How to Add Music to a TikTok Video

Adding the right music to your TikTok can be the difference between a video that gets a few likes and one that goes viral. Sound is the emotional engine of the platform, driving trends, setting moods, and hooking viewers from the very first second. This guide breaks down exactly how to add music to your videos, covering everything from using TikTok’s massive library to adding your own custom tracks and fine-tuning your audio like a professional creator.

Choosing the Right Sound: Your Three Main Options

Before jumping into the "how," it's good to understand the three primary ways you can add audio to your TikTok videos. Each method serves a different purpose, whether you're trying to join a trending challenge or create something entirely unique.

• Using TikTok’s Commercial Music Library: This is the most common and easiest option. TikTok gives you access to a huge library of popular songs, viral audio clips, and sound effects that are pre-cleared for use on the platform.
• Adding Your Own Custom Music or Audio: If you have a specific song that isn't in the library, or if you've created your own original sound, you'll need a different method to get it into your video.
• Using an Original Sound from Another Creator’s Video: This is the engine of TikTok trends. It allows you to grab a sound clip from any other video on the platform and use it to create your own version.

We'll walk through the step-by-step process for each of these scenarios below.

How to Add Music Using the TikTok Sound Library

This is the go-to method for most creators. Using a trending sound from TikTok's own library is one of the best ways to get your content seen by a wider audience, as the algorithm often pushes videos that use popular audio.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Open TikTok and Start Your Video: Tap the `+` button at the bottom center of the screen to open the camera. You can either record a new video by holding the red button or upload a pre-existing clip from your camera roll by tapping "Upload" on the right.
2. Find the "Add sound" Button: Once you've recorded or uploaded your clip(s), you'll see a music note icon labeled "Add sound" at the top of the editing screen. Tap it to open the music library.
3. Explore the Sound Library: This is where you'll find your perfect track. The library is well-organized to help you discover new and popular sounds:
   • For You: TikTok recommends sounds based on your viewing history and a video's specific content. This is often a great place to start.
   • Playlists: Sounds are grouped by theme, mood, or genre (e.g., "Sad Songs," "80s Hits," "Viral Comedy").
   • Trends / Viral: These tabs show you what’s currently popping off on the platform. Using a sound from here gives your video a great chance to ride the trend wave.
   • Search Bar: If you have a specific song, artist, or sound effect in mind, you can type it into the search bar at the very top.
4. Preview and Select a Sound: Tap on any song or sound to hear a preview. When you find the one you want, tap the red checkmark next to its name to add it to your video.
5. Trim the Sound to Perfection: You’re not stuck with the first 15 seconds of a song. After adding a sound, look for the little scissor icon labeled "Trim" on the right-hand editing panel. Tapping this will open a waveform editor.
6. You can drag the waveform left and right to select the exact part of the song you want to use. This is incredibly powerful. Want to start your video right at the beat drop? Or maybe at the most iconic lyric in the chorus? The trim tool lets you do this in seconds.
8. Adjust The Volume Levels: This is a step many new creators skip, but it’s essential for creating a polished video. In the right-hand editing panel, find the icon that looks like a downward arrow and tap "Volume." Here you'll see two sliders:
   • Original sound: Controls the volume of the audio from your original video clip. If you were talking in the video, this is your voice.
   • Added sound: Controls the volume of the music track you just selected.
   If you want the music to be quiet background noise while you talk, slide the "Added sound" slider down. If you want the music to completely replace the original audio, slide the "Original sound" slider all the way down to zero. Finding the right balance is what makes a video feel professional versus amateur.

How to Add Your Own Music or Unique Sound

What if the song you want isn't in TikTok's official library? Or what if you've recorded your own podcast clip or music that you want to use? You can’t directly upload an MP3 file to TikTok, but there's a simple and effective workaround using an external video editor.

Note: If you plan to use a copyrighted song you don't own, be aware of the risks. TikTok's system may automatically detect the copyrighted audio and mute your video's sound or take it down entirely. It's always safest to use music you have the rights to or tracks from a royalty-free music service.

The Video Editor Method (The Best Way)

This method gives you complete control and the highest audio quality.

1. Use a Mobile Video Editing App: Download a user-friendly video editing app to your phone. CapCut (made by the same company as TikTok), InShot, and Splice are all excellent choices. For this example, we’ll use CapCut as it integrates perfectly.
2. Create a New Project: Open the app and start a new project. Import the video clip(s) you want to use for your TikTok.
3. Add Your Custom Audio: In the editor's timeline, find the option to add audio or music. You'll typically be able to import an audio file directly from your phone’s files. Add the MP3 or audio file you want to use and place it on the audio track under your video.
4. Edit and Sync Your Video: Here, you can trim your video clips to match the beat of your custom music, adjust volume levels, and polish everything until it feels just right. Since you're in a full editor, you have much more creative freedom.
5. Export and Upload to TikTok: Once you're finished, export the final video from the editing app to your phone's camera roll. The audio will now be permanently attached to the video file.
6. Now, open TikTok, tap the `+` button, tap "Upload," and select the video you just saved. Because the sound is already on the video, you don't need to add any additional music in the TikTok editor. Just proceed with adding captions, hashtags, and then post it.

How to Use a Sound from Another TikTok Video

Jumping on trends is the lifeblood of TikTok, and that almost always involves using the same sound as other creators. TikTok makes this incredibly easy to do.

1. Find a Video with a Sound You Like: While scrolling your "For You Page," let's say you find a video with a funny soundbite or a song that you want to use.
2. Tap the Sound Icon: Look at the bottom right of the screen. You'll see a small, spinning record icon with the name of the sound scrolling next to it. Tap on this icon.
3. Visit the Sound Page: This will take you to a dedicated page for that specific sound. Here, you can see how many other videos have used it and watch some of the most popular examples to get inspiration.
4. Tap "Use This Sound": At the bottom of this screen, there will be a big red button that says "Use this sound." Tap it, and TikTok will take you directly to the camera screen with the sound already loaded and ready for you to record your own video with it.

Pro Tips for Managing Your Audio

Once you've mastered the basics, here are a few extra tips to help you refine your audio and make your content stand out.

Add a Voiceover

Need to narrate a tutorial, tell a story, or add some personal commentary? The Voiceover feature is your friend.

• After adding your video clips and music, find "Voiceover" in the right-hand editing panel.
• Tap and hold the record button to speak over your video.
• You can choose whether you want to "Keep original sound" or have your voiceover replace it entirely by checking or unchecking the box. This is perfect for "story time" videos where you want quiet background music playing while you talk.

Use "Auto Sync"

If you upload multiple video clips, you might see an "Auto Sync" option. This brilliant feature automatically trims and arranges your clips to line up with the beats of the music you've chosen. It creates a dynamic, rhythmically edited video with just one tap, making your content look incredibly professional without any manual editing effort.

Don’t Forget Your "Favorites"

If you're scrolling and hear a sound you love but aren't ready to make a video with it yet, don't lose it! Tap the sound icon on the video, and on the sound page, tap "Add to Favorites." Now, when you're in the sound library later, you'll find a "Favorites" tab where all your saved sounds are kept organized and ready to go.

Final Thoughts

Mastering audio is one of the most impactful things you can do to improve your TikTok content. Whether you're using a viral track from the sound library, layering your own audio for a unique brand message, or simply finding the perfect balance between your voice and background music, paying close attention to sound will put your videos a step ahead.

Of course, creating standout TikToks is just one part of the equation, staying consistent is the other. We built Postbase because we personally know how challenging it is to manage a content calendar for video-first platforms like TikTok and Instagram. Our visual planner and reliable scheduler were specifically designed for the content that matters today - Reels, Shorts, and TikToks - to help you plan ahead, schedule your drafts, and post consistently without the stress of managing everything manually.