How to Add Music to TikTok: Sounds, Trimming and Business Accounts

Music is half of what makes a TikTok work, and the sound you pick can matter as much as the clip itself. Whether you're posting a family video or putting out content for your small business, the steps are quick once you know where the buttons live.

I've followed TikTok's own support article for the steps below. TikTok changes its menus often, so where your screen differs, look for the same wording rather than the same position.

Adding music to a TikTok before you record

This is the usual route. TikTok's help says to tap Add sound at the top of the recording screen, then you can:

1. Tap a sound to preview it.
2. Choose a track from the For You, Favorites or Recent tab.
3. Or tap the Search button, find a sound, then tap the Continue check mark to confirm.
4. Tap anywhere on the video to add the sound to your post.

Tap Favorites on a sound to save it for next time, and tap Edit if you want to adjust the sound clip first. Saving a handful of go-to tracks makes the next video much quicker.

Adding music to a TikTok on the editing screen

You don't have to decide before you film. TikTok's help says you can also add a sound while you're on the editing screen, after you've recorded or uploaded your clip. That's the better option if you've shot footage on your phone camera and want to bring it into TikTok afterwards.

Choosing which part of a TikTok sound plays

Most tracks are longer than your video, so the starting point matters. Tap the Trim button next to the sound you selected and drag the slider to set where the sound begins. Pick the chorus, the beat drop or the line that matches your first movement, and play it back with the sound on before you post.

What happens to your own voice when you add TikTok music

Here's the detail that catches people out. TikTok's help says that once you change the music, all previous background music and voices will be replaced. If you recorded yourself talking and then add a track, the track takes over.

The same warning is worth remembering for videos you've already filmed with speech in them. If your voice matters, check TikTok's editor for a volume or sound option, and play the clip back before posting. Menus vary by app version, so I can't promise the exact label on your screen.

• Decide early whether the video is about the music or about your voice.
• Play it back with the sound on, using headphones if you can.
• Keep captions on if the words matter, since the track may cover them.

If you want words on screen, my short guide to adding captions on TikTok covers that part.

Adding music to TikTok if you have a business account

If you run a business profile, the rules change. TikTok's help says that a Business Account can't use music that isn't licensed for commercial use. Its Commercial Music Library page adds that a business account tapping Add sound sees only sounds from the Commercial Music Library.

That means your choice is smaller than a personal account's, which is the whole point: those sounds are cleared for business use. If a track you love isn't there, pick a similar one that is, rather than looking for a work-around.

If you can't find a sound on TikTok

1. Check the Favorites tab, then the Recent tab, in case you used it before.
2. Try searching the song title and the artist's name separately.
3. Update the TikTok app and open the sound list again.
4. If you're on a business account, remember you'll only see commercial sounds.
5. Pick a different track, because the one you wanted may simply not be offered on your account.

If effects or tools won't open at all on your phone, my piece on why some TikTok effects won't work on your device may point to the cause.

Using a TikTok sound with a green screen or effect

Sounds sit alongside effects, so you can use both on one video. If you're making a clip with a backdrop, my guide to using the green screen on TikTok pairs well with the steps above. Add your sound first or last, but always play the finished version back once.

Keeping your TikTok music choices consistent

If you post regularly, a recognisable sound habit helps your videos feel like a series. Save your favourites, trim them the same way each time, and keep a note of which ones suit which type of video: a calm track for tutorials, something with more energy for behind-the-scenes clips.

It also saves you from scrolling through the For You tab every time. The Recent tab shows what you used lately, and Favorites holds the ones you've kept, so your next video can start from a shortlist instead of a blank page.

A quick checklist before you post your TikTok with music

• Is the sound clear, and does the trimmed start line up with the action?
• Can people still hear what you're saying if speech matters?
• Have you saved the sound to Favorites for next time?
• If this is a business post, did you use a commercial sound?

Frequently asked questions

How do I add music to a TikTok?

Tap Add sound at the top of the recording screen, preview a track, pick one from For You, Favorites or Recent (or search), then tap the check mark to confirm.

Can I add music to a TikTok after recording?

Yes. TikTok's help says you can also add a sound on the editing screen.

How do I choose which part of the song plays?

Tap the Trim button next to your selected sound and drag the slider to set where the sound starts.

Will adding music remove my voice?

TikTok's help says that once you change the music, all previous background music and voices will be replaced, so check the playback before you post.

Why can't I find certain songs on my business account?

TikTok's help says a business account can't use music that isn't licensed for commercial use, and shows only sounds from the Commercial Music Library.

How do I save a TikTok sound for later?

Tap the Favorites button on the sound. It then appears in the Favorites tab the next time you tap Add sound.