How to Download Instagram Reel Audio (2026): 6 Ways That Work
Part of the Instagram guide →
How to download Instagram reel audio: the short answer
Instagram has no button that saves a reel's audio as an MP3. To reuse a sound in your own reel, tap the audio name and tap Save or Use audio; nothing needs downloading. To get an actual audio file, download the reel with Instagram's own Download option (public reels only, if the creator allows it), then extract the audio with a video-to-MP3 converter or a video editor. Online "Instagram audio extractor" sites can do it in one step from a reel link. Whichever you use, Instagram says downloaded reels can't be used commercially, and most music on Instagram is licensed, so don't re-upload songs you don't have the rights to.
In-app options and download rules checked against Instagram's Help Center on October 20, 2026.
Can you download audio from Instagram reels?
Not directly. Instagram gives you three official tools: Save the audio to use later, Use audio to make your own reel with it, and Download for public reels whose creators allow it. Everything else (extractors, extensions, converters) is a third-party workaround.
6 Ways to Download or Save Instagram Reel Audio
Method 1: Save the audio inside Instagram (no download needed)
If you only want to use a sound in your own reel, you don't need a file at all. Save it in Instagram:
1. Spot the audio: When you come across a song or sound that catches your ear, tap on the audio name in the Reel or Post.
2. Go to the audio page: You’ll find the audio name either under the username (for posts) or at the bottom of the Reel. Tap it to open the track’s page.
3. Hit save: On the track’s page, just press the save button in the top-right corner. Later, when creating your own post, Reel, or Story, you can find it under the “Saved” music tab.
Or tap Use audio on the audio page to start a new reel with that sound straight away. Instagram's Edits app does the same: browse reels from public accounts, tap Use audio below one, and a new project opens with that audio.
Method 2: Download the reel in Instagram, then keep the audio
Instagram lets you download public reels, as long as the creator hasn't switched it off. Tap the share (paper-plane) icon on the reel and look for Download. No button? The creator turned downloads off, the account is private, or it's a teen account, where downloads are off by default.
The file you get includes an Instagram watermark, the creator's username and the audio credit. Instagram says original audio can be included in the download if the reel it came from is downloadable, so some reels with licensed music may save without the song. Once you have the MP4, use Method 5 or 6 to pull out the audio.
Method 3: Use an online audio extractor
Online extractors are the quickest way to get an MP3 when a reel can't be downloaded in the app. You paste the reel link and the site pulls out the audio. They're third-party sites, not Instagram, and they come and go, so stick to well-known ones, skip anything that asks you to log in with your Instagram password, and only use them for audio you have the right to reuse. Some of the popular Instagram audio extraction apps are:
1. Start by opening Instagram and finding the Reel with the audio you want to download.
2. Tap the airplane icon on the Reel. Then select “Copy Link” to get the URL of the post.
3. Visit one of the online audio extractor mentioned above. We are using AudioDropper.
4. Paste the copied URL into the extractor’s search bar.
5. Hit the download button. Your audio will be ready to save to your device!
Method 4: Use a browser extension
If you’re on desktop, you can easily use browser extensions like Instagram Audio Downloader to download Instagram audio; these extensions add a handy download button directly to your browser, making the process super quick and easy. Just follow these simple steps:
1. Install the extension from the Chrome Web Store.
2. Open Instagram and find the post with the audio you want to download.
3. Click on the audio download button.
Ta-da! Your Reel audio is saved to your device.
Method 5: Convert a saved reel to MP3
If you want to extract audio from an Instagram Reel, you can download the full video first and then convert it to MP3, and if you only need part of it, you can cut the reel to the moment you want before converting. This method is simple and effective for saving audio as a separate file. Here’s how to do it:
1. Download the reel, ideally with Instagram's own Download option (Method 2). For public reels that can't be downloaded in the app, third-party sites such as SaveClip also work.
2. Go to a video-to-MP3 converter: Visit a site like Freeconvert.
3. Upload the video and convert.
4. Download the reel audio as an mp3 file.
Method 6: Extract the audio in VN Video Editor
1. Download the Instagram Reel using the method we covered earlier.
2. Record your video for your Reel. Then open the VN Video Editor app.
3. Tap the + icon in the bottom-right corner and select New Project to import your video.
4. Tap “Tap to add music” below the timeline editor.
5. Select “Music” from the Insert popup. Then go to the My Music tab.
6. Tap “Extract from Video” and select the Reel you downloaded.
7. Save the extracted audio. Then tap Use to add it to your video.
That’s it! Your video is now synced with the Instagram audio and ready to post.
Why renaming .mp4 to .mp3 doesn't work
You'll see this trick everywhere. It doesn't convert anything. Renaming a video file only changes its label; the file inside is still an MP4 video with an AAC audio track. Some players will open it anyway and others will refuse, and editing apps that expect a real MP3 often reject it. Use a converter (Method 5) or an editor's audio-extract feature (Method 6) instead. Both take about a minute.
Is it legal to download Instagram reel audio?
It depends on the audio and on what you do with it. Instagram splits sounds into two kinds. Original audio is sound a creator recorded themselves. Licensed audio is copyrighted music, film and TV clips and sound effects from Instagram's audio library, used under Instagram's agreements with rights holders. That licence covers use inside Instagram, not a file on your phone. Instagram also says downloaded reels aren't allowed for commercial purposes.
So: saving a sound inside Instagram or using it in your own reel is fine. Downloading a song to use in an ad, a YouTube video or a client project is not, unless you've licensed it separately. For your own reels, the cleanest source is your own original audio, which you can always keep a copy of.
Three ways to save reel audio and how to reuse it properly, from Hootsuite Labs.
Tips for Adding Instagram Reel Audio to Your Videos
1. Cut on the beat
Line up your cuts, transitions and text pops with the beat of the track. It's the single edit that makes a reel feel produced rather than thrown together, and it costs nothing but a few minutes of scrubbing back and forth on the timeline until each cut lands.
2. Use trending sounds
Trending audio shows a small arrow next to its name. Using one puts your reel on that sound's audio page, where people browsing the track can find it.
3. Balance the levels
Music shouldn't drown out your voice. Drop the track well below any voiceover, then play the whole reel back on your phone speaker before posting.
4. Trim to the good part
Most songs take 10 seconds to get going. Start your clip on the hook.
5. Use Instagram's own editor first
Instagram's reel editor can add, trim and sync audio from its library without any extra app, and that's the safest route for licensed music, because the licence travels with the reel.
6. Reach for an external editor when you need control
Apps like VN Video Editor let you extract, cut and fine-tune audio. If the sound is part of a longer video you own, quso.ai's video cutter trims it to the exact moment before you export.
7. Credit the creator
Using someone's original audio from Instagram's audio page credits them automatically. If you use it any other way, tag them. It's polite, and it's often what the creator expects.
Picking the right method
Only want the sound for your own reel? Save it in Instagram. Need a file? Download the reel in the app if you can, then convert it. And keep extractors for public reels with audio you have permission to use.
Instagram reel audio FAQ
Can you download audio from an Instagram reel?
Not as an MP3 inside Instagram. You can save a sound or use it in your own reel in the app, download public reels when the creator allows it, and then extract the audio with a converter or video editor. Online extractors can also pull the audio from a reel link.
How do I save audio from a reel to use later?
Tap the audio name at the bottom of the reel to open its audio page, then tap Save. Saved sounds appear under Saved when you add music to a new reel or story.
Why can't I download an Instagram reel?
The creator has turned off downloads, the account is private, or the account belongs to someone under 18, where downloads are off by default. In those cases there's no Download option in the share menu.
How do I convert an Instagram reel to MP3?
Download the reel first, then upload the MP4 to a video-to-MP3 converter, or open it in an editor such as VN and use Extract from Video. Renaming the file from .mp4 to .mp3 doesn't convert it.
Can I use downloaded Instagram audio in my own videos?
Inside Instagram, use the Use audio button instead of a downloaded copy. Outside Instagram, only if you own the audio or have a licence: most music on Instagram is licensed for use on Instagram only, and Instagram says downloaded reels can't be used commercially.
In-app features and rules come from Instagram Help Center articles Who can download your Instagram reels, Reuse audio from a reel with Edits and What audio you can use in your reel on Instagram, checked October 20, 2026.
