How to Find Trending TikTok Songs

Using the right trending song on TikTok can feel like unlocking a secret level - suddenly, your video is reaching people you never could have targeted directly. But finding those viral sounds before they become overused is the real challenge. This guide walks you through the exact methods you can use to discover trending audio early, so you can leverage the algorithm and connect with a much wider audience.

Why Bother with Trending Audio? It’s All About the Algorithm

Jumping on a trending song isn't just about joining in on the fun, it's a strategic move that directly leverages the TikTok algorithm. When a sound or song starts gaining momentum, TikTok’s system actively looks for more videos using that audio to show users who have already engaged with it. This creates a built-in discovery engine for your content. In short, using a trending sound is like giving your video a free promotional boost.

Beyond the technical side, these sounds act as a cultural shortcut. They provide instant context and create a shared experience for viewers. When you use an audio that’s trending, you’re plugging into a conversation people are already a part of. This makes your content feel instantly familiar and relevant, which encourages more likes, comments, and shares - all signals that tell the algorithm to push your video even further.

Finding Trends Inside the TikTok App: Your First Stop

You don’t need a complicated analytics tool to get started. The best trend-spotting resource is the TikTok app itself, as long as you know where to look and how to use it strategically.

1. Your "For You" Page is Your Best Friend

The most powerful trend detector is already feeding you content: your For You Page (FYP). However, you need to shift from being a passive consumer to an active observer. Don't just scroll and laugh - scroll with purpose.

• Look for repetition: If you hear the same sound clip three or more times in a 10-minute scrolling session, you’re likely onto a rising trend. It means the algorithm is testing and pushing that audio to a broad audience.
• Check the numbers: When you hear a sound that feels new and catchy, tap the spinning record icon in the bottom-right corner. This takes you to the audio’s main page. Look at the number of videos that have used the sound. A sweet spot for an emerging trend is often between 10,000 and 100,000 uses. It’s popular enough to have momentum but not so saturated that your video will get lost.
• Note the video dates: On the audio page, scroll through the top videos. Are they all from the last few days? That’s a great sign that the trend is hot right now. If most of the top videos are weeks or months old, the trend has probably already peaked.

2. The TikTok Creative Center

For a more data-driven approach, the TikTok Creative Center is an absolute goldmine that is surprisingly underused. It’s TikTok’s official library of trends, analytics, and insights, made freely available to all creators.

Here’s how to use it to find trending songs:

1. Go to the TikTok Creative Center in your web browser.
2. Navigate to the Trends tab in the main menu.
3. Select Songs from the dropdown.

You'll see a chart of the top songs, which you can filter by your region and time period (e.g., past 7 days, past 30 days). The most valuable information here is the distinction between "Popular" and "Breakout" songs.

• Popular: These are the songs that are consistently getting a lot of use. They are relatively safe bets but may be more competitive.
• Breakout: This is where you find the rising stars. These are songs that have experienced a huge surge in popularity recently. Jumping on a Breakout song gives you the best chance of going viral because you’re catching the wave on its way up, not at its peak.

3. Use the Video Editor’s built-in suggestions

TikTok wants you to use popular audio, so it makes it easy to find right inside the video editor. This is one of the simplest methods and is perfect when you need to find a sound quickly.

When you're creating a video, tap the "+ Add sound" button at the top of the screen. Instead of searching, look at the playlists TikTok has curated for you. You will often see sections like "TikTok Viral," "Trending," or playlists named with the current season, like "Summer Vibes." These are direct recommendations from TikTok, showcasing sounds that are currently performing well on the platform. It's a quick, reliable way to find audio that the algorithm is already favoring.

4. Follow Trend-Spotting Accounts

Why do all the work yourself? There are creators on TikTok whose entire niche is to spot and announce new trends. Find and follow a few that resonate with you. Search for terms like "trend alert" or "viral sounds" to find them. These accounts will often break down how a trend works, show examples, and give you the audio on a silver platter. Additionally, follow the biggest creators in your niche. They are often the trendsetters and will be among the first to use a new sound effectively, giving you inspiration for how to adapt it for your audience.

Thinking Outside the App: Where Else to Spot Trends

The best trends don't always start on TikTok. Often, viral audio is a reflection of what's happening in broader pop culture. Keeping your eyes and ears open to other platforms and media can help you predict what's going to blow up next.

1. Spotify and Apple Music Charts

Music streaming services are a fantastic leading indicator for what might become popular on TikTok. People often make videos featuring songs they’re currently loving, so platform charts can give you a head start.

• Official Playlists: Search Spotify for playlists like "Viral Hits" or log in to the app and check out the Charts section. The "Viral 50" chart is particularly useful because it tracks songs that are getting the most shares - a strong signal of potential virality.
• New Music Playlists: New releases from major artists like Taylor Swift, Drake, or Olivia Rodrigo almost always generate multiple TikTok trends. Listen to their new albums and pay attention to specific lines or catchy hooks that could easily be looped into a 15-second audio clip.

2. Keep an Eye on Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts

Trends are no longer confined to a single platform, they are cross-platform conversations. A sound that is huge on Instagram Reels is either already making its way to TikTok or will be there shortly. Spend a little time each week scrolling Reels and Shorts. Notice which sounds pop up repeatedly. You can often get ahead of a trend on TikTok by spotting its origin on Instagram, or vice-versa.

3. Pay Attention to Pop Culture

Viral sounds often emerge from shared cultural moments. Think about how Kate Bush's "Running Up That Hill" exploded after being featured in Stranger Things. The same happens with highly-quotable lines from new hit movies, reality TV shows, or a new Netflix series. Paying attention to big cultural events is a proactive strategy. If everyone is talking about a particular show or movie, go watch it and listen for audio clips that have meme potential. Being the first one to clip and upload a memorable soundbite can make you the source of a brand new trend.

How to Use Trending Audio (Without Just Copying Everyone Else)

Finding a trend is only half the battle. To stand out, you need a strategy for using it in a way that feels authentic to your brand and adds value to your audience.

1. Adapt the Trend to Your Niche

The biggest mistake creators make is blindly copying a trend without connecting it to their own content. The goal is not just to do the dance or lipsync the line, it’s to use the audio’s format or emotion as a vehicle for your own message. Put a unique spin on it that fits your niche.

For example:

• A real estate agent can use a trending audio about a "shocking revelation" to point out a common home-buying mistake with on-screen text.
• A chef can use a chaotic, fast-paced sound to show a sped-up video of a complicated recipe coming together perfectly.
• A therapist can use a sound about feeling overwhelmed, but pair it with text that lists three simple grounding techniques.

This approach allows you to participate in the trend while still reinforcing your expertise and providing value.

2. Act Fast, But Not *Too* Fast

Every trend has a lifecycle: inception, acceleration, peak, and decline. You want to get in during the acceleration phase. If you're one of the first few hundred people to use a sound, it may be too early to get traction. But if you see a sound has over a million uses, you’re probably too late, and your video will be buried. Again, that 10k-100k zone is often the ideal time to jump in.

3. Save Sounds for Later

This is a simple but game-changing habit. Whenever you find a sound you like - even if you don't have an idea for it yet - add it to your Favorites. To do this, just tap the spinning record icon and then tap “Add to Favourites.” This builds a personal library of potential audios. Then, when you’re ready to create content, you can browse your saved sounds instead of starting from scratch. It saves a huge amount of time and helps you produce content more consistently.

Final Thoughts

Finding a trending TikTok song comes down to being a proactive observer instead of a passive one. By thoughtfully analyzing your For You Page, using tools like the TikTok Creative Center, monitoring music charts, and paying attention to cultural moments, you can consistently discover viral audios before they peak. The key is to then adapt those trends to your niche, providing a fresh perspective that resonates with your audience and stands out in a crowded space.

At Postbase, we built our platform because we know finding trends is just the first step. The real challenge is consistently planning and scheduling that content, especially when you're managing TikToks, Reels, and Shorts at the same time. Our visual calendar was designed specifically for today's video-first world, letting you see your entire content plan at a glance and schedule your short-form videos across all your accounts without any headaches. It helps you turn those great trend ideas into a content strategy that actually publishes on time, every time.