How to Use Someone's Audio on TikTok

Ever been scrolling through your TikTok For You Page and heard an audio that's just perfect for your brand or the video idea you've had in your head for weeks? You're not alone. Using someone else's audio is one of the platform's most powerful features for reach and relatability. This guide will walk you through exactly how to add someone else's sound to your videos, why it's a game-changer for growth, and some pro tips for making the trend your own.

Why Bother With Trending Audio? The Algorithm Loves It

Before we get into the step-by-step, it's worth understanding why this is such a big deal for content creators and brands. TikTok isn't just a video platform, it's a culture built on remixing, reinterpreting, and collaborating. Sounds are the backbone of that culture.

Think of each trending sound as a massive, ongoing conversation. When you use a popular audio clip, you're essentially joining that conversation. Here's why that matters:

• Increased Discoverability: Every sound on TikTok has its own page, which acts like a feed for all the videos using that audio. If your video is engaging, it can climb to the top of that sound's page, exposing your content to countless new users who are interested in that specific trend.
• Algorithmic Boost: The TikTok algorithm loves to show users more of what they already like. By using a sound that's currently trending, you're signaling to the algorithm that your content is relevant and timely, increasing its chances of being pushed out to a wider audience on the For You Page.
• Built-In Relatability: Trends create a sense of shared experience. By using an audio your ideal follower recognizes, you instantly create a connection. It shows you're a part of the community and understand the "inside jokes" of the platform, which makes your brand appear more human and approachable.
• Effortless Content Ideas: Stuck on what to create? Browsing trending audio is one of the best ways to find inspiration. Trends often come with a pre-built format or punchline, giving you a creative framework to build upon rather than starting from a blank slate.

In short, using other people's audio isn't just about adding music, it's a strategic choice that can dramatically expand your reach and build community.

How to Use Someone's Audio on TikTok: The Two Main Methods

There are two primary ways you can grab an audio you love from another video: using it right away or saving it for later. We'll cover both.

Method 1: Using a Sound Immediately from a Video

This is the most common method. You're scrolling, you find the perfect sound, and you want to make your video right now. The process is incredibly simple.

1. Find the Video You Like: As you're exploring your For You Page, stop on a video that features the audio you want to use.
2. Tap on the Sound: Look at the bottom left-hand corner of the screen. You'll see the track title scrolling next to a spinning record icon. Tap on this icon or text.
3. Go to the Audio Page: This action will take you to the main page for that specific audio clip. Here, you can see how many other videos have used the sound, save it to your favorites, and of course, use it yourself.
4. Tap "Use this sound": At the bottom of the screen, you'll see a big red button labeled "Use this sound." Tap it.
5. Create Your Video: You'll be taken directly to the TikTok camera screen. The sound will already be loaded and ready to go. You can now record new clips, upload existing ones from your camera roll, or combine both to create your masterpiece.

That's it! When you publish, the video will automatically be linked to that sound, complete with proper attribution to the original creator of the audio clip.

Method 2: Saving a Sound to Use Later

Sometimes you find a killer audio but aren't ready to shoot your video. Maybe you need a different setting, better lighting, or just more time to think through the idea. In this case, you can save the sound to your "Favorites" so it's easy to find when you're ready.

1. Navigate to the Audio Page: Follow the same first two steps from Method 1. Find a video with the audio you want and tap the spinning record icon to get to the audio page.
2. Add it to Favorites: Instead of tapping "Use this sound," look for the "Add to Favorites" button near the top of the screen (it has a little bookmark icon). Tap it.
3. Find Your Sound Later: When you're ready to create your content, open the TikTok camera by tapping the "+" icon from your profile.
4. Tap "Add sound": At the top-center of the camera screen, you'll see an "Add sound" button with a music note icon. Tap that.
5. Go to Your Favorites: On the "Sounds" page, you'll see several tabs like "Recommended" and different playlists. Find and tap the "Favorites" tab. All the audios you've saved will be right there, ready for you to select and use in your new video.

This workflow is essential for anyone doing social media management or batch-creating content, as it lets you collect ideas over days or weeks and then execute them all at once.

Help! I Don't See the "Use This Sound" Button! Here's Why

Occasionally, you might land on a video with a great audio track only to find you can't use it. This limitation almost always comes down to copyright restrictions and the type of account you're using.

Sometimes, TikTok displays a notice that says, "This sound isn't licensed for commercial use," or the option to use the sound is simply missing. This is because it has not been cleared for promotional content.

TikTok has two main music libraries:

• The General Music Library: This includes millions of popular songs, viral clips, movie dialogues, and pretty much every trending sound you can think of. It's fully available to personal accounts.
• The Commercial Music Library: This is a more curated collection of over 1 million royalty-free tracks that have been pre-cleared for commercial use. This library is what's available to TikTok Business Accounts.

If you're using a Business Account, you won't be able to use sounds from the main library that haven't been cleared for commercial use. This is to protect both you and the platform from copyright infringement issues. While this may seem limiting, it prevents your brand from getting into legal hot water down the line.

If being able to use trending, popular music is a large part of your TikTok strategy, you should consider switching your Business Account to a personal or Creator Account. Otherwise, your best bet is to stick to creating original audio and making the most of the sounds from the commercial library.

Pro Tips for Making Trends Your Own

Simply using a trending audio is good, but truly standing out requires a bit more finesse. Here are some tips that can help your content shine.

1. Adjust the Volume Levels

Did you know you can use trending audio as subtle background music? After you've added your sound and recorded or uploaded your clips, go to the right-side editing menu before posting. Find the "Volume" option (it has a speaker icon). Here, you can lower the volume of the "Added sound" and keep your "Original sound" (your voice, ambient noise, etc.) at full volume. This is perfect for voiceovers, tutorials, or vlog-style content where the music adds vibe without overpowering your message.

2. Master the Saved Sounds Feature, Because Timing Matters

Pay attention to how long a sound has been trending and how much momentum it has. The official sounds page often highlights breakout audio with a flame icon or features it in trend reports. Using the "Saved Sounds" feature is a great way to monitor these signals over time. When you see indicators that a sound is gaining traction, it's a good time to create content with it to capitalize on its high-growth potential.

3. Give Credit Where It's Due

TikTok has a vibrant creator community that values original work. When you're inspired by another creator's trend, transition, or audio, a best practice is to tag them in your caption. It's a simple way to give credit, show appreciation, and build positive connections on the platform.

4. Put Your Niche-Specific Twist on a Trend

The most successful brands on TikTok don't just copy trends, they adapt them. Take the underlying format or humor of a trending audio and apply it to your industry, products, or brand's persona. For example, if a popular sound features someone complaining about a minor inconvenience, a small e-commerce brand could use it to create a relatable video about the challenges of shipping and handling. This approach connects with your audience in an authentic way and lets your brand's unique personality shine through.

Final Thoughts

Effectively using audio from other creators is an essential skill for anyone serious about growing on TikTok. It helps you stay relevant, tap into massive streams of views on sound pages, and connect with the community in language they already understand. Mastering the basics of finding, saving, and using sounds - while keeping legal usage rights in mind - puts you in a powerful position to create content that lands.

Putting these tips into practice consistently requires planning and a clear view of your content calendar. When we built Postbase, we designed our platform specifically for the reality of modern social media, which is dominated by short-form video formats like TikToks and Reels. Our visual scheduling lets you see your entire TikTok strategy at a glance, helping you plan out which trends to jump on and ensure your content goes live at the perfect moment - without posts that mysteriously fail to publish.