How to Post a Sound on TikTok

Uploading an original sound or finding the perfect track for your video are core skills for success on TikTok. Getting your audio right can be the difference between a video that vanishes and one that starts a trend. This guide breaks down exactly how to post a sound on TikTok, whether it’s your own unique audio, a clip from the commercial library, or a trending meme.

What Exactly is a "Sound" on TikTok?

On TikTok, a "sound" is any audio track attached to a video. This could be a snippet of a popular song, a line from a movie, a funny voiceover, or an original jingle you created. People can then take that audio and use it in their own videos, creating a branching tree of content all connected by that single sound. This is the engine of TikTok. Trends live and die by audio, and using the right sound at the right time is one of the most effective ways to boost your visibility and connect with your audience.

Understanding the distinction between different types of sounds is important, especially for brands and businesses:

• General Sounds: This is the massive library most people have access to. It includes copyrighted music from major artists, viral audio clips, and popular user-generated sounds. Most personal and creator accounts use this library.
• Commercial Sounds: This is a curated, royalty-free library of music that TikTok has pre-cleared for business use. Business Accounts are automatically restricted to this library to avoid copyright infringement lawsuits.
• Original Sounds: This is any audio you upload yourself through a video. If you record a video with a unique voiceover or background music you created, TikTok labels it "Original sound - [your username]". This sound can then be used by others, and you get credit every single time.

Method 1: How to Post Your Own Original Sound

Creating an original sound is one of the most powerful things you can do on TikTok. It stamps your brand on a piece of audio and can lead to massive user-generated content (UGC) campaigns if it takes off. Think of it as creating a custom theme song for a trend. Here's how you do it step by step.

Step 1: Create a Video with Your Desired Audio

The only way to upload a new, original sound to TikTok is by first including it in a video you post. There's no separate "upload audio" button. Your sound must be part of a video file.

• Record in the App: You can simply record a video of yourself talking, singing, or playing an instrument. The audio from your microphone will become the original sound.
• Use a Voice Memo: Record a high-quality voiceover using your phone’s voice memo app. Then, use a video editing app (like CapCut or InShot) to add a static image or a simple video clip behind your audio. Save this new video file to your phone.
• Use Custom Music: If you've composed a jingle or a short instrumental track, you can do the same thing. Layer the audio over a visual element in a video editor and export it as a video file.

Make sure the audio is clean and clear. This is your chance to make a good first impression, as this will be the source audio everyone else uses.

Step 2: Upload and Post Your Video on TikTok

Once you have the video file saved to your device, it's time to upload it to TikTok.

1. Open the TikTok app and tap the + icon at the bottom center of the screen to start a new creation.
2. Tap the "Upload" button on the bottom right and select the video you just created.
3. Tap "Next." On this screen, don't add a sound from TikTok’s library. You are using the embedded audio from your video file. Just do your normal edits like adding text, stickers, or effects.
4. Write your caption, add relevant hashtags, and configure any other settings.
5. Tap "Post" to publish the video to your profile.

Step 3: Access and Rename Your New Original Sound

Now that your video is live, your sound officially exists on TikTok. You are the originator.

1. Go to your profile and tap on the video you just uploaded.
2. In the bottom-right corner of the screen, you'll see a spinning circle icon with a music note. Tap it.
3. This will take you to the official sound page for your audio. At the top, it will have a default name, usually "Original sound - [Your Username]."
4. Next to the sound name, there's a small pencil icon. Tap it to rename your sound. Give it a clear, descriptive, and memorable name. For example, instead of the default, you could name it "Funny Cat Noises for Memes" or "The Sunrise Cafe Morning Jingle." This makes it much easier for others to find and understand.
5. Tap "Save," and your new name will be permanent.

That's it! Your original sound is now live. Every time someone uses it, their video will link back to this sound page, and your username will be displayed as the creator, driving brand awareness and discoverability.

Method 2: How to Find and Use Sounds Already on TikTok

You don't always need to create your own audio. Tapping into trending sounds is one of the quickest ways to join a cultural moment on TikTok and get your content seen by a wider audience. The process varies slightly depending on whether you have a Business Account or a Creator/Personal Account.

For Business Accounts: Using the Commercial Music Library

TikTok restricts Business Accounts to the Commercial Music Library to protect you from copyright trouble. While you can't use the latest pop song by Drake, there are hundreds of thousands of pre-cleared, royalty-free tracks you can use without any worry.

1. Start a new video by tapping the + icon.
2. At the very top of the editor screen, tap "Add sound."
3. You’ll be taken directly to the Commercial Sounds page. This tab is selected by default for Business Accounts.
4. You can search for a track by name, browse playlists curated by TikTok (like "Upbeat," "Chill," or "Corporate"), or scroll through the "Recommended" section.
5. Tap on a sound to preview it. When you find one you like, tap the red checkmark to add it to your video. You can also tap the small bookmark icon to save it to your Favorites for later.
6. Now you can record your video. The chosen sound will play in the background, making it easy to time your actions or lip-sync if needed.

For Creator &, Personal Accounts: Using the General Sound Library

If you don’t have a Business Account, you have access to the full spectrum of sounds on TikTok, including chart-topping music and viral audio clips created by others.

The process is the same as above, but when you tap "Add sound," you will see tabs for "For You," "Playlists," and more, full of popular and trending commercial music. The single most effective way to find trending sounds, however, isn't through this library. It's by actively using the app.

Finding Sounds on Your "For You" Page

The best way to spot a trend early is to just scroll your For You page. Pay attention to which audio clips you hear repeatedly. When you find a sound you want to use:

1. Look at the bottom-right corner of the video. Tap the spinning record icon.
2. This takes you to the sound's page. Here you can see how many other videos have been made with this sound.
3. Tap the big red button at the bottom that says "Use this sound" to immediately start creating your own video with it.
4. Alternatively, you can tap "Add to Favorites," which saves the sound for later. To find it, go to the "Add Sound" screen and tap the "Favorites" tab.

This is how most viral challenges and memes spread. Someone finds a sound, creates their version, and the cycle repeats.

Best Practices for Using Sounds to Build Your Brand

Posting a sound is easy, but using it effectively requires strategy.

Create Ownable Audio for Your Brand

Give your audience an audio hook they can associate with you. This could be:

• A short, catchy jingle about your product.
• A recurring intro segment for all your videos (e.g., "Welcome back to Marketing Mondays...").
• A sound bite of a happy customer review or testimonial.

When others start using your brand's sound, you've unlocked one of the most powerful organic marketing flywheels on social media.

Match the Vibe, Not Just the Trend

When selecting a trending sound, ask yourself if it actually fits your brand's personality and the message of your video. Forcing your product into a completely unrelated meme can feel out of touch. Look for trends that align with your style. If your brand is humorous, energetic, or educational, find sounds that help convey that feeling.

Act Quickly, But Be Prepared

TikTok trends move lightning-fast. A sound that’s trending today might be old news next week. Saving sounds to your Favorites folder is a great way to build a repository of ideas. That way, when you have an idea for a video, you can scroll through your saved sounds to find one that fits, rather than scrambling to find a trend on the spot.

Final Thoughts

Mastering how to post or use a sound is fundamental to making content that resonates with the TikTok community. Whether you're creating a unique audio signature for your brand with an original sound or tapping into a cultural moment with a trending track, the right audio elevates your video from a simple clip to engaging content. Don't overthink it - start by saving sounds you like and experiment from there.

Once you are comfortable creating TikToks with the perfect sounds, scheduling all your content consistently becomes the next big task. We built Postbase specifically to solve this problem for a modern, video-first world. Planning your TikToks, Reels, and Shorts in a visual calendar, all in one place, helps you maintain momentum without the chaos. You can upload your video files and schedule them for optimal times, ensuring your hard work - and perfectly chosen sounds - get the visibility they deserve.