How to Add Music in CapCut (And Which Tracks You Can Use)

Music changes how a clip feels more than almost anything else you can add. The same footage reads as playful, serious or urgent depending on the track underneath it. The mechanics in CapCut are simple, and the part worth slowing down for is the licence, because that decides whether your video can stay up.

Below are the steps CapCut's pages describe, then what CapCut's own terms and help articles say about which sounds you can use for business videos. I'll keep to what CapCut says rather than what people assume.

Adding music in CapCut on a computer

CapCut's add music page describes the desktop editor like this:

1. Click Import (or drag and drop your files) to bring in your video.
2. Drag the video onto the timeline.
3. Click Audio in the menu bar.
4. Browse the library, choose a track and apply it to your video.
5. Trim and edit the music to fit what's happening on screen.
6. Preview the project, then click Export.

CapCut's add audio tool page adds that you can set a fade-in or fade-out, adjust the music level and speed, and that a Reset button restores the original settings.

Adding music in the CapCut app on your phone

For the app, CapCut's page walks through an iPhone route, and the same steps are a sensible guide on Android:

1. Open CapCut and start a new project.
2. Import your video and drag the clip to the timeline at the bottom.
3. Tap Audio to open the music library.
4. Select a track and drag it to the timeline below the video.
5. Adjust the volume, then preview to check the music matches the video.
6. Tap Export to save the finished clip.

The pages don't give separate Android steps, so menus vary by app version. If a button isn't where I've said, look along the bottom toolbar.

Getting the CapCut music level right

A track that's too loud buries speech, and one that's too quiet feels pointless. CapCut tells you to fine-tune the volume and make sure the music fits the video, which is good advice. My habit is to play the clip once with the sound low, because if you can still follow the spoken words at that level, the mix is usually safe.

• Lower the music under any speech, and let it rise in the gaps.
• Use fade-out so the track doesn't stop abruptly at the end.
• Trim the music to your clip, so it ends when your video does.

Which CapCut music you can use in business videos

This is the part many creators skip. CapCut's Materials License Agreement splits music into two kinds. Sounds are made available to individual users so long as the video is only for personal entertainment and non-commercial purposes. Using one of those to promote a brand or business needs separate rights.

Commercial Sounds are the second kind. The agreement says they're made available to brands, businesses, commercial entities and advertisers. It also says any use of Commercial Sounds outside the Permitted Platforms needs separate permission. In plain terms: if the video promotes your business, look for music marked for commercial use, and don't assume everything in the library is cleared.

Type of sound	What CapCut's licence says
Sounds	For personal entertainment and non-commercial videos only
Commercial Sounds	Made available to brands, businesses and advertisers
Commercial Sounds outside the Permitted Platforms	Separate permission needed
Your own audio	Upload it yourself, such as through My Sounds on mobile

I'm not a lawyer, and this isn't legal advice, so read CapCut's licence for your own situation, especially if you run ads.

When your CapCut music disappears or goes silent

CapCut has two help articles that explain the usual problems. The first says missing music is usually down to licensing restrictions, platform limits or sync and account issues, and that licensed music is temporary because CapCut doesn't guarantee permanent access. Its fix is to replace the track with one from the Commercially Safe or CapCut Sounds library, or to use My Sounds to upload your own audio on mobile.

The second covers a video that has no sound after you publish to TikTok. It says this is almost always down to TikTok's automated copyright enforcement, and it advises checking that a track shows Commercial use allowed before you export. It also suggests voiceovers recorded in CapCut, and making sure the speaker icon is on for each clip.

Adding your own recorded audio to a CapCut video

If you've got a voiceover or a recording you made yourself, you control the rights, which makes it the safest option for business clips. CapCut's help names My Sounds as the place on mobile to upload personal audio files. Record cleanly, keep background noise low, and drop the file onto the timeline like any other track.

Don't pull music out of someone else's video or a streaming service to use in yours. That's a copyright problem, and it's the thing most likely to get a clip muted or removed.

Finishing a CapCut video with music for your channel

Once the sound is in, add words for people who watch without it. My guides to adding captions on TikTok and adding subtitles to a YouTube video are good next steps, because a clip that works silently and with sound gets seen by more people.

If you can't find the Audio option in CapCut

• Check that a project is open with a clip on the timeline.
• On desktop, look for Audio in the menu bar. On mobile, tap Audio in the bottom toolbar.
• Swipe the toolbar sideways, because some buttons sit off screen.
• Update the app, since names and positions change between versions.

Frequently asked questions

How do I add music to a video in CapCut?

Put your video on the timeline, open Audio, choose a track from the library, and drag it onto the timeline below the video. Then trim it, set the volume and fades, and export.

Can I use CapCut music in videos for my business?

CapCut's licence says Sounds are for personal, non-commercial videos, while Commercial Sounds are made available to brands and businesses. Check the licence and the track label before you publish.

Why did my music disappear in CapCut?

CapCut's help says licensed music is temporary and can be removed because of licensing, platform limits or sync issues. Replace it with a Commercially Safe or CapCut Sounds track, or upload your own audio.

Why is there no sound after I post to TikTok?

CapCut's help says it's almost always TikTok's automated copyright enforcement. Choose a track that shows Commercial use allowed before you export, or use a voiceover you recorded.

Can I upload my own audio to CapCut?

Yes. CapCut's help names My Sounds as the place on mobile to upload personal audio files. Only upload audio you have the right to use.