Can I Add Music to an Instagram Post After Posting? (I Tried.)

Hey there! So, the other day, I posted a cool photo on Instagram… and about 5 minutes later, I realized it would’ve been so much better with some music. 😩

That got me wondering—can I add music to my Instagram post after I already posted it? I dug in, tried a bunch of stuff, and here’s everything I found out.

Let’s break it down.

TL;DR (Too Long; Didn’t Read)

Can I…	Yes or No?
Add music to a photo post after I post it?	❌ No
Add music to a video post after posting?	❌ No
Add music before posting?	✅ Yes!
Add music to a Story anytime?	✅ Yup!
Use an app to edit with music before I post?	✅ For sure

So… Can You Add Music After Posting?

Let me just rip the band-aid off:

Nope. You can’t add music to a post once it’s already live.
Not to a photo. Not to a video. Not even to a Reel.

Instagram doesn’t let you go back and change that part. Once it’s up—it’s stuck.

Why Not Though?

I asked the same thing. Here’s what I figured out:

• Instagram locks your post so you don’t mess with how it shows up in people’s feeds.
• Music licensing is a thing. Instagram has to keep track of which songs are used, when, and how.

So yeah… rules. Annoying, I know.

How to Add Music Before You Post (So You Don’t Regret It Later)

Alright—now that we know the bad news, let me show you what you can do so your posts actually have music next time.

1. For Photos

You can’t directly add music to a photo post…
BUT! Here’s a cool trick I use:

Step-by-step photo + music hack:

1. Open Instagram and swipe to the Stories screen.
2. Upload the photo you want to use.
3. Tap the Sticker icon (it’s the square smiley face).
4. Choose Music.
5. Pick a song you like and drag the bar to the part you want to play.
6. Now here’s the key: Tap the three dots and Save it to your phone.
7. Go back to your main feed and upload that saved video (yep—it’s now a video with music).

Boom! Music on your photo. Kinda sneaky, but it works.

2. For Videos

If you’re posting a video, it’s even easier.

1. Tap the + button on your home screen to make a new post.
2. Select your video.
3. Tap Next, then hit the Music option (if available).
4. Pick a song and trim the part you want.
5. Share it with the world.

Just make sure you do it before you post. Because again… no going back.

But What If I Already Posted and Want to Add Music?

That’s where I was stuck. Here are a couple workarounds that helped me:

Option 1: Delete + Repost With Music

If you’re cool with losing likes and comments:

• Tap the three dots on your post.
• Hit Delete.
• Repost it using the steps I showed above to add music.

It kinda hurts, but sometimes it’s worth it if you really want that vibe.

Option 2: Post It to Your Story With Music

This one’s fun and super simple.

1. Go to the post you already made.
2. Tap the paper airplane icon under it.
3. Choose Add Post to Your Story.
4. Then tap the sticker icon, pick Music, and drop in a song.

It doesn’t change your main post, but at least your followers get the mood you were going for.

Wait… What About Apps Like CapCut or InShot?

Those are awesome for editing videos before you post. You can:

• Add music 🎵
• Add effects 🌈
• Add text ✍️

…and make your post look cool.

But again: You have to do it before posting to Instagram.

Final Thoughts (From Me to You)

Look, I wish Instagram made this easier. But for now, we gotta work with it, not against it. So just remember:

• Plan your post with music in mind.
• Use Stories if you want more freedom.
• And if all else fails? Delete and repost.

I’ve made the mistake so you don’t have to. Next time, your post’s gonna be a full-on vibe. 🎶

You got this.

—Sahadat.