You can change the audio on an Instagram post, but only before you publish it
Once you've posted a video or Reel to Instagram, you cannot swap out the audio track after the fact. Instagram does not offer an edit function that lets you remove the original sound and add a new one to a published post. If you've already shared a video with audio you want to change, your only option is to delete the post and upload it again with different audio.
The good news is that changing audio before you post is straightforward. You can add, replace, or remove audio while the post is still in the drafting stage, before you hit the final "Share" button. The steps differ slightly depending on whether you're uploading a Reel or a regular video post, and whether you're using the Instagram app on your phone or the web version.
Key Takeaways
- Audio changes are only possible before you publish; once a post goes live, you cannot edit the sound without deleting and re-uploading the entire post.
- In the Instagram app, you can add or swap audio during the editing screen by tapping the music icon and selecting a new track from Instagram's library or your phone's files.
- If you're uploading a Reel, you can layer multiple audio tracks, adjust volume levels for each, and trim audio to match your video length before posting.
- Instagram's web version has limited audio editing compared to the mobile app, so phone editing gives you more control over sound adjustments.
- If you've already posted a video with unwanted audio, deleting it and re-uploading with new sound is the only way to change what viewers hear.
How to add or change audio before publishing on the mobile app
Open the Instagram app and start creating a new post or Reel. After you've selected or recorded your video, you'll see an editing screen with several options at the bottom. Look for the music note icon or "Audio" button—the exact label depends on your Instagram version, but it's always a music-related symbol.
Tap that icon to open Instagram's audio library. You can search by song title, artist, or mood, or browse trending sounds. Once you find a track you want, tap it to preview how it sounds with your video. If you like it, tap "Use Audio" or a similar confirmation button. The audio will be added to your post. If your video already has original audio (like dialogue or background noise) and you want to replace it entirely, you can adjust the volume of the original audio to zero while keeping the new track at full volume.
Before you post, take a moment to check that the audio starts and ends where you want it. You can usually trim or adjust the timing of the audio track to match your video length. Once everything looks right, proceed to the caption and sharing settings, then tap "Share."
Changing audio on a Reel with multiple sound layers
Reels allow you to layer multiple audio tracks on top of each other, which gives you more flexibility than a standard video post. When you're editing a Reel, you can add the original audio from your video, plus one or more tracks from Instagram's music library, and adjust the volume of each independently.
To do this, tap the audio icon while editing your Reel. You'll see options to add audio and adjust volume sliders for each track. If you want to remove the original audio entirely and use only a new track, drag the original audio's volume slider all the way down to zero. Then add your new audio and set it to the volume level you want. This approach is cleaner than trying to replace audio on a standard post, because you have precise control over what the viewer hears.
Keep in mind that Instagram's music library is the easiest source for audio, but you can also use sounds you've recorded yourself or audio files stored on your phone, depending on your Instagram version and phone's operating system. Check your app's settings to see whether importing personal audio files is available in your region.
Why you cannot edit audio after posting
Instagram treats audio as part of the post's core content, similar to the video itself. Once a post is published, Instagram's editing tools only let you change the caption, location tag, and who can see the post—not the media file. This is different from some other platforms that allow you to swap out media after publishing.
The reason for this limitation is partly technical: changing the audio file would require Instagram to re-process and re-encode the entire video, which takes server resources. It's also a policy choice—Instagram wants to keep the published version of a post stable so that comments, likes, and shares all refer to the same content. If you could change the audio after people had already watched and commented, it could create confusion about what viewers actually saw.
What to do if you've already posted with the wrong audio
If you've published a post and now realize the audio is wrong, you have two choices: leave it as is, or delete the post and upload it again. Deleting will remove all the likes, comments, and shares that post received, so weigh whether it's worth starting over. If the audio is only slightly off or the post has significant engagement, you might decide to leave it.
If you do decide to re-upload, go to your profile, find the post, tap the three-dot menu, and select "Delete." Then create a new post with the same video and the correct audio. You'll start from zero on engagement, but the content will be what you intended to share.
Audio editing on Instagram's web version
If you're uploading a post from a computer using Instagram's web interface, your audio options are more limited than on the mobile app. The web version lets you upload a video and add a caption, but the audio editing tools are minimal or absent depending on your region and account type. Most creators who need to change audio use the mobile app instead, where the full range of editing features is available.
If you're on a computer and need to edit audio, consider downloading the Instagram app on your phone, uploading the video there, and making your audio adjustments before posting. This gives you access to all the tools Instagram offers for sound editing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I mute the original audio and add new audio to a post I've already published?
No. Once a post is live, you cannot edit the audio at all. You would need to delete the post and re-upload it with the new audio settings. There is no way to change only the sound of a published post while keeping everything else the same.
What if I want to use a song that's not in Instagram's music library?
Instagram's library is the primary source for audio on posts and Reels. If you want to use a song outside that library, you may be able to upload it from your phone's files during the editing stage, but this depends on your phone's operating system and your region. The mobile app is more likely to support this than the web version. Keep in mind that using copyrighted music outside Instagram's library can result in your post being muted or removed.
If I delete a post and re-upload it with new audio, will it get the same engagement?
No. When you delete a post, all likes, comments, and shares are lost. The new post will start with zero engagement. Your followers may see it again in their feed, but the algorithm treats it as a brand-new post, so it won't have the same reach or history as the original.
Can I change the audio on a video I've saved as a draft?
Yes. If you haven't published the post yet, it's still in draft form, and you can edit the audio as many times as you want before you hit "Share." Open the draft, tap the audio icon, and make your changes. You can preview the result before posting.
Does Instagram let me adjust the volume of the original audio separately from new audio I add?
On Reels, yes—you can adjust the volume of each audio track independently using sliders. On standard video posts, the controls are more limited, but you can usually lower the original audio to zero if you want only the new track to play. Check your editing screen to see which volume controls are available for your post type.