Instagram is one platform where you can share your photos and videos with the public; the many features offered by Instagram is one of the reasons why it is the second-largest social media platform worldwide.
Instagram is always working hard to provide users with features and effects they can use to transform their videos and their photos as well. It is relatively new as it was released in 2018. However, this is one feature that allows you to add a clip from a song to photos and videos on your Instagram story.
The music feature is amazing, and there are many tunes you can make your choice from; you could even choose your preferred music by your mood and upload it to your Instagram story. However, all the fun the music feature brings to Instagram stories doesn’t matter if you can’t find it.
Many people ask the question, ‘Why isn’t Instagram music feature showing up for me?’ and there are many reasons why this could have happened. However, this article puts you through the various reasons why this could be happening, how you could fix it up, and finally, the process of adding music to your Instagram stories. Interested? Good, Let’s get started.
Reasons Why The Music Feature Isn’t Showing Up
There are several available factors that could be affecting the availability of the Instagram music feature on your account. If you’re curious as to why the music feature isn’t showing up for you, check out some of the reasons listed below.
Your Country Is Not Supported
This is one of the most common reasons why the music feature might not be showing up for you. Although the music feature was introduced on the social media platform in 2018, it has not been made global.
There are only about sixty countries that support the new feature. Although the App has stated that it is continually working with music industry partners all over the world to add more music and make it global, you won’t be able to access the feature until then.
Your App Is Outdated
There’s a chance that your country supports the music feature, and you will still find the music sticker not showing up in your stickers tray.
There is a reason for that; there is a chance that your app is completely outdated. Instagram has stated many times that for users to explore new features released by the App, there is a need for your app to be updated. If you’re using a version that was released before Instagram introduced the app on the platform, there is little to no chance of the music feature showing up for you on your Instagram account.
App Error
Sometimes, it is nothing you did, and the app’s performance is just compromised. This could be another reason for the music feature not showing up on your Instagram account. If the app has an issue or finds it hard to refresh, certain features might not show up like the music feature. This could just happen even if the user is using a version with the music feature integrated.
Server Issues
There are times when the server might be experiencing some problems which would prevent some features and stickers from showing up for the Instagram user.
This could be a maintenance issue with the server or simply a malfunction. In this case, it is nothing the Instagram user has done, and there is little to nothing you can do to solve such an issue except to wait it out.
How To Make The Instagram Story Show For You
Although there are many reasons why the Instagram music feature might not be available for you, there are some solutions you can implement to change your present state successfully.
These solutions will ensure the music feature shows up on your account so you can use it to make more fun Instagram stories. Below are some effective solutions to the music feature problem; let’s take a look.
Update Your Instagram App
It has been stated earlier that one of the reasons why the Instagram music feature isn’t showing for you is because your app is outdated.
Instagram has recommended several times that users should always update the app to be able to gain access to the varying Instagram feature. If your Instagram app doesn’t update automatically, you can simply update on the Google Play Store or on the Apple Store for iOS users.
Android users should launch their Play store and go to the menu on the left corner of the page. Click on Apps and Games and go to the update section to find Instagram.
Browse through the list, and when you find Instagram, there should be a blue ‘update’ tab right next to it. Click on the update tab, and your download automatically starts.
If you use an iOS device, simply visit the Apple Store. Go through your list of apps and also click on the app to start the update. After the update is complete, you can launch the app and then check the stickers’ tray to see if the music feature is now showing up for you.
Contact The Support Team
If you know the problem is not from your end of the app, you can contact the Instagram support team to determine the issue.
This might not always work because you might not realize that Instagram music’s problem not showing up is from your end. The support team could help you fix the problem from your end or walk you through the process of fixing up the issue.
To contact the Instagram support team, simply log into your app and go to the profile page by clicking on your profile icon at the screen’s bottom right.
Click on the three horizontal lines at the top corner of the page and choose settings from the options provided. Scroll to Help and click on the ‘report a problem’ tab. The Instagram support team will provide you with instructions on how you can write to Instagram on your screen. Follow the instructions presented, and you will get a reply to your query.
Use Wi-Fi
Another option you can try out is switching to a Wi-Fi network. If your mobile network is not steady, it might affect the performance of the app and prevent some features from showing up.
This is why a solid Wi-Fi network might be the solution to your problem. You can connect to Wi-Fi by visiting your phone’s setting and clicking on Network and Internet. From the list of options, click on Wi-Fi and then choose the Wi-Fi network you want to connect to.
Some Wi-Fi network requires a password to successfully connect, enter the password and your Wi-Fi will connect within seconds.
Try Signing In and Out
Sometimes, the app might not have fully loaded after an update is made, and this could be what is preventing the music feature from showing up for you.
You could easily remedy this by logging out of the platform and then logging back in after a short period of time. This will give the Instagram app enough time to load. To log out of the Instagram app, simply visit your profile and go to settings.
The logging out option is usually the last on the list; click on it and confirm your log out to successfully log out. Wait a short while and then log back into the platform; check your story’s stickers tray to see if the music feature is now available for you.
Reinstall the Instagram App
There are times when you simply need to get rid of the app completely and then reinstall it brand new on your mobile device for the music feature to show up for you.
This requires you to delete the app from your mobile device by visiting your phone’s setting, go to Apps and notification or ‘Apps management.’ Scroll through the app list and click on Instagram when you come across it; choose ‘uninstall app’ from the options provided and confirm your choice.
You can use the same process for iOS and Android devices. Visit your app store or Google Play Store to reinstall the app on your mobile device and then relaunch the app.
Clear Cache
The Instagram app uses caches to serve users better, but there are times when the app is filled with irrelevant data. This could negatively affect the Instagram app’s performance and cause some features like the music feature not to show up for users.
To remedy this problem, you could try clearing out the Instagram app cache. Visit your phone’s setting and go to your app list, scroll to Instagram and click on the app. Choose ‘storage and cache’ from the options provided when you click on the app; this will take you to a new page.
Click on clear cache’ and confirm the option. Note that clearing cache is different from ‘clear data’ and will not affect your log-in details, photos, and other related files.
Try Out VPN
If the music feature is not yet made available in your region, then none of these solutions will work until you use a VPN. It is a sure way to unlock the music feature in a country where the feature is restricted? How does VPN work? VPN helps to hide your country’s IP address and then replace it with a country’s IP where the feature is made available.
There are several VPN apps and sites online where you can get the VPN for a region where the music feature has been made available; simply browse through the internet, and you’re sure to come across a VPN that works.
Switch To Person Account
If you are using an Instagram business account, there’s a chance that the music feature will not be popping up for you. The simple solution to this problem is simply switching from a business account to a personal account or a creator account, which is quite similar to business accounts.
To effectively do this, visit your Instagram setting by going to your profile and clicking on the three horizontal lines at the page’s right edge.
Go to accounts on the ‘settings’ page and then click on ‘switch account type.’ Choose between personal or creator and make the switch; this should solve the problem for you.
Just Relax
Sometimes, there’s no solution available to you. In cases like this, the ideal course of action is simply waiting for the problem out. It could be an issue with the server, in which case, the problem cannot be fixed from your end. If it is still restricted in your country, you just have to be patient till Instagram adds your country to the regions where the music feature is available.
How To Use The Music Feature on Instagram
Suppose any of our solutions worked for you, congratulations! The next step is adding the music feature to your Instagram story. This can be a little confusing without the right guide, but luckily for you, we’ve got you covered on that. Follow the process below to spice up your Instagram story with the music feature.
- Log into your Instagram account and click on the camera icon at the top of the page.
- Clicking on it gives you the option to upload or take a photo or video to your story; choose the video or photo you want to upload.
- Click on the sticker tray and slide through till you see the music icon; click on it.
- This will provide you with two song categories you can explore; for you and browse. Browse allows you to check the different categories while ‘for you’ presents you with popular choices amongst Instagram users.
- If you want to search, you can click on browse and either scroll through or enter the title of a song or the artist’s name to narrow down your choice.
- Once you’ve chosen the song you want, you then get to edit which part of the song you want playing on your Instagram story.
- After setting this up, click on ‘post,’ and your Instagram post will be uploaded to your Story.
Posts with the music feature can also be shared as a direct message. However, the method you choose in sharing your post, followers will see an ‘info’ tab at the top of the story, which contains the name of the song, album, and artist. This makes them aware of what they’re listening to in case they also want to use it in their Instagram story.
FAQs
Why is the Instagram music feature not showing up on my account?
The commonest reason why this could be happening is that the music feature hasn’t been made available in your country due to copyright laws. However, there are other reasons listed above why this could be happening.
Where does Instagram music come from
Contrary to popular belief, Instagram music isn’t gotten from Spotify or Apple music. It is due to a deal Facebook made with top record labels.
What kind of songs can be found on the Instagram music feature
There are thousands of songs to look through. You can find different genres like country, hip-hop, jazz, pop, and many more on the Instagram music feature.
How many seconds of music can be used on an Instagram story
You can use only fifteen seconds of any part of the song on an Instagram story because that’s the length of Instagram stories.
Conclusion
The Instagram music feature is fun and an interesting way to spice up your Instagram story. However, there are times when the feature just won’t show up for you, which can be frustrating.
If you’ve ever sat and wondered, ‘why isn’t Instagram music feature showing up for me?’ then check out the various reasons above as well as possible solutions to the problem. If any of our provided solutions work for you, follow our guide on how to use the music feature on your Instagram story and start jazzing up your Instagram story today.