How to Find Trending Audio on Facebook

Finding the right audio for your Facebook Reel can feel like chasing a moving target, but it doesn't have to be. Using a trending sound is one of the most effective ways to signal to the algorithm that your content is relevant and should be shown to a wider audience. This guide provides actionable methods to help you find popular audio directly on Facebook, so you can stop guessing and start creating content that gets noticed.

Why Trending Audio is a Game-Changer for Facebook Reels

Before we get into the "how," let's quickly cover the "why." Using trending audio isn't just about seeming current, it’s a strategic move that directly impacts your content's performance. When you use a popular sound clip, you’re essentially joining an ongoing digital conversation. The Facebook algorithm recognizes this and is more likely to feature your Reel alongside other popular videos using that same audio, dramatically expanding your reach beyond your existing followers.

This creates a powerful discovery loop. Users who enjoy a particular sound often tap on it to see other Reels that have used it. If your content is in that collection, you open the door to a new audience that is already primed to engage with the kind of video you just made. It's an organic way to grow your reach, increase engagement, and connect with people who are paying attention to popular culture on the platform.

Method 1: Go Straight to the Source - The Facebook Audio Library

The most straightforward place to start your search is within Facebook's own creation tools. The platform does a good job of flagging what's hot directly in its audio library, making it easy to find sounds that creators are currently using to get traction.

Step-by-Step Guide to Using the Audio Library:

1. Start Creating a Reel: Open the Facebook app and tap "Create Reel" from your news feed or profile. This will open the Reels creation interface.
2. Tap the 'Audio' Icon: On the right-hand menu, look for the music note icon labeled "Audio." Tapping this will open the music and audio library.
3. Check the "For You" Section: This is the first screen you'll see. It’s an algorithmically curated list of sounds that Facebook thinks you'll like based on your activity and interests. More importantly, this section is heavily populated with audio that is currently gaining momentum.
4. Look for the Trending Arrow: This is your most obvious clue. Next to some audio tracks, you'll see a small grey arrow pointing diagonally upwards (↗). This is Facebook's official symbol for a trending sound. If you see this icon, you can use the audio with confidence, knowing that the platform is actively prioritizing it.
5. Browse and Save: Scroll through this list and listen to a few options. If you find one you like but aren't ready to use immediately, tap the bookmark icon on the right side to save it for later. Your saved sounds are easily accessible from the "Saved" tab at the top of the audio library.

The "For You" page is your first and best stop. It is personalized but also reflects broader platform trends. Make checking this tab a regular part of your content creation process.

Method 2: Be a User - Scroll and Scout Your Reels Feed

Some of the best discoveries happen when you're simply using the app as a regular user. Think of this as market research. Dedicating just 10-15 minutes a day to scrolling your Reels feed with an analytical ear can reveal trends before they are officially marked with the little arrow icon.

What to Tune in For:

• Repetition is Your Friend: The most basic sign of a trend is repetition. If you hear the same song clip, voiceover, or sound effect three or four times within a short scrolling session - especially from different types of creators - your trend radar should go off. This is a strong indicator that a sound is gaining traction across the platform.
• Spot the 'Original Audio' Trend: Not all trends are commercial songs. Keep an eye out for "Original Audio" clips from creators that are being re-used. This is often a funny quote, a relatable thought, or a lip-sync sound that has gone viral. You’ll notice the audio is credited to a regular user’s account instead of an artist.
• Analyze Top-Performing Videos: When you see a Reel with an unusually high number of views, likes, or comments, pay close attention to the sound. While great content is the primary driver of success, popular audio often acts as a powerful amplifier. The audio might be the extra push that helped it go viral.
• Spy on Creators in Your Niche: Pay close attention to the sounds being used by other brands, creators, or competitors in your industry. If multiple accounts in your niche are suddenly using the same audio clip, that sound is officially trending within your community. This is a golden opportunity because the audience familiar with that trend is exactly who you're trying to reach.

How to Save Sounds on the Fly

When you hear a sound you want to use, don't let it get lost in the feed. Taking immediate action is simple:

1. Tap on the audio name scrolling at the bottom of the Reel.
2. This will open the audio's main page, where you can see how many other Reels have used it.
3. Tap the "Save audio" button at the top of the page.
4. The sound will now be in your "Saved" folder in the audio library, ready for your next masterpiece.

This "save first, ask questions later" approach allows you to build a personal library of potential audios to use, so you never have to start your search from scratch.

Method 3: Reverse Engineer Success from Creator Pages

Instead of waiting for trends to show up in your feed, you can actively hunt them down by analyzing what's already working for successful creators. This strategic approach involves "reverse engineering" top-performing content to identify the audio that helped it succeed.

The Research Strategy:

1. Visit a Key Creator's Profile: Go to the profile page of a top influencer, a direct competitor, or a popular brand in your niche. Choose someone who has a strong Reels presence.
2. Navigate to their Reels Tab: Switch to their Reels tab to view all of their short-form video content in one place.
3. Identify Their "Hits": Scroll through their Reels and look for the view counts displayed on each video's thumbnail. Identify the top 5-10 Reels with the highest view counts. These are their proven successes.
4. Look for Audio Patterns: Watch these top-performing Reels and listen closely to the audio. Is it a popular pop song? A funny trending quote? An original audio from another creator? Often, a creator's viral videos share common elements, and the audio choice is a significant one. Note any sounds that appear on more than one of their popular videos.
5. Save and Implement: If you find a winning sound, use the "Save audio" workflow described in the previous section. You’ve now identified an audio that is not just trending, but is proven to resonate with an audience you share.

Method 4: Look for Inspiration Beyond Facebook

The social media ecosystem is interconnected. Trends rarely exist in a vacuum, and what explodes on one platform almost always spills over onto another. Facebook Reels trends, in particular, are heavily influenced by its biggest competitor.

Keep an Eye on TikTok

TikTok is the undisputed engine of short-form video culture. Most of the songs, meme formats, and audio trends that become popular on Instagram Reels and Facebook Reels start on TikTok first - often weeks earlier. Spending just 15 minutes scrolling your TikTok “For You” Page is one of the most effective research tactics you can employ. If a sound is unavoidable on TikTok, it's highly likely to arrive on Facebook in the near future. Being an early adopter of these cross-platform trends can give you a significant advantage.

Check Viral Music Charts

While less direct, another helpful pulse-check is to look at music streaming charts. Services like Spotify have publicly available playlists such as "Viral 50," which tracks songs gaining viral traction on social platforms. These songs are almost always in heavy rotation across all of social media, making them a safe and popular choice for Reels anywhere.

Building a Repeatable "Trend-Spotting" System

Finding trending audio shouldn't be a one-time search. It should be a small, consistent habit that you integrate into your content workflow. Here's a simple schedule to get you started:

• Daily (5-10 minutes): Mindfully scroll your Reels feed. Save 1-2 sounds that catch your ear or appear multiple times.
• Two-to-three times a week (5 minutes): Pop into the Facebook Audio Library. See what's on the "For You" page and what has the official "trending" arrow next to it.
• Once a week (15-20 minutes): Do your strategic research. Check in on 3-5 key competitors or creators in your niche and analyze the audio on their most popular Reels.

Final Thoughts

Finding trending audio on Facebook boils down to a mix of being an active, observant user and conducting some light strategic research inside the app. By turning these searching methods into a regular habit, you stop guessing what might work and start creating content that aligns with what the algorithm - and your potential audience - already wants to see and hear.

When you discover the perfect sound, acting on it quickly is what matters. Before we built Postbase, we often found ourselves wrestling with outdated scheduling tools instead of just creating content. That's why we built a simple, visual calendar and a reliable scheduling system focused on video, so when we spot a trend, we can get our Reels planned and published across every platform without chaos or delay. It helps us focus on the creative part, which is what actually grows a brand.