instagram reels with music
Music is what makes most Instagram Reels memorable. A great song turns a basic clip into something shareable. When you download a Reel, you want that music to come with it, not get stripped out by the download tool. Many free downloaders fail to preserve audio properly, leaving you with a silent video. This guide explains how to download instagram reels with music intact, using tools that preserve the full audio track.
Why Some Downloaders Strip Audio
A few less-reputable downloaders strip the audio from Reels for two reasons. First, some claim it is to avoid copyright issues since music is licensed by Instagram with Meta, not by the downloader tool. Second, some downloaders process Reels by re-encoding them, and poorly implemented re-encoding can drop the audio track. Either way, the result is the same: you get a silent video, which defeats the purpose of saving a Reel with great music. ReelDL does not re-encode files. It fetches the original MP4 from Instagram CDN, which includes the full audio track exactly as the creator uploaded it.
How to Download Reels with Music Using ReelDL
The process is the same as any Reel download, with the bonus that audio is preserved automatically. Open Instagram and find the Reel with music you want to save. Tap the three-dot menu and select Copy Link. Open the Instagram Reels Downloader on ReelDL. Paste the link and click Download. The MP4 saves to your device with the original audio track intact. Play the file in any video player to confirm music plays correctly.
Audio Quality in Downloaded Reels
Instagram stores Reel audio as AAC at 96 to 128 kbps. This is compressed compared to lossless audio but is fine for music playback on phones, tablets, and most playback contexts. ReelDL preserves this audio exactly as Instagram stores it, with no further compression or quality loss in the download process. The music you hear in the saved file is identical to what plays on Instagram.
Why Some Reels Lose Music After Download
Even with a good downloader, some Reels may not have music in the downloaded file. This happens when the creator added music that was later removed by Instagram for copyright reasons. On Instagram, the Reel might play silently for some viewers and with music for others depending on regional licensing. The downloaded file reflects whatever is on Instagram CDN at the time of download. If the music has been muted by Instagram, the file is silent too.
Original Music vs Licensed Tracks
Two types of audio appear in Reels. Original audio recorded or composed by the creator, which always downloads. Licensed music from Instagram audio library, which usually downloads but is subject to Instagram licensing rules. If you plan to use the Reel for any commercial purpose, get the proper music license through Instagram licensing tools or a stock music service. Personal use for offline viewing is generally fine.
Saving Just the Music as MP3
If you want only the audio from a Reel and not the video, follow a two-step process. Download the Reel as MP4 using ReelDL. Convert the MP4 to MP3 using a free online converter like CloudConvert or Convertio. The MP3 contains only the audio at the original quality. Use this for music identification, ringtone creation, or personal music library.
Verifying Audio Is Included
After downloading, verify the audio is preserved before deleting your downloads or moving on. On iPhone, open the file in Photos and tap play. Make sure your phone volume is up. On Android, open in Gallery or Google Photos and play. On desktop, open in VLC, Windows Media Player, or QuickTime. If you hear music, the file is good. If silent, retry the download since occasional CDN glitches can produce silent files.
Mobile Workflow
On phone, the entire workflow takes 30 seconds. Open the Instagram app, find the Reel, tap the three-dot menu, and Copy Link. Switch to your browser, open ReelDL, paste the link, and tap Download. When the result appears, long-press on iPhone to Save to Photos or tap Download on Android. The MP4 saves with full audio. Play to verify. Move to your music or video library as needed.
Multiple Reels with Same Music
If you want to save a series of Reels that share the same trending music for content reference or competitive analysis, each Reel must be downloaded separately. The same music will be in each downloaded file. There is no way to bulk-download multiple Reels through ReelDL, but the per-Reel workflow is fast enough that 10 to 20 Reels can be saved in a few minutes.
Long Form Audio
For longer-form audio content like podcasts or extended music sets, creators often upload as IGTV rather than Reels. Use the IGTV Downloader for these. The audio is preserved the same way as Reels, just with longer video files.
Story Music
Stories also include music. Use the Story Downloader to save Stories with their music intact. The same principle applies: ReelDL preserves the original audio track stored on Instagram CDN.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does ReelDL keep the music when downloading Instagram Reels?
Yes. ReelDL preserves the original audio track exactly as Instagram stores it. The downloaded MP4 plays with full music.
Why is some Reels music missing after download?
If Instagram has muted the original due to copyright issues, the downloaded file reflects that. ReelDL gets whatever Instagram CDN has at download time.
Can I download just the music as MP3 from a Reel?
Yes, in two steps. Download the Reel as MP4 with ReelDL, then convert MP4 to MP3 with a free online converter.
What audio quality are downloaded Reels?
AAC at 96 to 128 kbps, the same quality Instagram stores. Quality is preserved exactly with no additional compression by ReelDL.
Can I use downloaded Reels with music commercially?
Not without proper music licensing. Personal use is generally fine. Commercial use requires licensing the music through Instagram tools or stock music services.