How to Add Spotify Music to a TikTok Video

You've found the absolute perfect song for your next TikTok, but there's a catch: it's lurking in your Spotify playlist, not TikTok's massive sound library. Getting that specific, perfect audio clip from one app to the other feels like it should be simple, but it isn't. This guide will show you exactly how to bridge that gap. We'll walk through the two best methods for adding any Spotify song to your TikTok videos, with clear, step-by-step instructions for each.

Why Can't You Directly Add Spotify Music to TikTok?

First, let's address the big question: why is this even an issue? The answer boils down to one word: licensing. Both TikTok and Spotify are what you could call "walled gardens." They each have their own complex legal agreements with artists, labels, and publishers that dictate how music can be used on their respective platforms.

Spotify's licenses allow them to stream music to their subscribers for personal listening. TikTok's licenses, however, are for "synchronization," which means pairing music with video content. When you select a track from TikTok's Commercial Music Library or its broader general library, you're using a version that has been cleared for use in a video on their platform. Because these agreements are separate and don't overlap, there's no direct "Add to TikTok" button in Spotify. But don't worry, the workarounds are straightforward and give you the creative freedom you're looking for.

Method 1: The Screen Recording Method (The Quickest & Easiest Way)

This is by far the most accessible and popular method of getting Spotify audio into your TikTok video. It doesn't require any technical skill or special software beyond what's already on your phone. It's perfect when you need a specific clip quickly and are editing your entire video on your phone anyway. The idea is simple: you record your phone's screen while the music plays in Spotify, which captures the audio you need.

Step-by-Step Guide for Screen Recording Spotify Audio

Step 1: Get Your Spotify Song Ready

Before you hit record, preparation is key. Open the Spotify app and locate the exact song you want to use. Don't just pull up the song, find the specific part you need for your video - the iconic chorus, the perfect instrumental intro, or that epic beat drop. Cue the song up a few seconds before that moment so you can hit play seamlessly once you start recording.

Step 2: Start Your Screen Recording

Both iOS and Android have screen recording built directly into the operating system. You don't need to download a separate app for this.

• On an iPhone: Swipe down from the top-right corner of your screen to open the Control Center. Look for the screen record icon (a circle with a solid dot inside). If you don't see it, go to Settings >, Control Center and add it to your Included Controls. Tap the icon, and a 3-second countdown will begin.
• On an Android: Swipe down from the top of your screen to open the notification shade. You should see a "Screen recorder" or "Screen record" tile. If not, edit your quick settings tiles and add it. Tap it, confirm your settings (make sure it's recording device audio), and start the recording.

Step 3: Play and Record the Music

As soon as the screen recording countdown finishes, quickly switch back to your open Spotify app and press play. Let the song play through the part you want for your video. It's a good idea to record a little longer than you think you'll need - this gives you more flexibility when you're editing. Once you've captured the clip, stop the recording. The video will be automatically saved to your phone's camera roll or gallery.

Step 4: Bring Your Video and Sound Together

Now you have two separate files: your main video footage and the screen recording of the Spotify audio. The best way to combine them is with a simple mobile video editing app. Don't try to rig this inside TikTok itself, as its editor is not set up for this kind of audio work.

1. Choose an Editor: We recommend a free and powerful app like CapCut, InShot, or VN Video Editor. They are all user-friendly and perfect for this task.
2. Import Your Media: Open your chosen app and start a new project. First, import the video you actually want to post on TikTok. Then, import the screen recording of the Spotify music.
3. Extract and Sync the Audio: Most mobile editors will let you detach or extract the audio from the screen recording video. In CapCut, for example, you can tap on the screen recording clip, scroll over in the toolbar, and select "Extract audio." This will create a separate audio track. Delete the now-silent screen recording video clip. Drag the new audio track along the timeline so it lines up perfectly with your main video.
4. Trim and Adjust: Trim the audio clip to the exact start and end points you want. You can also adjust the volume to make sure it sounds great with your visual content.
5. Export: Once everything is perfectly synced, export the final video to your phone's camera roll. This will "bake" your chosen Spotify sound directly into the video file.

Step 5: Upload Your Masterpiece to TikTok

Open TikTok, tap the + icon, and select "Upload." Choose the video you just exported from your editing app. Since the sound is now a part of the video itself, you can proceed directly to adding a caption, hashtags, and posting. You've officially added your Spotify music to your video!

Pros and Cons of the Screen Recording Method

• Pros: Totally free, very fast, and requires no sketchy downloads. It works for every single song or sound on Spotify without exception.
• Cons: The audio quality is dependent on your phone's internal sound capture, so it might be slightly lower than the original file (though for most users, the difference is unnoticeable). It also carries the same copyright risks as any custom audio, which we'll discuss below.

Method 2: Using a Third-Party Downloader & Editor (Higher Quality)

This method is for creators who want the absolute best audio quality or who prefer editing their videos on a desktop computer. It involves converting a Spotify track to an MP3 file, which you can then use like any other audio file in your editing software. This gives you more control and a pristine audio source to work with.

Disclaimer: This method exists in a legal gray area. Downloading copyrighted music from streaming services may violate both Spotify's terms of service and local copyright laws. This guide is for informational purposes only. Proceed at your own risk and use this method responsibly for personal creative projects.

Step-by-Step Guide for Downloading and Using an MP3

Step 1: Find a Spotify to MP3 Conversion Tool

There are numerous websites and desktop applications designed for this purpose. You can find them by searching for terms like "Spotify to MP3 converter" or "Spotify music downloader." Be careful here - some of these sites can be filled with ads or potential malware. Look for a tool with good reviews and a clean interface. Web-based converters are often the easiest, as they don't require you to install any software.

Step 2: Convert and Download Your Song

The process is usually very similar across different tools:

1. Open Spotify and find your song. Click the three dots (...) next to the song title.
2. Go to Share >, Copy Song Link.
3. Go to the converter website and paste the link into the input field.
4. Follow the on-screen instructions to convert and download the track as an MP3 file to your computer or phone.

Step 3: Edit Your Video with the New Audio

Here, your workflow will look much like the screen recording method, but with a clean MP3 file instead of an extracted audio clip.

• On Desktop: Import your video footage and the downloaded MP3 file into your preferred video editor (like Adobe Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, or Final Cut Pro). Place the video on your timeline, drag the MP3 onto an audio track below it, and trim and sync it perfectly.
• On Mobile: Save the MP3 file to your phone's files. Use an editor like CapCut or VN, import your video, and then import the MP3 file from your local files to add it to the project.

Once everything is edited together, export the final, complete video.

Step 4: Upload to TikTok

If you edited on your desktop, you'll first need to transfer the finished video file to your phone. From there, the process is the same: open TikTok, upload your new video, add your caption and hashtags, and share it with the world.

Pros and Cons of the Downloader Method

• Pros: You get the highest possible audio quality, identical to the source on Spotify. It gives you a standard MP3 file that's easy to work with in any professional video editing software.
• Cons: A more involved and time-consuming process. It relies on third-party tools that can be untrustworthy. It has significant copyright and terms-of-service implications.

A Critical Note on Copyright and TikTok's Sound Policy

Using custom audio from any source - including these methods - bypasses TikTok's official, licensed sound library. This comes with some risks you should be aware of:

• Your Sound Might Be Muted: TikTok's automatic content identification system is very good at recognizing copyrighted music. If it flags your video, it may remove the audio, leaving your video silent.
• Your Video Could Be Removed: In some cases, especially if a rights holder files a formal takedown request, TikTok may remove the entire video from the platform.
• Business vs. Personal Accounts: If you have a TikTok Business Account, you've likely noticed that your sound library is much smaller. This is because business accounts are restricted to the Commercial Music Library - a collection of tracks fully licensed for promotional use. Personal and Creator accounts have access to a much wider range of popular music. If you can't find a viral song, you might be on a Business Account. While it's tempting to use custom audio to get around this, be extra cautious, as using unlicensed popular music for marketing is a more serious copyright issue.

As a best practice, always try to find the sound in TikTok’s own library first. But when you absolutely need that deep cut from Spotify, these methods will get the job done. To show respect for the artist, it's always great practice to credit them in your caption, like typing "♪: [Song Name] by [Artist Name]".

Final Thoughts

Knowing how to add any song to your TikTok videos opens up a world of creative possibilities, whether you use the quick and simple screen recording method or the higher-quality downloader approach. Both options give you the freedom to craft the exact vibe you’re going for and help your content stand out.

Figuring out audio tricks is a fantastic skill, but it's just one piece of the content puzzle. As you make more videos for TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts, just planning and scheduling it all can feel like a full-time job. That's the exact frustration we built Postbase to solve. We created a clean, modern social media tool that was designed for video-first creators. It lets you visually plan your content calendar, schedule posts reliably across all your platforms, and manage your community without needing to bounce between five different apps. You can focus on creating cool stuff, and we help you get it out there consistently and without the headaches of older, clunkier software.