You know that feeling. You're watching a travel vlog or some high-octane gaming clip, and suddenly, a beat drops that just hits different. You check the description. Nothing. You scroll through the comments, hoping some legend has already timestamped it. Again, nothing. It’s annoying. Honestly, it’s one of those minor digital-age frustrations that can drive you absolutely crazy if you let it. But here’s the thing: finding the music in YouTube videos has become a bit of a science, and if you know where to look, you’ll almost always find your answer.
We aren't just talking about clicking "Show More" and hoping the creator was nice enough to credit the artist. That’s the dream, but it rarely happens with smaller creators or those using royalty-free libraries. To get the job done, you have to look at metadata, use audio fingerprinting, and sometimes—get this—actually talk to people.
Start with the "Music in this video" section
Before you go downloading a dozen browser extensions, look at the bottom of the video description. Seriously. YouTube has an automated Content ID system. It’s basically a massive database where labels and artists upload their work so YouTube can track usage. If a video uses copyrighted music, YouTube usually auto-generates a "Music in this video" section. It’ll list the track title, the artist, and the license holder.
Sometimes it's hidden under that "Show More" button. If it’s there, you’re done. But there is a catch. This system mostly picks up mainstream hits or songs registered through major distributors like DistroKid or CD Baby. If the creator is using a niche Lo-Fi beat from a friend’s SoundCloud or a track from an obscure "no copyright" library, Content ID might miss it entirely. Or worse, the creator might have tweaked the pitch just enough to dodge the automated scanners.
It's also worth noting that some creators use "stock" music from places like Epidemic Sound or Artlist. These services often provide licenses that prevent the automated "claim" from appearing in the description, keeping the interface clean but leaving you in the dark.
The Shazam method (and why it fails)
We all know Shazam. It’s the gold standard for identifying music in the wild. You hold your phone up to a speaker, and boom, you’ve got the track. You can do the same thing with YouTube. Just play the video on your laptop and hold your phone up. It works about 70% of the time.
But what if you're on your phone? You can’t exactly Shazam a video that’s playing on the same device, right? Well, actually, you can. If you use the Shazam app on Android, there’s a "Pop-up Shazam" feature. On iPhone, you can add Music Recognition to your Control Center. It listens to the internal audio of your device.
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The problem is background noise. If the YouTuber is talking over the track, or if there are explosions, wind noise, or sound effects, Shazam gets confused. It needs a "clean" sample. If you can find a five-second window where the creator stops talking and the music swells, that’s your best shot. If the music is too quiet or heavily layered under a voiceover, Shazam will likely tell you it "didn't catch that."
ACRCloud and the power of the Chrome extension
If you’re a power user, you need a dedicated tool. AHA Music is a Chrome extension that’s basically Shazam on steroids for your browser. It uses the ACRCloud database, which is arguably more comprehensive for "internet music" than Apple’s database.
Install the extension, play the video, and click the button. What’s cool about AHA Music is that it can identify multiple songs in a single video. If a creator uses a 10-minute medley, this tool can often timestamp the different tracks. It’s remarkably accurate for those annoying 15-second transitions that are too short for other apps to recognize.
Why some songs stay "hidden"
Here is a reality check: some music is literally unfindable by AI.
Creators often use:
- Custom commissions (music made specifically for them).
- Unreleased tracks from small Discord communities.
- Heavily remixed versions of existing songs (slowed + reverb).
- AI-generated background tracks.
If a creator used a tool like Udio or Suno to generate a specific vibe, no amount of scanning will help you. It doesn't exist as a "song" in any database. It’s just a file on a hard drive.
Use the "Comment Search" trick
If the automated tools fail, it's time to leverage the "hive mind." But don’t just scroll. That’s a waste of time. Use a browser shortcut. Hit Ctrl+F (or Cmd+F on Mac) while the comment section is loaded and search for keywords like "song," "music," "track," or "bgm."
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On mobile, this is harder, but there are third-party sites like "YouTube Comment Search" that allow you to index every single comment on a video. Usually, if a song is a banger, at least ten other people have already asked about it. Look for the person who replied with a link.
The "Lyrics in Google" fallback
Sometimes the simplest way to find the music in a YouTube video is to just listen to the words. It sounds obvious, but people forget. Even if you only catch a single phrase like "running through the neon lights in the middle of June," put that in quotes on Google followed by the word "lyrics."
The quotes are important. They tell Google to look for that exact string of words. If the song is on Genius, AZLyrics, or Bandcamp, it’ll pop up. If the lyrics are in a foreign language, try to phonetically type what you hear into a translator first. It’s a long shot, but it works surprisingly often for indie tracks.
Investigating the "Description Clues"
Creators often leave crumbs. They might not link the song, but they might mention a "Music Library" they use. Look for names like:
- Epidemic Sound
- Audio Network
- Musicbed
- MonsterCat
- Kevin MacLeod (the king of royalty-free music)
If you see "Music from Epidemic Sound" in the description, you can go to the Epidemic Sound website and use their "find similar" or "search by genre" tools. It’s tedious, but if you’re desperate for that specific corporate-pop-ukulele vibe, that’s how you find it.
When all else fails: The "WhatSong" and Reddit communities
There are entire subreddits dedicated to this. r/NameThatSong and r/TipOfMyTongue are filled with people who have an encyclopedic knowledge of obscure music.
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When you post there, don't just say "What is the song in this video?" You need to be specific. Give them the timestamp. Tell them the genre. If you can, record a hummed version of the melody on Vocaroo and link it. Humans are still better than AI at recognizing a melody hummed off-key.
There’s also a site called "WhatSong" which is great for movies and TV shows, but for YouTube, you’re mostly relying on the community.
The technical "Source Code" hail mary
This is for the truly tech-savvy. Sometimes, the song info is buried in the video's metadata or the page's source code, especially if it was part of a premiere or a specific ad campaign. Right-click the page, select "View Page Source," and search for "music" or "title." It’s a rare win, but sometimes you’ll find a string of text that identifies a licensed asset that didn't make it into the visible description.
Actionable steps to find that track
If you've found a song you love and want it in your playlist right now, follow this sequence. Don't jump around; this is the most efficient path from "What is this?" to "Adding to Spotify."
- Expand the description fully. Look for a "Music" header or a tiny link at the very bottom.
- Run an audio identification tool. Use Shazam on your phone or the AHA Music extension on your browser while the music is playing clearly.
- Search the comments. Use the search function to find mentions of "song" or "track."
- Identify the creator's "Vibe." Check if they consistently use a specific library like Epidemic Sound or Artlist. Most creators stick to one subscription.
- Google the lyrics. Use "exact phrase" quotes to narrow down the search results.
- Ask the community. Post the link and timestamp in r/NameThatSong.
Finding the music in YouTube videos isn't always a one-click process, but the information is almost always out there. Most "unidentified" music is actually just royalty-free tracks sitting in a library database waiting for someone to search the right keywords. If you’ve followed these steps and still can’t find it, there’s a high chance it’s an original composition or an AI-generated loop. In that case, your best bet is to leave a polite comment on the video and hope the creator feels like sharing their secrets.