Yes, you can change the music on an Instagram post, but only before you publish it
Once you have published a post to Instagram, you cannot edit the audio track that plays with it. If the music is already live on your feed, your only option is to delete the post and upload it again with different music. However, while you are still in the editing screen before hitting "Share," you have full control to swap out the track, adjust the volume, or remove the sound entirely.
The music feature works differently depending on whether you are posting a Reel, a video post, or a photo carousel. Reels give you the most music options and the easiest editing tools. Regular video posts and photo carousels have more limited audio controls but still let you add or change a track before publishing.
Key Takeaways
- You can only change music before you publish—once the post goes live, you must delete and reupload to change the audio.
- Reels offer the widest selection of music and the simplest controls for swapping tracks or adjusting volume.
- Video posts and photo carousels let you add music during editing, but the music library is smaller than what Reels offer.
- If you want to remove music entirely, you can mute the audio or upload without selecting a track at all.
- Instagram's music library includes licensed songs, but availability varies by country and changes over time.
How to change music on a Reel before publishing
Open Instagram and tap the "Create" button (the plus sign at the bottom of the screen). Select "Reel" from the menu. Record or upload your video clip, then tap "Next" at the bottom right. You will see the editing screen with your video preview at the top.
Look for the "Audio" button at the bottom of the screen—it usually shows a music note icon. Tap it to open the music library. You can browse trending songs, search by title or artist, or scroll through curated playlists. Once you find a track you want, tap it to preview how it sounds with your video. The song will play from the beginning of your Reel. If you like it, tap the checkmark or "Use Audio" button to confirm the selection.
If you already selected a song and want to swap it for a different one, straightforward tap the "Audio" button again and choose a new track. The old one will be replaced. You can also adjust where the song starts in your Reel by dragging the audio timeline, or lower the volume by tapping the speaker icon and moving the slider.
How to change music on a regular video post
Start by tapping "Create" and selecting "Post" instead of Reel. Upload or record your video, then tap "Next." On the editing screen, look for the "Music" option—it may appear as a button or within the "Edit" menu depending on your Instagram version.
Tap "Music" to browse the available tracks. The music library for regular posts is smaller than the Reel library, so you may not find every song you want. Select a track and preview it with your video. Once you confirm, the audio will be added to your post. If you want to change it, tap "Music" again and pick a different song. The new track replaces the old one.
Some video posts allow you to adjust the volume of both the original video sound and the added music. Look for a volume slider or audio mixer tool on the editing screen. If your video already has sound and you want to replace it entirely with a new track, you may need to mute the original audio first.
How to change music on a photo carousel
Photo carousels (multiple photos in one post) can have music added, though the feature is less prominent than with Reels or videos. Tap "Create," select "Post," and upload your photos. Arrange them in the order you want, then tap "Next."
On the editing screen, look for the "Music" button. Not all accounts see this option for carousels—it depends on your region and Instagram's current rollout. If you see it, tap to browse and select a track. The music will play across all the photos in your carousel. To change it, tap "Music" again and choose a different song.
What to do if you want to remove music from a post
If you have already added music but want to remove it before publishing, look for a "Mute" button or an option to delete the audio track. On Reels, you can tap the audio icon and then select "Remove Audio" or a similar option. On video posts, you may see a speaker icon with a slash through it—tap that to mute the added music.
If there is no remove button visible, you can often swipe left on the audio track in the timeline to delete it, or tap and hold the audio section until a delete option appears. The exact steps vary slightly depending on your phone type and Instagram version, so look for any icon that suggests audio control.
Why you cannot change music after publishing
Instagram treats published posts as final. Once your Reel, video, or carousel is live on your feed or profile, the platform does not allow you to edit the audio. This is partly a technical limitation—changing the audio would require re-processing the entire post—and partly a policy choice to keep the post stable once people have started viewing and interacting with it.
If you realize you chose the wrong song after publishing, your only option is to delete the post entirely and upload it again with the correct music. This means you will lose any likes, comments, or shares the original post received. For this reason, it is worth taking a few extra seconds to preview your music choice before you hit "Share."
Music availability and regional differences
Instagram's music library is licensed and varies by country. A song available in the United States may not be available in another region due to copyright agreements. If you search for a specific track and cannot find it, it may not be licensed for your location.
The music library also changes regularly as licenses expire or new deals are made. A song you used last month might not be available this month, and vice versa. If you are planning to repost or recreate content, do not assume the same music will still be there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use my own music instead of Instagram's library?
Reels and video posts can include audio from your phone's camera recording—if you filmed your video with music playing in the background, that audio stays with the video. However, you cannot add a separate audio file from your device to a post. You must choose from Instagram's licensed music library or use the sound already in your video.
What if the song I want is not in Instagram's music library?
If a track is not available, you cannot add it through Instagram's official tools. Your options are to choose a different song from the library, use the original audio from your video if it has music, or post without music. Some creators use third-party apps to add music before uploading to Instagram, but this may violate copyright if the music is not licensed for that use.
Can I change the volume of the music after I publish?
No. Once a post is published, you cannot edit the audio volume or any other audio settings. You would need to delete the post and reupload it with adjusted volume settings. Make sure the volume balance between your video's original sound and the added music sounds right before you publish.
Does changing the music affect my post's reach or engagement?
You cannot change the music on a published post, so this is not a concern. However, if you delete and reupload with different music, the new post will start with zero engagement and a new timestamp, so it will not have the same visibility as the original.
Why does Instagram limit music choices for regular posts compared to Reels?
Reels are Instagram's main video format and receive priority for features and music licensing deals. Regular video posts and carousels are older formats, so they have access to a smaller, older music library. If you want the widest selection of current songs, posting as a Reel gives you the most options.