How to Get Sound on Facebook Reels

Nothing kills the vibe of a Facebook Reel faster than dead silence. Sound is the heartbeat of short-form video, turning a simple clip into a trend, a laugh, or a moment that connects. This guide will walk you through exactly how to add music from Facebook’s library, use your own original audio, and troubleshoot the most common sound problems so your Reels always make some noise.

Why Sound is a Game-Changer for Facebook Reels

Before we get into the "how," let's quickly cover the "why." Audio isn't just a background element, it's a core part of the Reels experience. It sets the mood, provides context, and can even be the main reason someone watches your video. Think about it: a cooking tutorial feels calming with a gentle background tune, a workout video feels energizing with an upbeat track, and a funny skit hits harder with the perfect comedic soundbite. The Facebook algorithm also tends to favor Reels using popular or trending audio, giving your content a better chance of being discovered by new audiences. By mastering sound, you're not just making better videos - you're playing the content game smarter.

Method 1: Add a Track from Facebook's Music Library

This is the most straightforward way to add high-quality, licensed music to your Reels. Facebook has a massive library of songs, from today's biggest hits to obscure indie gems, ready for you to use.

Here’s how to do it step-by-step:

1. Start Your Reel: Open the Facebook app, tap the + icon, and select 'Reel'. You can either record a new video right there or upload a pre-recorded clip from your phone's gallery.
2. Access the Audio Library: On the right-hand editing menu, you'll see a music note icon labeled 'Audio'. Tap it. This will open up Facebook’s music library.
3. Find the Perfect Song: You'll see several options here. You can browse through songs in the 'For You' section, explore different genres, or use the search bar at the top to find a specific artist or song title. Tap on a song to hear a preview.
4. Select and Trim Your Clip: Once you find a track you like, tap on it to add it to your Reel. Facebook will automatically display a timeline of the song at the bottom of the screen. Simply drag the waveform left or right to select the exact 15, 30, or 60-second snippet you want to use. You can choose the chorus, the instrumental break, or any part that fits your video’s energy. Tap 'Done' when you’re happy with your selection.
5. Adjust the Volume: If your original video has sound you want to keep (like speaking or ambient noise), you can balance it with the music. Tap 'Audio' again, then tap the ‘Mixer' icon. You'll see two sliders: one for 'Camera audio' and one for the song you added. Adjust them until you get the perfect mix, then tap 'Done'.

That's it! You've successfully added a licensed song to your Reel without worrying about copyright strikes.

A Note for Business Accounts

If you're operating a Business Profile on Facebook, you'll notice your music library looks different. To protect businesses from copyright infringement lawsuits, Facebook provides the Facebook Sound Collection - a library of thousands of royalty-free songs and sounds that are cleared for commercial use. While you won't find the latest Taylor Swift hit here, you will find a huge variety of high-quality tracks across every genre imaginable, preventing any legal headaches down the road.

Method 2: Create a Trend with Your Own Original Audio

Some of the most viral Reels use "original audio," meaning a sound created by another user. This could be anything from a funny commentary to a unique bit of music created by an artist. When your original audio gets used by others, it not only drives engagement to your profile but also establishes you as a trendsetter. You can create your own original audio in two ways: uploading a video that already has a unique sound or by adding a voiceover.

How to Add a Voiceover:

Voiceovers are perfect for tutorials, storytimes, reactions, and adding your own personality to a video. Here’s how to record one directly in the Reels editor:

1. Record or upload your video clips as usual.
2. Tap the 'Audio' icon from the side menu.
3. At the bottom of the audio screen, look for the 'Voiceover' button.
4. A timeline of your video will appear. Drag the white marker to the point in the video where you want to start recording.
5. Press and hold the red record button to record your commentary. You can record in one long take or in several smaller clips. Release the button to stop recording.
6. Once you're finished, tap 'Done'. Don't forget to use the 'Mixer' tool to balance the voiceover volume with any other music or camera audio you have.

Method 3: Jump on a Trend by Using Another Reel's Audio

Hopping on trends is one of the fastest ways to grow on Reels. When you see a sound being used over and over again with a fun format, you can easily use that same audio for your own take.

Here’s how to grab audio from any Reel you see in your feed:

1. Find a Reel with audio you like. You’ll see the audio title or "Original Audio" scrolling at the bottom of the screen.
2. Tap the audio name. This will take you to the official Audio Page for that sound, where you can see how many other Reels have been created with it and scroll through the most popular examples. A small upward-trending arrow next to the clip count is a clear indicator that this audio is hot right now.
3. Tap the 'Use audio' button at the bottom of the screen.
4. The Reels camera will open immediately with that audio pre-loaded and ready to go. Now, all you have to do is record or upload your own video to put your unique spin on the trend!

Troubleshooting: How to Fix Common Audio Issues

Even with these simple methods, things can go wrong. Here are solutions to the most frequent sound problems on Facebook Reels.

Problem: "My Reel was muted or the sound disappeared after posting!"

The Cause: This almost always comes down to copyright. You likely uploaded a video that contained unlicensed, copyrighted music. Facebook's system automatically detected it and muted your video to avoid legal issues.

The Fix: When this happens, Facebook usually sends a notification letting you know your audio has been removed. Often, it will give you the option to replace the sound with a track from its approved music library. To avoid this entirely, always add music through the Reels editor instead of using video editing software to add a popular song to your video file before you upload.

Problem: "I can't find a popular song in the music library."

The Cause: As mentioned earlier, if you're using a Business Account, you have access to the royalty-free Facebook Sound Collection, not the full commercial music library. Even for creator accounts, some songs may be unavailable in certain countries due to licensing restrictions.

The Fix: Respect the library you're given. Business accounts should stick to the Sound Collection to stay safe. If you're a creator and can't find a song, it's likely a regional restriction, and your best bet is to find an alternative track.

Problem: "The sound in my uploaded video is low quality, muffled, or has too much background noise."

The Cause: The built-in microphone on your phone might not be the best, or you may have been recording in a noisy environment. The final sound quality you hear is only as good as the original recording.

The Fix:

• Film in a quiet location, preferably a smaller room with soft furnishings like carpets or curtains that can absorb echo.
• Move the phone's microphone closer to your sound source.
• For a significant quality boost, consider investing in an inexpensive lavalier mic that clips onto your shirt.
• Always check your audio levels in the Reels 'Mixer' before posting to make sure they're balanced properly.

Final Thoughts

Adding the right sound to your Facebook Reels is a simple step that transforms your content from forgettable to shareable. Whether you’re grabbing trending audio, selecting from Facebook's library, or recording your own voiceover, getting the audio right is a fundamental skill for creators and brands alike.

Planning which Reels to create - and which audio to use - is just one part of building a great content strategy. When it's time to manage all of that content across multiple platforms, consistency can become a real challenge. That’s why we built Postbase from the ground up to support modern content formats like Reels natively. Our visual calendar lets you plan all your short-form video content in one place, and our scheduler ensures your content actually publishes, every single time, without the glitches and failed posts common in older tools.