can find the song you want to use in the Spotify app, play it, and then record your Instagram video with the song playing in the background.
17. Use background music
If you’re having trouble adding music to your Instagram videos, try adding background music instead. You can do this by playing the music on your phone or computer while recording the video. Make sure the music is not too loud and doesn’t overpower your voice or other sounds in the video.
I hope the above methods have proved useful for you! Let me know if I’ve missed anything!
About the Author
 | Hi, I’m Adriana! I’m constantly searching for the best places to travel to so you don’t have to! Think hidden gems but all over the world. That means I’m constantly on the road and exploring new places to visit and I have a love for photography, so it made sense to write travel guides on all the places I visit. I was born in Australia and lived in New Zealand, Poland, Dubai and England growing up and I decided to take my love of travel to the next level! Read more about me here and see my articles here. |
After you’re done with this article, you might be interested in my other Instagram tips on:
Cute Instagram Stories Stickers
120 Best trending songs & music for Instagram stories
Best and Baddie captions & quotes for Instagram
