How to Add MP3 to TikTok

So, you have a perfect MP3 - an original song, a podcast snippet, or a custom jingle - and you want to make it the next big sound on TikTok. You tap the + button, look for an upload option, and realize... there isn't one. The truth is, TikTok doesn't let you directly upload an audio file like an MP3. This article will show you the straightforward workaround to get any MP3 onto the platform by first attaching it to a video, and we’ll also cover tips for making your original sound stand out.

The #1 Method: Embedding Your MP3 into a Video

The standard and most effective way to add an MP3 to TikTok is by turning it into a video file first. Essentially, you’re creating a simple video where your MP3 is the soundtrack. You can use almost any video editing tool for this, from free mobile apps to professional desktop software. Once a part of the video, your MP3 becomes an “Original Sound” when you upload it to TikTok.

Let's walk through the exact steps.

Step 1: Get Your Files Ready

Before you open any app, you’ll need two things:

• Your MP3 file: This is the audio you want to use. Make sure it's accessible on the device you'll be using for editing (your phone or computer).
• A visual element: Since your audio needs to be embedded in a video, you need something for people to look at. This can be anything:
  • A single static image (like your logo, album art, or a relevant photo).
  • A short, looping video clip.
  • A simple background color.
  • A slideshow of several images.
  The visual doesn’t have to be complex, its primary job is to serve as a container for your sound.

Step 2: Choose Your Video Editor

You don't need expensive software for this. Plenty of free and powerful tools work perfectly. The one you choose depends on whether you prefer working on your phone or computer.

Recommended Mobile Video Editors (Free):

• CapCut: Made by the same parent company as TikTok, CapCut is incredibly intuitive and perfectly optimized for creating TikTok content. It’s what many of the top creators use.
• VN Video Editor: A powerful and user-friendly mobile editor with no watermarks and a lot of professional-level features.
• InShot: Another popular choice for mobile editing, great for quick projects with simple text and effects.

Recommended Desktop Video Editors (Free):

• DaVinci Resolve: A professional-grade editor with a fantastic free version that has more than enough power to combine an image and an MP3.
• iMovie (Mac only): Simple, effective, and comes pre-installed on all Apple computers.
• Clipchamp (Windows only): Microsoft's built-in video editor is easy to use for this specific task.

Step 3: Combine Your Audio and Visuals (Example using CapCut)

We'll use CapCut for this example because it's the most common choice for TikTok creators, but the process is nearly identical in any other editor.

1. Start a New Project: Open CapCut and tap the “+ New Project” button.
2. Add Your Visual: Select the image or video clip you prepared earlier from your phone’s photo library and tap “Add.”
3. Set the Duration: CapCut will place your visual on the editing timeline. Tap on the visual clip in the timeline, then drag its end handle to the right to extend its duration. Make it at least as long as your MP3 file. For example, if your audio is 30 seconds long, stretch the image to last for 30 seconds.
4. Add Your Audio: Now, tap the “Audio” icon in the bottom menu. Select “Sounds.” A new menu will appear. Tap the folder icon (“From device”) to access the audio files saved on your phone. Find your MP3 and tap the "+" button to add it to the timeline.
5. Sync and Trim: Your MP3 will appear as a new layer underneath your visual clip on the timeline. Make sure it starts at the beginning. If your audio is longer than the 60-second or 3-minute limit for a typical TikTok, you may need to trim it. You can do this by dragging the ends of the audio clip in the timeline.
6. Export the Video: Once everything is lined up, tap the export icon (usually an arrow pointing up) in the top-right corner. CapCut will render your project and save it to your phone as a new MP4 video file. You now have a video of your image or clip, perfectly synced with your custom MP3!

Step 4: Upload Your New Video to TikTok

This is the easy part. You’re no longer trying to upload an MP3, you’re just uploading a regular video.

1. Open TikTok: Tap the "+" button at the bottom of the screen to open the camera.
2. Select "Upload": To the right of the record button, tap the "Upload" option.
3. Choose Your Video: Select the video you just exported from your video editor. Tap "Next."
4. Edit and Add Details: On the editing screen, you’ll see that your video and your custom sound are already synced. TikTok will label your audio as "Original Sound." From here, you can add text, stickers, filters, or effects.
5. Post: Write your caption, add relevant hashtags, and post your video. Congratulations, you've successfully uploaded your MP3 to TikTok!

The Quick (But Lower Quality) Method: Screen Recording

If you're in a pinch and don't want to use a video editor, there's a less-than-ideal but functional alternative: screen recording. This method is clunky and often results in lower audio quality, but it works technically.

1. Play Your MP3: Open any music player app on your phone and start playing your MP3.
2. Start Screen Recording: Swipe to open your control center (iPhone) or quick settings panel (Android) and start a screen recording. Your phone will now record everything happening on your screen AND any audio playing through the system.
3. Let It Play: Let the portion of the song or audio clip you want to use play completely.
4. Stop Recording: Stop the screen recording. The video file will be saved to your photo gallery.
5. Upload to TikTok: Follow the same upload process as above. You can trim the beginning and end of the recording within TikTok’s editor to remove moments where you were starting/stopping the recording.

Again, this is not the recommended method. The audio is often compressed twice, and visual screen artifacts can look unprofessional. The video editing method produces a much cleaner result.

Important Considerations and Best Practices

Getting your sound on TikTok is just the first step. To make the most of it, here are some essential things to keep in mind.

Your #1 Priority: Respect Copyright

This is the most critical rule. You must have the legal right to use the audio you upload. If you upload a popular song by a famous artist that you downloaded as an MP3, TikTok's algorithm will likely flag it for copyright infringement. This can get your video's audio muted or even result in a strike against your account.

Only use audio that falls into one of these categories:

• Your Original Creation: A song you wrote, a podcast you recorded, an original voice memo, or a beat you produced. You own the copyright, so you're clear to use it.
• Royalty-Free Music: Audio purchased from a stock music library like Epidemic Sound or Artlist. These services grant you a license to use their music in your content.
• Public Domain Content: Audio for which the copyright has expired. This is generally very old classical music or recordings.

Unlock Your Sound's Potential by Naming It

When you upload your video, TikTok automatically labels your audio as "Original Sound." Anyone can then use your sound in their own videos, but a generic title isn't very inspiring. You can make it discoverable and official-looking by renaming it.

After you post your video:

1. Go to your profile and tap on the video.
2. Tap the spinning record icon in the bottom-right corner. This takes you to the audio page for your new sound.
3. At the top of the screen, tap the name "Original Sound."
4. Type in a new, descriptive name like, "My Cool Song - Your Artist Name" or "Funny Voicemail Clip - That Meme Guy."

Giving your sound a unique name makes it look more professional and encourages others to use it, which is the key to starting a trend.

Why Go Through the Trouble of Using Custom Audio?

Using unique, custom audio sets you apart from the crowd who are all using the same trending sounds. Here's why it's a powerful strategy:

• Build Your Brand: If you're a musician, it's the perfect way to promote your music. If you're a business, a custom jingle or branded audio reinforces your identity.
• Launch a Trend: Every massive TikTok trend starts with just one original sound. Yours could be the next one. A unique, funny, or catchy audio clip is far more likely to go viral than latching onto someone else's trend.
• Share More Information: Podcasters and coaches can use audio snippets to share valuable information or funny stories that don't fit into TikTok’s fast-paced visual style. It allows you to repurpose long-form audio content into bite-sized social media gold.

Final Thoughts

While TikTok doesn't offer a direct "Upload MP3" button, the workaround is simple: attach your audio to a video using an editor like CapCut. This allows you to bring your original songs, podcast clips, and custom brand sounds onto the platform and claim them as your own "Original Sound," but remember to only use audio you have the rights to.

Once you’ve mastered creating videos with custom audio, staying consistent with your content is the next part of the puzzle. We built Postbase to make that part easier, providing a clean, modern visual calendar to plan and auto-publish all your social content. Since it was designed from the ground up for video formats like TikToks, Reels, and Shorts, you can reliably schedule posts across all your platforms without wrestling with a clunky, outdated tool.