How to Find Trending Sounds on TikTok

Using the right sound on TikTok can be the one thing that pushes your video from a handful of views into the viral stratosphere. But finding those sounds before they become overused can feel like a full-time job. This guide breaks down exactly where to find TikTok's next big trend, how to spot sounds with real viral potential, and how to use them to give your content the boost it deserves.

Why Trending Sounds Even Matter on TikTok

Before we get into the "how," let's quickly cover the "why." Understanding the algorithm's obsession with audio is pretty straightforward. When you use a trending sound, you're essentially tapping into a pre-existing conversation and a built-in audience. The algorithm recognizes this popular audio and is more likely to show your video to users who have previously engaged with other videos using that same sound. It's a powerful discovery tool that works a bit like a supercharged hashtag.

Think of it this way:

• Increased Discoverability: A trending sound catapults your content onto more For You Pages (FYPs), exposing you to audiences who don't follow you yet.
• Audience Connection: Using a sound people already know and love creates an instant sense of familiarity and relatability. It tells your audience that you're "in on the joke" or part of the current cultural conversation.
• Simplified Content Creation: Many sound trends come with a specific format or joke structure, giving you a pre-made template to adapt to your niche. This removes the pressure of having to come up with a completely original idea every single time.

In short, a great sound gives your video momentum. Now, let's go find some.

Method 1: Mastering the TikTok App Itself

Your first and best resource is the TikTok app. It's designed to show you what's popular. You just need to know where to look and how to interpret what you're seeing. Many creators never look past their FYP, but the app has several built-in tools to help you discover rising audio.

Your For You Page is Your Best Friend

The most organic way to find a trend is to let the algorithm bring it directly to you. Your FYP isn't just for mindless scrolling, it's your personal, real-time trend report. The key is to scroll with intention.

Here's what to look for:

• Repetition is everything. If you hear the same audio snippet, song, or dialogue multiple times within a short 5-10 minute scrolling session, that's your signal. The algorithm is pushing it hard for a reason.
• Check the video count. Tap on the spinning record icon in the bottom right corner of any video. This takes you to the sound's main page. At the top, you'll see how many videos have been made with that sound. Is the number in the tens of thousands? Hundreds of thousands? A small number that's growing fast is a goldmine.
• Look for different interpretations. Do you see different creators from various niches using the same sound? When a sound breaks out of its original niche (e.g., a gaming sound being used by fashion creators), it's a strong sign that it has massive mainstream appeal.

Explore the Official "Sounds" Page in the Video Editor

This is probably the most direct way to access TikTok's very own trend playlists. When you go to create a video, a prominent button at the top of the screen says "Add sound." Clicking this is like opening a treasure chest.

Inside, you'll find several carousels and playlists curated by TikTok's team:

• TikTok Viral: This is the holy grail. It's a chart of the currently most popular and rapidly climbing sounds on the platform. If you're looking for a safe bet, this is where you go.
• New Music: This section features fresh tracks from emerging and established artists. Jumping on one of these early can pay off big if the song blows up.
• Genre Playlists: You'll also find themed playlists like "Hip-Hop Hits," "Indie Dance Floor," or "Comedy Sketches." These are great for finding a sound that fits a specific mood or content style.

Dig into The "Creator Tools" Menu

Buried within your profile menu is a powerful feature many users overlook. It's more data-driven than the "Add sound" page and can help you verify what you're seeing on your FYP.

Here's how to get there:

1. Go to your profile page.
2. Tap the three horizontal lines ("hamburger menu") in the top right corner.
3. Select "Creator Tools."
4. Under the "Creation" section, tap on "Sounds."

Here, you will find categorized lists recommended just for you, often including sounds that are trending with audiences similar to your own. You'll see another version of the "TikTok Viral" list which can offer deeper insights and tracks personalized for your account.

Method 2: Going Beyond the App for a Competitive Edge

While the app is your immediate go-to, seasoned creators and social media managers know that some of the best insights come from external sources. These tools help you see the bigger picture and spot trends with data to back them up.

The Must-Use TikTok Creative Center

This is perhaps the most underutilized free tool available. The TikTok Creative Center isn't an app feature, it's a website built for advertisers and marketers, but its insights are available to everyone. It provides hard data on what's actually performing on the platform, region by region.

Here's your roadmap:

1. Go to business.tiktok.com/creative-center in your web browser.
2. Click on the "Trends" tab in the navigation bar.
3. Select "Songs" from the dropdown menu.

You can now see a chart of the top trending songs, filterable by country and time frame (last 7 or 30 days). Even better, you can see if songs are "Breaking Out" or have been popular for a while. This is how you confirm if that sound you heard twice on your FYP really has legs or if it was just a coincidence. Use the Creative Center to validate your choices and find audio that is objectively on the rise.

Spy on Top Creators and Competitors (The Smart Way)

You should already be following the biggest names in your niche. If not, start now. Their content is a living, breathing case study of what works. Don't just casually watch their videos - analyze them.

• Scroll through their last 10-20 videos. Which ones have unusually high views or engagement?
• Tap on the sound for each high-performing video. Is it a common thread? You might find a niche-specific sound that's trending heavily within your community but hasn't hit the global charts yet. Tapping into these a little early can establish you as a thought leader in your space.
• Create a "swipe file." Use TikTok's "Save" or "Favorites" feature to bookmark videos with sounds you like. Don't just save the sound, save the video. This gives you context for how the sound is being used in a trend format, making it easier to recreate later.

The Lifespan of a Sound: Timing is Everything

Finding a trending sound is only half the battle. Using it at the right time is just as important. Every trend has a life cycle, and jumping in too late can make your content feel... well, dated.

Here's a rough breakdown of a sound's journey:

• 1. Emerging (The "Hipster" Phase):
• This is when a sound has very few videos (maybe under 5,000-10,000). You see innovators and early adopters playing with it. Hopping on a sound at this stage is high-risk, high-reward. If it takes off, your video could be one of the "originals" that the algorithm loves to push. To find these, look for sounds with high engagement on the few videos they have.
• 2. Peaking (The "Sweet Spot"):
• The sound is now everywhere (50,000 to 500,000+ videos). It's all over your FYP, and mainstream creators are using it. This is the ideal time to jump in. The audience is primed, they know the trend, and the algorithm is actively promoting the sound. You have a very high chance of getting a visibility boost here, but you'll also have a lot of competition.
• 3. Saturated (The "It's Over" Phase):
• When your friends who aren't on TikTok are starting to ask you about the trend, it's probably past its peak. The sound has millions of videos, and a sense of "trend fatigue" is setting in. Using it now can make your content seem unoriginal. While it won't necessarily hurt you, it's unlikely to give you that powerful lift you're looking for.

How to Judge a Sound's Position in its Lifespan:

When you go to a sound's page, don't just look at the video count. Scroll down through the grid of videos. Are the top, most-liked videos from the last 24-48 hours? That's an active, peaking trend. Are they from a week or two ago? The energy might be fading.

Best Practices for Using Trending Sounds

Alright, you found the perfect sound, and it's in its peak phase. You're ready to go. Before you post, keep these final pointers in mind to make your content as effective as possible.

1. Make It Your Own

The worst thing you can do is woodenly copy a trend without any personality. The best videos take a trending sound or format and adapt it perfectly to their niche. If you're a financial advisor, how does that dialogue sketch relate to a common client question? If you're a fashion brand, how can that song edit showcase your new line? Connect the trend back to your core content.

2. Let the Sound Fit the Video (Not the Other Way Around)

Never force a trend. If you have a video idea, find a sound that elevates it. Slapping a trending dialogue over a video of a product just because the sound is popular creates a confusing and often cringey experience for the viewer. People love when the audio and visual work together seamlessly.

3. Keep a Healthy Mix

An account that only posts videos with viral sounds can feel a bit soulless. Your content strategy should include a mix of different audio types:

• Mega-trending sounds for reach.
• Niche or emerging sounds to connect with your core audience.
• Original audio and talking-head videos to build authority and forge a personal connection with your followers.

Final Thoughts

Finding trending TikTok sounds is a skill, not a secret. It's about being an active, observant participant on the platform and knowing where to look for data, from the built-in creator lists to external resources like the Creative Center. By understanding a sound's life cycle and using audio that genuinely fits your content, you can consistently give your videos the best possible chance to reach a wider audience.

Planning what sounds to use and scheduling your content can be a handful, especially if you're also managing Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, and other platforms. That's why we built Postbase from the ground up prioritizing short-form video. Instead of fighting with older tools where video feels like an addon, our platform gives you a clean visual calendar to plan your TikToks alongside your other content. We know how frustrating it is when a post fails to publish, so we focused on making a scheduler that is incredibly reliable - so you can trust that your video goes live right when the trend is peaking.