The fastest way to add music while recording

Open TikTok and tap the plus icon at the bottom to start a new video. Before you hit record, tap the music note icon in the top right corner of the screen. This opens TikTok's music library, where you can search by song name, artist, or browse trending sounds. Once you find the track you want, tap it to preview a few seconds, then tap "Use this sound" to lock it in. When you record your video, the music will play in the background automatically.

The music starts from whatever point you selected in the preview. If you want the song to begin at a specific moment — say, right at the chorus — tap and drag the slider in the preview window before you confirm. TikTok will remember that starting point when you film.

This method works best when you know which song you want before you start recording. The music plays through your phone's speaker while you film, so you can hear it and time your movements or lip-syncing to match.

Key Takeaways

  • Tap the music note icon before recording to search TikTok's library and select a song that will play while you film.
  • You can adjust where the song starts by dragging the slider in the preview window, so the chorus or a specific beat lines up with your video.
  • If you already recorded a video without music, tap the plus icon next to "Sounds" on the editing screen to add a track afterward.
  • TikTok's music library includes millions of licensed songs, but some tracks are region-locked or available only to certain account types.
  • You can layer multiple sounds by adding one before recording and another during editing, though the second sound will play at lower volume.

Adding music to a video you already recorded

If you filmed without music and want to add it later, open the video in the editor. Swipe up to see the editing options and tap "Sounds." You'll see a plus icon next to "Sounds" — tap it to open the music library. Search for the track you want, preview it, and tap "Use this sound." The song will be added to your video at full volume, replacing any original audio you recorded.

When you add music this way, you lose the original sound from your recording — voices, background noise, everything. If you want to keep both the original audio and add music on top, tap "Volume" instead of replacing the sound. You can then adjust how loud the original audio is compared to the new music.

Using sounds from other creators

When you see a TikTok video with a song or sound you like, you don't have to search for it yourself. Tap the music note icon at the bottom right of the video — the one that shows the song or sound name. This takes you directly to that track in the music library, and you can use it in your own video immediately.

This is how trends spread on TikTok. When a song or sound becomes popular, thousands of creators use it in their videos, and the algorithm shows those videos to more people. Using a trending sound gives your video a better chance of being seen, because TikTok groups videos by sound and shows them together.

Uploading your own music or audio

TikTok does not let you upload music files directly from your phone's storage. However, you can record your own audio — singing, speaking, or playing an instrument — and use that as your video's sound. Start a new video, tap the music note icon, and look for "Record a sound" at the top of the library. Hit record, perform your audio, and save it. Your recording becomes a private sound that only you can use in your videos.

If you want to use a song you own or a royalty-free track from another source, you'll need to record it playing in the background while you film, or use a video editing app to add it before uploading to TikTok. TikTok's system will scan the audio and may flag it as copyrighted material, which could mute the sound or prevent your video from being shared in certain regions.

Understanding copyright and music restrictions

TikTok's music library contains millions of licensed songs, but the licenses vary by country and account type. A song available in the United States might not be available in India, or it might be restricted to accounts with a certain number of followers. When you search for a song and it doesn't appear, or you see a message saying "This sound is not available," that's usually why.

If you use a song that TikTok doesn't have a license for, the app will detect it and either mute the audio or prevent your video from being shared widely. You won't face a penalty on your account, but your video won't perform as well. Stick to songs in TikTok's official library to avoid this problem.

Some creators use music from royalty-free libraries like Epidemic Sound or Artlist, but those tracks need to be added during editing in a separate app before you upload to TikTok — TikTok itself won't recognize them as licensed content.

Adjusting music volume and timing

After you add music to your video, tap "Volume" in the editing screen to control how loud the music is compared to any original audio. You'll see two sliders — one for the original sound and one for the music you added. Drag them to balance the two. If you recorded yourself talking over music, you might turn the music down so your voice is clear. If you want the music to be the main focus, turn the original audio all the way down.

You can also trim the music to fit your video's length. Tap "Edit" next to the sound name, and you'll see a timeline showing where the music starts and ends. Drag the handles on either side to cut out sections. This is useful if you want only the chorus, or if the song is longer than your video.

Troubleshooting music problems

If a song you want to use doesn't show up in the search, try searching by artist name instead of the full song title. Sometimes TikTok's search is picky about exact wording. If that doesn't work, the song might be region-locked or not yet licensed on TikTok. Check if the song appears in trending sounds — if it does, you can use it from there even if searching doesn't find it.

If your video's sound gets muted after you post it, TikTok detected copyrighted audio that isn't in its licensed library. Delete the video, remove that audio, and re-upload with a song from TikTok's official library instead. If the audio was original (you singing or speaking), the mute is usually temporary and the sound will return within a few hours.

If music won't play while you're recording, make sure your phone's volume is turned up and you're not in silent mode. Also check that you actually tapped "Use this sound" — if you only previewed the song, it won't be attached to your recording.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use copyrighted music from Spotify or Apple Music?

Not directly. If you try to record a video with music from those apps playing in the background, TikTok will detect the copyrighted audio and likely mute it or restrict your video's reach. Use only music from TikTok's built-in library to avoid this. If you own the rights to a song or have permission from the copyright holder, you can contact TikTok's support team, but this process is slow and rarely used by individual creators.

Why does the music sound different when I post my video?

TikTok sometimes compresses audio when you upload, which can change how music sounds slightly. This is normal and happens to most videos. If the audio is completely different or missing, your video may have been flagged for copyright issues. Check your notifications in the TikTok app to see if there's a message about the sound.

Can I add multiple songs to one video?

Yes. Add one song before recording, then add another during editing by tapping the plus icon next to "Sounds." The second song will play at lower volume than the first. You can adjust both volumes separately to balance them. Most creators use this for transitions — one song in the first half, another in the second half.

What happens if I use a trending sound that gets removed?

If TikTok removes a sound from its library due to licensing issues, your video will keep the audio, but new creators won't be able to use that sound. Your video won't be affected, and you can still share it. However, the sound might be muted in certain regions where the license expired.

Do I need a certain number of followers to use any music?

Most songs in TikTok's library are available to all accounts, but some newer or more popular tracks may be restricted to accounts with a minimum number of followers. If you see a message saying a sound is "not available," it might be because your account is too new. As your follower count grows, more music becomes available to you.