This guide teaches you how to upload:
- Any song to a TikTok (background or foreground)
- Free & Copyrighted music
- Your own music
Basically, you’ll learn how to add any sort of audio to a TikTok.
How to Add Music to a TikTok (Mobile)
Answer: To add music on your TikTok posts, start uploading a post and tap “🎵 original sound” at the top. Then, search or select a song.
- Open the TikTok app
- Tap “+” at the bottom
- Upload a video
- Tap “🎵 original sound” at the top
- Choose a song
- Hit “Save“
Note that if you’re a business acount, you won’t be able to use copyrighted songs.
Business accounts are limited to TikTok’s “basic” audios.
How to Add Music to a TikTok (Desktop)
To add music to a TikTok on a computer, you have to go to tiktok.com, upload a video, click “Edit video” and select a song from the menu.
- Open the TikTok.com website
- Click “+ Upload” and select a video
- Click “Edit video“
- Select a song in the “Sounds” tab
- Finally, click “Save edit“
The song will then show up on your video’s timeline — select how long you want it to be, adjust its volume and other settings, and click “Save edit” when finished.
Pro Tip: You’ll go through the same process if you’re using a phone or tablet and editing videos via the TikTok website instead of the mobile app.
Pretty easy, right?
How to Add Your Own Music to TikTok
To upload your own music to a TikTok, you’ll need to hit “Voiceover” during the upload/edit process.
Alternatively, use SendShort to add your music.
- TikTok alone won’t let you upload audio files → you can only use their very own sounds from the app.
- That’s why you need to use a free tool like SendShort
We’ll study each method individually.
Method 1: TikTok Voiceover
To upload your audio through a voiceover on TikTok: Upload your video > Tap the microphone on the right > Record voiceover > Tap “Save“.
- Open the TikTok app
- Hit “+” (bottom)
- Upload your video
- Tap the microphone icon on the right
- Record your audio
- Tap “Save“
This isn’t efficient if you want to add a song on top of your video.
Hence, you’ll probably find method number 2 useful.
Method 2: Audio File
To upload your own audio on top of a TikTok, create a free SendShort.ai account and upload your video. Go to “Audio” and insert your audio file (e.g. song or voiceover).
Here’s the step-by-step process:
- Sign up for free on SendShort
- Upload your TikTok
- Go to “Elements” > “Audio“
- Import your audio file
- Export video & Upload to Upload
SendShort makes it super easy for you. Upload audio file or paste a YouTube link and we’ll add it to your TikTok.
You can then change the length and volume of the audio.
How to Add Someone Else’s Music on TikTok
Answer: To add somebody else’s music to your TikTok posts, simply find an audio you like and hit “Save Audio”. When uploading a video, you’ll see that audio
- Open the TikTok app
- Find a video with the audio you want
- Tap the audio’s name (bottom-left)
- Select “Use sound” or “Add to Favorites“
- Add the sound to your TikTok
You’ve got two options for step number 2 as you can either create a TikTok on the spot or add the audio to an already-existing video in your drafts.
Why is SendShort the Best App that Adds Music to TikTok?
SendShort is an excellent tool for adding music to your TikTok videos, offering features that enhance your content’s appeal and engagement.
Key Features of SendShort:
- Extensive Music Library: Access a wide range of tracks to find the perfect background music for your videos.
- Easy Integration: Seamlessly add music to your videos with a user-friendly interface, streamlining the editing process.
- Customization Options: Adjust volume levels and sync music with your video to create a cohesive and engaging final product.
With SendShort you can enhance your TikTok content with music that resonates with your audience, making your videos more captivating and shareable.
Troubleshooting: Why TikTok Music Doesn’t Work
Generally, the main reason TikTok music may not work is a poor or unstable internet connection.
This section aims to answer the following questions:
- Why can’t I add music to my TikTok?
- Why is TikTok blocking music?
- Why is TikTok not letting me use my own music?
- Why can’t I find music on TikTok?
Let’s see why that is!
1. Internet
A weak or unstable connection can affect music playback.
Ensure you’re connected to a reliable Wi-Fi network or have a strong mobile data signal. If issues persist, try toggling airplane mode on and off to refresh the connection.
2. App Permissions
TikTok requires access to your device’s microphone and storage.
- On Android, go to Settings > Apps > TikTok > Permissions, and ensure both Microphone and Storage are enabled.
- On iOS, navigate to Settings > TikTok, and toggle on the necessary permissions.
3. Oudated App
Outdated versions may have bugs affecting music functionality.
Check the App Store or Google Play Store for updates and install the latest version.
4. App Cache
Accumulated cache can cause performance issues.
- On Android, go to Settings > Apps > TikTok > Storage > Clear Cache.
- On iOS, you may need to uninstall and reinstall the app to clear the cache.
5. Device Cache
A simple restart can resolve temporary glitches affecting app performance.
6. System Updates
Ensure your device’s operating system is up to date, as updates often include fixes for known issues.
7. Test Other Apps
Determine if the issue is specific to TikTok by playing music through other apps.
Fix: If other apps also have sound issues, the problem may be with your device’s audio settings.
8. Contact TikTok Support
If none of the above steps resolve the issue, reach out to TikTok’s support team for further assistance.
By addressing these areas, you can identify and resolve issues preventing music from working on TikTok.
FAQs
1. Can you add copyrighted music to TikTok?
Yes, you can add copyrighted music to TikTok by using the app’s built-in music library — but not if you’re a business account.
Adding music from outside sources may violate copyright laws and could lead to your video being muted or removed.
TikTok’s music library has which includes licensed tracks (and they work for business accounts too).
2. How to avoid copyright music on TikTok?
To avoid copyright issues on TikTok, use music from TikTok’s built-in library, which includes licensed tracks. Alternatively, create and use your own original music or sounds.
3. Why can’t I add music to my TikTok?
You might not be able to add music to TikTok if the app is experiencing a glitch, your app isn’t updated, or if you’re in a region with restricted music licensing.
Ensure your app is updated and check your internet connection.
Thanks a lot for reading this,
David Ch
Head of the Editing Team at SendShort
