Instagram music is basically a story sticker that allows you to add music to an Instagram story. The Instagram music sticker is available on both iOS and Android devices but not in every country.
While browsing Instagram, if you have come across stories with music and the notification that the ‘Instagram Music is not available in your region’, it is simply because the platform is yet to get the music license for your region.
Instagram needs a license to play music due to copyright violation or piracy issues. The platform implemented this feature after Facebook did, worked out a deal with Sony Music, Universal Music and the Warner Music Group to add songs to videos.
In the regions where the feature is not available, there are a number of legal procedures that have to be taken care of as there is no universal law for copyright and piracy. It may take some time for the feature to be available on a global scale.
Currently, the feature is available only in seven countries: Australia, New Zealand, France, Germany, Sweden, UK and US. Fortunately, there is a loophole that not only lets you listen to other people’s musical stories but even create one. Let’s see how you can do it.
Instagram Music Isn’t Available in Your Region: How to Fix It?
Uninstall the Instagram App And Use VPN
First, uninstall the Instagram app from your device before getting a VPN. This is crucial since the app ‘detects’ your current location when you run the app for the first time.
After uninstalling the app, turn on the VPN on your phone.
Once your VPN is up and running, go to the Google Play or the App Store and install Instagram again. After you finish the installation, log in to your Instagram account.
Here’s a simple guide on how to download and use a VPN to fix the ‘Instagram Music Isn’t Available in Your Region’ error:
- Open the App Store or Google Play and search for a free VPN app.
- Install the app on your phone.
- Open the app and connect to a server of the US, UK, Canada or any other country where Instagram music is available.
- Close the Instagram app and then open it again with the VPN running.
- That’s it! You can now listen to Instagram music in other users’ stories and add it to your own stories regardless of your actual location.
Third-Party Apps
You can add music to your stories with third-party apps from Google Play and the App Store, such as Storybeat or Instories. These apps allow you to add musical stories regardless of your current locations.
If you want to create a track yourself, you can use an online AI-powered audio remover Lalal.ai which helps you remove vocals and backtracks from any audio.
How to Fix The Issue If You’re in The Right Location?
It’s one thing to face the ‘Music isn’t available in your region’ bug if you’re located in a country Instagram doesn’t support the feature in. But that’s absolutely different if you’re in the US, UK, France, Germany or any other place supported by Instagram Music feature. What to do if that’s the case?
Update the App
If the Instagram app is not updated automatically on your smartphone, you should update it yourself to make sure you don’t miss new important features. App update might fix whatever’s causing your Instagram issues.
Sign Out of the App, Then Sign In
This might seem too obvious, but signing out your Instagram profile and then signing in again could be helpful.
Uninstall and Then Reinstall Instagram
If you keep encountering the ‘Instagram Music isn’t available in your region’ bug and the two options above couldn’t prove to be helpful, time to take desperate measures: try to uninstall Instagram from your mobile device and then install it again. You can also switch from Wi-Fi data to your mobile data or vice versa.
How to Add Instagram Music to Your Story
If you’re among those lucky ones whose country of residence allows for adding music tracks to Instagram stories or among those who managed to fix the issue, here’s a simple guide on how to add music to your story.
- Take a photo/video or pick an image or video from your smartphone library.
- Start making an Instagram story as you normally would.
- Head over to stickers and find the ‘Music’ sticker.
- Pick a song, then choose the part of the song and timing you want to play in your story.
- Choose if you want to see the music sticker in the story as lyrics, cover art, or just a small box with the name of the song.
- Tap ‘Done’ when you’re finished and post your story.
That’s it
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