How to Make Music Longer on TikTok

Ever had the perfect video idea for TikTok, only to realize the music clip cuts off right when it's getting good? You’re not alone. Stretching a sound beyond that built-in 15 or 60-second limit is one of the most common challenges creators face. This guide will walk you through the clear, simple methods to use longer music on TikTok, from using the app’s own features to a pro-level technique involving video editors.

Why Can't I Just Use the Whole Song? Understanding TikTok's Audio Limits

Before jumping into the "how," it helps to know the "why." You might have the ability to upload a video up to 10 minutes long, but the music from TikTok's Commercial Music Library is a different story. The reason you can’t always use a full, three-minute pop song comes down to one main thing: music licensing.

TikTok has complex licensing agreements with record labels and artists. These deals typically allow the platform to offer short snippets of songs for users to include in their videos. These clips are usually capped at 60 seconds, which is why even when you select a song from the library, you often can't access the full track. Business Accounts have even more restrictions, limited to a library of royalty-free music specifically cleared for commercial use.

So, when you see a video with a custom, two-minute song edit, they aren't using a secret feature. They’re using a clever workaround that combines a video editing app with a smart TikTok upload strategy. Let's get into how you can do it too.

Method 1: The 60-Second Solution in the TikTok App

For many videos, 60 seconds is plenty of time. If you just need to break free from the very restrictive 15-second default, you can do it all within the TikTok app without any extra tools. The key is to set your recording time before you choose your sound.

Here’s the step-by-step process:

1. Open TikTok and Start a New Video: Tap the + icon at the bottom of the screen to open the camera.
2. Set Your Video Length: Above the red record button, you’ll see options for video length like "15s," "60s," and "3m." Swipe over and select 60s or 3m. This is the simple step most people miss. By telling TikTok you intend to make a longer video, it gives you access to a longer portion of the sound.
3. Add Your Sound: Now, tap the "Add sound" button at the very top of your screen. Browse or search for the song you want to use.
4. Trim the Audio: Once you select a sound, tap the little scissors icon labeled "Trim." This opens the waveform editor. You can now drag the waveform left and right to select the exact 60-second segment of the song you want to feature in your video. Maybe you want the chorus and the bridge instead of the intro, this is where you make that choice.
5. Record or Upload Your Video: With your 60-second audio clip selected, you can now record your video clips. You’ll have the full minute of music to work with, giving you much more creative freedom than the standard 15-second default.

This is the fastest method for getting a longer sound, but it still keeps you within the confines of what TikTok's library offers - typically a one-minute maximum.

Method 2: Beyond 60 Seconds with Your Own Custom Audio

What if your story, tutorial, or dance routine truly needs more than a minute? To use music longer than 60 seconds, you’ll need to "bake" the audio into your video file before you upload it to TikTok. This involves using a third-party video editing app on your phone, but it's much easier than it sounds.

This process gives you total control over the audio length and mixes, allowing you to use any part of any song for as long as your video runs.

Step 1: Get Your Audio and Video Clips Ready

First, you need the two key ingredients on your phone: the video clips you plan to use and the audio file. For the audio, you could have an MP3 file saved to your phone or use a screen recording of the song you want.

A quick note on copyright: For personal accounts, using popular music is common practice. However, for brand or business accounts, it’s highly recommended to use royalty-free music from services like Epidemic Sound, Artlist, or Upbeat to avoid any potential legal issues or having your video’s sound muted by TikTok.

Step 2: Combine Audio and Video in an Editing App

Now it's time to become a video editor. Mobile video editing apps make this incredibly straightforward. Some of the best free and low-cost options are:

• CapCut: Made by TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, it's designed to be perfectly compatible with TikTok and is completely free. It’s the go-to for most creators.
• InShot: Another super user-friendly editor with tons of features for trimming, adding text, and syncing audio.
• VN Video Editor: A powerful and free editor that offers more professional features without a watermark.

Here's a general workflow that applies to most apps:

1. Start a New Project: Open your app of choice (we'll use CapCut as the example) and create a new project.
2. Import Your Video Clips: Select and import all the video clips you shot for your TikTok. Arrange them on the timeline in the order you want.
3. Add Your Audio: Find the option to add audio. In CapCut, you’ll tap "Audio" > "Sounds" and find the option to import from your device. Select your full song file.
4. Edit and Sync: This is where the magic happens. Your full audio track will now appear under your video clips. You can trim your video clips to match the beat of the music, extend a clip to cover a whole verse, or create any dynamic story you want. Because you are using the full audio file, you aren't limited to 60 seconds. You can use a full three-minute song if your video is three minutes long.
5. Export the Video: Once you're happy with your edit, export the video to your phone's camera roll. Choose the highest quality setting (e.g., 1080p, 30fps). The final exported video will be a single file with your long, custom soundtrack permanently attached.

Step 3: Upload to TikTok (With a Twist for an Algorithm Boost)

Now you have a high-quality video file ready to go. The process to upload is simple, but there's an optional, extra step that can help your video's visibility on the For You Page.

1. Open TikTok, tap the + icon, and select "Upload."
2. Choose the video you just exported from your editing app.
3. On the editing screen, your video will play with its custom audio perfectly intact.
4. Algorithm Tip: Tap "Add sound" at the top. Find a trending song that fits the general vibe of your video. This may seem strange, but bear with us.
5. Add the trending sound. Now your video will have two audio tracks playing at once, which sounds terrible. Don't worry, here's the fix:
6. On the right-hand menu, tap the "Volume" button.
7. You’ll see two sliders: "Original sound" (your custom audio) and "Added sound" (the trending sound).
8. Crank the "Original sound" up to 100% and slide the "Added sound" down to 1% or 0%.

Why add a muted trending sound?

By attaching a trending sound, even at zero volume, you are labeling your video as part of that trend. This makes it discoverable on that sound's page and helps signal to TikTok's algorithm what your content is about, potentially boosting its initial distribution. You get the benefit of your completely custom, long audio while still getting a little help from the algorithm.

Best Practices for Using Longer Audio on TikTok

Just because you can use longer music doesn't mean you should make a messy video. To keep viewers engaged for more than a minute, focus on a few key things:

Tell a Story

Longer audio is perfect for storytelling. Use the music's arc - the quiet intro, rising chorus, and climactic bridge - to structure your video. Show a process from start to finish, a "day in the life," or a montage that builds to a satisfying payoff.

Hook Them Fast

Viewer attention spans are short. The first three seconds of your longer TikTok are more important than ever. Use a dramatic visual, a bold text overlay, or an intriguing question to make viewers want to stick around and see what happens next.

Pacing is Everything

Match the pace of your edits to the pace of the music. During fast, high-energy parts of the song, use quick cuts and dynamic transitions. During slower, more emotional moments, let your shots linger. This syncopation between visual and audio is what makes a TikTok feel professionally edited and compelling to watch.

Final Thoughts

Creating TikToks with music longer than 60 seconds is entirely possible once you know the right techniques. You can either work within the app to select a 60-second clip or use an external video editor like CapCut to bake in any sound of any length, giving you ultimate creative control. Add in the trick of layering a muted trending sound, and you have a pro-level method for crafting engaging, longer-form content.

We know how much work goes into creating video content with perfectly synced, custom audio. After spending all that time in an editing app, planning how that video fits into your content schedule across different platforms can feel like a chore. As creators ourselves, we built Postbase with a visual-first content calendar, so you can easily plan and schedule these carefully crafted videos for TikTok, Reels, and Shorts all in one place. It helps you upload once and automatically publish everywhere, letting you focus more on the creative side of things and less on the endless logistics.