Adding audio to your iMovie project

To add a song to iMovie, you import audio from your computer or phone's music library, then drag it into your timeline below your video clips. The audio track sits separately from your video, so you can trim it, adjust its volume, and move it around without affecting your footage. On Mac, you use the Music and Sound Effects browser; on iPhone and iPad, you tap the audio icon and browse your device's music.

The process takes about two minutes once you know where to look. iMovie accepts most common audio formats — MP3, AAC, WAV, and AIFF files all work. If you're using a song from Apple Music, Spotify, or another streaming service, you'll need to download it to your device first; iMovie can't pull directly from streaming apps.

Key Takeaways

  • On Mac, open the Music and Sound Effects browser from the toolbar, search for your song, and drag it to the timeline below your video clips.
  • On iPhone or iPad, tap the audio icon (the musical note), find your song in your device's music library, and tap it to add it to your project.
  • Audio files must be stored on your device — iMovie cannot access songs directly from Spotify, Apple Music, or other streaming services.
  • You can trim audio, adjust volume, fade it in and out, and move it independently of your video without affecting either one.

Adding audio on Mac

Open your iMovie project and click the Music and Sound Effects button in the toolbar at the top. It looks like a musical note inside a circle. A browser window opens on the right side of your screen showing three tabs: Music, Sound Effects, and GarageBand Projects.

Click the Music tab if it isn't already selected. You'll see your entire music library listed — songs from iTunes, Apple Music downloads, and any audio files in your Music folder. Type the song name in the search box at the top to find it faster. Once you see the song you want, click and drag it directly into your timeline at the bottom of the screen, positioning it below the video clips where you want the audio to start.

The song appears as a separate audio track. If you drag it to a spot where video is already playing, the audio and video will play at the same time. If you want the song to start after your video ends, drag it to the right of your last clip. You can also drag audio into the timeline first and then add video clips on top of it.

Adding audio on iPhone and iPad

Open your iMovie project and tap the plus icon (+) at the bottom of the screen, then select Audio from the menu that appears. A browser opens showing your device's music library organized by playlists, artists, and songs.

Search for your song using the search box at the top, or scroll through your library to find it. Tap the song once to preview it — you'll hear a few seconds of audio. When you've found the right track, tap it again to add it to your project. The audio appears in the timeline below your video clips.

If you don't see your song in the library, it may not be downloaded to your device. Open the Music app, find the song, and look for a download icon (usually a cloud with a down arrow). Download it first, then return to iMovie and try adding it again.

Positioning and trimming your audio

Once audio is in your timeline, you can move it by clicking and dragging on Mac, or by tapping and dragging on iPhone and iPad. Drag it left or right to change when it starts playing relative to your video. If you want the song to begin partway through, drag it to the right. If you want it to start before your video does, drag it to the left.

To trim audio — cut out the beginning or end — click on the audio clip in the timeline on Mac, then drag the edges inward. On iPhone and iPad, tap the audio clip, then tap Edit. Drag the yellow handles at the start and end of the waveform to shorten the audio. This doesn't delete the audio from your device; it just hides the parts you don't want in your video.

If you want to remove audio entirely, click or tap it in the timeline and press Delete on Mac, or tap it and select Delete on iPhone and iPad. The video remains untouched.

Adjusting volume and adding fades

To change how loud the audio is, double-click the audio clip on Mac to open its settings. You'll see a Volume slider — drag it left to make the audio quieter or right to make it louder. On iPhone and iPad, tap the audio clip, then tap the volume icon (speaker symbol) to adjust it.

You can also fade audio in and out so it doesn't start or stop abruptly. On Mac, double-click the audio clip and look for Fade In and Fade Out checkboxes. Check them and adjust the duration using the sliders. On iPhone and iPad, tap the audio clip, tap Edit, then look for fade options at the bottom of the screen.

If you have multiple audio tracks — for example, both background music and voiceover — you can adjust each one independently. Each audio clip has its own volume control, so you can make the music quieter when someone is speaking and louder during silent moments.

Using GarageBand projects and sound effects

iMovie includes a library of royalty-free sound effects and background music you can use without worrying about copyright. On Mac, click the Sound Effects tab in the Music and Sound Effects browser. You'll see categories like Cinematic, Sci-Fi, and Ambient. Click a category to see what's available, then drag any sound into your timeline the same way you would a song from your library.

If you've created music in GarageBand on your Mac, you can add it to iMovie directly. Click the GarageBand Projects tab in the Music and Sound Effects browser, find your project, and drag it into your timeline. This is useful if you've recorded a voiceover or created original background music.

Sound effects work the same way as songs — you can trim them, adjust volume, and add fades. Many people use a combination of background music, sound effects, and voiceover to create a polished final video.

Troubleshooting audio problems

If you can't find a song in iMovie, the most common reason is that it's not actually on your device. Streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music don't show up in iMovie's music browser unless you've downloaded the songs to your device. Open the Music app on your Mac or iPhone, find the song, and download it. Then return to iMovie and search again.

If audio plays but you can't hear it, check your device's volume. On Mac, look at the volume icon in the menu bar at the top right. On iPhone and iPad, check the volume buttons on the side of the device. Also check the volume slider inside iMovie itself — it may be turned all the way down. If you're using headphones, make sure they're properly connected.

If audio is out of sync with video — meaning it starts at the wrong time or drifts as the video plays — you may have accidentally moved the audio clip. Click or tap it in the timeline and drag it to the correct position. If the problem persists, try removing the audio and adding it again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a song from Spotify or Apple Music in iMovie?

Only if you download it to your device first. Streaming services don't work directly with iMovie. Open the Spotify or Music app, find the song, download it, then add it to iMovie from your device's music library.

What audio file types does iMovie accept?

iMovie works with MP3, AAC, WAV, AIFF, and several other common formats. If you have an audio file in a different format, you can convert it using free tools online or through your computer's audio software, then import the converted file.

Can I add multiple songs to the same project?

Yes. Drag as many songs as you want into your timeline. You can position them end-to-end so they play one after another, or overlap them and adjust the volume of each so they play together. Each audio track is independent.

Will adding a song to iMovie affect the original audio from my video?

No. Your video's original audio — dialogue, ambient sound, or whatever was recorded — stays in its own track. The song you add sits in a separate audio track below it. You can adjust the volume of each independently, so you can make the original audio quieter while the music plays, or mute one completely.

How do I remove a song from my iMovie project?

Click or tap the audio clip in the timeline, then press Delete on Mac or tap Delete on iPhone and iPad. The song is removed from your project but remains on your device, so you can add it again later if you change your mind.