How to Add Music to Your Instagram Story

If you’re looking to add music to your Instagram Story, this guide is here to help. For anyone creating content or marketing on social media, using creative visuals is key to catching people’s attention. Moreover, adding music to your Stories is a great way to enhance their appeal and set the right mood. Consequently, this article explains six different methods for doing this.

Music can really change the feel of your Instagram Stories, making them more engaging and memorable. For instance, whether you want to highlight a particular message, set a specific mood, or just add some fun, music can be a great tool. Additionally, the guide covers several ways to add music, including using stickers, connecting with popular music streaming services, and solving common problems.

By adding music to your Instagram Stories, you make them more dynamic and engaging. Consequently, this can help you connect better with your audience. Furthermore, learning these techniques can help you create Stories that stand out and keep your followers interested.

How to Add Music to Your Instagram Story

Adding music to your Instagram Story is a straightforward process, and it can really help capture your audience’s attention. Here’s how you can do it:

Step 1: Open Instagram

Start by launching the Instagram app on your device and logging into your account.

Step 2: Tap Your Story

First, look for the ‘Your Story’ icon in the top left corner of the screen. Then, you can also tap the airplane icon below a post and choose ‘Add post to your story.’

Step 3: Capture or Upload Content

To create a new photo or video, tap the camera icon. Alternatively, swipe up to select a photo or video from your gallery.

Step 4: Open Stickers

Tap the sticker icon at the top of the screen to bring up the sticker options.

Step 5: Select Music Sticker

Choose the “Music” sticker to access Instagram’s music selection.

Step 6: Choose a Song

Browse through or search for a song you like. Pick it and select the section you want to feature.

Step 7: Customize

You can decide whether to show the song’s title or the album cover. Additionally, adjust the starting point, and furthermore, determine how long the music plays.

Step 8: Share Your Story

Tap “Your Story” to share with all your followers or select “Close Friends” for a more private sharing option.

By following these steps, you can easily add music to your Instagram Stories, making them more engaging and enjoyable for your audience.

How to Add Music to an Instagram Story without Using the Music Sticker

If you’re not seeing the music sticker on Instagram, it might be because of one of these reasons:

1. App Update Needed: Ensure you’re using the latest version of Instagram.
2. Music Restrictions: Some countries have limits on music due to licensing issues.
3. Branded Content: If you’re sharing sponsored content, Instagram might restrict some features like music.

But if you want to add music without the sticker, here’s a simple workaround:

Method 1: Using a Music Streaming App

1. Open Your Music App: Start a music app like Spotify or Apple Music.
2. Play Your Song: Find and play the song you want.
3. Open Instagram: With the song still playing, go to Instagram and swipe right to open the Stories camera.
4. Record Your Story: Record your Story with the music playing in the background.

Keep in mind, this method won’t show album covers or lyrics, and it’s not officially supported by Instagram. Be aware that Instagram might remove your Story or flag your account for copyright issues.

Method 2: Using Video Editing Apps

1. Choose an Editing App: Pick an app like InShot or Adobe Premiere Rush.
2. Add Your Video: Import the video you want to use for your Instagram Story.
3. Add Music: Use the app to add the song to your video and adjust the sound levels.
4. Export and Upload: Save the edited video and upload it to Instagram.

This method lets you add more custom elements to your Story, but be cautious of copyright issues.

Instagram’s Copyright Rules

Instagram’s guidelines for music are:

• Music in Stories and live performances are allowed.
• Too many full-length songs might limit your video.
• It’s best to use short music clips and ensure your video has a visual element.

If you use the workaround, keep clips short and add visuals to your video. Need visual ideas? Check out over 30 Story ideas you can use!

Scheduling Your Instagram Stories

To manage multiple Stories without posting them all at once, follow these steps:

1. Pick a Scheduling Tool: Use tools like Later, Simplified, Buffer, or Hootsuite.
2. Upload Your Content: Add your photos, videos, and music.
3. Set Your Schedule: Choose when you want your Stories to be posted.
4. Review and Confirm: Check everything and set your schedule.

Scheduling helps you keep your Instagram Stories consistent and lets you focus on creating great content and engaging with your followers.

How to Add Music to an Instagram Story Using Spotify

If you’re enjoying a song on Spotify and want to share it with your Instagram followers, you can easily add that music to your Instagram Story. Here’s a simple guide to help you:

1. Open the Spotify App: Start by launching the Spotify app on your device.

2. Find the Song: Look through your playlists, albums, or search for the song you want to share.

3. Select the Song: Tap the three dots next to the song, album, or playlist you want.

4. Choose Share: From the menu that appears, select “Share.”

5. Open Instagram Stories: Choose “Instagram Stories” from the sharing options. You might need to give Spotify permission to open Instagram.

6. Create Your Story: Instagram will automatically create a new Story with the cover art of the music you selected.

7. Customize: Add text, stickers, or other effects to your Story to make it your own.

8. Post Your Story: When you’re ready, tap “Your Story” at the bottom of the screen to share it with your followers.

After posting, your followers can click through your Story to listen to the song on Spotify, making your content more engaging.

Adding Music Over the Cover Art

To have the music play over the cover art:

1. Follow the Initial Steps: Add the song as described above.
2. Use the Music Sticker: Add the Music sticker to select the same song and choose the part you want to play.

Troubleshooting

If you get an error saying “You can’t add a song to a story you shared from another app,” here’s a workaround:

1. Download or Screenshot: Save the cover art by downloading it or taking a screenshot.
2. Create a New Story: Discard the current Story and make a new one with the saved cover art.
3. Add Music: Follow the usual steps to add music to this new Story.

Though this method means your followers won’t be able to link directly to the song on Spotify, it lets the music play over the cover art, keeping your Story engaging and lively.

How to Add Music to an Instagram Story with Apple Music

Sharing music to an Instagram Story through Apple Music is straightforward. Follow these four easy steps to post your favorite tracks.

Step 1: Open the Apple Music app

Start by opening the Apple Music app on your phone or tablet.

Step 2: Find your music

Look for the song, album, or playlist you want to share.

Step 3: Share the music

Press and hold on the music you want to share, then tap “Share.”

Step 4: Select Instagram

First, choose ‘Instagram’ from the sharing options. Then, you can customize your Story and, finally, post it as usual.

This method makes it easy to add your favorite music to your Instagram Stories and make your posts more interesting.

How to Add Music to an Instagram Story with SoundCloud

If you’re a musician or just love sharing music, SoundCloud offers a convenient way to include music in your Instagram Stories. This feature is perfect for promoting your new tracks or albums. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

1. Open the SoundCloud app on your smartphone.

2. Find the song, album, or playlist you want to share and tap the share icon.

3. In the menu that pops up, choose “Stories.” You might need to allow SoundCloud to open Instagram.

4. Instagram will open automatically, and SoundCloud will upload the cover art to your Instagram Story.

5. To add music to the cover art, do the following:

• Tap the sticker icon at the top of the screen.
• Choose the Music sticker.
• Search for the song you want to play over the cover art.
• Pick the part of the song you want to use.
• Adjust the size, position, and style of the music sticker as you like.

6. Post your Story by tapping “Your Story” at the bottom of the screen.

After you post, a “Play on SoundCloud” link will appear at the top of your Story. Viewers can click this link to listen to your music directly on SoundCloud.

This method is great for musicians and artists because, for example, it makes it easy to share new releases and, furthermore, connect with fans across different platforms.

How to Add Music to an Instagram Story with Shazam

Shazam is a handy app for identifying songs and sharing them on Instagram Stories. Here’s a simple guide:

1. Open the Shazam app.

Start the Shazam app on your phone.

2. Identify or select a song.

You can either tap “Tap to Shazam” to recognize a song playing nearby or pick a song from your list of previously identified tracks.

3. Tap the share icon.

After finding or selecting your song, tap the share icon at the top-right corner of the screen.

4. Select Instagram.

Choose “Instagram” from the list of options. You might need to allow Shazam to open the Instagram app.

5. Create your Instagram Story.

Shazam will automatically create a new Story with the cover art of the song you selected.

6. Add music to the cover art.

To make sure the music plays over the cover art, follow the instructions under “How to Add Music to Your Instagram Story.” This involves using the Music sticker in Instagram to select and add the same song.

7. Post your Story.

Once you post your Story, a link will then appear at the top. Consequently, this link will direct viewers to the song, album, or playlist on Shazam.

Using Shazam in this way lets you easily add music to your Instagram Stories and gives your followers a direct link to discover and enjoy the music you share. This is particularly useful for sharing new music that you want your audience to hear right away. Moreover, it not only adds visual elements but also integrates musical components into your Stories. Consequently, your audience can enjoy a richer and more engaging experience.

Why Am I Seeing Only Limited Music Choices on Instagram?

If you’re finding that Instagram offers limited music options, there are a couple of common reasons for this:

1. Professional Account Restrictions: Instagram limits music choices for business accounts due to licensing issues. If you want a wider selection, consider switching to a personal or creator account. However, be sure to weigh the benefits and drawbacks of each account type; in addition, carefully consider these factors before making the switch.

2. Location-Based Limitations: The availability of music on Instagram can differ depending on where you are, due to local copyright laws. If you’re missing out on certain songs, it might be because of your geographic location. In other words, your location could be the reason why you’re not seeing those songs.

To get more music options:

• Switch Account Types: Change from a business account to a personal or creator account.
• Use a VPN: A VPN can help you access music that is available in other regions. For instance, if a song is only accessible in another country, using a VPN allows you to bypass these regional restrictions and enjoy the music.
• Stay Updated: Make sure your Instagram app is up to date to get the latest music features and libraries.

Knowing these factors can help you better understand Instagram’s music features and let you enjoy a wider range of songs for your Stories.