TikTok is basically a giant jukebox where the visuals are just there to keep you entertained while the music plays. If you’ve ever scrolled through your "For You" page and seen a video that was eerily silent because the audio was removed for copyright violations, you know exactly how frustrating it is to get this wrong. Learning how to add song to TikTok isn't just about clicking a button; it’s about navigating a weirdly complex landscape of licensing, timing, and trend-chasing.
It’s actually kinda wild how much the platform relies on these 15-second clips of audio to drive the entire algorithm. You can have the best lighting in the world, but if the song doesn't hit right, the video flops. Period.
The basic way to add song to TikTok right now
Honestly, most people start by hitting that big plus icon at the bottom of the screen. Once you're in the camera view, you'll see a little "Add sound" button at the very top. This is the gateway to TikTok's massive Commercial Music Library and their general licensed catalog.
When you tap that, you get a search bar and a bunch of curated playlists. You can browse by "Viral," "New Releases," or even specific genres like "Phonk" or "Hyperpop." Once you find a track you like, you tap it, and it loads into your recording session.
But here is where people mess up.
They record the video and then realize the song starts at the wrong part. You have to use the "Trim" tool—it looks like a little pair of scissors—to slide the waveform left or right. This lets you pick the exact "hook" of the song. If you miss the drop, the video loses all its energy.
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Why your "Add Sound" button might be missing some hits
You’ve probably noticed that some creators can use the latest Taylor Swift or Drake tracks, but when you go to your business account, you’re stuck with weird, royalty-free corporate elevator music. This is a huge point of confusion for new creators.
TikTok has two distinct libraries.
The Commercial Music Library (CML) is for brands and business accounts. It contains over 1.3 million cleared songs that won't get you sued or muted. The downside? Most of the Top 40 hits aren't there. If you have a Personal Account, you have access to the full "General Music Library," which includes almost everything you hear on the radio.
If you're trying to figure out how to add song to TikTok and the song you want isn't showing up, check your account settings. Switching from a Business account to a Personal account usually unlocks the "good" music, but be careful—if you're a brand, using unlicensed music for an ad can lead to a massive legal headache. Labels like Universal Music Group (UMG) have a history of being extremely aggressive about this. Just ask anyone who was on the app during the 2024 UMG licensing dispute when half the videos on the platform went silent overnight.
Adding your own "Original Sound" or voiceovers
Sometimes the song you want isn't in the library at all. Maybe you've made a remix, or you want to use a clip from an obscure movie.
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- Record your video with the sound playing in the background (this is the "old school" way, but the quality is usually terrible).
- Use an external editor like CapCut or Adobe Premiere Rush.
- In these apps, you can layer multiple audio tracks, adjust the gain, and add fade-ins.
- Export the video and upload it to TikTok as an "Original Sound."
Once you upload it, the sound is tied to your video. Other people can then "Use this sound" to make their own clips. This is actually how most TikTok trends start. Someone does something funny with a weird audio clip, and suddenly 2 million people have used it.
Keep in mind that if you use a copyrighted song as an "Original Sound" to bypass the library, TikTok’s AI will likely catch it. They use a sophisticated fingerprinting technology that can identify a song even if it's slightly pitched up or slowed down. If it catches it, they’ll either mute the video or credit the original artist automatically.
Mastering the volume mix
This is the nuance most tutorials skip. You’ve added the song, but you also have a voiceover. If the music is at 100%, nobody can hear what you're saying.
After you’ve selected your music and recorded your clips, tap the downward arrow on the right side of the editing screen and find the "Volume" tool. You’ll see two sliders: "Original sound" (your voice or background noise) and "Added sound" (the song).
For a standard "talking head" video, I usually recommend setting the music to about 5% to 8%. It sounds low, but TikTok’s compression makes background music surprisingly loud. If it’s a dance video where the music is the star, crank it to 100% and keep the original sound at zero.
Common pitfalls when adding songs
- The "Sound Unavailable" Ghost: Sometimes you save a draft with a trending song, but when you go to post it three days later, the sound is gone. This happens because the licensing agreement expired or the artist pulled the track.
- Region Locking: Some songs are only available in the US or UK. If you’re traveling and try to how to add song to TikTok, you might find your favorite tracks are greyed out.
- Length Constraints: If your video is 3 minutes long, but the song clip is only 60 seconds, the audio will just stop. You have to loop it or choose a longer track from the library.
Using the "Search" feature to find trending audio
Don't just pick a song you like. Pick a song the algorithm likes.
Go to the Search tab and type "Viral sounds" or "Trending sounds." Look for the little blue music note icon next to the search results. If you see a song that is appearing in a lot of videos with high view counts, that’s your signal.
When you click on a song’s page, you can see how many videos have been made with it. If a song has under 50,000 videos but is growing fast, it’s the "sweet spot" for getting your content discovered. Using a song with 10 million videos means you’ll probably get buried in the noise.
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Practical steps for your next upload
To make sure your next video actually reaches people and sounds professional, follow this workflow:
- Switch to a Personal Account if you aren't a registered business and want the full music library.
- Use the "Favorites" feature: When you're scrolling your feed and hear a song you like, tap the spinning record icon and hit "Add to Favorites." This saves you from hunting for it later.
- Edit in CapCut first: It gives you much more control over the waveform. You can extract audio from any video on your camera roll and layer it under your TikTok.
- Check your "Copyright Check": Before you hit post, TikTok often runs a background scan. If it flags the video, don't ignore it. Swap the song or you'll get 0 views.
- Sync to the beat: If you’re doing a montage, use the "Auto Sync" feature. It’s not perfect, but it’s a quick way to make the cuts feel intentional.
The landscape of TikTok music changes every single week as new licensing deals are signed and old ones fall through. Your best bet is to stay flexible and always have a backup "Commercial-Safe" track in mind just in case your favorite pop hit gets the axe.