Did you see the error message, “Instagram Music Isn’t Available in Your Region” when viewing an Instagram story?
Are you wondering why you can’t hear Instagram music on someone’s story?
Many users are unable to hear or use music in their stories, so you’re not alone.
In this article, you’ll learn why you can’t access Instagram music, how to fix it, and more.
You’ll also learn how to add Instagram music to your story even if it’s not available in your region.
By the end of the article, you should be able to know how the ins and outs of Instagram music.
Table of Contents
- Why is Instagram music not available in my region?
- How to fix “Instagram Music Isn’t Available in Your Region”
- How to add Instagram music to your story
- Countries where Instagram music is available
- Conclusion
Why is Instagram music not available in my region?
When you’re viewing an Instagram story that has a music sticker, you may have seen the error message, “Instagram Music Isn’t Available in Your Region”.
Instagram music is not available in your region because Instagram didn’t obtain a license for it yet for certain countries.
In order for Instagram to allow music to be added to stories, they need to obtain the necessary license for it.
Instagram music is not available in your country/region because Instagram hasn’t obtained the necessary license for it yet.
Facebook, who owns Instagram, has struck a deal with Sony Music/Universal Music/Warner Music Group back in 2018.
The deal enabled Instagram users to use music in their stories and videos without the worry of them getting taken down for copyright infringement.
However, Instagram music is only available in selected countries.
Due to the copyright law, it is not rolled out in a global scale.
Hence, if you don’t have Instagram music, it’s not rolled out in your country yet.
So you’ll have to wait until the legal issues are resolved; which may take a while.
In the meantime, you can edit songs into your Instagram story or video.
However, if you do so, your story/video is at risk of getting taken down for copyright.
How to fix “Instagram Music Isn’t Available in Your Region”
To fix the “Instagram Music Isn’t Available in Your Region” error, you have to use a VPN (Virtual Private Network).
To fix/bypass the “Instagram Music Isn’t Available in Your Region” error on Instagram, you have to use a VPN (Virtual Private Network).
Download a free VPN app on the App Store/Google Play Store and connect to a US/UK/Canada server.
Once you’re connected to a VPN, you’ll be able to access Instagram music wherever you’re located.
Instagram music is only available in certain countries.
If Instagram music is not available in your country yet, you can use a VPN to bypass the error message.
A VPN has many features—one of it is that you can use it connect to a different country.
This means that you can connect to a country that has Instagram music like the United States.
Let’s say that you’re located in Singapore where Instagram music is unavailable.
By utilizing a VPN, you can connect to to a server in the US where Instagram music can be accessed.
Once you’re connected to a server where Instagram music is available, you can listen to music in other users’ stories or add it to your own stories.
Here’s a step-by-step guide on how you can download and use a VPN to fix the “Instagram Music Isn’t Available in Your Region” error:
- Go to the App Store/Google Play Store.
- Search for “Free VPN”.
- Install any free VPN app.
- Open the app and connect to a server like the US/UK/Canada.
- Force close the Instagram app and re-open it.
- You can now listen to Instagram music in other users’ stories and add it to your own stories.
Once you’re connected to a VPN, you’ll be able to access Instagram music wherever you’re located.
Do note that if your VPN is turned off, you’ll have to turn it back on again in order to have access to it again.
How to add Instagram music to your story
Ready to add Instagram music to your story?
Follow the steps below and you’ll be able to add mainstream songs to your story if the feature is available in your country.
Open the Instagram app > home > camera icon (at the top-left corner of your screen) > take a photo/video > stickers button > music sticker > select a song > edit the song > add to your story.
To add Instagram music to your story, go to the home page and tap on the camera icon at the top-left corner of your screen.
Next, take a photo/video, or you can use an existing one from your gallery.
When you’re in the editing screen, tap on the stickers icon (the folded paper with a smiley face).
Then tap on the music sticker (if you can’t find the music, then it’s not available in your country yet).
A music library will be opened and you can select your favorite song.
Once you selected a song, you can edit its duration to fit your photo/video.
You can also choose the fonts, design, and the look of the sticker.
Lastly, tap on “Your story” to add the photo/video to your story with the music that you’ve selected.
Countries where Instagram music is available
Instagram music for stories was introduced in June 28, 2018 in a blog post.
Instagram music is available in 8 countries—the US, UK, Sweden, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Canada, and France.
If you don’t see your country on the list, that means that you don’t have access to it yet.
In order to get the music sticker from another country, you have to use a VPN and connect to a server where it’s available in.
Instagram didn’t specify the number of countries that the music sticker is available in.
The press announcement only stated that its available in select countries.
However, an article at TechCrunch stated that it’s available in 6 countries, prior to the Canada update.
As of 2020, Instagram music is available in 8 countries the—US, UK, Sweden, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Canada, and France.
The global release of the feature is still unknown.
Conclusion
Unfortunately, Instagram music cannot be accessed in certain countries.
If you got the “Instagram Music Isn’t Available in Your Region” error when you’re viewing an Instagram story, Instagram music can’t be accessed in your country yet.
In order to fix this, you’ll need to connect to a VPN to connect to a country where Instagram Music is available in like the US.
When you do so, you’ll be able to listen to music that is played in others’ stories.
In addition, you can add mainstream songs to your story using the music sticker.
Otherwise, you won’t be able to do these couple of things.
Further Reading
Add Post to Your Story Missing on Instagram (How to Fix)
How to See Who I Accidentally Unfollowed on Instagram?
Why Did My Instagram Account Get Deleted For No Reason?
Author: Lim How Wei is the founder of Followchain. Feel free to follow him on Instagram.
