How to Change a Song on a TikTok Video After Posting

Hit publish on a new TikTok video and an instant wave of regret washes over you - you used the wrong song. Maybe it was an old trending sound, a track that doesn’t match the vibe, or just a simple mistake made in the rush to post. We’ve all been there. This guide gets straight to the point: Here’s what you can and can’t do, along with the best ways to fix your audio mishap and a smart workflow to prevent it from happening again.

The Tough Truth: You Can't Directly Edit a Posted TikTok

Let’s get the bad news out of the way first. Once a video is live on TikTok, you cannot go back and simply swap out the audio track. There is no “edit song” button. This isn’t an oversight by TikTok, it’s a fundamental part of how the platform is built. The audio is permanently encoded into the video file upon publishing, and for good reason.

Sounds on TikTok are deeply tied to trends, challenges, and licensing agreements. Allowing users to change the audio after the fact would create a chaotic user experience. Imagine a dance challenge where the original beat is suddenly replaced by a completely different song - the context would be lost entirely. Furthermore, the complex world of music licensing means that rights are secured for that specific video-and-sound combination. So, while it’s a frustrating limitation for creators, it serves to maintain consistency and legal compliance on the platform.

But don’t worry. Just because you can’t hit a simple edit button doesn’t mean you’re stuck with the wrong tune forever. The solution involves a few extra steps, but it will get the job done right.

The Official Workaround: How to Save and Repost Your Video

The most common and effective way to change a song on your video is to save your original post, delete it, and then re-upload it with the correct audio. Following these steps carefully will help you preserve the quality of your video and get the corrected version live as smoothly as possible.

Step 1: Save Your Original Video Before Anything Else

Your first move is to secure a copy of the video you already posted. You have a couple of options here, each with its own pros and cons.

The Standard Save Option

The easiest method is to download the video directly from TikTok. This is quick but comes with a noticeable drawback: the TikTok watermark.

• Open the TikTok app and go to your profile.
• Tap on the video you want to correct.
• Tap the three dots (...) on the right side of the screen to open the options menu.
• Select "Save video."

The video will download to your phone’s camera roll, complete with the watermark and the original (wrong) sound. While it’s not ideal, it works in a pinch if you don’t have the original footage anymore.

The Smart-Creator Method: Get a Clean Copy

Reposting a video with a TikTok watermark can sometimes be deprioritized by the algorithm. For the best results, you want a clean version of your footage. Hopefully, you already have one!

• The Best Case Scenario: The absolute best practice is to always save the final edited video from your third-party editing app (like CapCut or InShot) or your phone’s camera roll before you even upload it to TikTok. This gives you a high-quality master copy without any watermarks or baked-in audio.
• The No-Watermark Trick: If you don’t have the original, you can use a third-party app or website to download your TikTok without the watermark. To do this, tap the “Share” button on your video, choose “Copy Link,” and then paste that link into a TikTok downloader tool. Be sure to use a reputable service for this. This method gives you a clean video file, which is much better for re-uploading.

Step 2: Carefully Delete the Original TikTok Video

Once you are 100% certain that you have a saved copy of your video, it’s time to remove the old version from your profile. This prevents having duplicate content on your feed and keeps things clean for your followers.

• Navigate back to the original video on your profile.
• Tap the three dots (...) again.
• In the bottom row of icons, swipe to the left until you see the "Delete" option. It’s often next to “Pin” or “Set as wallpaper.”
• Confirm that you want to delete the video.

Fair warning: When you delete a video, you will lose all the views, likes, comments, and shares it has accumulated. This can be a tough pill to swallow, especially if the video was gaining traction. If your video is already going viral, you might want to consider the alternative strategies in the next section instead of deleting it.

Step 3: Re-upload the Video with Your New Amazing Song

Now for the final step: getting your video back up, this time paired with the perfect soundtrack.

• Open TikTok and tap the plus sign (+) to start a new upload.
• On the bottom right, tap the "Upload" button and select the video you saved earlier.
• Once your video is loaded into the editor, tap "Add sound" at the top of the screen.
• Search for the new song or sound you want to use. You can look through trending charts, your favorites, or search for a specific track. Select the one you want.
• Use the timeline tool to adjust the starting point of the song so it syncs perfectly with your video.
• Double-check everything! Add back any text overlays, stickers, or effects you had on the original post.
• Write a fresh caption, add your relevant hashtags, and hit "Post."

Beyond Reposting: Creative Ways to Address a Music Mistake

What if your video has already racked up thousands of views? Deleting it and starting from zero is painful. In this situation, reposting isn’t your only option. Here are a few clever ways to handle the audio error without hitting delete.

Option 1: Use the Pinned Comment to Your Advantage

This is arguably the best non-delete strategy. By pinning a comment, you can control the first thing a viewer sees and immediately address the situation with transparency and humor. It turns a mistake into an engagement opportunity.

• Create a comment on your own video like, "I totally used the wrong sound for this 🤦‍♀️ Pretend you’re hearing '[Correct Song Title]' by [Artist]!" or "My brain was set to the wrong channel today. The true vibe for this video is [Song Title]."
• Once posted, long-press on your comment and select "Pin comment."

This approach shows you have a personality, can laugh at yourself, and you’re listening to feedback if others have already pointed it out. It’s an authentic way to handle a common creator mistake.

Option 2: The "Stitch" or "Duet" Fix

Get a bit meta with it! Stitching or dueting your own video is a very TikTok-savvy way to “correct” your original post. You can record a short video reacting to your mistake or addressing the audio choice.

• Go to your video with the wrong audio.
• Tap the three dots (...) and select "Stitch" or "Duet."
• For a Stitch, select a short clip from your original video (like the first second). Then, record a new segment where you say something like, "...and what I meant to use was this sound." Then, let the new video play out with a different soundtrack.
• This creates a new piece of content that directs people back to the original while also correcting the record. It’s especially effective if done with some humor.

Prevention is the Best Cure: A Workflow to Avoid Future Music Mismatches

The best way to fix a problem is to prevent it from happening in the first place. Adopting a more deliberate content creation process can save you from future headaches and reposting dilemmas.

• Perfect Your Video Outside of TikTok: Get into the habit of creating and editing your video's visual components in a third-party app like CapCut, VLLO, or Adobe Rush before you touch TikTok. This allows you to perfect your cuts, coloring, and pacing. Import this clean master copy to TikTok only when you’re ready to add the final touches like sound and text.
• Save Your Final, Raw Footage: Always, always save a copy of the final video file to your phone without any music or TikTok-specific effects. This is your insurance policy. If you ever need to repost for any reason, you have the highest-quality version ready to go.
• Use the Drafts Folder: Your drafts folder is your best friend. Before you’re ready to publish, save the video as a draft in TikTok. This gives you a chance to step away and come back with fresh eyes. You can open the draft, re-watch it, check the sound, read the caption, and make sure absolutely every detail is perfect before it goes public.
• Confirm Your Sound Choice: Trending sounds move incredibly fast. Take five extra seconds to tap on the sound and see how others are using it. Sometimes a popular track can become associated with a different or even negative trend. A quick review can prevent you from accidentally joining a conversation you want no part of.

Final Thoughts

While you can’t go back and change the song on a TikTok you’ve already posted, you’re not out of options. The most direct solution is to save the footage, delete the original, and re-upload with the correct sound. For videos that have already found an audience, cleverly using pinned comments or the Stitch feature can turn a simple mistake into a genuine moment of connection.

Mistakes like choosing the wrong song often happen when we’re rushing to post in the moment. That’s why having a solid content plan is such a game-changer. At Postbase, we built our platform around a visual calendar that helps you plan and schedule your TikToks, Reels, and Shorts ahead of time. By preparing your content in advance, you can double-check everything from the caption to the audio, catching those little errors before they go live and keeping your content strategy on track without the last-minute stress.