Get set for some discombobulating moments on Instagram in the coming weeks, if you see posts from a few years ago soundtracked by music from 2026.
Don’t worry, there isn’t a rift in the space-time-reels continuum. It’s a new ‘replace audio’ feature launched by Instagram.
“Starting this week, you can now change your in-app audio on a post or carousel you’ve already shared and keep every like, comment, and share it’s earned,” explained the company. “You no longer have to reupload content to adjust a track that no longer fits.”
Its post detailing the new feature suggests one of the motivations behind this for creators. “Swap in a song as it starts trending, even after you’ve posted…”
It sounds potentially exhausting for creators if we’re honest: a new task to add to their workload of endlessly swapping in trending tracks to keep their back-catalogue of selfies current.
That said, it could have its uses for musicians on Instagram, if they decide they want to promote a new track by inserting it into some of their older, evergreen posts.
