How to Add Sound to a TikTok Video

On TikTok, sound isn't just background noise, it's the heartbeat of your content. A video with the right trending audio can skyrocket your views and engagement, while the wrong sound - or worse, no sound - can make a masterpiece fall flat. This guide will walk you through every way to add sound to your TikTok videos, from using the massive built-in library to uploading your own custom audio, so you can start creating content that gets noticed.

Why Sound is the Secret Weapon of Viral TikToks

Before we get into the "how," let's quickly absorb the "why." Unlike other platforms where you might scroll with the sound off, TikTok is a sound-on experience. Audio is the connective tissue of the entire platform. It dictates trends, creates inside jokes, tells stories, and sets the entire mood of a video in seconds. The audio you choose does three main things:

• Increases Discoverability: When you use a trending sound, your video is grouped with thousands of others using the same audio. This gives a brand new audience a direct path to finding your content.
• Creates Context: A funny sound bite or a dramatic music swell instantly tells the viewer what kind of video they're watching, making it more effective and emotionally resonant.
• Encourages Participation: Sounds are the basis for most TikTok challenges and trends. Using a specific sound invites others to create their own version, making your video part of a larger conversation.

In short, mastering audio is a non-negotiable step to growing on TikTok. Now, let's get you set up.

Method 1: Using TikTok's Built-in Sound Library

This is the most common and straightforward way to add audio. TikTok has an enormous, officially licensed library of popular songs, sound effects, and funny clips. If you want to join a trend or use a popular song, this is where you'll find it.

Step-by-Step Guide: Adding Sound Before You Record

1. Open TikTok and tap the plus (+) icon at the bottom of the screen to open the camera.
2. At the very top of the camera screen, you'll see a music note icon that says "Add sound." Tap it.
3. This opens the Sound Library. Here you can search for a specific track, browse TikTok's curated playlists (like "TikTok Viral"), or check out your saved sounds from the "Favorites" tab.
4. Once you find a sound you like, tap it to preview. If you like it, tap the red checkmark to select it. You'll be taken back to the recording screen with the sound now selected at the top.
5. Record your video. The sound you chose will play as you record, helping you time your actions and lip-sync perfectly.

Adding Sound After You Record

Sometimes you need to film first and pick the audio later. The process is just as simple.

1. Record your video clips first by pressing the red record button.
2. Once you are done recording, tap the red checkmark at the bottom right to move to the main editing screen.
3. At the top left of this screen, tap "Add sound." Browse and select your audio just like in the previous method.
4. After you select a sound, TikTok brings you back to the editing screen where you can make more adjustments.

PRO TIP: Trim the Audio & Adjust Volume

Once you've added a sound, you can customize it further. From the main editing screen, look for the toolbar on the right side.

• Trimming: Tap "Edit" (the scissors icon), then look for the sound option. You can slide the waveform at the bottom to start the sound exactly where you want it. This is useful if you only want to use a specific part of a song, like the chorus.
• Volume: Tap the down arrow for more tools, then find "Volume." This opens two sliders: "Original sound" and "Added sound." If you want your video's original audio (like someone speaking) to be heard over the music, slide the "Added sound" down. If you want the music to completely replace the original audio, slide "Original sound" all the way down to zero.

Method 2: Using a Sound From Another Creator's Video

This is how most trends spread. You see a great video on your For You Page and want to use the same audio for your own unique spin on the trend.

1. While watching a TikTok, look at the bottom left of the screen. You'll see the sound name scrolling by next to a spinning music disc icon.
2. Tap either the sound name or the spinning disc. This will take you to the audio's main page, where you can see how many other videos have used it and find the original creator.
3. At the bottom of this screen, there's a big red button that says "Use this sound." Tap it!
4. You'll be taken directly to the recording screen with that sound already loaded and ready to go. Record your video, and you'll officially be part of the trend.

This method is fantastic for staying relevant and capitalizing on what's currently popular on the platform. If you see a sound appearing on your page over and over again, that's your cue to jump on it.

Method 3: Adding Your Own Custom Sound or Music

What if you want to use a voiceover, a custom piece of music, or a clip that's not in the TikTok library? You have a couple of great options for adding your own audio.

Option A: Add Your Sound in a Third-Party Editing App

This is the most reliable method for adding copyrighted music or creating a highly polished video with mixed audio. You essentially prepare the entire video with its sound before it even touches TikTok.

1. Use a video editor on your phone (like CapCut, InShot, or Splice) or on your desktop (like Adobe Premiere Pro or Final Cut Pro).
2. Import your video clips and the audio file (music track, recorded voiceover, sound effect) you want to use into the editor.
3. Edit your video exactly how you want it to appear. Trim the clips, mix the audio levels, add text overlays - get it perfect.
4. Export the final video file to your phone's camera roll.
5. Open TikTok, tap the plus (+) icon, and tap "Upload" on the bottom right of the camera screen. Select your edited video from your camera roll.
6. Your video will now upload with your custom sound already embedded. TikTok will label this sound as an "Original sound" credited to you.

This is the best practice for brands and serious creators who need full control over their final audio mix.

Option B: Use the Voiceover Tool Inside TikTok

If you want to add commentary, tell a story, or give instructions over your video clips, TikTok's built-in Voiceover tool is an excellent choice.

1. Record or upload your video clips as you normally would and proceed to the main editing screen.
2. On the right-side editing toolbar, tap the downward arrow to reveal more options, and then find and tap the microphone icon labeled "Voiceover."
3. You'll see your video timeline at the bottom. Find the spot where you want to start your voiceover and tap the red record button to begin speaking. You'll see your clip playing on the screen so you can time your narration perfectly.
4. You can record in one long take or in short segments. If you mess up, you can simply stop, drag the playhead back, and re-record over the mistake.
5. Make sure to uncheck the box at the bottom that says "Keep original sound" if you don't want the original audio from your video clips playing underneath your voiceover.
6. When you're happy with your voiceover, tap "Save" at the top right.

After saving, you can still add music from TikTok's library and use the Volume tool to mix the levels between your voiceover and a background track!

Mastering Your TikTok Audio Strategy

Now that you know the mechanics, let's talk strategy. Choosing the right sound is just as important as knowing how to add it.

How to Find Trending Sounds

Don't just wait for trends to appear on your For You Page. You can actively hunt for them:

• The TikTok Sound Library: The main page of the sound library always features "TikTok Viral," "New Releases," and other curated playlists. This is TikTok telling you directly what's hot right now.
• Look at Your Competitors: See what sounds other creators or brands in your niche are having success with. Their success can be a great blueprint for yours.
• The "For You" Section in Sounds: Inside the Sound Library, there is a dedicated "For You" tab that suggests music based on your viewing history and what TikTok's algorithm thinks you'll like.

A Quick Note on Copyright for Businesses

If you have a TikTok Business Account, your sound library will be much more limited. This is because TikTok provides a Commercial Music Library containing over a million royalty-free tracks that are cleared for marketing and promotional use. While you won't be able to use the latest chart-topping hit, this protects your business from potential copyright infringement issues. Personal and Creator accounts have access to the full music library for entertainment purposes.

Final Thoughts

Getting comfortable with all the different ways to add and manipulate sound is one of the most important steps you can take to level up your TikTok content. Whether you're jumping on a viral trend, creating a tutorial with a voiceover, or crafting a mini-masterpiece with custom audio, sound is your most powerful tool for capturing attention and connecting with your audience.

After you've mastered creating great videos with perfect sound, the next step is publishing them consistently without feeling overwhelmed. At Postbase, we built our platform specifically for video-first social media like TikTok, Reels, and Shorts. It allows you to plan and schedule your hard work across all of your accounts in one simple, visual calendar, so you can focus more on creating awesome content and less on remembering when to hit publish.