Want to create better Instagram Reels? Adding a music backdrop to your clips can help. Popular audio is a go-to for viral Reels, and you can join the trend too. This guide shows how to find and incorporate trending music into your Reels.
Good to know: check out the best apps for creating stunning Reels on Instagram.
1. Check Your Instagram Reels Feed
The simplest way to discover trending audio is through the Instagram Reels feed. Open the Instagram app on your mobile device, and tap the Reels button at the bottom. On desktop, find the Reels option in the menu on the left side of the screen.
Swipe through the Reels, and check the information under the name on the account. If the clip has a music background, you should see the name of the track that’s playing. When there’s a rising arrow next to the song’s name, you’ve stumbled upon a trending audio track.
If it’s not a trending track, you’ll see a musical note icon next to the track name instead.
Tap the audio track’s name to be taken to the audio track’s dedicated page, where you will see how many times this track has been used in Reels. You can also browse the complete list of Reels that use this particular audio.
Note: just because a track has been used many times, and you recognize it from other Reels, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it is trending. It’s possible that the track was trending a few days ago but is now starting to lose momentum.
If you decide that you want to use this trending track for your own Reels, tap the Use Audio button at the top. This will open a Reel creation screen, where you can start creating your video just as you typically would.
On PC, you can only Save Audio for later use and can’t add it to a Reel.
To view saved sounds from the mobile app (it’s not possible on desktop), go to your Instagram profile, and press the hamburger menu in the upper-right corner.
Select Saved in the Settings and activity page.
Select Audio to check your saved tracks.
FYI: learn how to share easily by creating an Instagram profile card.
2. Browse Instagram Reels Trending Suggestions
Another way to find trending audio on Instagram is to go straight to the Reel creation screen in the mobile app (not available on desktop). When opting to add audio to your clip, Instagram has a handy Trending category to explore.
Open Instagram and tap on the + button at the bottom.
Select Reel, then record your video by pressing the camera icon at the top or uploading it from your Gallery.
Tap the musical note in the menu at the bottom.
Above the music options in the pop-up, switch to the Trending tab to browse the songs that are currently the most popular.
Play a song by tapping on it to see if it resonates with you. If you like it, press on the tiny forward arrow to add it to your Reel.
Alternatively, Save the tracks for later use. Keep in mind that by the time you decide to use the track, it may not be trending anymore.
Once you’ve added the track to your Reel, you can select the part you want to play in the background.
3. Check Instagram Creators Account
The official Instagram Creators account represents another valuable resource when it comes to Reel trends, including audio.
Follow the account, and make sure you check it regularly. In this example, the Instagram Anthems highlight is the most relevant, as it contains new and popular songs you should watch for. Access this collection from the main Instagram Creators profile page.
Tip: don’t know what Instagram Highlights are? Learn more about them.
Go through the songs included in the collection, and open their respective pages by pressing on the song name.
Verify how popular they currently are with creators by checking the number of times they’ve been included in Reels.
Keep in mind that the trending status of some of these tracks may have expired since they were posted. Even so, they remain popular tracks with Instagram users.
4. Use TikTok for Inspiration
It may sound a bit counterintuitive, but another method of identifying trending audio tracks for Reels is to take a sneak peek at the competition. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that TikTok and Instagram are pretty intertwined when it comes to viral content. What’s popular on one platform may garner attention on the other, so you can check the audio that is trending on TikTok, then try to replicate it on Instagram.
Open the TikTok app on your device, then tap on the + button at the bottom to open the TikTok camera.
Record or upload a video, then press the Add sound button at the top.
Check the Recommended section for popular tracks. You can see how many TikToks these songs have been included in.
Alternatively, use the search bar at the top to look for “trending sounds” or “viral sounds.” Switch to the Sounds tab to view the results. As you can see, some of these tracks easily stand out, as they are labeled as Popular.
Go back to the Instagram app, and open a Reel creation screen.
Try searching for the song. It’s worth using the same sound on Instagram, as there’s a chance the song will go viral on Instagram, too (if it isn’t already). In this example, the John Mackk song that is popular on TikTok appears to be moderately popular on Instagram, but it could grow even more popular.
If you don’t have TikTok and don’t want to make an account, check TikTok’s Creative Center. You can easily see what’s hot on the platform, including the most popular songs.
Tip: learn how to link your TikTok to your Instagram to make it easier to cross-post.
5. Check Spotify Trending Audio Playlists
Spotify can also provide insights into trending or viral audio for your Instagram Reels. You can find playlists dedicated to this topic.
Open the Spotify app or the Spotify web player. Use the search bar and look for something like “viral songs for Instagram Reels.”
Go through the playlists and find each song that’s included on Instagram to check its popularity status.
6. Follow Top Creator Accounts for Your Niche
Another tip is to make sure you regularly check out the biggest accounts related to your niche. If something goes viral, influencers will most likely be among the first to adopt it.
Even if you’re already following many people in your niche, popular accounts may offer the fastest route to see what’s trending in your domain.
FYI: learn about the best methods to download Instagram Reels.
7. Use a Reel Template
Templates are designed to help you create stunning Reels with minimal effort. You can find an extensive template collection on Instagram. Most of these templates are also bundled with audio.
Since templates are listed under Trending, there’s a good chance that you’ll be able to find a few songs that are currently trending.
Reels have evolved as Instagram’s most popular feature over the years, competing closely with TikTok for users’ attention. If you want to improve your Reels, learn how to add voice and related effects or photos to your Reels.
Image credit: Freepik. All screenshots by Alexandra Arici.
