How to See Trending Audio on TikTok

Using trending audio is one of the easiest ways to grow your reach on TikTok, but finding the right sounds can feel like a guessing game. This guide will show you exactly where to find trending audio inside the TikTok app and how to use it strategically to get more views and build your brand.

Why Trending Audio is Your Secret Weapon on TikTok

Before we get into the "how," let's quickly cover the "why." The TikTok algorithm is designed to push out content that massive numbers of people are engaging with, and trending audio is a huge part of that equation. When a sound starts gaining traction, TikTok shows videos using that sound to more and more users to see if it has viral potential.

Using these sounds gives you three major advantages:

• Increased Discoverability: Hopping on a trend plugs your video directly into a much larger conversation. The algorithm recognizes the audio and is more likely to show your content on the For You Page (FYP) of users who have recently engaged with other videos using that same sound.
• Instant Connection: A familiar sound or piece of music immediately creates a sense of shared experience with your audience. They recognize the sound, understand the context of the trend, and are more likely to watch your take on it.
• Creative Fuel: Sometimes, the hardest part of creating content is coming up with an idea. Trends provide a ready-made structure - a format, a punchline, or a concept - that you can adapt to your own niche. It gets you out of a creative rut and gives you a proven framework to work with.

In short, trending audio isn't just about background music, it's a cheat code for visibility and relevance on the platform.

How to Find Trending Audio Directly in the TikTok App

You don't need expensive third-party tools to find what's hot. TikTok puts all the information you need right inside the app, if you know where to look. Here are the most effective methods, from simple to more advanced.

Method 1: Scroll Your For You Page (Your Best Source of Research)

This sounds obvious, but it’s the most authentic way to find out what people are actually watching and what the algorithm is pushing. Conscious scrolling is your number one tool.

Here’s how to do it effectively:

1. Pay Attention to Repetition: As you scroll your FYP, actively listen. When you hear the same sound clip for the second or third time from completely different creators, that’s a clear signal it's trending or about to take off. Your FYP is personalized, but popular sounds always break through creator bubbles.
2. Check the Sound Details: When you find a video using a sound that seems popular, look at the bottom left of the screen. You'll see the scrolling name of the song or original audio. Tap on it.
3. Look at the Video Count: After tapping the sound, you’ll be taken to its dedicated audio page. At the very top, under the sound’s name, you'll see a count of how many videos have been made using it. A sound with tens or hundreds of thousands of videos is definitely trending. A new, fast-growing sound might have just a few thousand, but you'll see it popping up everywhere.
4. Spot the "Trending" Arrow: Sometimes, TikTok does the work for you. On the FYP, you might see a small arrow symbol pointing up next to the audio's name. This is TikTok's official stamp, indicating that this particular sound is currently trending. If you see this, consider it a strong signal to use it if it fits your content.

Scrolling your FYP is like having a direct line to the algorithm's preferences. What it shows you repeatedly is exactly what it wants more of.

Method 2: Use the 'Add Sound' Library (TikTok’s Curated Playlists)

If you prefer a more direct approach, TikTok compiles its own lists of trending and viral audio inside the video editor. This is TikTok literally handing you a cheat sheet.

Here’s how to access and use it:

1. Start by creating a new video. Tap the plus icon (+) at the bottom center of the screen.
2. At the top of the video creation screen, tap "Add sound."
3. You are now in TikTok’s audio library. The first thing you’ll see is a “Recommended” list based on your content and viewing habits. But the real value is in the playlists.
4. Scroll down and you'll find sections like “TikTok Viral,” “Trending,” “Pop,” and other curated playlists. The "TikTok Viral" list is your go-to source for what's performing best across the entire platform right now.

This method skips the guesswork. You don't have to wait to hear a sound multiple times on your FYP, you can go straight to the source and see what TikTok is officially pushing.

Method 3: For Business Accounts, Use the Commercial Music Library

If you're running a business account on TikTok, you might notice that your access to popular, chart-topping music is limited. This is to protect both you and the platform from copyright infringement issues. Thankfully, TikTok offers a huge library of royalty-free audio that is cleared for commercial use.

How to find what's trending within the commercial library:

1. Follow the same steps as above: Tap the plus icon (+), then tap "Add sound."
2. At the top of the 'Sounds' page, you'll see a choice between "Recommended" and "Commercial Sounds." Tap on "Commercial Sounds."
3. Inside this library, you'll find curated playlists specifically for businesses. Look for lists like "Trending: Business" or "New Releases." These are sounds that are not only safe for you to use in promotional content but are also gaining traction on the platform.

Using audio from this library ensures you stay on the right side of copyright law while still being able to participate in trends.

Advanced Strategies for Using Trending Audio Like a Pro

Finding a trending sound is just the first step. The way you use it is what determines its impact. Here are a few strategies to take your content to the next level.

Strategy 1: Find Sounds Early to Ride the Wave

Jumping on a trend is great, but getting in on a trend before it peaks is even better. Instead of choosing a sound that already has over a million videos, try to find one that has a smaller-but-rapidly-growing number of uses (think 5,000 to 50,000).

When you use a sound early, your video becomes part of the trend's growth. As more and more people search for that audio or watch videos using it, your content has a higher chance of being served up. You become one of the 'early examples' of the trend, rather than the millionth person to do it.

So how do you spot these? Watch for sounds you hear 3-4 times in one scrolling session but whose video count is still relatively low. Tap the sound and look at the top videos. If they were all posted in the last 24-48 hours, that’s a sign the trend is blowing up right now. Save it to your favorites and make your own version quickly.

Strategy 2: Master the Art of Niche Adaptation

The most successful creators don't just copy trends, they adapt them to their own niche. Don't just do the dance or follow the prompt verbatim. Ask yourself: "How can I apply the format or idea of this trend to my industry, my business, or my humor?"

Example: Let's say a trend uses a sound clip of someone saying, "Wow, I'm never doing that again."

• A real estate agent could make a video of themselves walking away from a messy house viewing, with text that reads: "My reaction after showing a client 37 houses only for them to renew their lease."
• A software developer could show themselves staring at a complex line of code with the text: "Me after spending 8 hours chasing a bug caused by a missing semicolon."
• A barista could show a ridiculously long and complex drink order with the same audio and a similar look on their face.

The sound and format are the same, lending it the familiarity of the trend, but the content is unique, relatable to a specific audience, and showcases your personality or expertise.

Strategy 3: The Ghost Audio Trick for Voiceovers

What if you want to create a talking-head video or voiceover but still want the algorithmic boost of a trending sound? You can do both.

Here’s how:

1. Record your video with your own original audio (your voiceover, you talking to camera, etc).
2. Go to the 'Add sound' page and choose a trending audio.
3. Once it's added, tap the "Volume" icon on the right-hand menu in the editor.
4. You’ll see two volume sliders: "Original sound" and "Added sound." Turn the volume of the "Added sound" all the way down to 1-5%. Keep your "Original sound" at 100%.

Now, your voice is clear and the focus, but the trending track is still technically attached to your video, just playing almost silently in the background. The TikTok algorithm will still recognize it and associate your content with the trend, potentially giving you an extra push in visibility.

Final Thoughts

Finding and using trending audio is one of the most powerful organic growth strategies on TikTok. By regularly scrolling your FYP with an active ear, checking the 'Add Sound' library, and adapting trends to fit your unique niche, you can significantly boost your visibility. It's less about luck and more about consistently applying these methods to get your content in front of a wider audience.

Staying on top of trends is one piece of the puzzle, and planning your content consistently is the other. Managing and scheduling short-form video for TikTok, Reels, and Shorts can quickly become chaotic, which is exactly why we built Postbase. Our visual calendar was designed from the ground up for how people create video content today, helping you plan and schedule everything from one clean space. It gives you the structure to act on fresh trends so you can turn fleeting views into a long-term community.