YouTube Studio Audio Library: Find, Download and Credit Tracks

If you make videos for your business, a course or a side project, you've probably hit the same wall: the video is ready, it needs music, and you're not sure what you're allowed to use. The YouTube Studio Audio Library is YouTube's own answer to that. It's built into Studio, it's searchable, and YouTube describes its tracks as copyright-safe. Here's how to find it, search it and use it, based on YouTube's help pages.

Finding the YouTube Studio Audio Library

YouTube says the Audio Library is found exclusively in YouTube Studio. Here's the route:

1. Sign in to YouTube Studio.
2. From the left menu, select Audio Library.

You can also go directly to youtube.com/audiolibrary in your browser. If you don't see the option in the menu, check that you're signed in to the account that owns your channel, and that you're on the computer version of Studio. Menus vary by version, so look for the words Audio Library in the left-hand list.

Searching music in the YouTube Studio Audio Library

The library has two tabs. The Music tab has a search bar and filters. You can type a track title, an artist or a keyword, and you can filter by:

• Track title
• Genre
• Mood
• Artist name
• Attribution
• Duration, measured in seconds

You can also click the filter next to the artist, genre or mood on an individual track to see more like it, and sort results by track title, artist name, duration or date by clicking the column names. Found something you like? Click the star next to the track title, and your starred tracks collect in the Starred tab. That's the quickest way to build a shortlist for the next video.

YouTube says new releases are added to the Audio Library twice a month, so it's worth checking back if you feel you've heard everything.

Finding sound effects in the YouTube Studio Audio Library

The Sound effects tab works in a similar way. Enter a title or keyword, or filter by category and duration. Sound effects are the small touches that make a screen recording or a talking-head video feel finished: a click, a whoosh, a notification chime. If you're editing a short promotional video, a couple of well-placed effects can do more than a long music bed.

Previewing and downloading from the YouTube Studio Audio Library

1. Click Play next to a track to sample it.
2. If you like it, hover over the date and click DOWNLOAD to get an MP3 file.
3. Add the file to your video in your editing software, then upload the finished video as usual.

YouTube says the track keeps playing while you browse, and the player controls let you pause, seek and skip to the previous or next track. That's handy when you're comparing options. Note that the Audio Library gives you a file to use in your own editor. If you're adding music to a Short inside the YouTube app instead, that's a different route.

Giving attribution for YouTube Audio Library tracks

This is the part people miss. Some tracks in the library carry a Creative Commons licence. YouTube says that if you use one of those, you must credit the artist in your video's description. The library helps you generate the wording:

1. In YouTube Studio, select Audio Library from the left menu.
2. Find the track you want.
3. To browse every Creative Commons track, click the filter bar and choose Attribution required.
4. In the License type column, click the Creative Commons icon.
5. In the pop-up window, click Copy, then paste the text into your video description.

If you'd rather not worry about crediting anyone, click the filter bar and choose Attribution not required. YouTube says that finds music with the standard Audio Library licence, which doesn't need attribution.

Filter you choose	What YouTube says you get
Attribution required	Tracks with a Creative Commons licence, where the artist must be credited in your description
Attribution not required	Tracks with the standard Audio Library licence, no credit needed

What happens to your video when you use YouTube Audio Library music

YouTube says that if your video uses music from the Audio Library, a Music in this video section appears on the watch page. It also says that if the track has a Creative Commons licence, you still need the attribution in your description even though that section shows.

On copyright claims, YouTube's help says copyright-safe music and sound effects downloaded from the Audio Library won't be claimed by a rights holder through its Content ID system. That's the main reason creators use it. If you're checking another problem, such as a video being taken down, my guide to whether YouTube deletes old videos covers what YouTube's help says.

What the YouTube Studio Audio Library doesn't promise

It helps to read the small print, because YouTube is careful about what it does and doesn't cover:

• YouTube says only music and sound effects from the Audio Library are known to it to be copyright-safe.
• It says it isn't responsible for issues that come from music described as royalty-free on other channels or in other music libraries.
• It can't give legal guidance, including on issues with music that arise away from the platform.
• If you have questions about how you're using a track, it suggests you may wish to consult a qualified lawyer.

So if you grab a track from somewhere else and it happens to be labelled safe, that label doesn't carry YouTube's backing. For a business channel, I'd keep your music in one place and keep a note of each track name and licence type in a simple spreadsheet. It takes seconds when you add it, and a lot longer to piece together later.

If you can't find the YouTube Audio Library or a track

• Look for Audio Library in the left menu of YouTube Studio on a computer, or go to youtube.com/audiolibrary.
• Clear any filters, because a stack of filters can hide everything.
• Search by mood or genre rather than a specific title.
• If the page won't load, try another browser, or see my checklist for when YouTube isn't working.

Once your video is edited, uploading a video to YouTube takes you through the next step, and the description box is where your attribution text goes.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the YouTube Studio Audio Library?

Sign in to YouTube Studio and select Audio Library from the left menu. YouTube says you'll only find it in Studio, and you can also go to youtube.com/audiolibrary.

Do I need to credit the artist?

Only for tracks with a Creative Commons licence. YouTube says you must credit the artist in your video description, and the library can copy the attribution text for you.

How do I download a track?

Play it, then hover over the date and click DOWNLOAD to get an MP3 file.

Will a rights holder claim my video if I use Audio Library music?

YouTube's help says copyright-safe tracks downloaded from the Audio Library won't be claimed by a rights holder through Content ID.

How often are new tracks added?

YouTube says new releases are added to the Audio Library twice a month.

Does YouTube cover music from other libraries?

No. YouTube says only Audio Library music and sound effects are known to it to be copyright-safe, and it can't give legal guidance.