[FAQ]

I often use trending audio in my Instagram Reels to help with reach, but sometimes, especially when it’s an original voiceover or sound, I’d like to find and credit the person who first created it.

What is the best way to trace a sound back to its original source on Instagram in 2025? Is there a straightforward way to see the very first video that used an “Original Audio” sound, or do I have to do some digging?

[Jeff Bullas]

Finding the original source of a trending audio on Instagram is a good practice, and the platform has features that usually make this quite straightforward, especially for “Original Audio” created by users.

Here is the process. First, when you are watching a Reel that features the sound you are interested in, you need to tap on the sound name, which is typically scrolling at the bottom of the screen. This will take you to the main audio page for that specific sound.

Second, you should look at the top of the audio page. If the sound is an “Original Audio” that was created by another user, Instagram will almost always display the username of that creator directly under the audio’s name. It will clearly state, “Original audio by [username]“. Tapping on their username will take you directly to their profile. This is the most direct and reliable method.

Third, if for some reason the original creator is not listed at the top, you can investigate the videos on the audio page. This page shows a grid of the most popular videos that have used the sound. While there is no definitive “sort by oldest” function, the video that started the trend is often one of the most viewed videos and is therefore usually featured prominently at the top of this page.

Fourth, you can also check the captions of some of the popular videos using the sound. It is a common and good practice within the creator community to give credit (often abbreviated as “audio cr” or similar) to the original creator in the post’s caption, especially if the audio is a unique voiceover.

It is important to distinguish this from licensed music. If the sound is a popular song from a commercial artist, the audio page will show the artist’s name and a link to the song, not an individual creator’s profile. In that case, the musical artist is the original source.

In summary, the easiest way to find the source of an “Original Audio” is to tap on the sound within a Reel and look for the creator’s name listed at the top of the audio page.

[Author]

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