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How to Add Music to Instagram Stories – A Complete Guide

How to Add Music to Instagram Stories

Instagram Stories have revolutionized the way we share our daily lives, offering a dynamic and engaging platform to connect with friends, family, and followers. But what truly elevates an Instagram Story from good to great? Often, it’s the addition of perfectly chosen music. Adding a soundtrack to your visuals can dramatically enhance the emotional impact and overall appeal of your content. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about how to **add music to Instagram Stories**, from accessing the **Instagram music** library to troubleshooting common problems.

Whether you’re a seasoned social media influencer or just starting to explore the world of Instagram, mastering the art of incorporating music into your Stories is a valuable skill. So, let’s dive in and learn how to make your Instagram Stories sing!

Why Add Music to Instagram Stories?

Before we get into the “how,” let’s quickly explore the “why.” Adding **Instagram music** to your Stories isn’t just about making them sound nice; it’s a strategic move that can significantly boost engagement and reach.

Enhance Emotional Impact: Music can instantly evoke emotions, setting the tone and mood of your Story. A happy song can amplify joyful moments, while a melancholic tune can add depth to reflective content.
Increase Engagement: Stories with music tend to capture attention more effectively than those without. People are more likely to watch and interact with content that stimulates their auditory senses.
Boost Discoverability: **Instagram music** often includes stickers that viewers can tap to learn more about the song or artist. This can potentially lead to new followers discovering your profile. Furthermore, some songs and sounds contribute to trends, and using them can boost visibility within those trends.
Express Your Personality: The music you choose reflects your taste and personality, allowing you to connect with your audience on a deeper level.
Create a More Immersive Experience: Background music creates a more immersive experience for your viewers, making them feel like they’re part of the moment.

Accessing the Instagram Music Library

The foundation of adding **Instagram music** to your stories is, of course, accessing the **Instagram music** library itself. The process is straightforward, but let’s go through it step-by-step to ensure you don’t miss anything.

Step 1: Open Instagram and Create a New Story

First things first, launch the Instagram app on your smartphone. Navigate to the Story creation screen by:

Swiping right from the main feed.
Tapping the “+” icon at the top of your screen and selecting “Story”.
Tapping your profile picture at the top left of the screen.

You can either take a new photo or video directly within the app, or upload existing media from your phone’s gallery.

Step 2: Find the Music Sticker

Once you have your visual content ready, it’s time to add the music. Look for the “stickers” icon at the top of the screen. It usually resembles a square with a folded corner. Tap on it. A menu of various stickers will appear.

Scroll through the options until you find the “Music” sticker. The icon typically features a musical note. Tap on the “Music” sticker to open the **Instagram music** library.

Step 3: Explore the Music Library

The **Instagram music** library is vast and diverse, offering a wide range of genres, artists, and moods. You can explore the library in several ways:

For You: This section features music that Instagram thinks you might like based on your listening habits and preferences.
Browse: Explore music by genre, mood, or theme. This is a great way to discover new songs that fit the vibe of your Story.
Search: Use the search bar to find specific songs, artists, or keywords. For example, you could search for “pop music” or “Taylor Swift”.
Saved: This is where you’ll find any songs you’ve previously saved for later use.

Step 4: Select Your Song

Once you’ve found a song you like, tap on it to preview it. A short clip of the song will play. If you’re happy with your choice, tap on the song again to add it to your Story. The music will automatically be added to your Instagram Story.

Customizing Your Music Selection

Adding the music is just the first step. Instagram offers several customization options to ensure your music perfectly complements your Story.

Choosing the Specific Section of the Song

Instagram allows you to select a specific section of the song to play in your Story. This is particularly useful if you only want to use a catchy chorus or a specific verse.

To customize the song selection:

After selecting a song, a timeline will appear at the bottom of the screen.
Drag the slider to choose the starting point of the music.
You can also adjust the duration of the clip by dragging the ends of the timeline.
The maximum duration of a music clip in an Instagram Story is typically 15 seconds, but that can vary based on certain factors.

Displaying Lyrics

Many songs in the **Instagram music** library include lyrics. If lyrics are available for your chosen song, Instagram will automatically display them on the screen while the music plays.

You can customize the appearance of the lyrics by:

Tapping on the different lyric display options at the bottom of the screen. These options usually include various font styles, colors, and animations.
Moving and resizing the lyrics on the screen to position them where you want.

Choosing a Music Sticker Display

Instead of displaying lyrics, you can opt to display a music sticker. This sticker typically shows the song title, artist name, and album art. Similar to lyrics, you can customize the appearance and position of the music sticker.

To choose a music sticker display:

Tap on the lyrics display until you see the music sticker appear.
Select your preferred sticker style from the available options.
Move and resize the sticker as needed.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

While adding **Instagram music** is generally a straightforward process, you might occasionally encounter some issues. Here are some common problems and their solutions:

Music Sticker Not Available

If you don’t see the “Music” sticker in your sticker menu, it could be due to several reasons:

Account Type: Make sure you’re using a personal Instagram account. Business accounts in some regions may have limited access to the **Instagram music** library due to copyright restrictions.
Location: The availability of **Instagram music** varies by country. Some regions may not have access due to licensing agreements.
App Version: Ensure you’re using the latest version of the Instagram app. Outdated versions may not have all the features.
Copyright: In some cases, using unlicensed music in your videos might prevent you from adding music using the official method.

Music Not Playing

If you’ve added music to your Story, but it’s not playing, try these solutions:

Check Your Volume: Make sure your phone’s volume is turned up.
Restart the App: Close and reopen the Instagram app.
Update the App: Check for updates in the app store.
Reinstall the App: If all else fails, try uninstalling and reinstalling the app.

Song Not Available

Sometimes, a specific song you’re looking for might not be available in the **Instagram music** library. This could be due to licensing restrictions or other factors.

Unfortunately, there’s not much you can do in this situation other than choosing a different song.

Alternatives to the Instagram Music Library

While the **Instagram music** library is the easiest way to add music to your Stories, there are alternative methods you can use, especially if you’re facing restrictions or want to use a song that’s not available in the library.

Using Third-Party Video Editing Apps

Several video editing apps, such as InShot, CapCut, and Adobe Premiere Rush, allow you to add music to your videos before uploading them to Instagram. This gives you more control over the music selection and editing process.

To use this method:

Create your video using your chosen video editing app.
Import the music you want to use into the app.
Add the music to your video and adjust the volume and timing as needed.
Export the video and upload it to your Instagram Story.

Playing Music in the Background

Another workaround is to play music on your phone while recording a video for your Story. This method is less precise than using the **Instagram music** library or a video editing app, but it can be a quick and easy solution in certain situations.

To use this method:

Start playing the music on your phone using a music streaming app or your local music library.
Open Instagram and start recording your Story.
Make sure the music is audible in the background while you’re recording.

Best Practices for Using Instagram Music

Now that you know how to **add music to Instagram Stories**, here are some best practices to keep in mind:

Choose Music That Matches Your Content: Select music that complements the mood and message of your Story.
Keep It Short and Sweet: Use short music clips to keep your audience engaged.
Respect Copyright Laws: Only use music that you have the rights to use, especially if you’re creating content for commercial purposes. When in doubt, stick to the **Instagram music** library.
Pay Attention to Volume Levels: Ensure the music isn’t too loud or too quiet compared to your voice or other sounds in your Story.
Experiment and Have Fun: Don’t be afraid to try different songs and styles to see what works best for your audience.

Conclusion

Adding **Instagram music** to your Stories is a simple yet powerful way to enhance engagement, express your personality, and create a more immersive experience for your viewers. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can easily access the **Instagram music** library, customize your music selection, and troubleshoot common issues. So, go ahead and start adding some tunes to your Stories and watch your engagement soar!

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