How to Change Audio on an Instagram Post (Reels, Stories & Published Posts)

Swapping audio on an Instagram post sounds simple until you’re actually trying to do it. The steps differ depending on whether you’re editing a Reel before it goes live, trying to fix a published Reel, or updating a Story. This guide covers every scenario in the order you’re most likely to need them, so you can get the right audio on your post without the guesswork.

What You Can and Can’t Change (Before vs. After Posting)

Instagram gives you the most control over audio before a post goes live. Once something is published, your options narrow significantly, especially for Reels. Here’s a quick breakdown so you know which section applies to you.

How to Change Audio on an Instagram Reel Before Posting

This is the cleanest path to getting your audio right. Instagram’s built-in audio panel gives you full control over your track, volume balance, and timing before you tap Share.

1. Open the Instagram app and tap the + icon, then select Reel.

2. Record or upload your clip. If you’re pulling from your camera roll, select the video and tap Next.  

3. Tap the Music note icon (or the Add audio option) in the left-side editing toolbar. This opens the audio search panel.

4. Search for a track by song title, artist name, or mood. Tap any result to hear it play against your video.

5. Trim the audio by sliding the waveform left or right to choose where the clip begins.

6. Tap the Volume icon to open the mixer and adjust the balance between your original video sound and the added track. Drag the slider to blend them or silence one entirely.

7. Tap Done when the audio sounds right, then continue editing or tap Share to publish.

To swap out a track you’ve already added in draft, tap the audio bar at the bottom of the editor and select Change to return to the search panel.

Note: If your original footage has background music playing from a speaker, Instagram cannot separate those sounds. The volume mixer adjusts relative levels only – it does not isolate or remove embedded audio.

How to Add a Voiceover to a Reel

If you want to narrate over your footage instead of using a licensed track, Instagram includes a built-in voiceover tool within the Reels editor.

1. Open your clip in the Reels editor and tap the Microphone icon in the left toolbar.

2. Press and hold the Record button to capture your voiceover in sync with the video playback.

3. Release to stop recording. You can record in separate segments to cover different parts of the clip.

4. Tap Done, then head to the Volume icon to blend the voiceover with any other audio in your project.

If you’re recording your own voice directly into your phone, a compact wireless mic like the Hollyland LARK M2 (9g, 40-hour battery) eliminates wind noise and handling rumble without adding bulk to your setup. For creators who want clean, professional-sounding narration on Reels, it’s a practical upgrade that saves you from trying to fix bad audio in post.

How to Change Audio on an Already-Published Instagram Reel

This is the scenario that frustrates most creators: you posted a Reel and now you need to swap the track or remove the audio completely. The honest answer is that Instagram does not currently allow full audio replacement on published Reels.

Tapping the three-dot menu and selecting Edit lets you update your caption, change your cover image, and edit tagged accounts – but the audio is locked once the Reel is live. The only reliable solution is to archive or delete the Reel and re-upload it with the correct audio in place.

Here is how to do it:

1. Download the Reel first. Go to the post, tap the three-dot menu, and select Save to download it to your camera roll.

2. Archive or delete the post. Tap the three-dot menu and choose Archive to hide it from your profile while preserving your private engagement data, or Delete to remove it permanently.

3. Open the downloaded video and add the correct audio using the Reels editor steps outlined in the previous section.

4. Re-upload and publish as a fresh Reel.

Pro Tip: Archive rather than delete whenever possible. Archiving lets you review your original likes and view count privately, even after the post is off your profile.

How to Change the Music on an Instagram Story

Stories are short-lived, so the stakes are lower – but knowing the right steps still saves time, especially if you want to fix a track before a large chunk of your audience has seen it.

1. Create a new Story by tapping your profile icon or the + icon from the home screen.

2. Add your photo or video.

3. Tap the Sticker icon (the smiley face) at the top of the screen.

4. Select Music from the sticker tray.

5. Search for a track, tap it to preview, and drag the playhead to choose your preferred clip segment.

6. Tap Done, position the music sticker on your Story, and tap Your Story to share.

If you’ve already published a Story and want to change the music, there is no native edit option. You’ll need to delete the Story and recreate it with the correct track. Because Stories disappear after 24 hours, most creators find this less disruptive than it sounds.

FAQ

Can I replace the audio on a photo post on Instagram?

Static photo posts on Instagram do not have a native audio layer, so there is nothing to swap or remove. If you want audio attached to a photo, convert it to a short video using your phone’s built-in tools or any basic video app, then upload it as a Reel and add music through the Reels audio editor.

Why is the audio edit option missing on my Instagram Reel?

The audio panel may be missing if your Instagram app is outdated, if the feature has not fully rolled out in your region, or if your account type has different default settings. Start by updating the app to the latest version. If the option still does not appear, try switching to a Creator account in your account settings.

How do I mute the original audio on a Reel without removing it?

In the Reels editor, tap the Volume icon after adding your clip. Drag the Original Audio slider all the way to the left to bring it down to zero. This silences your original footage sound while keeping any added music or voiceover at its current level without permanently deleting anything.

Will changing audio on a published Reel reset my likes or comments?

Yes, if you use the delete-and-repost workaround. Deleting a Reel removes all engagement metrics permanently, and the new post starts from zero. If you archive the original post first, you can still view the engagement data privately, but there is no way to transfer likes or comments to a re-uploaded Reel.

Wrapping Up

For full audio control, edit your Reel before posting – it gives you the most options with no disruption to your content. If a published Reel needs a fix, the archive-and-repost method is your best path forward, just go in knowing that existing engagement will not carry over. For more on building your audio setup, see our guides on how to add music to Instagram Reels and the best microphones for Instagram creators.