How to Know if a Sound Is Copyrighted on TikTok

Found the perfect viral sound for your next TikTok but frozen by the fear of getting a copyright strike? You're not alone. This guide breaks down exactly how to check if a sound is copyrighted, where to find audio that’s safe for your account, and how you can confidently join in on trends without risking your content.

Why TikTok Copyright Is So Confusing (and Important)

TikTok’s growth is built on the back of its massive trend-setting sound library. But this blend of pop hits, movie clips, and user-generated audio creates a confusing landscape for creators and brands. A song can be perfectly fine for a fan dancing in their bedroom, but could get a brand’s promotional video muted or even removed.

Understanding the difference is critical because the consequences are real. Using copyrighted audio improperly can lead to:

• Muted Sound: TikTok removes the audio from your video, replacing it with a message that says, "Sound removed due to copyright restrictions."
• Video Takedowns: In more serious cases, TikTok may take your entire video down.
• Account Strikes: Repeated violations can lead to strikes against your account, which could result in a temporary or permanent ban.
• Legal Trouble: While rare for small creators, brands and agencies using music for commercial purposes without the proper license can face significant legal and financial penalties from copyright holders.

The biggest factor in determining what you can and can't use is the type of account you have. TikTok's user agreements and its music licenses create a clear distinction between two primary account types: Personal Accounts and Business Accounts.

The Easiest & Safest Route: TikTok’s Commercial Music Library

If you're managing a brand, running ads, or promoting any product or service, your safest bet is to live inside TikTok’s Commercial Music Library (CML). This is a curated collection of over a million songs and sounds that TikTok has pre-cleared for promotional and commercial use. Everything here is royalty-free and good to go.

For brands and marketers, think of the CML as your creative sandbox. You don't have to worry about rights management or future takedowns. The audio in here is specifically licensed for you to use in your branded content.

How to Access the Commercial Music Library (for Business Accounts)

If you have a Business Account, TikTok automatically directs you to the Commercial Music Library when you add a sound. It's a seamless process intentionally designed to keep brands out of trouble.

1. Open the TikTok app and tap the + icon to start creating a new video.
2. Once you've recorded or uploaded your clip, tap "Add sound" at the top of the screen.
3. You’ll be taken directly to the "Commercial Sounds" page. You’ll see playlists like "New Releases," "Trending," and "TikTok Viral," all populated with commercially licensed tracks.
4. Browse through the categories or use the search bar to find a sound that fits your video’s vibe. Every sound you see here is safe to use for your brand.

The common critique of the CML is that it lacks the major chart-topping hits that fuel many viral trends. While this is true, the library is constantly expanding and often contains sound-alike tracks or lesser-known gems that are trending among other brands. Getting creative within its limits is part of the challenge and reward of brand marketing on the platform.

The Gray Area: Using Sounds Found on the "For You" Page

So what happens when you're scrolling your "For You" Page and find the perfect trending sound that isn't in the Commercial Music Library? This is where things get tricky and require some detective work. Personal accounts have much more freedom here, as their use is generally considered non-commercial. But for a brand, using a popular pop song without a commercial license is a high-risk move.

Here’s a practical checklist to investigate a sound before you tap “Use this sound.”

Step 1: Check the Sound’s Origin Page

First, find out where the sound came from. You can do this by looking at the information on the video itself.

• Tap the spinning record icon in the bottom-right corner of the video.
• This will take you to the sound’s main page, which shows its name and other videos that have used it.

At the top of the page, look at the track's title. Does it list a famous artist and song title? For example, "Anti-Hero - Taylor Swift." If it’s a commercially released track by a major artist, it is almost certainly not licensed for commercial or business use on TikTok.

If it says "Original sound - [Creator's Name]," it means a user uploaded the audio. While this can sometimes be safer, it's not a guarantee. The creator could have illegally uploaded a copyrighted song themselves.

Step 2: Look for Licensing Labels

TikTok is getting better at labeling sounds to remove confusion. On the sound’s page, you might see small, helpful text beneath the title. Sometimes, a song available to business accounts will be explicitly marked. If you’re a Business Account user and you open a sound page that isn't licensed for commercial use, you'll often see a pop-up notice that says: "This sound isn't licensed for commercial use. Business accounts that use it may face copyright claims from the sound owners."

It's TikTok's way of giving you a final, clear warning. If you see that message, it’s a hard stop. Do not use the sound for your brand, no matter how many other videos are using it.

Step 3: Re-evaluate Your Purpose (Brand vs. Creator)

Ask yourself: what is the purpose of this video? Is the sound the main focus (like a lip-sync or dance challenge), or is it background music for promoting a product? The more promotional the video, the higher the risk.

A non-profit sharing an emotional story set to a popular song is in a very different position than an e-commerce brand using that same song in a "20% off all weekend" video. TikTok and copyright holders pay much closer attention to videos that are clearly intended to generate revenue. If your video feels like an ad, it needs to follow ad rules, and that means using commercially licensed audio.

How to Tell If a Viral Trend is Safe for Your Brand

Jumping on trends is one of the best ways to get discovered on TikTok. But what happens when the trend is tied to copyrighted audio?

The answer is to separate the trend format from the specific sound.

For example, imagine a popular trend where creators point to different text bubbles on screen set to a specific 30-second clip of a hit song. As a brand, you can't use that sound bite. But you can still participate in the trend. Here’s how:

1. Analyze the Trend: What makes it work? Is it the on-screen text format? The camera movement? The style of humor?
2. Find a Safe Sound: Go into the Commercial Music Library and find a track that has a similar tempo, mood, or beat drop. There are often thousands of instrumental tracks that can match the energy of the original.
3. Re-create the Format: Film your video using the same visual format as the trend (e.g., pointing to text bubbles) but use your pre-approved commercial sound instead of the copyrighted one.

You get the benefit of participating in a familiar, rising trend without breaking any rules. This "trend format, new sound" approach is what smart social media managers do every day to stay relevant and safe.

Best Practices to Stay Copyright-Safe on TikTok

Navigating audio rights doesn't have to be a daily headache. Stick to a few core principles, and you'll dramatically lower your risk of running into any issues.

• Default to the CML: If you're a business, make the Commercial Music Library your starting point for nearly every video. It's the only 100% guaranteed-safe option within TikTok.
• Create Your Own Sound: Have a co-worker say something funny? Record a satisfying office sound? Using your own, original audio bypasses copyright issues entirely and can even become a trend in itself, associating your brand with the sound.
• Use Royalty-Free Music Services: Platforms like Artlist, Epidemic Sound, or even Canva's audio library offer massive catalogs of music you can license for use on social media. You can download the track and upload it to TikTok as an "original sound" for your video.
• When in Doubt, Don't Post: It sounds simple, but it’s the best advice. If you're feeling uncertain about a sound and can’t find a clear answer, it’s always better to find an alternative. One viral video isn't worth an account strike that could damage your brand's presence.
• Prioritize Risk Management: What seems fine today might not be fine tomorrow. Music labels and publishers occasionally change their licensing agreements. By sticking with officially licensed sources, you protect your content from future policy shifts.

Final Thoughts

Mastering TikTok's sound copyright rules boils down to knowing your account type and where to find safe, pre-cleared audio. By sticking to the Commercial Music Library and being thoughtful about a sound's origin, you can build a powerful content strategy without the constant stress of potential takedowns or copyright strikes.

A solid content strategy goes hand-in-hand with finding the right sounds, and that's where thoughtful planning pays off. At our company, we built Postbase because we know just how much work goes into managing modern social media, especially with the unique demands of video-first platforms. Our visual calendar lets you plan and schedule all your TikToks, Reels, and Shorts in one clean space, helping you see your entire video strategy - sounds and all - without having to switch between a dozen different apps and spreadsheets.