You’re scrolling through your Instagram Reels feed and you hear the same sound over and over again. The trending audio everyone is using. The one that makes every Reel it touches feel instantly more popular.
But here’s the frustrating part: by the time you notice the trending audio on Instagram, it’s already hit peak popularity. You’re three days late. The algorithm has already pushed it everywhere. The trend is peaking instead of rising.
That’s when you realize: the real secret to going viral on Instagram isn’t just good content—it’s knowing how to find trending audio on Instagram BEFORE it blows up. It’s knowing how to check trending audio on Instagram while the momentum is still climbing. It’s understanding that finding trending sounds early gives you a 2-3x better chance of algorithm visibility.
In this complete guide, I’m going to show you exactly how to find trending audio on Instagram using 8 different methods. Some methods show you trending sounds AFTER they’ve gone viral. Some methods show you trending audio BEFORE almost anyone else knows about it. By the end, you’ll know how to find trending music for Instagram Reels, Stories, and even regular posts.
Why Trending Audio on Instagram Actually Matters?
Before we dive into how to find trending audio on Instagram, you need to understand WHY finding trending sounds matters in the first place.
Here’s the real thing about Instagram’s algorithm: it absolutely loves when you use trending audio. When you layer trending audio on top of your Reel, you’re giving Instagram two things it loves simultaneously: short-form video content (its favorite format) AND an audio trend that’s already keeping people watching and sharing.
The result? Instagram prioritizes your post. More exposure. Higher engagement. Better chance of landing on the Explore page where millions of people scroll.
But there’s a catch. Trends move FAST. The trending audio on Instagram right now might be completely dead in 4-7 days. That means the sooner you find trending sounds and jump on them, the better your results.
Real talk: Creators who ride the upswing of a trending sound (days 1-3) see 2-3x better performance than creators who jump on day 5 or later. The audio is still trending but the momentum is different. You’re following a wave instead of riding it.
8 Proven Methods: How to Find Trending Audio on Instagram
Okay, so now you understand the WHY. Let’s get into the HOW. Here are 8 different ways to find trending audio on Instagram, ranging from beginner-friendly to advanced pro tactics.
Method 1: Scroll Your Reels Feed (Look for the Trending Arrow)
This is the simplest way to find trending audio on Instagram, and honestly, it’s where most people start.
How it works: Open Instagram and scroll through your Reels feed. Listen to the sounds. When you hear a track and notice it’s being used everywhere, look at the audio credit in the bottom left corner of the Reel.
The key detail: Next to trending sounds, you’ll see a small upward arrow icon. That arrow means “this is trending audio.” That’s your visual cue that the sound is hot right now.
What to do: Tap the arrow icon. You’ll see how many people are currently using this trending audio. Then tap the bookmark icon to save it for later.
This method is easy and requires zero downloads. But here’s the problem: by the time you notice a trending sound on your Reels feed and see the arrow, the trend is often already at 50% of its peak. You’re finding trending audio on Instagram, yes, but not necessarily finding it EARLY.
Best for: Beginners, people who just want to use popular sounds without obsessing over timing
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Method 2: Use Instagram’s Professional Dashboard (US Creators Only)
If you’re in the United States with a Creator or Business account, Instagram gives you access to something powerful: the Official Trending Audio List in the Professional Dashboard.
How to access it: Go to your Instagram Profile → click the menu (three horizontal lines) → tap Professional Dashboard → find Trending Audio section
What you’ll see: The top 50 trending sounds on Instagram, updated every few days. This is Instagram’s official curated list of what’s currently hot.
Why it matters: This gives you legitimate trending audio on Instagram with official data. No guessing. No scrolling for hours.
The advantage: This shows you the absolute hottest audio right now. The disadvantage: you’re still seeing trending audio that’s already well-established. But at least you get it from Instagram’s official source.
Best for: US-based creators with business accounts, people who want official Instagram data
Method 3: Follow @Creators Account for Trend Reports
Instagram’s official @Creators account is basically Instagram’s way of directly telling creators what’s trending.
What they do: This account regularly posts about trending audio, trending hashtags, and what’s hot on Instagram Reels right now.
Why follow it: They break down trending sounds and explain HOW to use them. Sometimes they even tell you which niche each trending audio works best for.
Frequency: They post regularly but not daily. So you’ll get a general idea of trends but might miss the super early moments.
This is a reliable source if you want Instagram’s official take on trending audio on Instagram. But again, by the time they post about it, the trend is already established.
Best for: People who want official Instagram recommendations with use-case examples
Method 4: Watch TikTok & YouTube Shorts FIRST (The Secret Hack)
Here’s where you find trending audio on Instagram BEFORE Instagram users do. And that’s by checking TikTok and YouTube Shorts first.
Why this works: Trends on TikTok typically spill over to Instagram 3-7 days later. If you see a trending sound exploding on TikTok, you know it’s coming to Instagram soon.
How to use it: Spend 10-15 minutes daily scrolling TikTok’s For You Page. Note the sounds that are trending there. Then search for those same sounds in Instagram’s music library. Use them on your Reels BEFORE they trend on Instagram officially.
The advantage: You get 3-7 days head start. You’re riding the beginning of the wave, not the middle or end.
This is honestly one of the best-kept secrets for finding trending audio on Instagram early. But it requires monitoring multiple platforms.
Best for: Serious creators who want to find trending sounds BEFORE they explode on Instagram
Method 5: Spy on Top Creators in Your Niche
Your competitors are a goldmine for finding trending audio on Instagram. Here’s why: if they’re using a particular sound, it’s probably trending or about to trend.
How to do it: Follow 5-10 top creators in your niche. Watch their new Reels. Note the sounds they’re using. If multiple top creators are using the same trending audio on Instagram, you know it’s hot.
Better option: Use tools like Socialinsider or Deepsolv that let you filter competitors’ content and see exactly what trending audio they’re using—plus the engagement data on those posts.
What this shows: Not just what’s trending audio, but what trending sounds are actually PERFORMING well in your specific niche.
This method combines trend-spotting with performance data. You’re not just finding trending sounds, you’re finding trending audio that actually works for YOUR content type.
Best for: Creators who want both trend data AND niche-specific performance data
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Method 6: Explore Tab, Hashtags & “Trending Audio” Communities
Instagram’s Explore page and specific hashtags are underrated for finding trending audio on Instagram.
What to search: Try hashtags like #trendingaudio, #viralreels, #trendingsounds, #reelsaudio, or niche-specific ones like #fitnessreels or #fashionreels
What you’ll find: Recent Reels using the newest trending audio on Instagram. Sort by “Most Recent” to see what creators are using RIGHT NOW.
Pro tip: Spend 5-10 minutes scrolling the Explore page. Note the sounds that appear most frequently. Those are the trending audios everyone is using.
This is a quick way to find trending audio on Instagram without needing special tools or outside platforms. Just Instagram, hashtags, and observation.
Best for: Creators who want a quick, tool-free way to spot trending sounds
Method 7: Check Spotify/Apple Music Viral Playlists, Then Find Them on Instagram
Here’s a creative approach: music platforms already curate trending songs. Why not use that to find trending audio on Instagram?
How it works: Go to Spotify or Apple Music. Look for their “Viral Songs” or “Today’s Hits” playlists. Note 3-5 songs that are currently trending.
Next step: Go to Instagram’s audio library (when creating a Reel). Search for those exact songs. Odds are, they’re already being used as trending audio on Instagram—or they will be very soon.
Why it works: Popular music becomes popular on Instagram almost immediately. Viral songs on Spotify = trending audio on Instagram within 24-48 hours.
This method connects music industry trends to Instagram trends. It’s a bit more advanced but incredibly effective for finding trending audio before it’s obvious.
Best for: Creators who understand music trends and want to stay ahead of the curve
Method 8: Use Meta Sound Collection for Trending, Copyright-Safe Audio
If you want to find trending audio on Instagram but avoid copyright strikes and monetization issues, Meta’s official Sound Collection is your answer.
What it is: Instagram’s official library of free, copyright-safe music created specifically for creators.
How to access it: When creating a Reel, tap the music icon → scroll to find Meta Sound Collection tracks. They’re organized by mood, genre, and trending status.
The benefit: These tracks are safe to use without copyright issues. Some are already trending on Instagram because they’re specifically designed for creators.
This method prioritizes safety and copyright protection over viral momentum. But some Meta Sound Collection tracks ARE trending, so you get the best of both worlds if you find the right ones.
Best for: Creators who prioritize copyright safety over viral trends, business accounts with strict brand guidelines
The Timing Strategy: When to Jump on Trending Audio
Finding trending audio on Instagram is only half the battle. The other half is WHEN to use it.
Here’s what we know about trending audio timeline:
Days 1-3 (OPTIMAL): Sound is newly trending. Low-to-medium adoption. HIGH algorithm boost. Creators who jump on now see best engagement.
Days 4-5 (GOOD): Sound is clearly trending. Medium-to-high adoption. GOOD algorithm boost. Still worth using but less advantage.
Days 6-7 (ACCEPTABLE): Sound is peaking. Very high adoption. MODERATE algorithm boost. Still visible but trend is plateauing.
Day 8+ (DECLINING): Sound is past its peak. Very high adoption but declining trend. LOW algorithm boost. Using it now feels late.
Pro move: Combine multiple discovery methods. Use TikTok to find emerging sounds 3-7 days early. Follow @Creators for official trends. Check the Explore page daily. By having multiple sources, you catch trends at different stages and always have something timely to use.
The 5 Biggest Mistakes People Make When Finding Trending Audio
Mistake 1: Waiting too long to use the sound.
You find trending audio on Instagram, get excited, and plan to use it next week. By then, the trend has peaked. The algorithm has moved on. You’re too late.
Mistake 2: Using trending audio that doesn’t fit your content.
Just because something is trending doesn’t mean it works for you. If you’re a fitness creator and the trending sound is a heartbreak song, it doesn’t fit. Use trending audio that makes sense for your niche.
Mistake 3: Not saving audio for later.
You hear trending audio on Instagram, think “I’ll come back to this,” and then forget where you saw it. Always save trending sounds immediately. Use that bookmark icon.
Mistake 4: Using copyrighted music without understanding the implications.
Some trending audio on Instagram comes with copyright claims. They might block monetization or flag your video. Always check if audio is safe before committing to it.
Mistake 5: Only using trending audio, forgetting to add your unique voice.
Trending audio is a tool, not a magic bullet. Your content still needs to be good. The trending sound just amplifies what’s already there. Don’t rely solely on trending audio to make bad content good.
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Pro Tips for Dominating Trending Audio on Instagram
Mix trending audio with original audio. Some creators layer their own voiceover or original sound on top of trending audio. This keeps your Reels unique while still riding the trending audio wave.
Create multiple Reels with the same trending sound. One version for fitness audience, one for comedy, one for motivation. Same trending audio, different angles. Better chance of hitting different audiences.
Keep a running list of trending sounds you find. Don’t just save them scattered across your saved audios. Create a document or note where you track: what the trending sound is, when you discovered it, when you used it, how it performed. This data helps you refine your strategy.
Understand your niche’s specific trending sounds. Fitness has different trending audio than fashion. Beauty has different trends than education. Get good at recognizing trends specific to your content type, not just global Instagram trends.
Use trending audio to test content angles. If a trending sound explodes, multiple content creators are using it. Watch how different creators use the same trending audio. Steal their angles. Apply them to your own content.
Final Thoughts
You now know how to find trending audio on Instagram. You understand why finding trending sounds matters for the algorithm. You know the optimal timing for using trending audio. You know what works and what doesn’t.
So start today. Find one trending sound that fits your niche. Use it this week. Watch what happens to your Reels engagement. Then do it again next week. And again the week after. That’s how you go from wondering “how do I find trending audio?” to being the creator everyone asks for advice about finding trending sounds.
Your next viral moment is waiting. It’s probably attached to a trending audio on Instagram you haven’t discovered yet. Go find it. Your audience is waiting.
