Why Is Instagram Music Not Working & How To Fix It
Instagram Stories are now more enjoyable than ever thanks to the Insta Story music feature!
Users can now use the Instagram Music Stickers option to add their favorite song to their stories and share their experiences with the world.
But imagine you try to add music to an Instagram story and the “Instagram Music not working” error appears. That’s frustrating!
If you have faced the “Instagram Music not working” issue before, then it’s time to find the perfect solution right away. Read more to get valuable information about:
- Why is Instagram Music not working?;
- Quick tips to fix Instagram Music in no time;
- What to do if the “Instagram Music Not Working” issue persists.
How Does Instagram Music Feature Work?
The Instagram Music feature was implemented by the company as a way to make Instagram Stories more fun for all users.
The Instagram app is meant for sharing moments with other users, and you can do this by posting an Instagram music story, a photo with a song in the background, a video, and more.
Other persons can reply, comment, and interact with you if they find the song you posted on your story attractive enough.
So, when it comes to encouraging interaction between Instagram users, the music feature is one of the best for this purpose.
Add Songs Using the Instagram Music Story Sticker
To access Instagram Music feature, you just need to press on the camera icon that appears at the top left corner of the Instagram app main page.
There, you can use the Instagram Story music feature by looking for the music sticker on the search bar.
A music library with lots of songs will show up once you add the Instagram music sticker to your story - you can now start adding music at your will!
It’s really easy and straightforward to use. So, why isn’t Instagram music working then?
Pro Tip: To post a photo or a video on your feed and not on your Instagram story, simply tap the “plus” icon at the top of the Instagram app.
Nevertheless, the Instagram “Couldn’t Refresh Feed” error might appear, which will prevent you from uploading new content.
What Does the “Song is Not Available for Your Location” Message Mean?
Here’s the thing: if the “Instagram music not working” issue is caused by song limitations with your country or region, then you won’t be able to add music directly.
Some artists have specific license restrictions for their songs, so users in some countries cannot access their music due to commercial use reasons.
In that case, there are three possible ways to approach this Instagram music issue:
- Extract the song you want to use on your Instagram Story, merge it with the content you want to post as a video file, and use it on your account;
- Use a third-party VPN app, which we will soon elaborate on;
- Accept that the specific song you want to use is not available for you in the Instagram Music sticker and choose a new one.
How to Fix Instagram Music Errors
Many users in the past few weeks have reported problems with the Instagram servers. So, if you have experienced the “Instagram Music Not Working” message over the last few days, then the app might be experiencing a major outage.
We recommend you check DownDetector before trying to fix Instagram Music Sticker with the solutions we are about to provide you.
Fix 1: Update the Instagram App
If you use an Android, go to the Google Play Store and look for the most recent version of the Instagram app.
On the other hand, if you use an iOS device, go to the App Store and do the same.
Not having the latest version of the Instagram app might be the source of the “Instagram Music not working” problem in your account.
Once you update the app, try to add music to a video or a story by selecting the Music Sticker. If it still doesn’t work, then move on to the next fix.
Fix 2: Use a Different Internet Connection
Having a bad Wi-Fi connection can cause problems of all kinds on your Instagram account.
First of all, tap on your profile icon, log out of your account and log in again, but using your mobile data.
If you can indeed add music now to your story, then that means that the Wi-Fi was the problem. Try to sort things out with your internet provider!
Fix 3: Check Your Mobile Device Hardware
Even though this seems like a long shot for many people, it’s normal to have problems with your mobile device.
If you can’t check a video of an Instagram Story with a Green Circle made by a friend because the app is continuously crashing, then it’s time to check your phone once and for all.
Fix 4: Check if the Problem is Happening On Your Business Account
Pay attention to this fix because it might be the perfect solution for the “Instagram Music not working” inconvenience.
Some users have stated that they started having problems with Instagram Music right after switching their personal account to a business account.
As the name says, Business Accounts are meant for business, so if you don’t own a business profile, then you should just switch account type in no time.
Switch to Personal Account
Business account holders can quickly solve this problem by changing their account type on Instagram settings. To do this, just follow these three steps:
- Tap on your profile picture;
- Then, tap the three horizontal lines icon that appears at the top;
- Go to Settings, Accounts and select “Switch to Personal Account.”
Now, log out and then log back in with the same credentials and check if that solves the problem.
Switch to Creator Account
Now, having a creator profile is not as easy as it might seem.
In fact, switching from a personal account to a creator account can take several days, but if nothing seems to be working to fix Instagram music, then this is your best shot.
- Tap your profile picture and go to the account section once again;
- Go to account settings and scroll down to change account type;
- Select the “Switch to Creator Account” option and wait for Instagram to switch account type.
Fix 5: Use a VPN Application
VPN services can hide your real IP address, so you can choose Music Sticker and use all the songs even if they are restricted by your country’s IP.
There are several third-party VPNs you could use for this matter, but note that not all of them work.
In any case, if you can’t still watch a video or a photo with music on a Story, you better try the next solution.
Fix 6: Contact Instagram Support Team
At this point, there’s nothing else that you can do other than contact the Instagram Support Team.
You can send them a message by clicking here. Try to describe the problem as clear as you can - you should get e-mailed back in a couple of days.
In any case, we are confident that you will find an efficient solution for this matter and you won’t have to contact the support team.
That’s all for now! We hope you enjoyed reading our quick hacks and tips to solve these issues. Don’t miss our next article about Instagram - check GrowFollowing whenever you can!
Instagram Music Not Working FAQ
When Was the Instagram Music Sticker Introduced?
The Music Sticker was introduced back in 2018, and it’s now one of the most loved features by fans. You can use it on a video, a photo, and more!
Can I Post Copyrighted Music on Instagram Music Sticker?
All the songs that appear on the Music Sticker library can be used without a problem on a video or photo story. Now, if some artist restricts their songs in your country and you still want to use them, you might be infringing copyright laws.
Karen is a senior technical writer and copywriter here at GrowFollowing. Her area of expertize are social media apps and new media.