How to Add Music to Pinterest Idea Pins

Adding the right music to your Pinterest Idea Pins can transform them from a simple clip into an engaging, thumb-stopping story. A good soundtrack sets the tone, captures attention instantly, and makes your content more memorable. This guide breaks down exactly how to add audio from Pinterest's library or use your own original sounds, along with actionable tips to make your pins truly stand out.

Why Music Is a Game-Changer for Pinterest Idea Pins

Before jumping into the "how," let's quickly cover the "why." In a sea of visual content, audio is your secret weapon for making an immediate connection. Well-chosen music does more than just fill the silence, it injects personality and emotion into your content.

• It Grabs Attention: Sound is one of the fastest ways to stop scrollers in their tracks. A catchy, upbeat, or intriguing track can make someone pause and watch your pin instead of gliding past it.
• It Sets the Mood: Are you sharing a cozy living room decor idea? A calm, acoustic track works wonders. A fast-paced workout tutorial? An energetic electronic beat is perfect. Music instantly tells your audience how they should feel about your content.
• It Enhances Storytelling: Music can narrate a story wordlessly. It builds suspense for a reveal, adds excitement to a DIY project, and creates a sense of wonder for travel content. It’s a powerful tool for guiding your viewer through the narrative of your pin.
• It Creates Brand Identity: Consistent use of a certain style of music can become a part of your brand's signature. When followers hear that particular vibe, they’ll instantly associate it with you, strengthening brand recognition and loyalty.

In short, leaving music out of your strategy is like serving a delicious meal on a paper plate. It gets the job done, but it misses a huge opportunity to create a full, memorable experience.

How to Add Music: Pinterest Library vs. Your Own Audio

When it comes to adding sound to your Idea Pins, you have two primary options. Each has its own benefits depending on your goals and resources.

1. Pinterest's Music Library: This is the most straightforward method. Pinterest offers a robust library of commercially licensed tracks, meaning you can use them in your pins without worrying about copyright issues. It’s perfect for finding trending sounds, mood-based music, and popular songs.
2. Your Own Original Audio: This includes voiceovers, original music you created, or sound you have a license to use. This method offers ultimate creative control and is ideal for brand-specific sounds or tutorials that require spoken instructions. This audio must be added to your video before you upload it to Pinterest.

Let's walk through how to use both methods.

A Step-by-Step Guide to Adding Music from Pinterest’s Library

Using the built-in library is quick, easy, and the recommended method for most creators. Here’s how you do it, step by step, right within the Pinterest mobile app.

1. Start a New Idea Pin

Open the Pinterest app on your phone. Tap the plus sign (+) at the bottom of the screen and select "Idea Pin" from the menu. This will open the creator interface.

2. Upload Your Videos and Photos

Select the video clips or static images you want to use from your phone’s camera roll. You can select one or multiple files. Once selected, arrange them in the order you want them to appear in your finished pin. Tap "Next" when you're ready to move on.

3. Open the Music Editor

In the editing screen, you’ll see several icons on the right-hand side for adding text, stickers, and more. Look for the music note icon (♫) and tap it. This will open Pinterest's audio library.

4. Browse and Select a Track

You now have access to a massive library of songs and audio clips. You can explore it in a few ways:

• Recommended Tab: This tab often features trending songs and music personally recommended for you based on your content and pins. It's a great place to start if you want to find popular tracks.
• Browse by Category: You can browse through different genres (like Pop, Indie, Hip-Hop) or moods (like Upbeat, Chill, Romantic). This helps you quickly narrow down options to fit the vibe of your pin.
• Search Bar: If you have a specific artist or song in mind, use the search bar at the top to find it directly.

Tap on any song to hear a preview. Once you've found the perfect track, tap it again to select it and return to the editor screen.

5. Adjust the Song Clip and Volume

Pinterest doesn't play the entire song, it uses a short clip. Once you've added the music, you'll see a waveform at the bottom of the screen. You can slide this waveform left or right to select the exact part of the song you want to feature in your pin. Choose a clip that has a good intro, a catchy chorus, or a dramatic beat drop that syncs well with your video.

You can also adjust the volume. Tap the volume icon. If your original video has sound you want to keep (like someone talking), you can lower the music volume so it acts as background audio. If you want the music to be the star, keep its volume high and bring your clip's audio down to zero.

6. Finalize and Publish

Once you’re happy with the music selection and volume, you can add any other elements like text overlays or stickers. When your masterpiece is complete, tap "Next," add your pin title, description, and relevant tags, and then hit "Publish." That’s it! Your Idea Pin is now live with the perfect soundtrack.

Using Your Own Original Audio, Music, or Voiceovers

If you want to use a voiceover for a tutorial or include a custom brand jingle, you need to add it to your video before uploading it to Pinterest. This gives you unparalleled control over the final product.

Step 1: Create and Edit Your Video in a Third-Party App

The first step happens outside of Pinterest. Use a mobile video editing app like CapCut, InShot, VLLO, or Adobe Rush to assemble your video.

In your chosen app, you can:

• Record a Voiceover: Most video editors allow you to record audio directly over your video clips. This is perfect for explaining recipe steps, demonstrating a workout, or providing commentary.
• Add Your Own Music: If you've created your own music or purchased a license for a royalty-free track from a site like Epidemic Sound or Artlist, you can import that audio file into your project.

Edit your audio, trim it to fit the video, adjust the volume, and make sure it sounds just right. When you're done, export the final video file (with your audio already baked in) to your phone's camera roll.

Step 2: Upload Your Finished Video to Pinterest

Now, head back to the Pinterest app and start creating an Idea Pin just like before. When you select your media, choose the video you just exported from your editing app. Since the audio is already part of the video file, it will be there automatically. You won't need to touch the music icon at all. Simply add your pin details and publish.

A Quick But Important Note on Copyright

If you add commercially popular music (like a song from the radio) using an external video editor and you don’t own the license for it, you are violating copyright policies. Pinterest's algorithm may detect this and mute your audio or remove the pin entirely. It’s always safest to use audio you have the rights to, whether it's your own voice, royalty-free stock music, or a track from Pinterest's pre-cleared library.

Best Practices for Music That Makes an Impact

Just adding music isn't enough. The right music can make your pin go viral. Here are some tips to help you choose wisely.

1. Match the Music to Your Content's Vibe

This is the golden rule. The music should feel like a natural extension of your brand and the content itself. A food blogger sharing a decadent cake recipe could use a sophisticated, light instrumental track. A fitness creator sharing a high-intensity workout needs something with a driving beat to get people energized.

2. Leverage Trending Audio

Just like on other short-form video platforms, using trending audio on Pinterest can give your content a significant boost in visibility. Pay attention to the tracks you see appearing frequently in your feed and check the "Recommended" tab in the music library. Tapping into a trend can expose your pin to a much wider audience.

3. Tell a Story with Sound

Think like a movie director. Use music to control the emotional flow of your pin. If you're creating a "before and after" reveal, use a simple, slower track for the "before" and switch to a more dynamic, exciting track for the "after" reveal. This audio cue makes the transformation feel much more impactful.

4. Check Your Volume Levels

This is extremely important for pins with spoken audio. Your background music should be just that - in the background. It shouldn't overpower your voice. Always do a final sound check to make sure your voiceover is clear and easy to understand.

5. Create a Brand Sound

If you're creating a lot of content, consider establishing a consistent sonic identity. This doesn’t mean using the same song every time, but perhaps sticking to a particular genre or mood. For example, a home decor brand might always use calm, acoustic folk music. This consistency helps build a stronger, more recognizable brand on the platform.

Final Thoughts

Adding music to your Pinterest Idea Pins is a simple step that powerfully elevates your content, making it more dynamic and captivating for your audience. Whether you select a track from Pinterest’s extensive library or add your own custom audio, the right soundtrack helps complete your story and grow your brand.

Creating amazing video content is one thing, but consistently managing and scheduling it across all your social platforms is how true growth happens. At Postbase, we designed a social media management tool built for today’s creators - with a deep focus on short-form video. Our visual calendar helps you plan your content strategy, while our rock-solid scheduler ensures your Reels, TikToks, Shorts, and Idea Pins go live exactly when you intend, every time. It’s the perfect way to streamline your workflow so you can spend less time managing and more time creating.