To send a song in a DM, open the chat, tap the sticker or plus icon, choose Music, search for the song and send it; your friend can play a short preview right in the chat. To share a song more widely, add the Music sticker to a Story, or send a Reel's audio page from the paper plane icon.
Sharing music inside DMs arrived with Instagram's 2025 messaging update, so you no longer need to paste a link from another app to share a song with a friend. If you can't see the Music option at all, the reason is usually your account type or region, which I explain near the end.
Send a song in a DM
- Open Instagram and go to your messages (the paper plane or Messages icon).
- Open the chat with the person or group.
- Tap the sticker icon or the plus icon next to the message box.
- Look for Music (a music note icon) and tap it.
- Search for the song or artist.
- Tap the song to send it.
The song appears in the chat as a card. Your friend taps it to hear a short preview without leaving Instagram. If they want the whole track, they'll need to open it in their own music app. If an icon looks different in your version, look for the music note; it's the same feature in a slightly different place.
Sending to a group chat works exactly the same way, and everyone in the group can play the preview. It's a nice way to settle a 'what was that song?' debate without anyone leaving the conversation. Keep it to songs you're happy for the whole group to see; there's no way to send a song privately to one person inside a group chat.
Share a song to your Story
A Story is the way to share a song with all your followers at once, and it's where most people expect to find music on Instagram.
From inside Instagram
- Open the Story camera (swipe right from your feed, or tap your profile picture with the plus).
- Take a photo or video, or pick one from your camera roll. You can also use a plain colour background.
- Tap the sticker icon at the top and choose Music.
- Search for the song and tap it.
- Drag the slider to choose the part of the song you want to play.
- Tap the sticker to change its style (such as lyrics or album art), then tap Done.
- Share to Your story or Close friends.
For more ways to set this up, including adding a track behind a video, see how to add background music to an Instagram Story video.
From Spotify
- Open the song in Spotify.
- Tap the Share button.
- Choose Instagram Stories.
- Instagram opens with a song card ready to post. Add text or stickers if you like, then share.
Anyone who sees the Story can tap the 'Open in Spotify' link on it to go straight to the song. That's handy if you're sharing a full track recommendation rather than a short clip.
Send a Reel's audio to a friend
Heard a sound on a Reel and want a friend to use it or hear more? Send them the audio page rather than the whole Reel.
- Open the Reel.
- Tap the audio name at the bottom of the screen. This opens the audio page, which shows the sound and other Reels that use it.
- Tap the share (paper plane) icon on the audio page.
- Choose the friend or group and send.
Your friend gets a card that opens the same audio page, so they can play it and tap Use audio to make their own Reel with it.
Which route to use
| What you want | Route | What the other person hears |
|---|---|---|
| Share a song with one friend | DM > sticker or plus > Music | A short preview in the chat |
| Share a song with all your followers | Story > Music sticker | The part of the song you picked, over your photo or video |
| Recommend a full track to listen to later | Spotify > Share > Instagram Stories | A song card with a tap-through to Spotify |
| Pass on a trending sound | Reel > audio name > paper plane | The audio page with the sound and Reels that use it |
| Put music on a feed post | Add music while posting | The track plays with your post |
That last row is a separate job; I've covered it in how to add music to an Instagram post.
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Why music might be missing for you
The catch: music on Instagram depends on your region and your account type. Some business accounts only see royalty-free sounds, which is why the song someone else used may not show for you at all. It isn't a bug in your phone and there's nothing to fix in your settings; the song simply isn't licensed for that account or place.
Here's what I'd check, in order:
- Account type. If you've got a business account and the song you want never appears, that's the likely reason. A creator account or personal account often has a wider choice; weigh up what you'd lose before switching.
- App version. Update Instagram from the App Store or Google Play. New sharing options only show in recent versions.
- Region. Music isn't available everywhere, and some songs are only licensed in certain countries.
- The song itself. Some tracks just aren't in Instagram's library. Try another version or a similar song.
- The sticker is there but silent. That's usually a different problem, covered in why Instagram Story music isn't working.
Don't download music from Reels with third-party apps or sites that ask for your login. Apart from the security risk, sharing it outside Instagram can break the artist's rights.
My take
If it were me, I'd use the DM Music option for quick 'listen to this' moments and the Spotify share when I want someone to hear the whole song. For a business account with a short music list, I'd stop hunting for the missing song and pick a royalty-free sound that fits the mood instead.
Frequently asked questions
Can you send a song in Instagram DMs?
Yes. Open the chat, tap the sticker or plus icon, choose Music, search for the song and send it. The other person can play a short preview in the chat.
Can the other person hear the whole song?
In a DM they hear a short preview. For the full track, share the song from Spotify to your Story, which adds a tap-through to Spotify, or they can search for it in their own music app.
Why can't I find a song on Instagram that my friend used?
Music depends on your region and account type. Some business accounts only see royalty-free sounds, so a song your friend used may not show for you.
How do I send someone the audio from a Reel?
Open the Reel, tap the audio name at the bottom to open the audio page, then tap the paper plane icon and choose who to send it to.
