Are Instagram songs/music not working/loading when you try to listen to them?
This is a common issue that many Instagram users face from time to time.
Even if your internet connection is fine, you might still encounter this issue.
You need to find the right solution to get the music to start working again.
In this guide, you’ll learn why is Instagram music or why are songs not working and how to fix it.
Why is Instagram music not working?
Instagram music is not working because the feature is most likely down.
If that’s the case, you’ll see an error message saying the song is unavailable on Reels and stories.
This error message happened multiple times on Instagram before.
There are a ton of users complaining about it on Twitter.
Here’s a tweet from @ghostlyknown, “I hate @instagram. No one asked for this update. Stop taking every song off the app”.
Here’s another tweet complaining about the issue (by @uhhIyssaa), “Can Instagram stop removing music? Half of the songs I post are unavailable”.
Currently, Instagram is yet to find a permanent fix for it.
For now, you need to wait for a few days for Instagram music to be back to normal.
If there’s an Instagram update, you need to update the app as it might contain a temporary fix for it.
How to fix Instagram music not working
To fix Instagram music not working, you need to check if Instagram is down.
If Instagram is not down, you can try updating Instagram to the latest version or switching to a personal account.
You can also try uninstalling and reinstalling the app or waiting for 24 to 48 hours.
If all else fails, you can try using a VPN.
1. Check if Instagram is down
Before you try to fix the Instagram music not working problem, you need to check if Instagram is down.
There are two ways to check if Instagram is down.
The first way is to visit DownDetector (downdetector.com/status/instagram).
Once you’re on the website, check if there’s a spike in the graph.
If there’s a spike in the graph, it means that Instagram is most likely down.
The second way is to go to Twitter and search for the issue that you’re facing (e.g. Instagram down or Instagram music unavailable).
After that, check the top and latest tweets to see if there are a lot of people tweeting about it.
If there are many people tweeting about it, it means that Instagram music is probably down for everyone and not just you.
If that’s the case, you need to wait for a few hours/days for Instagram to fix it.
2. Switch to a personal account
- Open Instagram and go to your profile.
- Tap on the menu icon.
- Tap on “Settings”.
- Select “Account”.
- Scroll down and tap on “Switch account type”.
- Select “Switch to Personal Account”.
After you’ve selected “Switch to Personal Account”, follow the on-screen instructions to switch to a personal account.
Instagram Music does not work for the majority of business accounts.
This is because they are not licensed for commercial use.
Hence, you’ll be able to use Instagram music if you switch to a personal account.
3. Update Instagram
Ensure that you always have the latest version of Instagram.
That said, some updates introduce bugs to the app.
Some bugs will cause features on the app to not work like IG music.
If that’s the case, Instagram will release a new update to fix them.
Go to the App Store or Google Play Store and search for “Instagram”.
If the update has bug fixes and improvements, you need to update the app ASAP.
4. Use a VPN
Instagram music is unavailable in some countries/regions.
To bypass this, you can use a free VPN.
Firstly, install a free VPN app from the App Store or Google Play Store.
Secondly, connect to a VPN that has Instagram music like the USA, United Kingdom, or Canada.
Lastly, force close the Instagram app and check if the songs are working.
5. Uninstall and reinstall Instagram
According to Instagram’s Help Center, uninstalling and reinstalling the app is a recommended troubleshooting method.
But you need to try restarting your device and checking your connection first.
By uninstalling and reinstalling Instagram, the app will be automatically updated to the latest version.
In addition, the app’s cache will be cleared—which can fix certain issues like music not working.
6. Wait for 24 to 48 hours
Another method is to wait for 24 to 48 hours and the music should start working again.
Most errors on Instagram last for 24 to 48 hours (in rare cases, it can take multiple days).
This includes the “Try Again Later” or the “Couldn’t Load Users” error.
The Instagram music not working error is no exception.
Further reading
How to Fix Instagram Posts Not Loading
