How to Know if a Song Is Copyrighted on TikTok

Wondering if that viral song is safe to use in your next TikTok can feel like a guessing game, but it doesn’t have to be. Getting it wrong can lead to your video's audio being muted, takedown notices, or even a strike against your account - headaches no creator or brand wants to deal with. This guide breaks down exactly how to check if a song is copyrighted on TikTok, what TikTok's different music libraries mean, and how you can confidently use audio without risking your content.

Why Music Copyright on TikTok Matters So Much

At its core, music copyright is about protecting the work of artists, songwriters, and producers. Every commercially produced song you hear has at least two copyrights: one for the musical composition (the melody and lyrics) and one for the master recording (the actual "song file"). To use a song in visual media like a TikTok video, you technically need a synchronization (or "sync") license from the copyright holders. That sounds complicated and expensive, because it usually is.

So how does anyone use music on TikTok? The platform has licensing deals with major labels, publishers, and rights holders that cover some uses of songs in its library. When you use audio from within the TikTok app itself, you are often covered by these agreements. However, the protection these agreements offer depends entirely on the type of account you have and the specific song you choose.

Getting this wrong, especially for a brand or business, can have real consequences. While individual creators might just get their sound muted, businesses using unlicensed popular music for advertising could face serious legal trouble. That’s why understanding the rules isn’t just good practice - it’s a necessary part of a smart social media strategy.

The Easiest and Safest Way: TikTok's Music Libraries

TikTok simplifies things by providing its own curated audio libraries. The level of access you have depends on your account type. Understanding the difference is the first step to staying safe.

Personal Accounts: The General Music Library

If you're a regular creator or your account isn't listed as a business, you have access to the General Music Library. This is a massive collection of millions of songs, including everything from the latest trending pop hits to classic throwbacks. It's the playground where viral trends are born.

For personal, non-commercial use, you're generally free to use these sounds. You're creating content for fun, participating in trends, and expressing yourself. TikTok's agreements with labels cover this type of use. However, the moment your content becomes commercial (like promoting a product, running an ad, or representing a brand), you’ve crossed into a different territory.

Business Accounts: The Commercial Music Library

TikTok is very clear about this: Business Accounts must use audio from the Commercial Music Library. This is a separate, pre-cleared collection of over 1 million songs and sounds that are royalty-free and explicitly licensed for commercial, promotional, and marketing use on the platform.

You may scroll through the Commercial Music Library and think, "I don't recognize any of these songs." While you won’t find the latest Taylor Swift or Drake hit here, the library is full of high-quality, genre-diverse music perfect for creating a mood or providing a background track for your ads, product demos, or brand storytelling. Using songs from this library is the only surefire way to avoid copyright issues on a Business Account.

How to Access the Commercial Music Library:

1. Open the TikTok editor by tapping the (+) icon.
2. Tap "Add sound" at the top of the screen.
3. You'll see two tabs at the top: "Commercial sounds" and "Recommended." Ensure you're on the "Commercial sounds" tab.
4. Here, you can browse playlists, search for specific genres or moods, or see what's trending within the commercial library.

Sticking to this library eliminates all the guesswork for your brand's content.

How to Check if a Specific Song is Usable for Business

But what if you see a trending sound and want to know if it's available for commercial use? Or you’re curious about a specific track? There are a couple of ways you can check this directly within the app.

Method 1: Check the Sound’s Detail Page

This is the most direct way to check a sound's usage license. If you come across a trending video, you can check the status of the audio it uses in a few simple steps.

Step-by-step instructions:

• Find the audio: On any video, tap the spinning record icon or the scrolling sound title at the bottom left of the screen. This takes you to the audio’s main page.
• Look at the top of the page: On this page, you’ll see the title of the sound and a collection of other videos that have used it.
• Check for notice labels:
  • If the sound is from the Commercial Music Library, you will often see a tag that says “Commercial use” or similar helpful information.
  • If the sound is not licensed for business use, you will see a notice at the very top of the page that says, “This sound isn't licensed for commercial use. If you use it, you'll be prompted to change the sound.” That’s your definitive answer. You cannot use this sound for any branded or promotional content.

If you have a Business Account and try to use a sound that isn’t licensed for commercial use, TikTok will likely block you from adding it or mute the audio later. It’s better to check first and save yourself the rework.

Method 2: Create a Dummy Video Draft

Another practical way to test a sound is to simply try to use it. This works if you have your account already set to "Business."

1. Find the video with the sound you want to check.
2. Tap the sound's scrolling title at the bottom. This takes you to its page.
3. Tap the red "Use this sound" button.
4. Record a quick, disposable clip.
5. Proceed to the editor. If the sound is restricted for commercial use, TikTok will often display a pop-up warning you that the sound is not licensed and that you’ll need to change it. This confirms a hundred percent that it's off-limits for your brand. You can then just discard the draft.

What Happens If You Violate TikTok’s Music Policy?

Using copyrighted music without the proper license can lead to several outcomes, ranging from minor annoyances to serious issues for your account.

• Muted Audio: The most common penalty. TikTok’s system detects the unlicensed audio and simply removes it, leaving your video silent. You'll get a notification saying, "Sound removed due to copyright restrictions."
• Video Takedown: If a rights holder files a formal complaint, TikTok may remove your video entirely from the platform.
• Account Strikes: Repeated violations can result in strikes against your account. Accumulating too many strikes could lead to temporary suspension or even a permanent ban.
• Legal Action: For businesses engaged in flagrant copyright infringement for advertising purposes, the risk of legal action from music publishers or record labels increases significantly. While rare, it's a possibility with major consequences.

Ultimately, a muted video means wasted content. You spent time creating it, and now its primary engagement driver is gone. It's much simpler and more effective to just use approved audio from the start.

Best Practices for Using Music on TikTok Safely and Effectively

Navigating audio on TikTok doesn't have to be restrictive. Here are some smart strategies to keep your content engaging and compliant.

• Default to the Commercial Library: For any branded content, make this your first and only stop. The risk is zero, and you can still find great audio to fit your video's vibe.
• Create Your Own Original Audio: One of the best ways to stand out is with your own sound. A voiceover explaining a process, an interview clip, or a simple comment can become a massive trend. When others use your original audio, it drives discoverability directly back to your original video and profile.
• Use Royalty-Free Music from External Sources: Services like Epidemic Sound or Artlist offer vast libraries of high-quality, royalty-free music. You can license tracks from them and add the audio to your video using an external editor before uploading to TikTok. This gives you creative freedom, great control, and a more unique sound. Just be sure to read their licensing terms carefully.
• Lean into Trending Sounds (Creatively!): You may not be able to use the trending song itself, but you can participate in the format of the trend with a commercial-use sound. Find a track from the Commercial Library that fits the pace or mood of the popular trend and adapt the visual concept.

Final Thoughts

Checking if a song is copyrighted on TikTok is a straightforward process once you know where to look. By sticking to the Commercial Music Library for branded content and carefully checking the license status of any trending sound, you protect your account from penalties and make sure your hard work doesn't go to waste.

Once you’ve got a system for finding compliant audio, organizing your content becomes the next big project. I can't count how many times old teams I was on used messy spreadsheets to track which videos used which sounds and their scheduled post times. At our company, we built Postbase to eliminate that chaos with a clean, visual content calendar. It helps us plan our TikTok strategy, schedule videos paired with their confirmed, licensed audio, and see everything in one place, so creating and publishing compliant content feels streamlined instead of stressful.