- Adding music to a YouTube video in YouTube Studio
- Why you can't add music in the YouTube phone app
- Limits on the YouTube Studio audio editor
- Choosing tracks from the YouTube Audio Library
- Crediting the artist when a YouTube track needs it
- Copyright rules for YouTube music from elsewhere
- Making music work for a business YouTube video
- If the YouTube audio changes won't save
- Frequently asked questions
To add music to a YouTube video, open YouTube Studio on a computer, go to Content, click the video, choose Editor, then Audio, pick a track, click Add, position it and click Save. The catch: YouTube's help says you can't change a video's audio in the mobile app.
Silence is the quickest way to make a short product video feel unfinished. A bit of background music fills the gaps, covers a noisy room and gives a talking-head clip some energy, and YouTube lets you add it after upload without opening any editing software.
The bit people get wrong is where the music comes from. If you grab a chart song, you're likely to get a copyright claim. YouTube's own Audio Library exists to avoid that, so I'll show you the editor steps first, then how to pick tracks safely, following YouTube's help pages throughout.
Adding music to a YouTube video in YouTube Studio
YouTube's help says this is a computer job. Here's the route it describes:
- Sign in to YouTube Studio at studio.youtube.com.
- Open Content from the left menu.
- Click the video you want to work on.
- Click Editor in the left menu.
- Select Audio and use the search filters to find a track. Click Play to hear it first.
- Click Add on the track you like. It drops into the editor timeline.
- Drag the track along the timeline to choose when the song starts, and drag the edges of its box to set how much of it plays.
- Click Save.
You can add more than one song, which is handy if a video has a calm intro and a lively demo section. The zoom controls on the timeline help you line things up precisely.
Why you can't add music in the YouTube phone app
This catches out a lot of people. YouTube's help says you can no longer change the audio track of a video from the YouTube mobile app. To replace or add a track to something you've already uploaded, you'll need YouTube Studio on a computer.
If you only have your phone, add the music in your editing app before you upload instead, using a track you have the rights to.
Limits on the YouTube Studio audio editor
| Situation | What YouTube's help says |
|---|---|
| Video length | Only available for videos shorter than 6 hours |
| Popular uploads | Videos with over 100,000 views may not be able to save changes |
| YouTube Partner Program channels | The views limit doesn't apply to them |
| Undoing | Changes can't be reverted to the original after you save |
| Phone app | Audio can't be changed there; use a computer |
That last row on undoing matters. Because YouTube says saved editor changes can't be rolled back with Revert to original, keep your own copy of the original file before you start, so you can upload it again if you change your mind.
Choosing tracks from the YouTube Audio Library
The Audio Library lives in YouTube Studio's left menu, or at youtube.com/audiolibrary. YouTube describes it as royalty-free production music and sound effects for use in your videos. You can filter music by:
- Title or artist, if you already know what you want.
- Genre and mood, which is the fastest way to browse.
- Duration, so a track matches the length of your video.
- Attribution, to separate tracks that need a credit from ones that don't.
Click the star next to any track to keep it in your Starred tab. YouTube also lets you download a track as an MP3 if you'd rather mix it into your video before uploading.
Crediting the artist when a YouTube track needs it
Some Audio Library tracks carry a Creative Commons licence, and YouTube's help says you must credit the artist in your video's description for those. To make it easy, click the Creative Commons icon in the licence column and copy the attribution text it generates, then paste it into the description.
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If you'd rather skip that step, filter for Attribution not required. YouTube also adds a Music in this Video section to the watch page when you use Audio Library tracks, but it says that doesn't replace the description credit.
Copyright rules for YouTube music from elsewhere
YouTube's help says Audio Library music and sound effects are copyright-safe and won't be claimed through Content ID. It also says it isn't responsible for royalty-free music from other channels or libraries. So a track labelled free on some random channel isn't covered by YouTube's promise.
I'll keep this simple, because I'm not a lawyer: use music you own, music you've licensed in writing, or the Audio Library. Don't rip songs from other people's videos. YouTube says it can't give legal guidance, so ask a qualified professional if you're unsure about a specific use.
Making music work for a business YouTube video
Background music should support what you're saying, not compete with it. A few habits that help:
- Pick a calm track under talking sections and save the lively one for demos or transitions.
- Choose by mood first, then by duration, so you're not cutting a song awkwardly mid-phrase.
- Pair music with on-screen footage. My list of places to find free B-roll for YouTube is a good start.
- Add captions too, since plenty of people watch with the sound off. I explain how in my YouTube Studio subtitles guide.
If the YouTube audio changes won't save
- Check you're on a computer in YouTube Studio, not the app.
- Check the video is shorter than 6 hours.
- If the video has over 100,000 views and you're not in the YouTube Partner Program, YouTube may block the save. Upload a new version instead.
- Refresh the editor and try again with a single track.
- Use the Help option inside YouTube Studio if it still won't save.
Frequently asked questions
Can I add music to a YouTube video after uploading?
Yes. In YouTube Studio on a computer, open the video, click Editor, select Audio, add a track and click Save.
Can I add music to a YouTube video on my phone?
Not to an uploaded video. YouTube's help says you can no longer change the audio track in the mobile app, so use YouTube Studio on a computer or add music before uploading.
Is YouTube Audio Library music copyright-safe?
YouTube says Audio Library music and sound effects are copyright-safe and won't be claimed through Content ID. Some tracks still need an artist credit in your description.
Why can't I save music changes to my YouTube video?
YouTube says videos with over 100,000 views may not save changes unless the channel is in the YouTube Partner Program, and the editor only works on videos shorter than 6 hours.
Can I undo music I added to a YouTube video?
YouTube's help says saved editor changes can't be reverted to the original, so keep your own copy of the original file before editing.
