There are two main ways to add music to Instagram stories, and in this guide, we have decided to give you in-depth instructions on both. With over 500 million daily active users, Stories are a go-to format on this platform, and since visuals alone won’t be enough to help you stand out, learning how to add music to Instagram Stories can make or break your reach.
Various songs and sounds can give your content depth and improve its appeal, and that makes them an excellent addition to any social media post. So, in today’s guide, we’ll not only explain how to add music to Instagram Stories, but also share some creative tips to help you use it more effectively in your content.
Let’s start!
A Complete Guide on How to Add Music to Instagram Stories in 5 Easy Steps
There are two ways to add music to your Instagram Stories using the app’s music library: by using the music sticker or by directly adding it as background music. You can also incorporate music from third-party apps into your Stories, but we’ll explain more about this later.
Here’s how you can start adding music to your Instagram Stories in five easy steps.
Step 1: Accessing the Story Feature
To access the Instagram Story feature, tap the Plus icon at the bottom of the screen and select Story.
You can use the camera to shoot your Story or upload one or multiple images and videos from your gallery by tapping the small square in the lower left corner.
Step 2: Navigating to the Music Sticker
Once your media has loaded and you have added all the photos, stickers, or any classy captions you wanted, you can now add music to your Instagram Story by tapping the sticker icon. If you want to add music to Instagram stories without a sticker, simply tap the musical icon to use music as a background track.
After tapping the sticker icon, you’ll find a selection of the app’s stickers. Tap the Music sticker to add a song to your Story.
Step 3: Choosing a Song
Afterward, you’ll be able to choose a song from Instagram’s music library. You can select one from Instagram’s recommendations or search for a specific track using the search bar.
You can also click Browse to find music by genre, mood, or theme.
Tap the track you want to use to add it to your music sticker.
If you can’t find a specific song, it’s likely because it’s not available in your region. Licensed music on Instagram is governed by copyright laws, which can affect the availability of specific tracks in some areas.
Step 4: Customizing Music Playback
The next step is to customize the music sticker. You can choose a different snippet from the song, use the color wheel to change the color of the sticker, and add your Instagram avatar to make the Story more personalized.
Now, it’s time to set the length of the snippet by tapping 15 on the left side. Instagram allows a maximum clip duration of 15 seconds for photo Stories.
Meanwhile, for video Stories that are longer than 15 seconds, the song will continue to play for the duration of the clip.
Some songs also allow you to add music with lyrics to your Instagram Story. Instagram will automatically generate the lyrics based on your chosen snippet, but you can always change this by swiping up and selecting the section you want to feature. When you swipe left, you’ll be able to change the font of the text to your liking.
Android users will have an extra icon on top of their Stories—the speech bubble with an exclamation point.
Clicking it allows you to report any issues with the lyrics, such as wrong timing or words. Unfortunately, this feature doesn’t seem to be available for iPhone users.
Step 5: Finalizing and Sharing the Story
Lastly, check your Story to ensure that the music is playing properly and that the sticker doesn’t cover any important elements of the post.
When everything looks good, tap the arrow icon to share your Instagram Story.
The process of adding music to Instagram Stories on iPhone and Android is the same, so you can follow these steps regardless of your phone model.
How to Integrate Music from External Sources
Aside from incorporating music into your content, you can also post the actual song or audio track by integrating music from external sources. Instagram has great integration with popular streaming platforms, making it easy for you to share your favorite tracks on the app.
Here’s a quick guide for adding music from different streaming sites:
#1. How To Add Music from Spotify
It’s easy to add music from Spotify to Instagram Stories. Simply open the Spotify app and search for the song you want to use; then, tap the three-dot icon on the right side of the track and scroll down until you see Share.
Tap Share and select Stories from the options. This will redirect you to the Instagram app, where you can further customize your Story by adding on-screen text, stickers, and effects.
#2. How to Add Music from SoundCloud
If you’re a musician and want to share your own music from SoundCloud on Instagram, you can do so by tapping the three-dot icon on the right side of the track and clicking on Stories from the options that pop up. This will redirect you to Instagram, where you can edit your Story as usual.
#3. How to Add Music From Shazam
You can also share the music you discover through Shazam on your Instagram Stories by searching for the song, tapping the three-dot icon on the right side of the screen, and clicking Share. Select Instagram Stories from the options that pop up to be redirected to the Instagram app, where you can customize your post.
Keep in mind that these methods will only share the song’s cover art image on Instagram, which means it won’t have any actual audio. If you want the song to play in your Story as well, be sure to follow our guide.
Why Add Music to Your Instagram Stories?
Adding music to Instagram Stories can provide several benefits, such as taking advantage of trending sounds, improving engagement, and building a connection with your audience.
Aside from these, music can also help you:
- Utilize trending audio. If your Story doesn’t have a specific theme or underlying message, you can use this opportunity to utilize trending audio on the platform. Using popular or trending elements in your Story can make it more appealing to general users and improve its discoverability, as your content will show up when users click on a specific sound.
- Make posts more engaging. Music makes your Stories more interesting for viewers, which can lead to higher engagement rates. The right song can encourage clicks and reactions, which are great signals for the Instagram algorithm. You can also try posting Stories during the best times to post on Instagram to improve engagement further.
- Foster a connection. According to a study by Thompson et al. (2023) published in Psychological Review, “music is inherently social and people often engage in musical activities with others.” By using music in your Stories, you turn it into a shared experience and allow viewers to build a connection with your content.
Unfortunately, you can’t add music to an Instagram Story after posting, so make sure to incorporate it beforehand to maximize these benefits!
3 Creative Tips for Incorporating Music in Stories
Now that you know how to add music to Instagram Stories, it’s important to learn how you can incorporate it into your posts creatively. According to Instagram, around 60% of users watch Stories with the sound on. If you want your posts to leave a lasting impression and resonate with your audience, here are some tips to help you get started.
#1. Matching Music to Content
Your song choice will affect how viewers perceive your Story, so it’s important to be selective. Carefully think about the message you want to relay and select music that emphasizes it. For instance, if you are uploading a photo of a sunrise and want to express a hopeful message, dark or heavy music won’t really be effective.
If you want to use music in your Story but have no idea what content to publish, you can check out these ideas.
#2. Aligning Visuals and Music
Take your Instagram Story to the next level by making sure that your visuals match the beat of the music. Take note of the highs and lows or any beat drops in the snippet you chose, and edit your video to match this tempo and improve the overall viewing experience for your audience.
#3. Setting the Mood or Theme With Background Music
Adding music to your Instagram Stories can help you convey a specific mood and evoke an emotional response in your audience. A study by Berger and Milkman (2013) (2021) in the Journal of Marketing Research found that content that elicits either positive or negative emotions tends to be more viral and, therefore, more engaging than content that doesn’t evoke any emotion.
You can also check your Instagram Story analytics to see how well the content with music performs compared with content that doesn’t have any. If it generates significantly better engagement, consider adding music to your Instagram posts as well.
Fortunately, it’s easy to find the right music for your desired mood or theme, as Instagram already uses these categories in its music library.
Key Takeaways
- You can add music to Instagram Stories by adding a music sticker or using it as a background for your post.
- It’s also possible to add music from an external source to Instagram Stories, as the app supports integrations from the Spotify, SoundCloud, and Shazam mobile apps.
- Adding music to Instagram Stories can make them more appealing to viewers, which can help foster connections and boost engagement.
- When adding music to Instagram Stories, it’s important to match your music choice with the message of the post and align it with your chosen visual.
How to Add Music to Instagram Stories FAQs
#1. How do I resolve the issue when the music sticker isn’t available?
If the music sticker isn’t available in your Instagram app, you can try to solve the issue by updating the app to the latest version. If it still doesn’t resolve the issue, it may be because the feature is not yet supported in your region.
#2. Can I add music to a Story featuring photos from my gallery?
Yes, you can add music to a Story featuring photos from your gallery. Simply select the photos you want to upload and tap the music icon to incorporate the song directly. Another option is to use the music sticker to overlay your photo with the music track.
#3. Is it possible to add custom music tracks that are not found in Instagram’s library?
Yes, it’s possible to add custom music tracks that are not in the Instagram library to your Stories. All you need to do is upload them to SoundCloud and share them by following the steps we have outlined in our guide. Additionally, you can do the same if you want to add music to your Instagram Reels or Posts.
Ervin Kalemi
