Music is the soul of social media, or at least it’s the thing that stops people from scrolling right past your vacation photos. If you’ve ever tried to figure out how to add song to facebook post and ended up staring at a blank screen or a silent video, you’re not alone. Facebook’s interface is notoriously fickle. One day the music icon is right there, and the next, it’s buried under three layers of sub-menus because of an update you didn't ask for.
It's weird. You’d think a company worth billions would make it a one-click process. Instead, it’s a bit of a maze.
Whether you're trying to set a mood for a photo or want to share a specific track that’s been stuck in your head, the process changes depending on if you're on an iPhone, an Android, or—heaven forbid—a desktop computer. Honestly, doing this on a laptop is a whole different beast than doing it on the app. We’re going to look at the shortcuts, the workarounds for when the "Music" button goes missing, and the weird copyright rules that might get your post muted before anyone even hears it.
The App Method: Where the Music Button Actually Hides
Most people are looking for the mobile solution. If you are on the Facebook app, the "Music" option is usually tucked into the "Create Post" area, but its visibility depends on what kind of post you are making.
If you are just typing a text status, you can't just slap a song on it. Facebook wants you to use their "Music" post type for that. You tap on "What's on your mind?" and scroll down past the photo/video and check-in options until you see the little eighth note icon. Once you tap that, you get access to the library.
It’s basically Spotify-lite in there.
You search for a track, preview it by hitting the play button, and then tap it to add it. But here is the catch: this creates a specific "Music Post" where the song is the star, showing the album art and a play button. It’s great for sharing a vibe, but it’s not how you add background music to a photo of your lunch.
For photos, it’s a different workflow. You select your photo first. Then, look at the top right for the "Edit" or "Stickers" icon (it looks like a smiley face with a folded corner). Inside the sticker tray, there’s a Music sticker. Tap that, pick your song, and then you get to do the fun part: choosing which 15 seconds of the song actually play. You can drag the slider to find the chorus or that one specific lyric that makes the post work.
Why You Can't Find the Music Button
Sometimes it just isn't there. Seriously.
This usually happens for a few reasons. First, check your account type. If you have a Professional or Business account, your music library might be severely limited. This isn't a glitch; it's licensing. Meta has deals with labels like Warner and Sony for personal use. As soon as you’re a business, those songs become "commercial use," and the labels want a bigger check. If you notice you only have access to weird, royalty-free instrumental tracks that sound like elevator music, your account type is likely the culprit.
Another reason? Region locks. Not every song is available in every country. If your friend in the UK posted a track and you can’t find it in the US, it’s probably a licensing boundary.
Putting Music on Video Posts (The Professional Way)
Adding music to a standard video upload is where things get messy. If you just upload a video file from your gallery, Facebook doesn't always give you the option to add a licensed track directly in the post-composer.
You have to use the Facebook Stories or Reels editor to get the best results.
Reels are the gold standard for this now. When you upload a video into the Reels creator, the "Audio" button is right there on the sidebar. You can mix the original audio of your video with the song you chose. Pro tip: turn your original video volume down to about 10% and the music up to 80% if you want that "cinematic" feel where you can still hear the background noise but the song carries the energy.
If you're trying to do this on a desktop, stop. Seriously. The desktop version of Facebook is primarily for management and reading, not creative editing. You won't find the music sticker library on the browser version. If you absolutely must use a computer, you’ll need to edit the song into the video file yourself using something like CapCut, Premiere, or even Canva before you upload it.
A Warning on Copyright: If you edit a song into a video yourself and then upload it, Facebook’s "Rights Manager" AI will probably flag it within seconds. They are very good at sniffing out unlicensed MP3s. Using the built-in "Add Song" feature within the app is the only way to ensure your post doesn't get muted or taken down.
Sharing From Spotify or Apple Music
Sometimes you don't want the song in the post; you want to share the song as the post.
- Open Spotify.
- Hit the "Share" button on your favorite track.
- Select "Facebook."
- This will open the Facebook app and create a post with a nice preview of the album art.
It's simple. It works. But it won't play the music automatically when people scroll past. They have to click it to open it in their own music app. If you want people to actually hear the music while looking at your face, you have to use the sticker method mentioned earlier.
Fixing the "No Sound" Bug
So you figured out how to add song to facebook post, you hit publish, and... silence.
This is a common headache. First, check if your phone is on "Silent" or "Vibrate." It sounds stupid, but Facebook often honors the hardware mute switch on iPhones. If your side switch is down, the music in the app won't play.
Second, check the "Mute" toggle on the bottom right of the video or post itself. Facebook defaults to "Mute" for many users to avoid blasting music in public places.
If the music is missing for everyone who sees the post, Meta might have muted it due to a "Partial Mute" copyright claim. This happens if the song is blocked in certain territories. You’ll usually get a notification in your "Support Inbox" explaining exactly why the audio was stripped.
The Strategy of the Sound
Don't just pick a song because you like it. Social media is an algorithm game.
Using "Trending" songs—the ones with the little rising arrow next to them in the library—can actually help your post get more reach. Facebook’s algorithm likes to group content using the same audio. If you use a song that’s currently blowing up, your post might show up in the "Audio Page" for that track, giving you free views from people who aren't even following you.
Also, keep it short. People have the attention span of a goldfish. If your song choice doesn't hit the hook within the first two seconds, they are gone.
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Actionable Steps for Your Next Post
Instead of just clicking around and hoping for the best, follow this workflow to make sure your music actually works and stays live.
- Switch to a Personal Profile if you can't find the hits. If you're on a business page, you're stuck with the "Sound Collection," which is basically just generic beats.
- Use the Reels Editor even for regular video posts. It has the most robust music tools and the best library. You can always save the Reel and post it as a regular video if you really want to.
- Check the "Edit" menu on photos. If the music sticker isn't in your "Frequently Used," search for it in the sticker search bar. It’s often hiding behind the "Location" or "Time" stickers.
- Update your app. Facebook rolls out music features in waves. If your app is even a month old, you might be missing the latest licensing integration.
- Test the audio transition. When using the slider to pick a song snippet, make sure it doesn't start with a jarring silence or a loud bang. Smooth entries get longer watch times.
Adding music shouldn't be a chore, but in the current landscape of digital rights management, it's a bit of a dance. Stick to the in-app tools, avoid uploading raw MP3s you don't own, and keep an eye on those "Professional" account settings.