The quickest way to add music to your Facebook post
To add music to a Facebook post on a computer, click the music note icon in the post composer box before you write anything. Facebook will open a search window where you can type the song name, artist, or album. Select the track you want, and it will appear as a playable preview in your post. When you publish, people who see your post can click play without leaving Facebook.
On a phone, the process is similar but the icon location changes slightly. Open the Facebook app, start a new post, and look for the music note icon among the attachment options at the bottom of the composer. Tap it, search for your song, select it, and publish. The music will embed the same way it does on desktop.
Facebook's music library includes millions of songs from major labels and independent artists. The songs you can add depend on licensing agreements in your region, so a track available in one country may not appear in another. If you cannot find a song through the music search, it may not be licensed for Facebook posts in your location.
Key Takeaways
- The music note icon in the post composer lets you search and add licensed songs directly to your post without uploading a file.
- On desktop, the music icon appears in the row of attachment options below the text box; on mobile, it is among the icons at the bottom of the composer.
- Your audience can play the song within Facebook without clicking away, and the artist and song title display automatically.
- Not all songs are available in all regions due to licensing restrictions, so searching by artist name or album often works better than searching by exact song title.
Finding the music icon on desktop
Open Facebook in a web browser and click "Create Post" or "What's on your mind?" at the top of your News Feed. A composer box will appear with a row of icons below the text field. These icons let you add photos, videos, polls, and other content. The music note icon is among these options—it typically appears near the photo and video icons.
If you do not see the music icon immediately, scroll through the available icons by clicking the three dots at the end of the row. This reveals additional attachment options, including music. Once you click the music note, a search window opens where you can type the song name, artist name, or album title.
Searching for and selecting a song
Type the song title, artist name, or both into the search box. Facebook will show matching results with album art, artist name, and song length. Click the song you want to add. A preview will appear in your post showing the album cover, song title, artist name, and a play button that your audience can use.
If your first search does not return the song you want, try searching by artist name alone or by album title. Some songs may not appear under their exact title but will show up when you search for the artist. If a song does not appear after several searches, it may not be licensed for use in Facebook posts in your region.
Adding music on the Facebook mobile app
Open the Facebook app on your phone and tap "What's on your mind?" or the compose button. The text box will open with a row of icons at the bottom. Look for the music note icon among these options—it is usually positioned near the photo and smiley face icons. Tap the music note to open the song search.
Type the song or artist name into the search field. Results will appear as you type. Tap the song you want, and it will be added to your post. The preview will show the same information as on desktop: album art, song title, artist, and a play button for your audience.
What your audience sees when you post music
When someone views your post with music attached, they see a preview card with the album cover image, song title, artist name, and a play button. They can click the play button to listen to a preview of the song without leaving Facebook. The music does not play automatically—your audience controls whether they listen.
The preview card also includes a link to the song on music streaming services or Facebook's music library, depending on the licensing agreement. Your audience can click through to listen to the full song if they want, but they do not have to. The post itself remains visible while the music plays, so people can read your caption while listening.
Troubleshooting when music will not add
If the music icon does not appear in your post composer, check that you are using an updated version of Facebook. On desktop, refresh the page or clear your browser cache. On mobile, update the Facebook app through your device's app store. Older versions of the app may not have the music feature enabled.
If you find a song but cannot add it, the song may not be licensed for your region. Try searching for a different version of the song—live recordings, acoustic versions, or covers may have different licensing. If the song still does not appear, it is not currently available for Facebook posts where you are located.
If the music icon is grayed out or inactive, you may have reached a limit on how many songs you can add to posts in a certain time period. Wait a few hours and try again. You can also try posting without music and adding it in a comment instead, though the preview will not display the same way.
Uploading your own audio instead of using Facebook's library
Facebook's music feature uses only licensed songs from its library. If you want to add your own recording, a cover song, or audio that is not in Facebook's catalog, you will need to upload it as a video or audio file instead. This means creating a simple video file with a still image and your audio, then uploading it as you would any other video post.
To do this, use a free tool like Audacity or your phone's built-in video editor to combine an image with your audio file. Save it as a video file, then upload it to Facebook as a video post. Your audience will see the image and be able to play the audio, though it will not have the same polished preview card that licensed music gets.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I add music to a post I already published?
No, you cannot add music to an existing post. You must add the music before you publish. If you want to add music to a post that is already live, you will need to delete it and create a new post with the music included.
Will my audience hear the music automatically when they see my post?
No, music does not play automatically. Your audience will see the preview card with a play button and can choose whether to listen. This prevents music from playing unexpectedly as people scroll through their feed.
Can I add multiple songs to one post?
Facebook's standard post composer allows you to add one song per post. If you want to share multiple songs, you can create separate posts for each one or create a video that includes multiple tracks.
What happens if the song I added gets removed from Facebook's library?
If licensing changes and a song is removed from Facebook's music library, the preview card may disappear from your post or show a message that the song is no longer available. Your post will remain, but the music preview will not display.
Can I add music to a Facebook story instead of a post?
Yes, Facebook stories have a separate music feature. When creating a story, look for the music sticker icon and search for songs the same way you would for a post. The music will play as people view your story.